Durham Dragons v Newcastle Predators: Durham Dragons defeated the Newcastle Predators 4-1 in a well-contested North East recreational match on Sunday.

The game started at a frantic end-to-end pace, and only some Vezina-netminding from Alison and Armstrong saw the first session end scoreless.

Within in the opening minute of the second period, Peter Herkes scored a solo goal off his own rebound from a tight angle to put the Dragons ahead. More chances followed, but it was the Predators who struck next as Bavies equalised.

Durham upped the tempo and Jonathan Hesler fired a powerful shot in off the post, before Mick Vasey pounced to skate in on goal and cooly beat Armstrong to make it 3-1. Steven Hagar scored the all-important fourth and game decider, with ten minutes remaining.

Durham scorers: Hagar, Herkes, Hesler, Vasey 1+1, Clish, Hall, B.Snook 0+1.

N'castle scorers: Bavies 1+0.

Junior round-up

Sunderland Cherokees defeated Murrayfield Raccoons 11-1 to win the Murrayfield Under 12 Capital Cup at Murrayfield Ice Rink on Saturday. A one-sided final began with Callum Davies putting Cherokees ahead on the 60 second mark. Raccoons drew level at 02.00 and Jack Watkins regained Cherokees advantage 37 seconds later.

Watkins, Michael Elder, Davies and Elder again were on target as Sunderland raced into a 6-1 interval advantage. A hat-trick goal for Watkins at 26.29, Graham Robson and Davies third of the game followed by the 30th minute. Alex Lawson and Watkins rounded off the 11-1 victory.

In the round robin games Cherokees started off with a 5-0 win over Aberdeen. Lawson, Davies and Watkins had their team 3-0 ahead inside 4 minutes. Watkins and Ashleigh Holland completed the scoring. Paisley were beaten 1-0 by Cherokees with Callum Davies on target with 12 seconds left.

Murrayfield went ahead against Cherokees in their group match after 41 seconds and Davies equalised at 02.44. Raccoons winner in the 2-1 victory came at 05.46. Callum Davies was named forward of the tournament.

Cherokees scorers: Callum Davies 6+4, Jack Watkins 6+3, Michael Elder and Alex Lawson 2+0, Ashleigh Holland and Graham Robson 1+1, Emma Hall 0+1.

Sunderland Arrows competed in the Under 16 event at Murrayfield and lost 4-0 to Murrayfield Raptors in the final, Raptors scoring twice in each period with strikes in the first session at 06.17 and 10.19. Final period goals coming in the 21st and 31st minutes.

Arrows began their tournament losing 2-0 to Murrayfield in the round robin format. Aberdeen were next opponents and lost 1-0 with Nathan Salem scoring the only goal after 10 minutes. Nottingham held Sunderland to a 0-0 draw in their encounter.

Under-12 results: Murrayfield 2, Paisley 0; Aberdeen 0, Sunderland 5; Murrayfield 8, Aberdeen 0; Paisley 0; Sunderland 1; Murrayfield 2, Sunderland 1; Paisley 5, Aberdeen 0.

3rd/4th Play-Off: Paisley 22, Aberdeen 0.

Final: Murrayfield 1 Sunderland 11

Under-16: Murrayfield 2, Sunderland 0; Nottingham 0, Aberdeen 3; Murrayfield 1, Nottingham 0; Sunderland 1, Aberdeen 0; Murrayfield 1, Aberdeen 0; Nottingham 0, Sunderland.

3rd/4th Place Play-Off: Aberdeen 6, Nottingham 1

Final: Murrayfield 4, Sunderland 0.

Sunderland Tomahawks have retained North A league status in Under 19 League after securing a point from a 4-4 draw at Blackburn Thunderhawks in North promotion/relegation play-offs. Having won previous three play off ties only a single point was required.

Jonny Heslop put Tomahawks ahead at 07.45 and David Michie at 08.27 restored the advantage after Blackburn had equalised. They tied the scores again and went 3-2 ahead at 27.29 only for Jeremy Lundin to fire home on the powerplay a minute later.

Blackburn went ahead for the second time in the match after 34 minutes. With 6 minutes to go in the match Michie's second goal of the game secured the point that was required.

Tomahawks scorers: David Michie 2+0; Jonny Heslop 1+1; Jeremy Lundin 1+0, John Wilson, Dean Holland and Michael Allinson 0+1.

In the English Under-16 North promotion/relegation play-offs Whitley Tomahawks have maximum points following a 2-1 at Hillheads against Bradford Pirates. Having began with a 3-1 home win over Sheffield Greyhounds in their previous match Tomahawks were looking for a repeat victory.

