Junior round-up - It was third time lucky for Sunderland Tomahawks in the English Under-19 North A league after home defeats by Altrincham Tigers and Nottingham Leopards.
Tomahawks gained their first points by defeating Telford Trojan 8-3 at the Telewest Arena.
The first period brought no goals as the Telford netminder saved everything that Sunderland threw at him. Two minutes into the second period Tomahawks went ahead from a Kristian Lloyd effort. Telford were on level terms five minutes later.
Tomahawks regained their advantage in the 33rd minutes through Steven Goldsmith and Lloyd added a third before the second break.
Two goals in the opening minutes of the final period from John Westgarth and Adam Carr increased Sunderland's lead to 5-1. Telford hit back inside a minute, but once again Lloyd and Keith Barker once again found the net for Sunderland. Trojan scored their third before Carr completed the scoring in the 58th minute.
The victory takes Tomahawks away from the bottom of the table.
Tomahawks: Kristian Lloyd 3+3, Adam Carr 2+2, Steven Goldsmith 1+1, John Westgarth, Keith Barker 1+0, Stephen Laidler, Jonathan Huntley 0+1.
Whitley Tomahawks' first English junior (Under-16) North A League match of the season ended in defeat against Sheffield Rapiers at Hillheads. The match was delayed 20 minutes because of the Sheffield Team were held up in Great North Run traffic.
The home side went ahead in only 38 seconds through Ben Campbell. Rapiers were soon in their stride and by 05.50 were 3-1 ahead. Two powerplay goals in the ninth minute from David Barratt and Robert Wilson tied the scores for 3-3.
Tomahawks went 4-3 ahead 33 seconds into the second period from a Ryan Sample powerplay goal.
Whitley got themselves into penalty trouble and were made to pay by Sheffield with five powerplay goals in six minutes at the end of the middle period for an 8-4 lead. Robert Wilson received a five plus game misconduct for roughing at 25.16.
Sheffield struck a ninth in the first minute of the final period. Ian Emerson and Campbell reduced the deficit when Whitley were short-handed in the 36th minutes. Rapiers completed the scoring with three late goals for a 12-6 win.
Tomahawks: Ben Campell 2+0, David Barratt 1+1, Ian Emerson, Robert Wilson, Ryan Sample 1+0, Thomas Hewison 0+2, Robert Cairns 0+1.
Billingham Wolves opened their English Under-19 North A league season at Altrincham Tigers due to Billingham Eagles having an English National League match on also, an inexperienced squad was put out. Wolves included seven Under-16s in the 15-man squad.
Tigers went ahead short-handed at 06.40 and led 3-0 by the end of the first period for the remainder of the match. Wolves played three lines of forwards and two of defence as all players got valuable ice time. They battle bravely and the home side came away 11-0 winners.
Sunderland Commanches suffered their first English Pee-Wee (Under-14) North A league defeat of the season. After two wins over Nottingham Tigers a week ago they lost 2-0 at Kingston Aeros.
Kingston got off to a good start scoring at 04.22 and doubling the lead a minutes later. Commanches kept Kingston at bay for the remainder of the game, but could not break Aeros' defence. Sunderland only had 11 shots on Kingston's goal while there were 22 on Mark Turman in the Commanches
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