Ards continued their unbeaten start to the Legacy Wealth Management Premier League season as they thrashed Larne 7-1 on Saturday.
The win keeps the side top of the league, but only by goal difference as they remain level on points with Belfast Harlequins.
Zara Malseed opened the scoring from a penalty corner with just seven minutes on the clock before she doubled her and her side’s tally just three minutes later to give their hosts it all to do.
It remained 2-0 until deep into the second quarter, when, with half-time approaching Ards all but sealed the three points.
Emma Reid extended her sides lead to 3-0 from a second penalty corner strike before Alyssa Boyd got her third goal of the season just a minute later.
In the second half Alana Doyle added a fifth from another set-play before youngster Alana Thornton got her first Premier League goal and Susie Cotter rounded off the emphatic win.
Looking to maintain pace for Ards, Belfast Harlequins also recorded a big win on Saturday as they beat Ballymoney 6-1 at Deramore Park.
After a goalless first quarter, Kaite Larmour got the opening goal for the hosts when she picked up the ball at the top of the circle, firing her reverse strike into the roof of the net, before a Becky Linford equaliser sent the sides into half-time level.
However, in the second half, Harlequins’ quality told. An Alyssa Jebb penalty corner restored their lead before quickly adding two more strikes to her name to bring the scoreline to 4-1.
Larmour also doubled her tally for the afternoon, before she turned provider for teammate Megan Getty who was left unmarked at the back post to tap in and round off a dominant 6-1 win.
Just one point off the league leaders, Lisnagarvey continued their strong start to the season as they beat local rivals Banbridge 3-2.
In an end-to-end game at Comber Road, Lauren Mulholland opened the scoring for the hosts, whilst Stef Ardis levelled the scoring with her eighth goal of the season.
Challenging Ardis for the Duke Cup, Beth Ravey restored the Lisnagarvey advantage as she got her seventh strike this campaign, adding to her hat-trick from last weekend.
However, Cliona Cochrane’s strike at the end of the third quarter levelled the scoring once more as the sides went into the final quarter at 2-2.
In the final period Ryan McMaster’s side took the lead for the third time when Scarlett Swann got her first goal of the season and sealed the 3-2 win which sees her side move to third in the division.
Elsewhere, Mossley returned to winning ways as they beat Lurgan 3-1 on Saturday evening.
Reah Little’s strike from the top of the circle opened the scoring in the first quarter before further goals from Anna Glassey and Reah Little sealed the win for Davy Menaul’s Mossley side.
Lydia McNeill did get a consolation strike for Lurgan, but the side were unable to get anything from the game as they lost for the first time since the opening day of the season.
The win now sees Mossley climb to fifth in the division, three points off leaders Ards, whilst Lurgan slip to sixth, only behind Saturday’s opponents by goal difference.
The final game in the division saw Omagh pick up their first point of the season as they drew 1-1 with Armagh.
Having lost their opening four games of the season
However, her goal was ruled out by a first goal of the season from Armagh’s Hannah Redmond, who ensured the sides shared the spoils.
Following the draw, Armagh remain four points ahead of Omagh in the division, with the sides in eighth and ninth respectively.