Sunderland Scorpions' good start to the season is continuing after two victories at the weekend.

This gives Scorpions six points out of six and retains their one hundred percent record. Kingston Diamonds were the visitors to Telewest Arena on Saturday and they returned home pointless after a 4-2 defeat.

Lynsey Emmerson gave Scorpions the lead when her side was short-handed at 03.19 and 90 seconds later with Sunderland still a player short due to the penalty Claire Oldfield doubled the lead. In the 12th minute Scorpions extended their advantage with a Gemma Rolt strike.

Kingston were back in the hunt when they opened their account three minutes into the middle period and were themselves short-handed when scoring after 30 minutes.

Helen Stowe gave Scorpions a little breathing space when she added the Wearsiders fourth goal four minutes into the final period. that was the way it stayed and could have been much bigger winning margin except for Dawn Dickinson in Kingston's net.

Kingston's lineup included Vicky Wallace, brother of Newcastle KBS Vipers forward Stephen Wallace.

The following day Scorpions with again home advantage defeated Sheffield Shadows 5-3. The opening goal went Scorpions way when Jayne McClelland struck at 06.56. Sheffield were on level terms four minutes later and on the 12th minute marker took the lead through former Billingham Wildcat Zoe Bayne with time runnign out at the end of the first period Lynsey Emmerson equalised on the powerplay.

Sheffield went ahead once again in the first minute of the second period. This they held onto until 37.21 when Emmerson tucked away her second and Scorpions third when short-handed. Claire Oldfield restored Scorpions lead 33 seconds into the final period. Emmerson completed her hat trick in the 47th minute and secured Scorpion's victory.

Scorpions scorers (v Kingston): Claire Oldfield 1+2, Lynsey Emmerson and Helen Stowe 1+1, Gemma Rolt 1+0, Gemma Watt, Jayne McClelland and Jane Price 0+1.

(v Sheffield): Emmerson 3+1, Oldfield 1+1, McClelland 1+0, Watt, Teresa Lewis and Claire Foster 0+1.

Billingham Wolves are still unbeaten after four games in English Under-19 North A League this season. Their latest outing was a 3-3 draw away at Nottingham Leopards. Wolves had in goal Michael Snook who is studying at Nottingham University.

Wolves went ahead at 11.10 through Liam Telfer, a lead which they held for a little over a minute when Leopards drew level. They went ahead again with the only goal of the second period at 31.19 through Stuart Gibbon. Nottingham, always likely to be near the top of the table come end of the season caught Billingham out with two goals in 33 seconds to lead 3-2 at 41.08 just 32 seconds later Telfer's second of the match on the powerplay levelled the match.

Wolves scorers: Liam Telfer 2+0, Stuart Gibbon 1+0, James udell, Robert Dowd and Michael Farn 0+1.

Billingham Bears winning start in English Under-16 North A League continued with a 4-2 victory over Blackburn Eagles at Forum Ice Arena. It would have been a farm bigger winning margin if not for Eagles netminder Greg Ruxton as Wolves outshot them 39-4.

Ruxton's opposite number James Flavell was beaten after eight minutes when Eagles went ahead on the powerplay. Robert Dowd equalised with 70 seconds left of the opening period when Bears short-handed.

Bears were again shorthanded when Michael Farn put them ahead at 20.25 and four minutes later Paul Smith doubled the lead with Billingham on the powerplay.

Blackburn's second goal of the game three minutes into the final period. Bears fourth goal came with under two minutes remaining and a third shorthanded goal and Farn's second of the match.

Bears scorers: Michael Farn 2_0, Robert Dowd 1+1, Paul Smith 1+0.

Billingham Falcons played host to Blackburn Kestrels in English Under-14 North A League at Forum Ice Arena. A close contest saw Kestrels go ahead in the sixth minute on the powerplay. Falcons were back on level terms a minute into the middle period through a Scott Cooper strike.

Kestrels winning goal came with two minutes left of the second period.

Falcon's scorers: Scott Cooper 1+0, Alex Atkinson 0+1.

North/Midlands league match at Hillheads against Kingston River Rats was played as a challenge game as Whitley did not have sufficient players. Mischiefs did not have best of starts but rallied to earn a 5-5 draw. River Rats took a second minute lead which was increased to 4-0 after 19 minutes.

Mischiefs' recovery began at 23.25 when Katie Ord struck and five minutes later Christian Johnson added a second for Whitley. After 31 minutes Kingston struck for a 5-2 lead.

Never say die Mischiefs grabbed a draw with goals from Johnson, Harry Harley and Ord in two minutes by 38.18.

