Junior round-up

Billingham Wolves finished top of the English Under-19 Northern Championship play-off group following two victories over Kingston Predators and Nottingham Leopards. Wolves took the lead at Hull against Kingston through Stephen Wallace after eight minutes. The lead was not increased until 24.38 when Tom Griffiths was on target and two minutes after he tucked away the third on the powerplay.

Kingston replied after 29 minutes to cut the deficit. However, the three-goal cushion was restored in the final minute of the middle period with Wallace's second goal of the game. Both Wallace and Griffiths completed hat-tricks at 41.49 and 50.37 respectively to extend Wolves' advantage to 6-1. The home side grabbed two further goals to see Wolves to a 6-3 win which confirmed Wolves place in the play-offs. At 56.05 Andrew Wells received a match penalty for kicking.

Wolves went ahead at Nottingham on the three-minute mark from Wallace. It was 3-0 at the first interval after the visitors had scored a brace of powerplay goals from Griffiths and D J Flett at 11.07 and 12.35 respectively.

Griffiths scored twice more to complete a hat-trick for 5-0 before Leopards struck in the final minute of the second period to break Wes Fawthorpe's shut-out.

The only goal of the final session came at 54.47 from D J Flett on the powerplay for a 6-1 victory.

Wolves (v Kingston): Stephen Wallace 3+2, Tom Griffiths 3+0, Gareth Grinnion and Richie Thornton 0+2, David Flett 0+1.

(v Nottingham): Griffiths 3+1, Daniel Flett 2-0, Wallace 1+0, Thornton and Scott Ward 0+1.

Sunderland Tomahawks went down 6-4 to Sheffield Steelhawks in the same competition, Tomahawks led 2-0 inside eight minutes with goals from James Hutchinson and Andrew Mathieson.

Sheffield responded to lead 3-2 before Jonathan Huntley equalised. Huntley again tied the scores for 4-4 at 42.59. Two late goals for the home side gave them victory.

Tomahawks: Jonathan Huntley 2+0, James Hutchinson and Andrew Mathieson 1+0, Adam Carr and Michael Allinson 0+1.

Billingham Bears opened their English Junior (U-16) North promotion/ relegation play-offs with a 2-1 win at Bradford Pirates. Andrew Thornton gave Bears a third-minute lead. Bradford took advantage of Bears' easing up to draw level at 35.52.

Thornton was on hand to regain Bears' lead two minutes later.

Bears game the previous day at home to Sunderland Arrows in the play-offs was postponed because the ice was unplayable due to flooding.

Bears: Andrew Thornton 2+0.

Billingham Pumas U-12 play-off home ties against Whitley Arrows was also cancelled due to the state of the ice.

Sunderland Scorpions were 5-0 winners over Swindon Top Cats at Hillheads in Women's Premier League. It wasn't until the 12th minute that they took the lead through Lindsey Emmerson. Either side of the first interval Emmerson and Nicky Pattison increased the lead to 3-0. Both Emmerson and Pattison struck again in the final stages of the middle period for a 5-0 win.

Scorpions: Lynsey Emmerson 3+2, Nicky Pattison 2+1, Jayne McClelland, Helen Stowe, Paula Nolan, Louise Marriner and Heather McDermott 0+1.

Whitley Bay Squaws were 6-4 victors away at Blackburn Thunder in Women's Division One North. A first period brought six goals shared and another one each in the second brought Clare Oldfield her hat-trick. Two unanswered in the third brought them victory. The teams meet again ttomorrow

Whitley Bay: Claire Oldfield 4+1, Gemma Rout 2+0, Vicky Wood and Sara Christie 0+1.