HOCKEY: IT'S AS you were at the top of the Leinster First Division after the weekend's games, after Railway Union maintained their four-point lead following a draw with second-placed Loreto, with UCD and Hermes remaining a point further behind after a scoreless draw at Belfield.

It was 0-0 at half-time in the Railway v Loreto game, played in woeful weather at Park Avenue, but Eimear Dolan broke the deadlock soon after the break, finishing off a fine penalty corner routine to give the home side the lead.

Loreto, though, were back on terms within five minutes when Cathy McKean created an opening in the circle before firing home with a reverse strike.

Hermes had the better of their encounter with UCD, winning nine short corners to the students' one, but Mary Logue's charges are proving to be a resilient group this season and they held out against the defending champions to take a point to bounce back from their first league defeat of the campaign against Railway last week.

Old Alexandra, too, could be content with their weekend's work after a goal in each half from Sylvia O'Mahony and Laura McCoy gave them the points against Pembroke Wanderers, for whom Alice Ward had levelled on 20 minutes.

Corinthian, meanwhile, got off the mark with a 2-2 draw away to Bray, leaving Trinity alone at the bottom of the table after their 3-1 defeat by Glenanne. Two goals from Kate O'Connor and another from Dearbhla Kiernan had Glenanne 3-0 up after just 20 minutes, but Trinity stemmed the flow and managed a consolation score through Diane Costigan.