VITAMALT ALL STARS and Berger YMCA notched their second wins on the trot during the weekend to set the early pace in the Men's Premier Hockey League at the Astroturf of the Garfield Sobers Sports Complex.

YMCA rode a Joel Bryant hat-trick to sink champions CGI Maple 3-2, while All Stars saw off the challenge of BNB Deacons 3-1.

In other matches, Select Car Rentals CSOS bounced back from their first game loss to punish Wanderers 4-1, while Butterfield Bank Empire, also losers in the first round, handed Eastern Stars a 3-0 drubbing.

In Women's Premier League action, champions Empire toughed out a 1-0 win over ever-improving CSOS, thanks to an Alison Haynes penalty corner conversion.

There were more convincing wins for Deacons and Maple.

Deacons revived their title ambitions after an opening match loss with Corlette Kellman's treble inspiring a 5-0 win over All Stars. Captain Angela Thompson and Tyanna Manning-Reece also netted for Deacons.

Maple ran riot in the second half to blank Pickwick 7-0. After a goalless first 35 minutes, Petal Toby notched four to spearhead the rout for the St James side. Benita Maynard added a double, while Christina Harper also scored.

In men's action, however, it was last year's cellar-dwellers All Stars and YMCA who stole the headlines with stylish wins.

Come from behind

All Stars, fresh off an impressive upset of CSOS in week one, came from behind to collar the high-flying youngsters of Deacons.

Paul Harding put Deacons ahead after 23 minutes but Dario Jordan scored just before the interval to send the sides into half-time level at 1-1.

Two quick strikes midway through the second half from big-hitting Ryan Davis and veteran Colin Elcock secured the three points for the Stars.

YMCA led all the way against Maple with Bryant scoring after two minutes. The long-serving "Y" man also added goals in the 24th and 53rd minutes. Donovan Smith brought Maple back to 1-2 after 45 minutes but Maple's second, from Venslough Leacock, came too late.

CSOS were given a bit of a scare from winless Wanderers, who took the lead after 49 minutes with a fine run and finish from Tony Trotman.

But the Old Scholars hit back quickly and emphatically with Aaron Forde [penalty stroke], Gregory Puckerin [2] and captain Paul Reid leading a goal rush in the final 20 minutes to seal the big win.

Eastern Stars join Wanderers at the bottom after losing to Empire, whose three strikes came from Errol Clarke [2] and Justin Catlyn.

Weekend results

Men's Premier League:

YMCA 3 Maple 2

Empire 3 Eastern Stars 0

All Stars 3 Deacons 1

CSOS 4 Wanderers 1

Women's Premier League:

Empire 1 CSOS 0

Maple 7 Pickwick 0

Deacons 5 All Stars 0