Billingham Pumas gained promotion to the English U12 North A League for the season 2004-2005 after defeating local neighbours Whitley Arrows 5-4 at Hillheads.

The match in the Promotion/Relegation U12 play-offs was a thrilling, end to end encounter with both sides requiring victory for a A league place.

Pumas did not begin well and were a goal down in only 26 seconds when Daniel Bentley scored, Sarah Mason added a second five minutes later.

The Teessiders' recovery began in the first minute of the second period when Daniel Spedding was on target just 27 seconds in. James Moss levelled the scores at 24.28 on the powerplay. He completed a straight hat-trick with goals at 28.11 and 29.34 to put Pumas 4-2 ahead at the end of the middle period, a one-sided period with Pumas out-shooting their hosts by 13-1.

The lead was increased to 5-2 when William Bradwood got his name on the scoresheet at 35.21. Whitley did not sit back and came to within one as Liam Brown and Kate Ord scored at 36.41 and 38.40 respectively.

Pumas called a time-out at 38.40 to stem the tide and held on for the final six minutes for a win that gave them promotion and Arrows relegation.

Arrows: Daniel Bentley 1+2, Liam Brown, Kate Ord 1+1, Sarah Mason 1+0.

Pumas: James Moss 3+0, William Bradwood 1+2, Daniel Spedding 1+0, Mitch Haughton, Ben Davison 0+1.

Billingham Falcons dropped down to U14 North B League for the season 2004-2005 after failing to finish in the top two of the North Promotion/Relegation play-off.

Falcons were in action twice at the weekend defeating Solihull Flames at the Forum Ice Arena and losing on the road at Bradford Buccaneers.

Scott Cooper gave Falcons a first minute lead against visiting Solihull which was doubled five minutes later through Andy Finn.

Flames replied on the powerplay at 13.48 to cut the deficit. Finn completed a hat-trick with goals in the 18th and 28th minutes and sandwiched in between was Flames' second powerplay goal.

Finn's fourth a minute into the final period gave Falcons a 5-2 advantage. Alex Cook registered a sixth Falcon goal at 37.45 and Solihull struck their third a minute later.

The scoring was completed with five minutes remaining from a Max Hodgson strike for a 7-3 victory.

Falcons: Andy Finn 4+1, Scott Cooper, Max Hodgson 1+1, Alex Cook 1+0, James Moss 0+2, Steven Simcox, Simon Geldart 0+1.

Falcons visited Bradford Buccaneers the following day and were brushed aside 11-0. Three goals in three minutes gave Bradford a 3-0 first period lead. The only goal of the middle session came at 24.35 which made it 4-0.

Bradford pushed for promotion to North A League having won the B League with a 100 per cent record, added seven goals without reply in the final period.

Sunderland Tomahawks were 7-0 victors at Bradford Vipers in the English U19 North Promotion/Relegation play-offs.

Michael Allinson gave Tomahawks the lead after just 11 seconds and Jeremy Lundin struck a second in the fifth minutes. John Westgarth hit a third in the final minute of the first period.

Richard Westgarth scored the only goal of the middle period on the powerplay at 39.59.

The final period brought three further goals for the Wearsiders in the latter stages from Jonny Heslop, Lundin and Dean Holland. Bradford did have several opportunities but were unable to get past Tomahawks' netminder, Richard Lawson, who faced 20 shots from a deserved shut-out.

Tomahawks: Jeremy Lundin 2+0, Jonny Heslop, Dean Holland 1+2, John Westgarth 1+1, Richard Westgarth, Michael Allinson 1+0, John Wilson, Darren Shanks 0+1.

Sunderland Scorpions met Kingston Diamonds in the play-off semi-final and took the lead after four minutes through a Teresa Lewis powerplay goal. Kingston equalised in the 32nd minute in an evenly matched game.

Claire Oldfield restored Sunderland's lead at 46.40 and three minutes later on the powerplay Lewis's second of the match put Scorpions 3-1 ahead. With six minutes remaining Diamonds cut the deficit to set up an enthralling final few minutes.

Both teams called time-outs trying to gain advantage. However, Sunderland came out on top to meet Guildford who had beaten Slough Phantoms 3-1 in their semi-final.

Scorpions were well on top in the opening period in the final, but just had a single goal to show for it. Lynsey Emmerson scored in the 11th minute. Nip and tuck for the remainder of the match with Sunderland and Guildford having several chances. Teresa Lewis gave Scorpions the all important second goal with a little under two minutes remaining for a 2-0 victory.

