Defending premier Central extended their gap at the top to five points with a comfortable 5-2 victory against Old Canberrans.

Central have won nine of their first 11 games to sit on 28 points, but only a solitary point separates the next three teams on the table.

Goulburn and Wests are side by side on 23 points with United right on their heels on 22.

St Pat's also can't be discounted from finals calculations after moving within five points of the top four with an 8-0 thrashing of the Tuggeranong Vikings.

Wests coach Adam Baxter described it as one of the most even competitions in the past few years.

"There's no real standout team and every game is a danger game," Baxter said.

"You can't be complacent in the competition.

"Even the teams right at the top like Central and United have to be on guard because the teams at the bottom on their day can beat anyone."

Wests were given a fright in the second half before holding off a fast-finishing Albury side 4-2.

"It was a pretty scrappy game," Baxter said.

"It was 3-0 after about 20 minutes, then we went away from the things we had spoken about and played pretty poorly.

"They scored with 15 minutes to go which made the end of the game pretty nervy, but it was a fun, enjoyable game to be a part of."

Meanwhile, in the women's Capital League, Goulburn defeated United 3-0, University of Canberra held off Albury 2-1, ANU hammered North Canberra 7-0 and St Pat's drew Tuggeranong Vikings 1-1.

CAPITAL LEAGUE HOCKEY

Men: Central 5 bt Old Canberrans 2; Goulburn 6 bt United 3; St Pat's 8 bt Tuggeranong Vikings 0; Wests 4 bt Albury 2.

Women: Goulburn 3 bt United 0; University of Canberra 2 bt Albury 1; ANU 7 bt North Canberra 0; Tuggeranong Vikings 1 drew with St Pat's 1.