A goalless opening period and the deadlock was broken 45 seconds into the middle period with a Jamie Tinsley strike putting Whitley ahead when short-handed. Jonathan Scott increased Whitley's advantage 12 minutes later.

Bradford stepped up a gear in the final period and were rewarded just 5 minutes in to cut the deficit. There was 40 seconds left and Pirates pulled their netminder in favour of an extra forward. It did not happen and Whitley won 2-1 and stay unbeaten.

This weekend Tomahawks are on the road at Coventry on Saturday and Sheffield on Sunday.

Tomahawks scorers: Jamie Tinsley and Jonathan Scott 1+0, Alistair Brummitt, Daniel Harris and Ben Moore 0+1.

Billingham Bears had a disappointing weekend at the English Ice Hockey Association Youth and Junior Championship finals at Ice Sheffield at the weekend. Bears finished top of North A league and met Peterborough Phantoms who were runners-up in South A and did not get off to the best of starts as Phantoms went ahead at 1.39 and scored again 4 minutes later.

Bears had more possession during the second period but could not capitalise with time running out, Bears did manage to find the back of the net when Jimmy Moutrey scored with 15 seconds to go but not enough.

On Sunday Bears faced Sheffield Rapiers for 3rd/4th place play-off and were far from their best suffering a 6-0 defeat. Sheffield went ahead in the final minute of the first period and added another early in the second . The first a cruel deflection and the second on a breakaway. A third came at 25.08 and two quick strikes early in the final session gave Sheffield a 5-0 advantage. The sixth was a powerplay and Moutrey was handed a five plus game misconduct with 16 seconds left for roughing.

Bear scorers: Jimmy Moutrey 1+0, Anthony Price 0+1.

Billingham Pumas lost on their travels in English Under 12 North promotion/relegation play-offs away to Flintshire Flyers by a narrow 4-3 margin. The home leg at Forum Ice Arena on Sunday was postponed due to ice plant failure, no new date has been fixed.

Sunderland Commanches are in Paris for a four day tournament involving eight teams. On Thursday Commanches met Canada, Boulogne (France), today play Billancourt (France) and Tver Russia. Tomorrow they face South Ayr Flames (Scotland) and HC Letci (Czech Republic) on Sunday the final round robin match against EVHS (Lithuania) plus a place play-off match

Whitley Bay Arrows have two English Under 12 North promotion/relegation play off games this weekend. Tomorrow they make the short trip to Billingham Pumas and on Sunday entertain Flintshire Flyers at Hillheads.

Billingham Falcons are also in action when they entertain Bradford Buccaneers at Forum Ice Arena on Sunday. Falcons must win if they are to have a chance of retaining North A League status.

North Promotion/Relegation Play-Offs

Under-12

P W L T F A Pts

Flintshire 2 2 0 0 8 -4 4

Billingham 1 0 10 3 -4 0

Whitley Bay 1 0 0 0 1 -4 0

Under-14

P W L T F A Pts

Blackburn 3 3 0 0 15 -6 6

Bradford 2 1 1 0 14 -12 2

Solihull 3 1 2 0 10 -16 2

Billingham 2 0 2 0 3 -8 0

Under-16

P W L T F A Pts

Sheffield 5 3 2 0 15 -10 6

Bradford 5 2 2 1 14 -10 5

Whitley Bay 2 2 0 0 5 -2 4

Coventry 4 0 3 1 5 -17 1

Under-19

P W L T F A Pts

Sunderland 5 3 0 1 24 -11 7

Flintshire 5 2 3 0 16 -27 4

Blackburn 3 1 1 1 13 -8 3

Bradford 4 1 3 0 6 -13 2

FIXTURES

TOMORROW: English Under 16 North Promotion/Relegation Play-Offs: Coventry Blaze v Whitley Tomahawks (5.15pm)

English Under 12 North Promotion/Relegation Play-Offs: Billingham Pumas v Whitley Bay Arrows (6pm)

Sunday: English Under 16 North Promotion/Relegation Play-Offs: Sheffield Greyhounds v Whitley Tomahawks (6.30pm)

English Under 14 North Promotion/Relegation Play-Offs: Billingham Falcons v Bradford Buccaneers (6pm)

English Under-12 North Promotion/Relegation Play-Offs: Whitley Bay Arrows, v Flintshire Flyers (4.30pm)

Recreational Match: Whitley Bay Islanders v Nottingham North Stars (12.30pm).