Sunderland Tomahawks went down to a heavy defeat at Newcastle Arena in their English U19 North A League encounter against Telford Trojans.

Telford are in with a chance of winning the title and brought a strong side to the arena. They included 18-year-old Joe Miller, recently signed from Cardiff and has been playing for Telford Wild Foxes in the English Premier League.

Miller was a constant thorn in Tomahawks' side as he had in nine of his side's goals in a 16-0 win. Ryan Stanton gave Telford a 54-second lead and Miller had hit a hat-trick as Trojans led 7-0 at the end of the first period.

By the end of the middle session Telford had gone 12-0 ahead and Miller scored four of them. Two of the final period's four goals came from Miller as he finished with 6+3.

Sunderland's netminders of Mark Lee and Richard Lawson shared 63 shots on their net while Tomahawks could only manage 12 on Andrew Jasczyk in Telford's net.

Billingham Wolves were also in U19 A League action when they defeated Blackburn Thunderhawks 6-2 in Blackburn. It was the home side that ended the first period ahead when Scott Barnett struck for Blackburn in the eighth minute.

Wolves hit the back of the net three times in as many minutes in the second period. Robert Dowd equalised for Wolves at 24.16 and a minute later Stuart Gibbson converted on the powerplay for a 2-1 lead. James Udell made it 3-1 at 27.53 with Wolves short-handed.

Five minutes into the final period Steven Pritchard drove home Billingham's fourth. A fifth soon followed when Daniel McConnell got on the scoresheet with nine minutes left.

Blackburn's second came at 57.29 before the scoring was wrapped up a minute later when Dowd hit his second goal of the game for a 6-2 Wolves victory.

Wolves: Robert Down 2+0, Steven Pritchard 1+2, Stuart Gibbon, James Udell, Daniel McConnell 1+0, Liam Telfer, Jamie Pattison 0+1.

Billingham Bears were surprisingly beaten 4-3 by lowly Nottingham Cougars at the Forum Ice Arena in the English U16 A League on Saturday. Bears got off to a good start when John Elkins put them ahead at 02.21. It did not last too long as Cougars drew level in under two minutes through James Neil.

Jimmy Moutrey put Billingham ahead once again on the powerplay at 18.49. Nottingham, trying to get away from the relegation play-off zone, got back on level terms at 22.04 and went 4-2 ahead with goals either side of the second interval.

There were five minutes left when Adam Smith cut the deficit with Bears' third goal. Billingham were a little under-strength due to the U19 game at Blackburn and could not snatch a point and cost their unbeaten record.

The following lunch time Bears got back to winning ways at Hillheads defeating Whitley Tomahawks 6-0. Robert Dowd gave Bears the lead with only 37 second gone. Anthony Price doubled the advantage on the powerplay at 10.09 which was soon turned into a 3-0 with Dowd's second of the game.

A two-minute minor penalty turned into four minutes with 50 seconds of the first period remaining. It cost them two goals as Paul Smith scored both at 14.33 and 16.18 respectively for a 5-0 advantage. The only goal of the final period was at 38.40 also on the powerplay as Dowd completed his hat-trick.

In the 30th minute Whitley had two players ejected from the match. Jamie Tinsley a five plus game misconduct for roughing and Mark Nicholson received two match penalties, the first for obscene gestures and the second for abuse of an official.

Bears (v Nottingham): John Elkins 1+1, Jimmy Moutrey, Adam Smith 1+0, Paul Smith 0+1.

(v Whitley): Robert Down 3+1, Paul Smith 2+0, Anthony Price 1+1, Michael McKenna 0+3, Elkins, Michael Farn, Adam Smith 0+1.

The results put back Billingham to the top of the table, Nottingham avoided the relegation play-offs. However, Whitley do not and join Bradford Pirates with the top two from North B League to contest the play-offs.

Sunderland Mohicans were in action twice in the English U14 North B League and suffered mixed fortunes. Blackburn Harriers were visitors to Newcastle Arena on Saturday and returned home pointless from a 3-1 loss. Callum Davies put Mohicans ahead after nine minutes for a deserved lead in the final of the first period Blackburn were level with a powerplay goal. Jack Watkins restored Sunderland's lead at 23.01 also on the powerplay. Davies doubled the lead with his second of the match in the 33rd minute.

Sheffield Sabres defeat Mohicans 4-1 at Ice Sheffield on Sunday. This was after Davies had given the visitors the lead at 06.03.

Within 30 seconds Sabres were level. They went ahead in the second minute of the middle session and added a third at 22.13 when short-handed.

They completed the scoring at 38.38.

Mohicans (v Blackburn): Callum Davies 2+1, Jack Watkins 1+1.

(v Sheffield): Davies 1+0, Daniel Pye 0+1.

Billingham Pumas with home advantage lost 0-11 to Nottingham Tigers, current leaders of the English U14 North A League. Tigers opened the scoring at 03.02 and led 6-0 at the first break. The only goal came in the second with a further four in the final period.

Pumas' netminders Jayce Nunn and Chris Snaith faced 63 shots and Billingham managed only seven shots on Nottingham's net.

Whitley Mohawks slipped to a 9-4 defeat at Hull Ice Arena against Kingston Aeros. The home side went 3-0 ahead until Jamie Tinsley cut the deficit at 09.07. The three-goal cushion was restored and Bobby Mole netted Mohawks' second on the 12 minute mark.

Kingston were 8-2 ahead when Tinsley scored his second at 35.19 and he completed his hat-trick marker on the powerplay at 38.35. Aeros struck their ninth in the 37th minute.

Mohawks: Jamie Tinsley 3+1, Bobby Mole 1+0, Kurt Waller 0+2, Thomas Harley 0+1.

Sunderland Commanches lost 0-2 at Sheffield Stormers in the U14 North A League.

Whitley Bay Mischiefs travelled to Nottingham Pumas in an English U10 North Midlands League match. Whitley lost 8-1, but put on a fine performance. Pumas led 4-0 after the opening period and added another two before Jonny Zajac struck Mischiefs' consolation goal at 36.30.

Mischiefs: Jonny Zajac 1+0, Kate Ord 0+1.

Billingham Wildcats hosted Nottingham Vipers in the women's division one North at the Forum Ice Arena suffering a 4-0 defeat.

Wildcats could not find a goal from the 28t shots they had on the Vipers' net. Jenny Metcalfe faced 52 shots in Wildcats' net.

Sunderland Cherokees are in Geleen, Holland, for an U12 tournament this weekend. It is a 12-team tournament which includes Dutch, German, Latvian and Sheffield Lasers teams.

Sunderland Arrows U16 squad go to Geleen next weekend for a six-team tournament.

Fixtures

Tomorrow: Findus British National League play-offs: Edinburgh Capitals v Newcastle M and M City News Vipers (6pm).

English U19 North A League: Blackburn Thunderhawks v Sunderland Tomahawks (6pm)

English U14 North A League: Billingham Falcons v Kingston Aeros (6pm).

Sunday: Findus British National League play-offs: Dundee Stars v Newcastle M and M City News Vipers (6.30pm)

English National Hockey League Cup North: Billingham Bombers v Sheffield Scimitars (6.15pm).

English U14 North A League: Whitley Mohawks v Telford Venom (12.15pm).

English U12 North B League: Bradford Buccaneers v Billingham Pumas (5.15pn).

Women's Division One North: Whitley Bay Squaws v Sheffield Shadows (4.30pm).