Junior round-up

Sunderland Arrows broke their duck on Saturday when they won their first English Junior (Under 16) North A league match of the season. The Wearsiders defeated Altrincham Jets 5-3 at Hillheads Whitley Bay.

It was sweet revenge for Arrows following a 5-2 reverse at Altrincham in October.

Arrows went ahead at 4.53 through Liam Telfer and Jets equalised 46 seconds later. Sunderland went back ahead at 6.33 thanks to a Shaun Kippin strike.

Altrincham's Mark Maleese was sent to the dressing room at 9.19.

Sunderland took the advantage of the five minute powerplay to score twice. Telfer netting the first at 9.51 and John Westgarth extended the lead to 4-1 at 11.20.

In a much more even middle session both sides score a goal apiece.

Jets recorded their second in the 17th minute and Arrows leading scorer and Captain Stephen Laidler was on the mark. This came on the powerplay at 23.38.

Altrincham reduced the deficit with the lone strike of the final period after 31 minutes.

Both teams have two points apiece and are still in the bottom two, in line for the promotion/relegation play-offs. They are three points adrift of safety.

Arrows: Liam Telfer2+0; Shaun Kippin 1+2; John Westgarth 1+1; Stephen Laidler 1+0; Michael Allinson 0+3; Stuart Kitching 0+1.

Whitley Bay Junior Ice Hockey Club held their annual kids against parents/coaches/guests match at Hillheads. The kids were 5-0 ahead with strikes from Nathan Saley, Jamie Tinsley, Rob Cuilson, Jamie Buck and Phil Atherton at 13.39. Eddie Good, Simon Leach and Chris Salem reduced the deficit before the break. Callum Pattinson hit a sixth before the interval.

The "old-timers" went 7-6 ahead as strikes from Paul Towns, Stu Davis, Leach and Steve Winn gave them the advantage. Tinsley and Liam Pattinson restored the youngsters lead at 37.49 with just two seconds remaining. The young squad had a bench clearance and the match was abandoned. This was due to the referee (Santa Claus) and the linesmen (Rudolf and Vixen) being unable to regain control!

Peter Kirk, Whitley Bay's junior development officer, said the youngsters, aged 11 to 14, played their fathers every year in the fun game and explained: "Most years it ends up something like that.

"The kids always take the opportunity to get one over on dad. It's all in good fun.

"It's never gotten out of hand yet."

But, he joked: "It will one year."

No doubt the junior players will be given extra on ice and off ice training for their part in the rumpus that took place.

Kids: Jamie Tinsley 2+0;' Phil Atherton and Callum Pattinson 1+1; Rob Wilson, Jamie Buck, Nathan Salem and Liam Pattinson 1+0; Nathan Taylor, Callum Watson and Stephanie Towns 0+1.

Coaches/Parents: Simon Leach 2+0; Chris Salem 1+3; Paul Towns 1+2; Stu Davis 1+1; Steve Winn and Eddie Good 1+0; Carl Nelson and Ref 0+1