Sunderland Tomahawks began their English U19 North Promotion/Relegation play-offs with two victories at the weekend.

Bradford Vipers were visitors to Newcastle Arena and restricted Tomahawks to a goalless first period. Two minutes into the restart Michael Allinson gave Sunderland the lead which was to last two minutes when Bradford equalised.

Allinson's second goal of the game at 29.21 restored Tomahawks' advantage. Darren Shanks increased their lead four minutes into the final period, a goal which was certain to come following much pressure on the Bradford goal.

With five minutes remaining Jonny Heslop's goal wrapped up a 4-1 win.

The following day Flintshire Avalanche were visitors to Newcastle Arena and put up a creditable performance before going down 4-6. Sunderland were unable to find the net until 24.24 when Shanks put his side ahead. Jeremy Lundin doubled the lead a minute later.

Callum Hewitt and Lundin were on target for 4-0 by the end of the second period which was increased to 5-0 when Shane Hewitt struck in the 15th minute.

Flintshire caught out Sunderland as they cut the deficit to one with four goals in six minutes by 52.37. Shanks' second goal of the game in under a minute later halted the slide and put Tomahawks into a 6-4 lead. A scoreline that remained to get Sunderland off to a good start in the play-offs.

Tomahawks (v Bradford): Michael Allinson 2+0, Jonny Heslop 1+2, Darren Shanks 1+1, Richard Westgarth 0+2.

(v Flintshire): Shanks 2+2, Jeremy Lundin 2+1, Callum Hewitt, Shane Hewitt 1+0, Allinson, Heslop, Dean Holland 0+2.

Whitley Tomahawks defeated Sheffield Greyhounds 3-1 in their opening English U16 North Promotion/Relegation play-off match at Hillheads. Whitley went ahead on the powerplay after eight minutes and four minutes later Greyhounds equalised.

Ben Moore put Tomahawks back in front at 26.07 and eight minutes later Alistair Brummitt increased the lead. Sheffield North B League winners for the past two seasons were putting up a valiant effort, but were unable to breach Whitley's defences any further.

Tomahawks: Nathan Taylor 1+1, Ben Moor, Alistair Brummitt 1+0, Gareth Hughes, Martin Wilson, Andrew Wood 0+1.

Billingham Falcons hosted Blackburn Kestrels in the English U14 North Promotion/Relegation play-off encounter at the Forum ice arena. Kestrels scored four goals in as many minutes to go 4-0 ahead.

Falcons continued to battle away and were rewarded with a late strike from Scott Cooper in the 44th minute.

Falcons: Scott Cooper 1+0, Alistair McGill 0+1.

Having already been assured of the women's premier league title Sunderland Scorpions completed their home league programme with a 13-0 win over Flintshire Furies. Nikki Pattinson put Scorpions ahead on the powerplay at 03.25.

Five goals in eight minutes from Helen Stowe, Claire Oldfield, Lynsey Emmerson (2) and Teresa Lewis saw the lead increase to 6-0 by the end of the first period.

There was no let up in the second period with Sunderland adding another eight goals to lead 11-0. Both Lewis and Emmerson recorded hat-trick markers in the period. Two powerplay goals in the third from Emmerson and Gemma Rolt completed the scoring.

Scorpions: Lynsey Emmerson 4+3, Teresa Lewis 3+1, Claire Oldfield 2+3, Jayne McClelland 1+4, Nikki Pattinson 1+1, Helen Stowe, Gemma Rolt 1+0, Clare Foster, Louise Marriner 0+1.

Sunderland Commanches were beaten 9-1 by Northern Conference U13 squad in a challenge match.

Commanches: Richard Emerson 1+0, Daniel Pye 0+1.

North UB: Wayne Erskine 2+3, Bobby Mole 2+2, Ben Low, Richard Haggar 2+1, Nathan Salem 1+3, Grant Sharp 0+2, Kyle Fitton, Alex Atkinson 0+1.

Whitley Bay Squaws were 9-0 winners over Sheffield Shadows in the women's division one North at Hillheads. A Sara Christie brace put Squaws on their way with goals in the ninth and 14th minutes. Her hat-trick came at 21.53 and Sarah Smith hit a fourth six minutes later.

With a little over five minutes to go Whitley led 4-0 and at the final whistle had added another five. Christie (2), Sarah Barnett (2) and Sarah Mason found the net. Karen Lockey in Squaws' net faced just five shots for her shut-out.

Squaws: Sara Christie 5+1, Sarah Barnett 2+1, Sarah Smith, Sarah Mason 1+0, Katie Watson 0+3, Charlotte Willey 0+2, Gabby McLennan 0+1.

Billingham Pumas, Sunderland Cherokees and Whitley Bay Arrows participated in the Hockey UK 2004 U12 tournament at Kirkcaldy, Fife, at the weekend. Paisley, Guildford and hosts Kirkcaldy completed the six-team event.

Sunderland did best of the North-East trio reaching the finally only to lose 3-2 after overtime to Kirkcaldy. Adam Perrie and Callum Davies scored for Cherokees after Kirkcaldy had taken a 2-0 lead.

Cherokees began with three wins over Paisley 5-0 (Davies 2, Jack Watkins 2, Alex Lawson); Whitley 9-0 (Watkins 4, Lawson 2, Davies, Matthew Read, Emma Hall) and Billingham 5-0 (Davies 3, Watkins, Graham Robson). Kirkcaldy then edged Cherokees 3-2 (Watkins, Perrie) before Guildford won 3-1 (Davies).

