Junior round-up

Whitley Tomahawks played their first two matches in the English Junior (U16) North promotion/relegation play-offs last weekend and got at least one point and could be awarded a second.

Tomahawks' second match was against Blackburn Eagles and with only 32 seconds remaining were awarded a penalty shot trailing 1-2. Ian Emerson scored and the referee allowed the goal. It was disallowed after a linesman said the Blackburn netminder had moved before the puck was touched.

The penalty shot was retaken by Emerson and he missed. The game ended 2-1 in favour of Blackburn.

After the final whistle the referee, upon consulting the rule book, noted he had made the wrong decision and the goal should have stood. He immediately informed league officials and asked for a goal to be awarded to Whitley for a 2-2 draw.

Earlier Blackburn had taken a 2-0 lead by the 27th minute. Thomas Hewison cut the deficit with Tomahawks' goal at 42.10.

Whitley await the decision of the English Ice Hockey Association.

Tomahawks (v Blackburn): Thomas Hewison 1+0, Ian Emerson, Philip Atherton 0+1.

The previous day Whitley travelled to Bradford Pirates and held to a 2-2 draw. Whitley led 1-0 at the first interval with an Ian Emerson strike. Bradford equalised again run of play after 15 minutes. Emerson put Tomahawks ahead early in the final period before Bradford hit back for a share of the spools.

Tomahawks dominated the game but found Pirates' netminder Thomas Chamberlain in fine form.

Tomahawks (v Bradford): Emerson 2+0, Robert Cairns 0+2, Atherton and David Barratt 0+1.

Billingham Wolves are certain of Under-19 North A League status after a 6-0 win at Solihull Knights in the promotion/relegation play-offs. A one-sided first period which failed to produce a goal due to Luke Thomas in Knights' net.

The deadlock was broken at 21.41 with a Paul Harland strike. Scott Ward doubled the lead on the powerplay in the 29th minute. Three minutes later it was 4-0 after an Andrew Thornton double.

Thornton completed a straight hat-trick three minutes into the final period, an assist going to James Kennair which was his first at U19 level.

Stephen Wallace rounded off the scoring with a goal at 52.02. In under a minute Solihull had their second player of the match ejected from the game. Wolves were without James McCabe and Liam Telfer as well as coach Terry Ward. Ward is serving a suspension after picking up game and gross misconduct penalties against Blackburn Thunderhawks the previous week.

Wolves: Andrew Thornton 3+0, Stephen Wallace 1+1, Paul Harland, Scott Ward 1+0, David Thomas, James Kennair, Andrew Wells, Robert Dowd 0+1.

Sunderland Cherokees kept on course to retain English Bantam (U12) North A League place after a 4-3 win over Birmingham Rockets in the promotion/relegation play-offs. It was a much easier victory than the scoreline suggested.

Cherokees went ahead after five minutes through Grant Sharp. Callum Davies (2) and Sharp increased the lead to 4-0 at 29.33. Thirty seconds later Birmingham pulled a goal back and another two by 36.59.

Sunderland held out as both teams called a time out and Cherokees remain top of the table.

Cherokees: Grant Sharp, Callum Davies 2+0.

Northern Conference Under-15 squad warmed up to this weekend's junior inter-conference tournament at Hull with a 5-3 win over Kingston U16-19 select.

Billingham's Liam Telfer scored twice to put the Conference squad 3-2 ahead at 34.21. Kingston drew level before two late goals gave North victory.

Five other Billingham players, Richard Griffiths, Paul Smith, Michael Farn, Steven Pritchard and Robert Dowd as well as Whitley Bay's Ben Campbell and Andrew Wile, are included in the squad.

Michael Snook and Andrew Thornton were part of the England U17 squad that won 5-1 at Nottingham Leopards in a challenge match. The Billingham duo are joined by Whitley Bay's D J Good and Joe Stamp this Sunday when England meet Scotland U17s at Hull.

Whitley Bay Squaws completed their women's division one North season with a 3-2 defeat at Hillheads against Telford Wrekin Raiders. Squaws got off to an excellent start going 2-0 ahead inside seven minutes with goals from Claire Oldfield and Gemma Nicholl.

But Squaws found Telford's netminder in good form and it came as no surprise that Telford struck on the breakaway and by 41-20 they had tied the scores and a minute later netted the winner.

At the end of the match Squaws captain Claire Oldfield, on behalf of the club and the team, made a presentation to Squaws manager Janet Heal who is stepping down.

Squaws: Claire Oldfield, Gemma Nicholl 1+0, Gemma Bolt 0+1.

Billingham Wildcats finished their debut season in the women's premier league with a 9-0 defeat at champions Guildford Lightning. Wildcats travelled with only seven skaters plus netminder Jenny Smith.

Guildford were a goal ahead after four minutes. Four goals in as many minutes at the start of the second period put the result beyond any doubt.

Wildcats put up a spirited performance against Guildford and will have learned much this season and look forward to another in the women's premier league come September.