Junior round-up: Sunderland Arrows gained their first victory of the season in the English U16 North A Leaguein a 6-5 win over Nottingham Cougars in the Lace City.

Arrows trailed 5-3 with ten minutes left only for three goals in five minutes put them ahead for the first time in the game.

Two goals 17 seconds apart in the 39th minute from Jeremy Lundin and Dean Holland put Arrows back on terms for 5-5. Lundin's second of the game on the powerplay at 43.24 secured the win.

Daniel Murdy opened Sunderland's account after nine minutes following Cougars going ahead four minutes earlier. Ben Connon hit Arrows'second at 26.02 when trailing 1-3 and Holland's first at 33.31 reduced the deficit to 4-3.

Arrows: Dean Holland 2+2, Jeremy Lundin 2+1, Daniel Murdy 1+1, Ben Connon 1+0, Jimmy Moutrey, Danny Lamb 0+1.

The previous day Arrows went away pointless following defeat at Sheffield Rapiers. Sheffield went ahead on the powerplay at 2.53 and doubled the lead at 14.11. Arrows conceded another three goals in eight minutes during the middle period. The scoring was completed in the 37th minute when Sheffield scored for a 6-0 victory. At times in the game Rapiers had Arrows pegged back in their own zone and outshot Sunderland 39 to 11.

Whitley Tomahawks and Bradford Pirates, holding the bottom two places in the U16 North A League each without a point apiece, met in Bradford. Tomahawks got off to the best of stars when at 03.11 Ben Moore fired the visitors ahead. Only seven seconds later Nathan Taylor doubled the lead. By the end of the first period it had got better for Whitley after Sam Zajac drove home the third goal.

Mark Nicholson converted a powerplay at 29.14 to extend Whitley's advantage to 4-0. Bradford lost their composure as three of their players received ten minute misconduct penalties and another, James Pearey, got his marching orders at 40.59. He picked up a match penalty for headbutting.

Bradford scored a consolation goal a minute later. Tomahawks' victory leaves Bradford at the foot of the table without a point.

Tomahawks: Ben Moore, Nathan Taylor, Sam Zajacs, Mark Nicholson 1+0, Andrew Wood, Jamie Tinsley 0+1.

There was derby action in the women's knockout cup when Billingham Wildcats played host to Whitley Bay Squaws at the Forum Ice Arena. A close contest between two well matched sides ended with Wildcats taking the match 4-3.

Sarah Clare gave Wildcats the lead with her side short-handed for the only goal of the first period. Vanessa Hill scored a second two minutes into the middle period.

Squaws opened their account through Sarah Smith after 32 minutes. Clare's second goal of the game two minutes later restored Wildcats' two-goal lead.

Whitley's second came from Sarah Barnett early in the final period and Jenny Carter with four minutes left put Billingham 4-2 ahead. Squaws took a time out with 17 seconds to go after Becky Kasnet had scored for Whitley to come within one of their hosts. It came to nothing as Wildcats progress to the next round.

Wildcats: Sarah Clare 2+0, Vanessa Hill 1+1, Jenny Carter 1+0, Nicola Borg, Lindsay Amos, Paula Garblett 0+1.

Squaws: Sarah Smith 1+1, Sarah Barnett, Becky Kasner 1+0, Charlotte Willey 0+2, Helen Jackson 0+1.

Sunderland Apaches travelled to Sheffield Samurai for an U10 North Challenge at Ice Sheffield with only 11 players in their ranks. Apaches borrowed seven Sheffield players to boost their numbers.

Samurai went ahead after 30 seconds and Apaches equalised at 01.03 through Dale Sharp. Sheffield went ahead for the second time when Max Phillips, one of the borrowed players, equalised in the final minute of the first period. Sheffield went 3-1 ahead.

Three more Samurai goals put them 6-2 ahead before another goal from a borrowed player netted Apaches' third goal at 29.55. The scoring was completed with two further Sheffield goals.

Apaches: Dale Sharp, Max Phillips, Richard Cockburn 1+0, Cameron Brownley, Luke Shanks 0+1.

English National Hockey League North

Billingham Bombers were beaten 5-2 by Flintshire Freeze in Deeside on Sunday in the EnHL North action. Freeze in second place were pushed by Bombers, but a disappointing middle period cost them after they conceded four goals.

Flintshire took the lead with the only goal of the opening period on the powerplay. Scott Ward equalised three minutes into the second period. In the space of six minutes Flintshire struck four times to go 5-1 ahead. With only ten seconds remaining Stephen Pritchard added Bombers' second goal of the game.

Ward and Jamie Pattison returned to the squad after missing the previous night's game against Blackburn Hawks. Due to the closure of the Altrincham ice rink in April several of their players joined Flintshire.

Blackburn visited the Forum Ice Arena to tackle Bombers in ENHL Cup North and came away with both points from a 4-3 victory. Robert Down put Bombers ahead in the ninth minute and Hawks equalised seven minutes later on the powerplay.

As at Flintshire, Bombers went to sleep during the middle period as Blackburn scored three without reply to go 4-1 ahead. Andrew Thornton and Martin Lewis cut the deficit to one with 85 seconds to go.

Billingham pulled their netminder without success as Hawks held on for a narrow win. Bombers went into the Blackburn game minus simon Hehir, Ian Richardson, Brian Perry, Ward, Jamie Patterson and Stephen V Johnson for a number of reasons and did well. Ward and Pattison were back in the lineup at Flintshire.

Bombers (v Blackburn): Robert Dowd, Martin Lewis 1+1, Andrew Thornton 1+0, James McCabe, Stuart Gibbon 0+1.

(v Flintshire): Scott Ward, Stephen Pritchard 1+0, Thornton, Andrew Wells, Michael Farn 0+1.

Sunderland Chiefs travelled to face Blackburn Hawks in a Challenge match and went down to a 5-2 defeat. Hawks went 2-0 ahead in the first period and Chris Brown opened Chiefs' account at 26.26.

Hawks led 4-1 before Michael Allinson struck Sunderland's second in the 48th minute. The home side's fifth came late in the game.

Chiefs: Michael Allinson 1+1, Chris Brown 1+0, Sean Anderson 0+2, Paul Shanks 0+1.

Sunderland Chiefs have the chance to complete a league double when Grimsby Buffaloes are the visitors to the Telewest Arena on Sunday (face off noon). Chiefs won 7-3 in Grimsby three weeks ago in the ENHL North.

Billingham Bombers entertain Kingston Jets at the Forum Ice Arena on Sunday (face off 6.15pm). Bombers won 4-3 in Hull three weeks ago.

FIXTURES

Tomorrow: Findus British National League: Guildford Flames v Newcastle KBS Vipers (6pm)

English U19 North A League: Billingham Wolves v Telford Trojans (6.30pm)

English U14 North Challenge: Billingham Falcons v Sunderland Mohicans (4.30pm)

SunDAY: Findus Challenge Cup semi-final, first leg: Newcastle KBS Vipers v Fife Flyers (6pm)

English National Hockey League North: Billingham Bombers v Kingston Jets (6.15pm); Sunderland Chiefs v Grimsby Buffaloes (12noon at the Telewest Arena).

English U19 North A League: Whitley Braves v Telford Trojans (6.30pm)

English U16 North A League: Kingston Crunch v Billingham Bears (12.30pm)

English U14 North B League: Grimsby Ghosts v Sunderland Mohicans (5pm)

English U10 North League: Whitley Bay Mischief v Nottingham Colts (12.15pm)

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