Billingham Bears are English U16 North A League winners after a 2-2 draw with Kingston Crunch at the Forum Ice Arena.

Only Sheffield Rapiers can reach Bears' total, but Billingham have the better record against Sheffield.

Bears had only one goal to show for their efforts in the opening period against third placed Kingston. Adam Smith put Bears ahead in the final minute of the first period.

It was pretty much one way traffic in the middle period, but had no goals to show for their efforts. Anthony Price put Bears 2-0 ahead on the powerplay at 32.41.

Kingston, hardly an attacking force during the game, pulled a goal back with a little over two minutes remaining. They levelled the game and grabbed a point with 50 seconds left. This from just two shots in the final period and 11 all told in the match, Bears having 36 shots on Kingston's net.

Bears' reward for first place is going forward to the league finals at Ice Sheffield in May.

Bears: Anthony Price 1+1, Adam Price 1+0, Michael McKenna, Paul Smith 0+1.

Sunderland Apaches were in action in two challenge matches at U10 level. Sheffield Samurai who finished second in U10 North/Midlands league had an 11-1 victory over Apaches at Newcastle Arena. Samurai were in front after only 21 seconds only for Apaches to equalise at 03.05 thanks to Luke Shanks.

Mark Watson in Apaches net face 32 shots in the first period as Sheffield led 3-1 with goals coming at 12.42 and 18.30. In the second three goals in two minutes for a 6-1 lead to the visitors.

Another 32 shots on Watson in the third brought five further goals. In total Watson did well from 92 shots to keep Sheffield down to 11 goals. At the other end Apaches managed only seven shots.

The following day Apaches were in local derby action when Whitley Bay Mischiefs were visitors to Newcastle Arena. Mischiefs have drawn two of their league games this season and not tasted victory. Mischiefs went ahead in this entertaining match on the two-minute mark through Christian Johnson. It was a lead Whitley held until 25.38 when Apaches scored a deserved equaliser from Dale Sharp.

Sunderland went ahead at 32.08 with a Christopher Adamson strike. The lead did not last too long when Mischiefs tied the scores at 33.35 with a well taken goal from Kieran Barnes.

Both teams had chances to snatch victory but a draw was a fair result in one of the most entertaining matches seen at Newcastle Arena this season at any age or league level.

Apaches (v Sheffield): Luke Shanks 1+0.

(v Whitley Bay)

Dale Sharp, Christopher Adamson 1+0, Shanks, Nathaniel Charlton, Bradley Orton 0+1.

Whitley Bay Mischiefs: Christian Johnson, Kieran Barnes 1+0, Kate Ord, Ben Richards, Andrew Robson 0+1.

Sunderland Cherokees were back in league action after their tournament win in Geleen when Nottingham Tiger-Cubs were visitors for an English U14 North A League match. Nottingham in second place were made to work hard for the 4-2 victory. Cherokees were quick off the mark and Jack Watkins put Cherokees ahead after 76 seconds.

Nottingham equalised in the 10th minute and took a 2-1 lead on the powerplay at 18.08. Sundereland were back on level terms at 32.01 through Adam Perrie - a well worked move involving Watkins and Perrie.

Tiger-Cubs restored their lead three minutes later and made certain when short-handed with three minutes left for 4-2.

Cherokees: Jack Watkins, Adam Perrie 1+1.

Sunderland Mohicans found Solihull Flames in good form in the English U14 North B League. Flames, in the promotion/relegation play-offs as they lie second, went ahead in the final second of the first period.

Solihull were short-handed and scored three goals in the space of 83 seconds to lead 4-0. It was extended to 7-0 before Mohicans grabbed a consolation goal from Joshua Lalande on the powerplay.

Mohicans: Joshua Lalande 1+0, Daniel Pye 0+1.

Whitley Braves' English U19 North A League clash with Kingston Predators was a tempestuous affair at Hillheads. Niggles throughout the match came to the boil at the end when several mini fracas broke out.

David Barrett, Ian Emerson, John Shreeve and Paul Shreeve received game misconducts for roughing. Ryan Sample picked up two match penalties for fighting.

Kingston had five players handed out game misconducts for roughing and another with two-match penalties for fighting and obscene gestures. Another Kingston player was given a game misconduct for slashing at 53.15.

the match itself saw Kingston win 9-0 which flattered them. Braves created plenty of chances, but found Tristan Rogers in the visitors net in excellent form for his shut-out.

Whitley Bay Squaws earned four very valuable women's division one north points at the weekend. Blackburn Thunder were beaten 8-0 on their home ice and Nottingham Vipers went down 4-0 at Hillheads.

Katie Watson gave Squaws a 60 second lead at Blackburn, which was increased to 3-0 after the first period. Charlotte Willey and Sara Christie were on target. Christie and Sarah Barnett struck in the middle period as Whitley went 5-0 ahead.

Willey completed her hat-trick with a brace in under a minute and Christie also finished with a hat-trick when she netted the eighth at 43.21.

Katie Watson drove Squaws ahead after only 45 seconds against Nottingham. Sara Christie picked up her second hat-trick of the weekend with goals at 15.14, 32.47 and 44.24.

Netminder Karen Lockey had two shut-outs totalling 16 shots. It was her third successive shut-out and fifth of the season.

Squaws (v Blackburn): Charlotte Willey, Sara Christie 3+1, Katie Watson, Sarah Barnett 1+0, Sarah Smith 0+3.

(v Nottingham): Christie 3+0, Watson 1+1, Willey, Barnett, Sarah Mason, Helen Jackson 0+1.

Following Sunderland Cherokees' success last weekend at Geleen Smoke Eaters U12 tournament in Holland, Sunderland Arrows (U16) and Northern Conference U13) (U14) were in Geleen this past weekend, but did not have as much success.

Northern Conference came second losing in the final to hosts Geleen A team 2-1. In Pool A group games Conference defeated Bergisch Gladbach 5-0, Herentals 7-0, Durne 1+0 and Mannheim 6+0 and lost 3-1 to Geleen A.

Pool B winners Nijmegen having not conceded a goal, lost 1-0 to Conference in the semis. Geleen A beat the other English side in the event, Telford, 3-0 in the second semi.

A five-game round robin in the U17 event brought Sunderland second place. They began with two defeats to an All Star team 3-1, winners Bergisch Gladback 4-0 and then had victories over Amsterdam 1+0, Geleen A 3-0 and Geleen B 4-2.

Weekend fixtures

Tomorrow

English U12 North B League

Billingham Pumas v Sheffield Swampfrogs (4.30pm)

English U14 North B League

*Sunderland Mohicans v Flintshire Hurricanes (TBC)

Women's Premier League

*Sunderland Scorpions v Guildford Flames (TBC)

English U19 North Promotion/Relegation play-offs

*Sunderland Tomahawks v TBA (TBC)

English U14 North A League

*Sunderland Commanches v Whitley Mohawks (TBC)

Sunday

English U16 North A League

Telford Rockets v Sunderland Arrows (5.30pm)

English U14 North A League

Telford Venom v Sunderland Commanches (3.30pm)

English U10 North League

Whitley Bay Mischiefs v Telford Venom (12.15pm)

Women's Division One North

Whitley Bay Squaws v Billingham Wildcats (4.30pm)