Ice Hockey

Billingham Wolves would have beaten visitors Sheffield Steelhawks by a bigger margin than their 7-2 winning scoreline had it not been for Geoff Woolhouse in the Sheffield net. He faced a total of 48 shots and did well to keep the goals tally down.

Wolves sharp-shooter Stephen Wallace scored the first of his five goals when he put his side ahead at 06.53. The only other goal of the opening period came on the powerplay from Scott Ward after 14 minutes.

Sheffield received 74 penalty minutes in the match and allowed powerplays to Billingham at 21.39 and 29.47 and he scored even-handed in between at 27.49.

Steelhawks got off the mark to break Wesley Fawthrop's shut-out at 28.01. Dale Taylor and Wallace with Wolves short-handed extended their advantage to 7-1 at 34.24.

The visitors scored their second two minutes later which completed the night's scoring. Woolhouse made further saves to keep Wolves goals tally down.

Wolves: Stephen Wallace 5+0, Scott Ward 1+2, Dale Taylor 1+0, Tom Griffiths 0+4, Philip Pritchard 0+1.

Sunderland Arrows are still rooted at the bottom of English Junior (Under-16) North A League. Their latest outing brought them a 3-0 defeat at Nottingham Cougars. Arrows kept Cougars at bay until the 20th minute and further goals in the 32nd and 43rd minutes gave Nottingham a 3-0 win. Arrows young squad had several chances especially on the powerplays, but could not convert them.

Billingham Falcons are still in the running for the English Pee-Wee (Under-14) North A League title after their 6-2 local derby win over Whitley Mohawks at the Forum ice arena. Chances at both ends went begging before Steven Pritchard gave Falcons the lead at 12.50 and James Udell doubled the advantage 37 seconds later. There was a minute remaining in the first period when Udell scored his second on the powerplay.

After 23 seconds had gone in the final period Robert Dowd made it 4-0 and it went nap through Pritchard inside three minutes. Dowd also struck his second before Mohawks scored two consolation goals which were both scored by Philip Atherton.

Falcons: Steven Pritchard 2+2, James Udell, Robert Dowd 2+1, Matthew Finn 0+1.

Mohawks: Philip Atherton 2+0, Ben Campbell 0+2, Andrew Wile 0+1.

Sunderland Scorpions have gone top of the women's premier league following two away victories at the weekend. On Saturday they were 6-2 winners at Swindon Top Cats who are bottom of the table.

Kerry Dunn, with a brace, saw Scorpions in to a 2-0 first period lead and Gemma Nichol scored a third before Swindon notched their first.

Lynsey Emmerson and Nicola Pattinson increased the lead to 5-1 and Emmerson's second came following Swindon's second.

Scorpions: Kerry Dunn, Lynsey Emmerson 2+0, Nicola Pattinson 1+2, Gemma Nichol 1+0, Jayne McClelland 0+2, Helen Stower, Michelle Marriott 0+1.

Slough Phantoms hosted Scorpions on Sunday and they went ahead after 26 minutes. The visitors were level at 29-03 with a goal from Michelle Marriott. Emmerson put Scorpions ahead for the first time at 35.17 and five minutes later scored her second for a 3-1 Sunderland victory.

Scorpions: Emmerson 2+0, Marriott 1+0, Stowe 0+2, Dunn, Pattinson, Paul Nolan 0+1.

Sunderland Cherokees took a step closer away from the promotion/relegate play-offs. They had an easy 13-0 win over pointless Solihull Kings in the English Bantam (Under-12) North A League.

Two goals in the third minute from Karl Nelson and Richard Emerson set the Wearsiders on their way. Vicki Wilson, Callum Davies and Mark Robson made it 5-0 by the tenth minute. At the interval it had become 8-0 with James Moutrey (2) and Jack Watkins on target.

Five in the final session saw Moutrey and Robson complete hat-tricks. Mark Thirman and Philip Hooper shared a 12-shot shut-out.

Cherokees: James Mountrey 4+1, Mark Robson 3+0, Richard Emerson 2+1, Callum Davies 1+2, Vicki Wilson 1+1, Karl Nelson, Jack Watkins 1+0, Martyn Davies, Mark Bell 0+1.

Cherokees were beaten at Blackburn Sparrowhawks in a challenge match on Sunday, Callum Davies, the lone marksman, in an 8-1 defeat.

Sunderland Apaches were 5-1 victors at Blackburn Merlins in an Under-10 challenge.

Apaches: Davies 2+3, Watkins 2+0, Michael Elders 1+0, Ross Hanlon 0+1.

Whitley Arrows had a 13-4 home win over Grimsby Ghosts in English Bantam (Under-12) North B League match. Nathan Salem sent them on their way in the third minute. Further goals from Jamie Tinsley, Shaun Lee, Callum Watson and Danny Lamb took them 5-1 ahead at the break.

Arrows: Jamie Tinsley 3+1, Natham Salem 3+0, Shaun Lee 2+2, Andrew Wood 1+0, Laura Mole, Bobby Mole, Chris Gibson, Josh Buck 0+1.