Scorpions (v Kingston): Teresa Lewis 2+0, Claire Oldfield 1+1, Lynsey Emmerson 0+3, Jayne McClelland 0+1.

(v Guildford): Emmerson 1+1, Lewis 1+0, Helen Stowe 0+1.

Whitley Bay Squaws were also at Ice Sheffield for the women's division one play-offs. Squaws, runners-up from North League, met Romford Nighthawks, winners of South League with a 100 per cent record.

Sqauws took the lead at 05.07 from Becky Kasner and Romford drew level seven minutes later. Kasner and Sara Christie scored 23 seconds apart in the 24th minute and gave Whitley a 3-1 lead. Romford cut the deficit a minute later.

Kasner completed her hat-trick with a short-handed goal at 33.30 to round off the scoring in a 4-2 victory, this being Romford's first defeat.

Into the final Whitley faced Solihull Vixens who had a 6-2 win over Telford Wrekin Raiders. In their semi-final Vixens went ahead at 01.04 and led 4-0 at 10.05 with further goals at 07.55 and 08.13.

Squaws replied with two goals in 36 seconds from Kasner on the powerplay and Christie at 12.34. Within ten seconds Solihull struck their fifth. No goals in the middle period and Solihull hit four without reply to win 9-2.

Squaws (v Romford): Becky Kasner 3+1, Sara Christie 1+0, Gabby Woodhouse 0+2, Charlotte Willey 0+1.

(v Solihull): Kasner, Christie 1+0, Sarah Barnett 0+1.

Whitley Tomahawks made it five wins out of five in the English U16 North Promotion/Relegation play-offs following a 3-2 victory over Coventry Blaze at Hillheads.

Nathan Taylor gave Whitley the lead at 07.06 and only ten seconds later Mark Nicholson doubled the advantage.

At that time Coventry called a 30 second time-out which worked in their favour as within 30 seconds Blaze pulled a goal back. Tomahawks' Jonathan Scott went for an early shower when he picked up a match penalty for kicking in the 17th minute.

The two-goal lead was restored in the 24th minute with a Sam Zajac strike. Five minutes into the final period the visitors scored a second goal.

Tomahawks have already retained North A League status for next season and complete their play-off programme tomorrow (Sat) when they visit Bradford Vipers.

Tomahawks: Nathan Taylor 1+1, Mark Nicholson, Sam Zajac 1+0.

Newcastle Vipers along with Dundee Stars, Edinburgh Capitals and Fife Flyers as a curtain-raiser to the new ice hockey season, are to participate in the Keyline Challenge Cup at Murrayfield Ice Rink, Edinburgh over the weekend of September 4 and 5.

The tournament will be sponsored by Keyline Builders Merchants and will be known as the Keyline Challenge Cup.

The semi-final ties will be played on Saturday, September 4 with the third/fourth play-off match and the final being played on Sunday, September 5.

Between the two semi-finals there will be a skills competition involving players from each of the clubs.

As part of the weekend celebrations the clubs have organised a barn dance disco to be held at the adjacent curling rink at Murrayfield on Saturday evening and the players will be in attendance for part of the night. A limited amount of tickets will be on sale for the barn dance.

If tickets are bought and paid for by July 31 the cost will be as follows: Adult day ticket £15; concession day ticket £16; concession day ticket £10; Family day (2+2) ticket £40; adult weekend tickets £28; concession weekend £16; family weekend tickets £70 (2+2); adult day ticket £20; concession day ticket £12; family day ticket £50 (2+2); adult weekend ticket £35; concession weekend ticket £20; family weekend ticket £90 (2+2).

Tickets will go on sale on Monday, June 14 and will be available from Murrayfield box office (Tel (0131) 313-2977). Cheques and postal orders should be made payable to Edinburgh Capitals and sent to Keyline Challenge Cup, Edinburgh Capitals IHC, Murrayfield Ice Rink, Edinburgh.

The semi-final draw is: Dundee Stars v Edinburgh Capitals; Newcastle Vipers v Fife Flyers.

Local weekend fixtures:

Tomorrow:

English U16 North Promotion/Relegation play-off

Bradford Pirates v Whitley Tomahawks (5.15pm)

Sunday

English U14 North Promotion/Relegation play-offs

Blackburn Kestrels v Billingham Falcons (6pm).