The most significant result in hockey circles on Saturday was Catholic Institute's challenging 33 draw with the Munster champions Harlequins in Cork. With Robbie Ryan as player coach and Jason Milne adding further impetus, the Malcolm Bell-captained Institute side may well create a fresh impact for the game in Limerick.

Kevin Fleming gave Institute the lead and although Harlequins asserted themselves for Dave Eakins, Paul Lombard and Jason Black to make it 3-1 at the interval, the visitors rallied for Ryan to reduce the deficit, followed by an equaliser from Dave Kavanagh.

There were several mellow surprises in Leinster, not least the appearance of Liam Canning in the 4-3 defeat of Railway Union in the lush sylvan surroundings of the new pitch at Grange Road. Canning, the leanest and most wily of Harold de Jong's "pigeons", helped himself to a brace of goals in addition to which Peter McConnell settled in eagerly to his pivotal role and Shane Davey largely frustrated Railway's Springbok strikers at short corners. Colin Stewart remains the most lively attacker in the province as was demonstrated by the Tasmanian's double strike for Corinthians, the second in the last minute, in a 2-1 win against YMCA at Ballinteer. YM had been the more buoyant side and should have added to an early goal by youth international Andrew Walker before Stewart became irrepressible.

Monkstown centre-forward Ian Allen twice hit equalisers in an encouraging 2-2 draw with Avoca at Rathdown where Chris Beere made a welcome return to the home defence.

Aer Lingus and Clontarf refused to be over-run by Pembroke Wanderers (now clear leaders) and Glenanne, respectively. Indeed, only Stephen Stewart and Paudie Carley (from his second penalty stroke) succeeded in beating Ben McCabe at the airport where the fitness and discipline of his youthful team-mates was impressive.

Paul Fitzpatrick was again on the target as Glenanne drove to a 3-0 win over Clontarf, for whom Peter Maybury had a penalty saved by Ian Clarke.