Sunderland Scorpions have a two-point lead at the top of the women's premier league following an 8-4 victory at Sheffield Shadows. The win also secured a top four finish for Scorpions and a place in the end of season play-offs. Scorpions went ahead with a Teresa Lewis goal in the 12th minute and Claire Forster doubled the lead two minutes later.

Lynsey Emmerson increased the advantage with a powerplay strike three minutes from the end of the first period. Sunderland's fourth came and was a repeat of th third, two minutes into the second period.

Sarah Clare struck the fifth at 30.03 and Claire Oldfield a sixth after 36 minutes.

Shadows did put much pressure on Ben Hutchinson in Scorpions net during the second period and in the latter stages pulled two goals back. They added a third two minutes into the final period.

Scorpions too an 8-3 lead five minutes later after goals from Helen Stowe and Emmerson to complete her hat-trick. Sheffield rounded off the scoring at 48.57.

Scorpions: Lynsey Emmerson 3+1, Claire Oldfield, Teresa Lewis 1+2, Helen Stowe 1+1, Sarah Clare, Claire Forster 1+0, Jayne McClelland 0+1.

Whitley Braves gave themselves a chance of avoiding English U19 North promotion-relegation play-offs with a 6-2 home victory over Sheffield Steelhawks in a North A encounter. They went ahead in the second minute through Daniel Good with the only goal of the first period.

Second placed Sheffield with a smaller squad came back into the game early in the second period to go 2-1 ahead with goals at 24.55 and 27.00. Braves drew level five minutes from the end of the period with a Rob Wilson strike.

Ryan Sample and Dale Howey gave Whitley a 4-2 advantage scoring in a minute either side of the second interval. Netminder Stephen Hoult kept Sheffield at bay with saves before victory wrapped up with goals late in the game from Ben Campbell and Good.

Braves: Daniel Good 2+2, Dale Howey 1+1, Robert Wilson, Ryan Sample, Ben Campbell 1+0, Ian Emerson 0+2. Robert Cairns 0+1.

Sunderland Commanches home game against Telford Tiger-Cubs in the English U14 North A league was played at Telford due to lack of ice time at the Telewest Arena. Commanches moved up into fourth place courtesy of the 6-3 win over Telford.

Commanches got off to a flying start with an Aiden Parker goal at 01.53. Daniel Murdy (2) and Mark Robson increased Commanches lead to 4-0 at 09.25 when Telford changed netminders. Murdy's hat-trick marker game at 10.32 for 5-0.

Telford opened their account at 25.01 and Robson's second on the powerplay 11 minutes later restored the five-goal lead. Tiger-Cubs rallied with two late strikes.

Commanches: Daniel Murdy 3+1, Mark Robson 2+0, Aiden Parker 1+0, Daniel Pye, Danny Lamb, Martin Thrimble, Nathan Salem 0+1.

In an U10 challenge Sunderland Apaches lost 21-5 to Telford Turtles.

English National Hockey League

play-offs

Whitley Warriors lie bottom of the play-off table after the opening weekend of ENHL North play-offs. On Saturday they suffered their biggest defeat of the season going down 11-4 at Altrincham Aces. An under-strength squad without Bobby Bradley, Kevin Bucas, Paul Matthews and Andrew Carter as well as coach Peter Winn completing his two-match ban which picked up when Warriors left the ice in their final league match at Bradford Bulldogs on February 15. Bucas and Carter picked up three match bans and return next week. Paul Graham scored Whitley's only goal in a 1-4 first period. Daniel Good and Lee Baxter struck in the second as Aces lead was increases to 7-3.

Baxter's second goal of the game came at 47.21 as Acres added a further four.

Kingston Jets went 2-0 ahead with powerplay goals by 08.03, Andrew Tindale on the powerplay at 09.18 and Graham six minutes later levelled the scores. Jets restored their lead before Good tied the scores again after 31 minutes.

The visitors scored twice in three minutes and Whitley had Stephen Winn thrown out of the game for spearing at 47.08. Kingston added another for a 6-3 victory.

Warriors (v Altrincham): Lee Baxter 2+1, Paul Graham, Daniel Good 1+0, Bryan Dunn 0+2, Garry Down 0+1.

(v Kingston): Graham 1+1, Good, Andrew Tindale 1+0, Rob Cairns, Baxter, Ian Emerson, Dunn 0+1.

Whitley Warriors duo Dale Howey and Daniel Good as well as Billingham Bombers' Andrew Thornton have been selected for Great Britain Under-18 duty in Latvia for the World championships. GB meet Germany, Latvia, Denmark, Slovenia and Japan at the end of this month.

Tomorrow fixtures

Findus British National League play-offs Group A: Newcastle KBS Vipers v Cardiff Devils (6.30pm).

English National Hockey League North play-offs: Kingston Jets v Whitley Warriors.

English U19 North A League: *Sunderland Tomahawks v Altrincham Tigers (10am)

Women's Premier League: *Sunderland Scorpions v Guildford Lightning (noon).

U14 Challenge: Billingham Falcons v Whitley Mohawks (6pm)

English U10 North/Midlands League: *Sunderland Apaches v Coventry Blaze.

Sunday's fixtures

Findus British National League play-offs Group A: Coventry Blaze v Newcastle KBS Vipers (6pm)

English National Hockey League North play-offs: Whitley Warriors v Altrincham Aces (6.30pm)

English U19 A League: Altrincham Tigers v Whitley Braves (5.15pm), Nottingham Leopards v Billingham Wolves (7.30pm)

English U16 North B League: *Sunderland Arrows v Flintshire Flyers (4pm)

English U16 North A League: Kingston Crunch v Whitley Tomahawks (12.15pm)

U12 challenge: *Sunderland Cherokees v Telford Terrahawks (2.15pm)

U10 challenge: Whitley Bay Mischiefs v Billingham Coyotes (12.20pm)

English U10 North/Midlands League: *Sunderland Apaches v Sheffield Lasers (noon)

*All Sunderland home games at Telewest Arena