Guildford met Cherokees in the semis which went to penalty shots. Davies and Watkins had Sunderland 2-1 ahead until Guildford equalised with seven seconds left. Davies and Perrie converted the penalty shots.

Billingham finished fifth defeating Whitley 3-2 on penalty shots in the fifth/sixth place play-off. James Moss gave Pumas a first minute lead and Liam Brown levelled at 18.26. Joe Watson converted the winning penalty shot to take fifth place.

Pumas' only other win was 3-1 over Arrows in the round-robin. Moss and Watson had put Pumas 2-0 ahead and Daniel Bentley pulled a goal back at 27.37. The two-goal lead was restored two minutes later with Moss's second goal

Whitley lost all of their games, but went home with the Spirit of the Tournament award.

Whitley Braves were winners of the U19 event at Kirkcaldy at the weekend. A thrilling final was decided on sudden death penalty shots. Ryan Sample scored the important penalty shot. After five shots each and no goals scored it was sudden death with Guildford missing the first. Up stepped Sample to give Braves the title. In normal time it was 1-1, Daniel Good scoring at 31.15 after Guildford had gone ahead.

Braves defeated Fife 2-1 (Ian Emerson, Dale Howey) and Nottingham 2-1 (Good 2), drew 2-2 with Sheffield (Howey, Sample) and lost 1-0 to both Chelmsford and Guildford.

The loss against Guildford meant Whitley were up against Fife in their semi-final. Andrew Wile gave Braves a fifth minute lead which Shaun Kippin doubled at 20.33. Sample made certain with a third at 29.14 before Fife hit a late consolation with seven seconds left.

RESULTS: Under-12s: Kirkcaldy 6, Whitley 2; Sunderland 5, Paisley 0; Guildford 3, Billingham 1; Whitley 0, Sunderland 9; Paisley 0, Guildford 2; Billingham 0, Kirkcaldy 9; Whitley 2, Paisley 6; Sunderland 5, Billingham 0; Guildford 0, Kirkcaldy 4; Whitley 1, Guildford 6; Paisley 2, Billingham 0; Sunderland 2, Kirkcaldy 3; Paisley 0, Kirkcaldy 8; Billingham 3, Whitley 1; Sunderland 1, Guildford 3.

Semi-final: Kirkcaldy 2, Paisley 0; Guildford 2, Sunderland 2 (Sunderland win on pen shots).

Fifth/sixth place play-off: Whitley 1, Billingham 1 (Billingham win on pen shots).

Final: Kirkcaldy 3, Sunderland 2 (after overtime).

Sunderland: Callum Davies 10+5, Jack Watkins 9+6, Alex Lawson 3+2, Adam Perrie 3+0, Matthew Rear 1+1, Emma Hall, Graham Robson 1+0, Damiel Bamling 0+1.

Billingham: James Moss 3+1, Joe Watson 1+3.

Whitley: Daniel Bentley 3+0, Jonny Zajac, Matthew Sellars, Liam Brown 1+0, Andrew Terrance 0+1.

Under-19: Fife 1, Whitley 2; Chelmsford 2, Sheffield 0; Nottingham 0, Guildford 2; Whitley 0, Chelmsford 1; Sheffield 0, Nottingham 4; Guildford 1, Fife 1; Nottingham 0, Fife 3; Chelmsford 0, Guildford 4; Whitley 2, Sheffield 2; Chelmsford 0, Fife 3; Whitley 2, Nottingham 1; Sheffield 2, Guildford 4; Chelmsford 0, Nottingham 2; Sheffield 1, Fife 6; Whitley 0, Guildford 1.

Semi-finals: Guildford 0, Nottingham 0 (Guildford win on pen shots); Fife 1, Whitley 3.

Fifth/sixth place play-off: Sheffield 0, Chelmsford 1.

Individual awards: UNDER-19s: Best netminder: Carl Edwards (Nottingham)

Best defenceman: James Wiggins (Guildford)

Top points scorer: Lee Mitchell (Fife)

Spirit of the Tournament: Nottingham Leopards

Under-12s: Best netminder: Joe Bealing (Paisley)

Best defenceman: Gary Wilkie (Kirkcaldy)

Top points scorer: Ian Quinn (Kirkcaldy)

Spirit of the Tournament: Whitley Bay Arrows

Whitley: Daniel Good, Ryan Sample 3+0, Dale Howey 2+0, Ian Emerson 1+2, Andrew Wile 1+1, Shaun Kippin 1+0, Ben Campbell 0+2, David Barrett, Paul Shreeve 0+1.

Fixtures

Tomorrow: Women's Premier League: Slough Phantoms v Sunderland Scorpions (6.15pm).

English U12 North Promotion/Relegation play-offs: Flintshire Flyers v Whitley Bay Arrows (6pm).

U14 North Challenge: Telford Venom v Sunderland Mohicans (3.30pm)

U12 North Challenge: Telford Terrahawks v Sunderland Cherokees (5.15pm)

Sunday: English National Hockey League Cup North: Blackburn Hawks v Billingham Bombers (6pm)

English U19 North Promotion/Relegation play-offs: Flintshire Avalanche v Sunderland Tomahawks (6.30pm)

Women's Division One North: Billingham Wildcats v Whitley Bay Squaws (6pm).