Ice hockey

Pumas could not break through until four minutes into the second period when James Moss put Pumas ahead. Two minutes later he doubled the lead and in a three-minute spell William Brandwood bagged a brace and Moss his hat-trick marker as Billingham led 5-0 at the end of the first period.

Brandwood also scored his third goal of the game in the 33rd minute and two minutes later Cameron Miller slotted home Pumas' seventh goal of the game.

Thomas Bence in the home goal lost his shut-out at 38.58 when Joe Zajac scored Arrows' lone consolation goal on the powerplay.

There was still time for Pumas to add to their tally as Moss struck his fourth and Joe Watson rounded off the scoring with two seconds remaining.

Pumas: James Moss 4+1, William Brandwood 3+1, Cameron Miller, Joe Watson 1+0, Callum Clark 0+2, Jack Chapman, Daniel Spedding, Jack Davies 0+1.

Whitley Arrows hosted Flintshire Flyers the following day at Hillheads. Arrows had to win to keep alive their hopes of remaining in the North A League for next season. Flyers, Pumas and Arrows are the only three teams in the group as the would-be fourth Blackburn having already pulled out and accepted relegation to North B League.

Flintshire came North with two wins out of two against Pumas and Arrows and a good chance of gaining promotion. An under-strength squad for Flyers gave Whitley a chance of victory if playing well. The opening period was a tight affair with no goals scored from very few opportunities.

Arrows went close in the 25th minute when Sarah Mason's shot went just inches wide of the post. Joe Zajac and Daniel Bentley went close on a couple of occasions, but the second period still failed to provide a goal.

The final period was only eight seconds old when Whitley took the lead. Flintshire swapped netminders, Phillip Spansinick for Jake Orr. The replacement was picking up the puck out of the net when Liam Brown put Whitley ahead.

Flyers drew level on the powerplay four minutes later after Whitley were handed a delaying the game penalty when netminder David Laneside came too far out to collect a puck.

Andrew Terrace and Josh Maddock came close to restoring Arrows' lead. Brown did just that with a little over two minutes to go. A Bentley shot went wide and rebounded off the boards and Brown skating on from the left wing drove the puck home past Orr for the winning goal.

Billingham meet Whitley at Hillheads on Sunday needing only a point to gain promotion, while Whitley require to win by a minimum nine-goal margin to stand a chance of remaining in A League.

Arrows (v Billingham): Joe Zajac 1+0, Liam Brown 0+1.

(v Flintshire): Brown 2+0, Zajac, Josh Maddock, Daniel Bentley 0+1.

Billingham Falcons suffered a third straight defeat in the English U14 North Promotion/Relegation play-offs going down 6-2 at the Forum Ice Arena against Bradford Buccaneers. Falcons got off to an excellent start, but could not keep hold of their lead.

Jimmy Moutrey fired Falcons ahead after just 76 seconds. Bradford hit back to level at 02.40 and to go into the lead 21 seconds later. A third followed after eight minutes to end the period 3-1 ahead.

Falcons were unable to reduce the deficit in the second period despite much possession. Two goals inside a minute from the visitors extended their lead to 6-1 after 38 minutes. The final goal of the game came with three minutes remaining from James Moss.

Falcons: Jimmy Moutrey, James Moss 1+0, Andrew Finn 0+1.

Whitley Tomahawks have retained U16 North A League status for next season after two road victories in North Promotion/Relegation play-offs at the weekend. On Saturday Tomahawks were at Coventry Blaze in their first game and took a seventh minute lead through Jamie Tinsley. Blaze levelled five minutes later.

Tinsley's second goal when his side were short-handed at 18.32 restored the visitors' lead and Ben Moore doubled that advantage in the 23rd minute. Blaze hit a third at 29.36 only for Moore's second after 35 minutes saw Tomahawks to a deserved win.

A close encounter at Ice Sheffield between Sheffield Greyhounds and Whitley Tomahawks ended with Whitley's 100 per cent record still in tact. No goals in the first period and Tinsley broke the deadlock at 17.55 when Tomahawks were short-handed.

Greyhound had a player dismissed for kicking and Whitley went 2-0 ahead on the powerplay with a Mark Nicholson. effort. Sheffield hit back with a goal in the 39th minute and two minutes later Sheffield's netminder Kieran Lee was dismissed for roughing after the final. After the final whistle Sheffield had a third player take a misconduct for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Tomahawks (v Coventry): Jamie Tinsley 2+1, Ben Moore 2+0, Mark Nicholson 0+2, Nathan Taylor 0+1.

(v Sheffield): Tinsley, Nicholson 1+1.

Whitley have two games left in the play-offs, hosting Coventry this Sunday and travelling to Bradford Vipers seven days later.

Whitley Bay Islanders' unbeaten run continues after an entertaining recreational match against Nottingham North Stars at Hillheads. Nottingham travelled with only seven skaters and got off to the better start going ahead in the third minute and adding a second at 13.57.

Stu Davis and Terry Wilkinson levelled the match at 20.14 only for North Stars to score twice at 21.19 and 25.44. Islanders stepped up a gear once more and Graham Leslie, David Farren and Davis struck to put them ahead for the first time in the match at 32.18. The lead only lasted 32 seconds when Nottingham hit back.

Andy Ormond restored Whitley's lead in the 40 minutes of the final period and Tommy Coulson doubled the advantage with three minutes to go. North Stars gave Whitley a close game with a short squad.

Islanders: Stu Davis 2+2, Terry Wilkinson 1+2, David Farren, Graham Leslie, Andy Ormond 1+1, Tommy Coulson 1+0, Joe Robinson 0+2, Mark Brown 0+1.

This weekend is the finals weekend for both women's premier league and women's division one at Ice Sheffield. The North-East is represented by Sunderland Scorpions and Whitley Bay Squaws. Sunderland won the premier league by seven points and the top four finishers qualify for the play-offs.

Scorpions meet fourth placed Kingston Diamonds in the first semi-final (Sat) and second and third placed teams Slough Phantoms and Guildford Lightning clash in the other.

Whitley Bay finished runners-up to Telford Wrekin Raiders in division one North and face Romford Nighthawks, winners of division one south in the second semi-final while Telford tackle south winners Solihull vixens.

Third/fourth place play-offs and finals are played on Sunday.