Junior Round-up

Billingham Wolves and Sunderland Tomahawks both won their English Under-19 North A League weekend matches. Wolves returned to winning ways on home ice, defeating Blackburn Thunderhawks 3-1 on Sunday.

It was far from their best performance of the season but did enough to take both points. The first period did not produce a goal and not until their second powerplay opportunity did Billingham take the lead, Dale Taylor sending them ahead at 24.17.

Blackburn levelled two minutes later and in the 33rd minute the home side regained their lead once again on the powerplay from Tom Griffiths.

Wesley Fawthrop kept Blackburn from drawing level with some good saves and with seven seconds remaining Wolves made certain of victory. This was achieved by a penalty shot tucked away by Griffiths.

Wolves: Tom Griffiths 2+0, Dale Taylor 1+1, Stephen Wallace 0+2, Andrew Wells 0+1.

Sunderland Tomahawks kept in touch with a 9-3 win at Telford Trojans to complete a league double. As at Billingham, there were no goals in the first period. In the middle session Telford took the lead three times, two on their two powerplay opportunities. Adam Carr with a brace and Jonathan Huntley, also on the powerplay, tied the scorers at 3-3 after two closely contested periods.

Sunderland took the lead for the first time in the 46th minute through James Hutchinson and top scorer Kristian Lloyd added another five minutes later. Tomahawks were well on top in the final session.

Four goals in three minutes from Lloyd (2), Michael Allinson and John Westgarth completed the scoring.

Tomahawks scorers: Kristian Lloyd 3+1, Adam Carr 2+2, Jonathan Huntly 1+1, Michael Allinson 1+2, James Hutchinson and John Westgarth 1+0.

This weekend's U-19 clash at Hull Arena between Kingston Predators and Sunderland has been called off. Sunderland requested the move because both James Hutchinson and David Thomas are on international duty. Along with Billingham's Stephen Wallace, they are are in Great Britain's U-17 squad in Pralognan, France, for an international training camp.

Billingham's Michael Snook and Andrew Thornton plus Whitley Bay's Joe Stamp and Daniel Good are at an international training camp with Great Britain U-16 squad in Kapfenburg, Austria, until Sunday.

Billingham Pumas had a 4-2 home win over Solihull Kings in the English Bantam (U-12) North A league. Pumas took only 22 seconds to open the scoring through Andrew Flynn. This was increased to 2-0 when Ben Moore was on target at 3.13.

Solihull cut the deficit two minutes later when they were short-handed with seconds remaining. Jake Roberts restored the two-goal lead.

Kings were on target again in the 31st minute but Pumas always had the edge and to make sure of victory Steven Charlton tucked away another goal with two minutes remaining.

Pumas scorers: Jake Roberts 1+1, Andrew Flynn, Ben Moore and Steven Charlton 1+0, Sean Nattress and Scott Cooper 0+1.

Whitley Mohawks were beaten 16-1 at home by Kingston Aeros in the English Pee-Wee (U-14) North A league. Kingston led 2-0 inside two minutes before Andrew Wile replied on the powerplay at 8.52. At the break, Aeros held a 7-1 lead and despite a net minding change Mohawks conceded another nine in the final period.

Mohawks scorers: Andrew Wile 1+0, Lee Davis 0+1.

James Moutrey scored Sunderland Cherokees only goal in a 10-1 loss at Kingston Rivermen in the U-12 North A League