Annadale landed their first Men's EY Hockey League victory in over three years as David Tremlett’s double put them on course for a big 4-0 victory over UCD.
Dale had been tough to beat so far this season with four draws from five outings but an elusive victory had proven just out of reach in the Covid-effected 2019/20 and 2020/21 seasons.
This success puts them in the highest position they have been since the introduction of the season-long all-Ireland competition, six points clear of the relegation places in seventh place.
Tremlett’s double in the 16th and 20th minutes laid the perfect base for the victory before Owen McElhinney’s fourth of the campaign and an effort from Michael Robson put them out of sight in the second half.
It was part of a clean sweep for Ulster sides on the road to Dublin with Lisnagarvey making it four wins in a row with a 3-0 victory over YMCA. Matthew Nelson and Ollie Kidd had Garvey 2-0 up before the end of the first quarter and the game was settled in the closing quarter by Ben Nelson.
Banbridge, meanwhile, got their second win of the campaign with a 4-3 victory over Corinthian at Whitechurch Park. It looked set to be comprehensive with Phillip Brown, a Charlie Rowe brace and one more from Alexander Tinney building a 4-0 half-time lead
Max Neill and Chad Futcher pulled goals back to set up a thrilling end.
Guy Sarratt’s penalty corner piledriver 11 minutes from time saw Monkstown end Glenanne’s perfect start to the season. It was the only goal of a tightly-fought contest that has seen the Glens come back into range of the likes of Three Rock Rovers and Lisnagarvey while Town strengthened their place in the top four.
Three Rock, meanwhile, are the last remaining unbeaten side following a 6-2 win over Pembroke with Mark Samuel and Evan Jennings both scoring twice in the first half to build a 5-1 lead.
Rovers play Garvey next week in a back match which could see the winners move to the top of the table.
