officially started...so, what else is new.

The team that have made the league championship their annual rite, maintained course over the weekend, while receiving some unexpected help.

Wanderers used a typical workmanlike effort to dust off Lobster Port 4-0, scoring twice in each half.

Steve Irvine and Vince Chaves got things rolling with first half scores, while Stuart Drake and Andy McCulloch finished matters in the second.

However, the good times kept rolling in for the Woodlands Road outfit as prime challengers Island Rangers offered charity in laying down against Spinning Wheel, losing 2-1.

Des Minors and Chris Furbert scored for Wheel, while Troy Berkeley netted for the losers.

The combined results mean that Wanderers now lead the division by a hefty eight points with 31 compared to 23 for Rangers, with just six matches remaining.

Robin Hood leapt from fifth to third while continuing the misery for Mariners, beating the latter 5-0 behind a hat-trick from John Beardsley and two goals from Dominic Critchley.

Hood ended a two game slide, while fading Mariners suffered their second five-goal drubbing in as many weeks.

Sliding a place into fourth were St. George's All-Stars, as they were shocked 2-0 by lowly MR Onions.

Onions, behind two goals from Neil Clemens, claimed just their second win of the year and one desperately needed to help avoid relegation.

In another battle with relegation implications, second from bottom Devonshire Colts All-Stars downed last placed Forties 3-2.

Michael Looby scored twice for Colts and Quincy Jones once, as the home side roared to a 3-0 half-time lead. Brian Fubler notched one of Forties' replies.

In Group B action, leaders North Village Rams stomped all over friendly rivals Exiles at Bernard Park, handing the Cable and Wireless-backed outfit a 7-0 hiding.

Rams striker Allan Fray snatched a hat-trick, while former Bermuda national team players Ralph Bean and Garrett Dill each netted two goals.

The victory allowed Rams to keep a two point advantage over Fire Service -- 25 compared to 23 -- who likewise won big.

Service's victims were Belco, who at least put up a fight during the 7-4 loss.

Ralph Scott and Leonard Davis each scored twice for Service, while Stephen Caines, Alex Swan and Troy Furbert got one each. Kacy Butterfield, Lionel Smith, Eversley Lewis and Oral Swan shared the goals for Belco.

Suffering a severe setback were third placed Valley, as they were shocked 2-1 by Bermuda Pest Control at Shelly Bay.

Pest Control scored twice in the first half through Anthony Francis and Russo, and Valley never recovered, with a late strike from Roger Hall their only consolation.

Devonshire Lions continued their fine run with a 2-0 triumph over Prison Officers, Ernest McCallum netting both goals.

The other match saw Somerset Extros down Wolves Pack 6-4, with Craig Brangman (two) and Dwaine Richardson scoring half of the west end club's goals, while Vince Minors, Shawn Outerbridge, Mario Smith and Neville Green replied for Wolves.