Junior round-up

Billingham Wolves dropped a valuable point in their English U19 North A League encounter against Blackburn Thunderhawks at the Forum ice arena. In a 4-4 draw Blackburn and Billingham lie second and third from bottom in the table respectively and occupy the promotion/relegation play-off berths.

A victory was necessary for Wolves if they were to pull away from the zone. However, a goal out of nothing from defenceman David Thomas from the blue line 15 seconds from the end saved Wolves' blushes.

Blackburn Thunderhawks took a 2-0 lead at 13.11 and 30 seconds later David Flett netted Wolves' first reply. Blackburn regained their two-goal lead in the 16th minute and at 23.19 the visitors went 4-1 ahead.

Steven Pritchard kept the deficit to two goals when he hit Wolves' second at 31.05. The match looked to be slipping out of Billingham's reach and they were short-handed when Paul Dean was on target at 56.34 to bring within one goal. The Thomas strike gives Wolves a chance of escaping the play-offs.

Wolves: David Flett, Paul Dean 1+2, David Thomas 1+1, Steven Pritchard 1+0, Liam Telfer 0+1.

Sunderland Tomahawks immediately above Wolves with a three-point lead were beaten 6-3 at Sheffield Steelhawks. There was a grudge to bear as Sunderland were awarded their home game 5-0 when Sheffield failed to play the tie on December 29. The date was rearranged but Sheffield claim having no knowledge and have put in a counter claim which is expected to be thrown out.

At Sheffield, Tomahawks went ahead at 07-96 through Dean Hamilton before Steelhawks drew level in the 16th minute. The home side went 4-1 ahead four minutes into the second session. Matthew Chapman cut the deficit a minute later.

Michael Allinson netted Tomahawks' third goal at 34.56. Sheffield fired hom their fifth and sixth goals either side of Allinson's goal.

Tomahawks: Dean Hamilton, Matthew Chapman, Michael Allinson 1+0, Adam Carr 0+2, Stephen Laidler 0+1.

Billingham meet Sunderland at the Forum ice arena this Sunday, March 10, face off 6pm.

Whitley Braves, already promoted to U19 North A League for next season, completed their North B League campaign by defeating Blackburn Ice Hawks 11-1 at Hillheads. Dale Howey put Braves ahead at 11.52 and by the first break Neil Bainbridge and Richard Dunn had given Braves a 3-0 lead.

The Tynesiders reached ten before Blackburn scored their consolation goals. Paul Graham, Dunn (2), Richard Horkan, Daniel Good, Ian Emerson and Bainbridge each found the back of the net.

Howey rounded off the scoring with the only goal of the final period.

Whitley won the league title with a 100 per cent record of 14 victories and were presented with their medals by Bob Wilkinson of the English Ice Hockey Association.

Braves: Richard Dunn 3+2, Dale Howey, Neil Bainbridge 2+2, Daniel Goad 1+5, Richard Horkan 1+1, Paul Graham, Ian Emerson 1+0, Philip Day 0+1.

Whitley Tomahawks drew 5-5 at Hillheads in English U16 North A League against Altrincham Jets, a result that sees Tomahawks go into the promotion/relegation play-offs alongside Sunderland Arrows.

An Ian Emerson brace gave Whitley a fine start going 2-0 ahead at 10.03. Three goals in a seven-minute spell for Jets saw them 4-2 ahead at 24.57. Goals either side of the second interval from Emerson and Philip Atherton made the scores level at 34.29. Altrincham were ahead again, but David Barrett was Whitley's marksman for the point from a 5-5 draw.

Braves: Ian Emerson 3+1, Philip Atherton 1+1, David Barrett 1+0, Ben Campbell 0+2, Simon Day 0+1.

Sunderland Scorpions came out 5-1 victors in the women's premier league derby against Billingham Wildcats at the Forum ice arena. League leaders Scorpions went ahead at 04.13 through Rachel Hooper and a minute later Jane Price doubled the advantage.

Wildcats cut the deficit with a Kim York goal after 11 minutes only for Sunderland to take a 4-1 lead at the end of the first period as Lynsey Emmerson and Teresa Lewis scored. The scoring was completed in the 54th minute on the powerplay from a Sasha Smith goal.

This win secures Sunderland a top four finish and a place in the championship play-offs.

Scorpions: Lynsey Emmerson 1+2, Rachel Hooper, Teresa Lewis, Sasha Smith 1+1, Jane Price 1+0, Kerry Dunn 0+2, Jayne McClelland 0+1.

Whitley Bay Squaws consolidated second place in the women's division one North with a 9-0 victory at Telfored Wrekin Raiders. Claire Oldfield and Gemma Rolt put Squaws 2-0 ahead in the first period and she made it 3-0 in the middle session and six further in the final period wrapped up the victory.

Squaws: Claire Oldfield 3+4, Sarah Christie 3+2, Sarah Smith, Gemma Rolt 1+1, Charlotte Willey 1+0.

Great Britain Ladies are involved in a three-way tournament at Hull this weekend with Belgium and Italy. Billingham's Zoe Bayne and Vanessa Hill and Whitley Bay's Claire Oldfield are in the squad.

Whitley Bay Mischiefs defeated Billingham Comets 4-1 at the Forum in an U10 chalenge. Adam Perrie put Mischiefs ahead and Coyotes were soon level through Joe Watson. Mishciefs regained the lead before the break from Luke Senior and Steven Worrall added goals in the final period.

Coyotes: Joe Watson 1+0, Daniel Spedding, Callum Clark 0+1.

Mischiefs: Luke Senior 2+1, Steven Worrall, Adam Perrie 1+0, Jonny Chilvers 0+2, James McGill, Liam Brown, Jack Connon 0+1.

Billingham Pumas were beaten 4-0 at home by Solihull Kings in the English Bantam (U12) North B League.

Sunderland Cherokees won 7-5 at Telford Terrahawks in an U12 challenge. A 0-0 first period was followed by Cherokees taking a 4-0 at 28.11 which included a Jack Watkins hat-trick and 7-3 by the end of the second. Telford added two in the third.

Cherokees: Jack Watkins 3+0, Richard Emerson 2+1, James Moutrey, Ross Cameron 1+1, Nathan Salem, Callum Davies, Marc Bell 0+2, Martin Hall, Matthew Williamson, Kimberley Hughes 0+1.

Sunderland Commanches also won 7-5 in an U14 challenge at Telford Tiger-Cubs. David Holland and Richard Westgarth put Commanches 2-0 ahead at 30.53, Westgarth and Richard Emerson later on target as Sunderland led 4-2.

Telford recovered to score three unanswered goals to go 5-4 ahead at 52.13. Westgarth (2) and Jeremy Lundin on the powerplay were on target as Sunderland won 7-5.

Commanches: Richard Westgarth 4+1, Richard Emerson 1+2, David Holland, Jeremy Lundin 1+0, Karl Nelson 0+1.