HOCKEY: There was a sense of déjà vu about events at Booterstown on Saturday when Hermes' league game against champions Loreto had to be postponed after the sprinkler system proved inadequate in the windy conditions, leaving the umpires no option but to deem the water-based pitch, part of which was dry, unplayable.

The league tie between the teams, scheduled for March of last season, had to be postponed for much the same reason, heightening the frustration felt by both teams on Saturday.

To make matters worse the hose designed to be a back-up should the sprinkler system fail proved too short to reach the dry area of the St Andrews' pitch.

It is, then, a problem that the Leinster branch and Hermes must ensure is rectified, not least because this is a season that is already tightly squeezed due to international commitments.

The game must be rescheduled within 21 days.

There were no such pitch problems at Park Avenue or Whitechurch where Railway Union and Corinthian came from behind to beat UCD and Three Rock by 2-1 scorelines.

Eimear Horan gave UCD the lead against Railway but Sinead Dooley levelled before Cathy Kenefick gave the home team the points with her first goal for the club three minutes from time.

Dawn Kelly put Three Rock a goal up against Corinthian but Suzanne Murphy equalised and Lindsey Watson got the winner.

At Serpentine Avenue Pembroke goalkeeper Eimear Ryan, successor to Mary Goode who has joined Cork Harlequins, ensured her team took the points when she saved an Anya Bowyers' penalty late in the second half. Lorna Hill and Siobhán Kane had already scored for Pembroke, with Bowyers replying, but Ryan's save made it six points out of six for Pembroke, who beat Three Rock in their opening fixture.