Leinster to address player registration

Women's Hockey: On a weekend when Old Alexandra ended Hermes' unbeaten league record to keep the division one title race very much alive, several Leinster clubs, throughout the league, were bracing themselves for a crackdown by the branch on player-registration infringements. Mary Hannigan reports.

Rumours that as many as 20 clubs would be docked points for registration errors have circulated, but the numbers involved have not been confirmed by the branch, which has summoned every club to a meeting to discuss the issue at Serpentine Avenue on Wednesday.

There is a widespread acceptance among the clubs that the fielding of ineligible players should be punished and that player registration has, generally, been sloppy in recent years - largely due to spelling mistakes, mix-ups over names and confusion over players' married and "maiden" names - and had to be "tidied up" by the branch, in an effort to make the running of the league more professional.

There is, however, also some exasperation over recent cases where fines and/or docked points have been threatened when evidently innocent, if careless, mistakes were made on match cards, where no illegal advantage by the club (i.e., by fielding an ineligible player) was sought. It is these cases that are the main bone of contention between the clubs and the branch.

The last time Loreto won the league title was, ironically, the season (1999-2000) they were docked points for allegedly fielding an ineligible player. They will hope to avoid any such off-the-field mishaps this time around, especially when things are running so smoothly on-the-field. Two goals from Cathy McKean helped them to a 3-1 win over Railway Union on Saturday, enough to lift them three points clear at the top following Hermes' defeat by Alexandra.

First-half goals by Zanya Dahl and Trish Conway proved enough to reverse October's scoreline between Alexandra and Hermes. Alexandra are now just three points adrift of Hermes and six short of Loreto's total.

Corinthian and Pembroke Wanderers stayed in touch with the leaders with 3-0 wins away to Three Rock and Genesis, respectively, while Trinity remain rooted to the bottom of the table after a 6-1 drubbing by UCD.

Randalstown, meanwhile, are maintaining their challenge to leaders Pegasus in Ulster. Both had easy victories on Saturday. Randalstown are two points adrift with a game in hand.