Billingham Bears, unbeaten in the U-16 North A last season, started this season with a victory after winning 2-1 at Telford Trojans on Saturday.

After a goalless opening period Stuart Gibbon gave Bears the lead at 22.12 and in under a minute Telford had Simon James ejected from the game on a five plus game for roughing. On the resulting five minute powerplay Bears increased their advantage through Andrew Thornton.

Telford created opportunities but for Michael Snook in Bears net to defied them. Telford did manage a late reply to reduce the deficit but the Bears held on to win.

Bears scorers: Gibbon and Thornton 1+0, Rix and Dowd 0+1

Billingham Wildcats came out 4-1 victors over Sheffield Shadows in the Women's Northern League in their first game of the season.

Wildcats went ahead from a powerplay strike from Vicki Wallace after 16 minutes and they increased their advantage to 3-0 with goals two minutes apart from Rachel McCabe and Kirsty Amos at 27.14.

Sheffield reduced the deficit short-handed in the 32nd minute but victory for Billingham was wrapped was wrapped up with Amos's second goal of the game after 37 minutes.

Wildcats scorers: Amos 2+0, McCabe 1+1, Wallace 1+0, Zoe Bayne 0+1

Whitley Arrows were convincing 7-1 winners at Hillheads over visiting Nottingham Tiger-Cubs in the English Bantam U-12 North B League. It was an Andrew Wood powerplay goal that gave Arrows an eighth minute lead and Jamie Tinsley and Daniel Murdy were on target to put Whitley 3-0 ahead at the interval.

Three goals in four minutes from Daniel Harris, Danny Lamb and Murdy made it 6-0 and Tinsley's second in the 36th minute put Arrows 7-0 ahead before Nottingham scored a late consolation in the final minute.

Arrows scorers: Murdy 2+2, Tinsley 2+0, Lamb 1+1, Harris and Wood 1+0, Pattison, Lee, Gibson and Zajac 0+1

Whitley Mischiefs played their first ever U-10 North League match on Saturday when they visited Hull Ice Arena to face Kingston River Rats. Kingston led 3-0 after the first period before Nathan Salem opened Whitley's account at 25.55.

Kingston responded with three goals in 34 seconds although Bobby Mole hit-back with second for Whitley after 30 minutes only to see Kingston struck twice in as many minutes.

The last minute of the match brought Mischiefs a third goal from Liam Brown and Kingston an 8-3 victory. Kingston outshot Whitley 45-11.

Mischiefs scorers: Salem, Mole and Brown 1+0, Watson 0+2

Sunderland Tomahawks suffered a 6-3 defeat at Sheffield Steelhawks on Sunday in English U-19 North A League.

The Wearsiders found Sheffield netminder Geoff Woolhouse in tremendous form keeping Sunderland at bay in both second and third periods.

The first period brought no goals but Sheffield eventually took the lead through Jonathan Woolhouse before Tomahawks drew level with James Hutchinson. Keith Leyland and Geoff Woodhouse gave Sheffield a two goal advantage by the end of the second period which ended 3-1 in the home side's favour.

Woodhouse completed his hat-trick for 4-1 with his side short-handed at 41.11 but Sunderland hit back with a brace from Adam Carr at 42.03 and 53.16. Woodhouse was keeping his side in the game at this stage and as Tomahawks were caught pressing forward as Sheffield struck two late goals.

Tomahawks scorers: Carr 2+0, Hutchinson 1+0, Lloyd 0+2, Allinson 0+