Rhonda Rawlins scored two goals and Stacey DeShields and Ali Cameron the others as Canaries won their 10th match in 13 outings.

Canaries have three matches remaining and need just a point to win the league outright. Orioles, the only team that can catch them, are eight points back and must win their last four games in order to finish level on points.

Orioles' title hopes were virtually extinguished when they lost 2-0 to Cardinals. Caroline Tytheridge gave Cardinals an early lead when she pushed the ball home from a short corner by Eva Dillas. In the second half, Maria Pichery scored off a pass from Melanie Burns.

In the other A League match, Swifts were kept winless at the bottom of the league when they went down to their 10th loss in 12 outings with their 2-1 loss to Cardinals.

Swifts took an early lead in the first half but Cardinals managed to level the score when Brenda Smith knocked in Maria Pichery's shot on goal. Michelle Clarke scored the winning goal for Reds.

Swallows had their lead at the top of the B League cut to three points when they could only manage a 0-0 draw with Cardinals in a hard-fought game.

Second-placed Bluebirds edged Canaries 2-1. Georgi Barbosa tipped in a cross from Ali Cameron to give Canaries the lead in the first half before Bluebirds scored two late second-half goals to win.

In the other match Canaries beat Swifts 2-0 as Kerry Quigley and Ali Cameron scored a goal in each half.