It is no great surprise that the Hockey League will go down to its final set of fixtures next month, with Hermes still the only side guaranteed a place in the Champions Trophy.

Pegasus and Railway Union edged closer to qualification with comfortable wins on Saturday, the Ulster side beating UCC 5-1 at the Mardyke, while Railway did their goal difference no harm with a 6-0 win over Greenfields.

Pegasus are now on 32 points, with Railway two behind , but the Dublin club has a game in hand (they were scheduled to play Ards on Sunday but the fixture is being rescheduled).

Ulster Elks, meanwhile, saw their winning streak – five games in a row before Saturday – come to a halt when they were trounced 7-0 by Hermes, Nikki Evans helping herself to a hat-trick. They are now a point behind Railway so will most likely have to beat Pegasus in their final game if they are to secure a top-three finish. They could, however, book their place in the Champions Trophy before then if they beat Ards in next Sunday's Irish Senior Cup final.

UCD are level on points with Elks, the students keeping their hopes alive by beating Cork Harlequins 4-3, but they will need to beat Ards away and see teams above slip up if they are to progress.

UCC and Ards’ defeats on Saturday means there is no change in the battle to avoid a relegation play-off.