Sunderland Tomahawks picked up their first points of the season in the English U19 North A League with a 3-3 draw against Blackburn Thunderhawks at Newcastle Arena.

Tomahawks after five defeats met the team immediately above them and two points more, went a goal behind in only 17 seconds. Blackburn hit a second at 16.27 and a third 39 seconds into the second period.

An injury to a Blackburn player held up play for a time while awaiting paramedics at the game's halfway stage.

Sunderland opened their account in the 38 minutes from David Michie and four minutes into the final period Michael Allinson brought Tomahawks to within one of Blackburn.

There was a little over seven minutes remaining when Dean Holland struck to level the match. This set up a resounding finale which brought no goals. The game finished with only two of the three officials when one of the linesmen suffered a leg injury in the 37th minute. Thankfully no serious injuries to both linesmen and player soon after the game had ended, the Blackburn player suffering no ill effects.

Tomahawks: Michael Allinson 1+1, David Michie, Dean Holland 1+0, Jeremy Lundin 0+2, John Westgarth, John Wilson 0+1.

Sunderland Scorpions' unbeaten record has gone after suffering a 4-2 defeat at Cardiff Comets on Sunday. It was the second game on a double-header at Swindon Top Cats and Cardiff. Scorpions found that netminders of both Swindon and Cardiff had outstanding games to keep Scorpions' goal count down.

Scorpions were unable to beat Amy Johnson until 20.52 when Helen Stowe opened the scoring. Claire Oldfield doubled the lead.

In the final two minutes Sunderland struck twice through Oldfield and Lynsey Emmerson with their side short-handed. This was due to Gemma Watt picking up a five plus game misconduct for boarding.

Pauline Anderson in Sunderland's net faced 23 shots for her shut-out. Johnson in Swindon's net faced 53.

The next day at Cardiff Scorpions got off to a bad start with Comets taking the lead on the powerplay at 07.47. One of only three shots that went on Ben Hutchinson's goal in Scorpions' net. Opposite number Emma Hayman in Cardiff's goal faced 14 shots.

It did not get much better for Scorpions in the middle period as Cardiff scored twice for a 3-0 lead. Sunderland's first reply came at 46.46 through Claire Oldfield and a minute later Lynsey Emmerson received a ten minute misconduct.

Teresa Lewis netted a second at 50.27 only for Cardiff to respond with a fourth a minute later. Sunderland remain top of the table.

Scorpions (v Swindon): Claire Oldfield 2+1, Lynsey Emmerson 1+1, Helen Stowe 1+0, Heather McDermott, Jayne McClelland, Teresa Lewis 0+1.

(v Cardiff): Oldfield, Lewis 1+0, Jane Price, Stowe, Nicki Pattinson 0+1.

Whitley Bay Squaws went down 4-1 at Hillheads in the women's division one North between the top two sides. Squaws won 5-4 in Telford a week ago, but this week Telford Wrekin Taiders got their revenge.

Telford went ahead in the third minute and increased their advantage after 12 minutes. Whitley's lone reply came through Katie Watson six minutes into the middle period. Raiders went back to the top of the table with two further goals in this final period.

Squaws: Katie Watson 1+0.

Whitley Mohawks were comfortable 10-1 victors over neighbours Billingham Falcons in the English U14 North A League at Hillheads. Falcons are still at the bottom of the league. Jamie Tinsley put Mohawks ahead as early as 33 seconds.

Bobby Mole and Callum Watson had put Whitley 3-0 ahead when Scott Cooper scored Falcons' only goal at 24.12. Tinsley and Christopher Pyle fired Whitley into a 5-1 lead at the end of the second period. Both Tinsley and Watson (2) had completed their hat-tricks six minutes into the final period. Josh Buck and Kurt Waller completed the scoring in the final minutes.

Mohawks: Jamie Tinsley 3+4, Callum Watson 3+1, Bobby Mole 1+4, Christopher Pyle, Kurt Waller 1+1, Josh Buck 1+0.

Falcon: Scott Cooper 1+0.

In the English U1 North A League Sunderland Cherokees were beaten 2-9 at Newcastle Arena by visiting Sheffield Lasers. Sheffield with a 100 per cent record went ahead in the first minute which was increased to 3-0 by the first break. Lasers and Cherokees shared four goals in as many minutes with Adam Perrie scoring both for Cherokees by the 24th minute.

Sheffield led 6-2 at the end of the second session and another three in the third completed the scoring.

Cherokees: Adam Perrie 2+0, Callum Davies 0+2, Jack Watkins, Matthew Elder 0+1.

Six players from Sunderland and three from Whitley Bay are in the Northern Conference U15 squad for the Junior Inter-Conference Tournament at Hull Ice Arena over May Bank Holiday weekend. Mark Thurman, Danny Lamb, Karl Nelson, Jimmy Moutrey, Daniel Murdy and Aidan Parker from Sunderland join Mark Nicholson, Nathan Taylor and Jamie Tinsley from Whitley Bay in an initial 23-player squad which will be trimmed to 19.

English National Hockey League North

Sunderland Chiefs put in a workmanlike performance to defeat Bradford Bulldogs 4-2 at Newcastle Arena. Chiefs found themselves trailing 0-2 after four minutes. Sean Alderson with the first of the two goals opened Chiefs account at 24.55 and Michael Allinson tied the scores two minutes from the end of the period.

Alderson put Chiefs in the lead 69 seconds into the final period and Allison on the powerplay made it 4-2 at 43.30. Chiefs kept on top of the game and the win was their first after eight successive defeats.

The previous day Blackburn Hawks came to Newcastle Arena and returned home with both points in a 9-3 victory. Hawks went ahead at 03.12 and Kristian Lloyd levelled the scores six minutes later. Blackburn took an 8-1 lead before Alderson and David Michie cut the deficit with late goals. However, there was still time for Hawks' player/coach Bobby Haig to score his hat-trick marker with 27 seconds remaining.

Chiefs (v Bradford): Sean Alderson, Michael Allnson 2+0, Richard Danskin 0+2, Jonny Heslop, Stuart Weaver, Jeremy Lundin, Adam Hendry 0+1.

(v Blackburn): Alderson, David Michie, Kristian Lloyd 1+0, Allinson 0+3, Heslop 0+1.

Whitley Warriors lost 12-2 away to Sheffield Scimitars in the English National Hockey League Cup North. Ian Emerson and Andrew Tindale netted Warriors' consolation goals after 50 and 57 minutes respectively.

Billingham Bombers' home cup tie with Sheffield Scimitars was postponed.

Fixtures

Tomorrow: Findus British National League: Hull Stingrays v Newcastle M and M City News Vipers (5.45pm)

English U14 North B League: Flintshire Hurricanes v Sunderland Mohicans (6pm).

English U12 North B League: Flintshire Flyers v Billingham Pumas (4.15pm)

Sunday: Findus British National League: Bracknell Bees v Newcastle M and M City News Vipers (6pm).

English National Hockey League North: Billingham Bombers v Nottingham Lions (6.15pm); Flintshire Freeze v Whitley Warriors (6.30pm)

Women's Division One North: Sheffield Shadows North v Whitley Bay Squaws (2.30pm).

English U16 North A League: Kingston Crunch v Sunderland Arrows (12.30pm)

English U12 North A League: Whitley Arrows v Sheffield Lasers (12.15pm).