Mischiefs scorers: Katie Ord and Christian Johnson 2+0, Harry Harley 1+0, Ben Richards, Joshua Hall and Andrew Cook 0+1.

English National Hockey League North

Billingham Bombers are still without a victory from four outings and lie second from bottom. Bombers had two games last weekend and picked up a point, their first of the season on Sunday against visiting Blackburn Hawks.

The previous night at Grimsby Buffaloes, Bombers were surprisingly beaten 6-2. Liam Telfer put Bombers ahead after six minutes and the home side equalised at 12.39.

Buffaloes having conceded 51 goals in their three previous games went 3-1 ahead before James McCabe netted a second at 35.36. Grimsby on home ice and boosted by an almost full strength squad regained their two goal cushion two minutes from the end of the second period. They added a further brace early in the final period.

Several senior players were unavailable at Grimsby - Brian Perry, Martin Lewis and Andy Thornton plus netminder Michael Snook who is now at Nottingham University. Adam Flett, having resigned played the first two periods before making way for Simon Burns.

For the home match against Blackburn Perry and Thornton returned plus Anthony Price and Lee Fletcher added as under-19 players had their own league match in Nottingh reducing Bombers squad.

Perry and Scott Ward put Bombers 2-0 ahead inside the first period against Blackburn. Hawks drew level in a six minute spell five minutes before the second interval.

Thornton's strike in the second minute of the final period gave Bombers a 3-2 lead. Hawks earned a point with a goal six minutes from time. Colin Downie in Hawks net made several good saves to deny Bombers their first victory of the season.

Bombers scorers (v Grimsby): Liam Telfer 1+1, James McCabe 1+0, Ian Richardson 0+2, Jamie Patterson 0+1.

(v Blackburn): Brian Perry 1+1, Andrew Thornton and Scott Ward 1+0, Richardson, Paul Windridge and David Thomas 0+1.

Sunderland Chiefs surprised Whitley Warriors and made them work hard for the 8-6 win at Hillheads on Sunday. Michael Allinson gave Chiefs a third minute lead but goals from Lee Baxter, Paul Graham and Garry Dowd saw Whitley lead 3-1 after 21 minutes.

It was nip and tuck and Stephen Hoult in Warriors netkeeping them ahead. Kristian Lloyd (2) and Jonny Heslop were on target for Chiefs as they rallied for 4-4 at 40-34, Baxter and Tindale's second at 53.26 extended the home side's lead to 7-4. Lloyd hit his hat-trick three minutes later only for Baxter to score his fourth of the game at 57.41. Chiefs hit a sixth goal in the final minute from Allinson.

Sunderland showed a much improved performance than over recent years against Whitley and can be very proud of themselves. Chiefs outshot Warriors 50-31 and the much more experienced netminder of Whitley's Stephen Hoult than of Sunderland's Mark Lee. However Whitley were without Andrew Carter (injured), Bryan Dunn (suspension), Dale Howey and Daniel Good who have both gone to University.

Warriors scorers: Lee Baxter 4+3, Andrew Tindale 2+4, Paul Graham 1+2, Garry Dowd 1+1, Robert Wilson 0+2, David Barrett 0+1.

Chiefs scorers: Kristian Lloyd 3+0, Michael Allinson 2+0, Jonny Heslop 1+0, Shaun Black 0+3, David Michie 0+2, Adam Hendry 0+1.

Tomorrow's fixtures

English Under-19 North A League: Billingham Wolves v Nottingham Leopards (6.30pm).

English Under-16 North A League: Sunderland Arrows v Blackburn Eagles (7.00pm at Telewest Arena)

English Under-14 North A League: Sunderland Commanches v Blackburn Kestrels (5pm at Telewest Arena).

English Under-14 North B League: Sunderland Mohicans v Coventry Blaze (3pm at Telewest Arena).

English Under-12 North B League: Coventry Blaze v Billingham Pumas (4.15pm).

Sunday's fixtures

Findus Challenge Cup: Newcastle KBS Vipers v Dundee Stars (6pm).

English National Hockey League cup North: Whitley Warriors v Billingham Bombers (6.30pm).

Womens Premier League: Flintshire Furies v Sunderland Scorpions (6.15pm).

English Under-16 North A League: Nottingham Cougars v Billingham Bears (7.15pm)

English Under-12 North A League: Whitley Bay Arrows v Sunderland Cherokees (12.15pm).

English Under 10 North/Midland League: Kingston River Rants v Whitley Bay Mischiefs (12.15pm).