Billingham Bears came out on top in their English U16 North A League encounter with Sunderland Arrows at the Telewest Arena.

Bears ran out 4-2 victors, but would have been a much bigger margin if not for the performance of Arrows' netminder Mark Thurman.

Bears failed to find a way past a Sunderland rearguard until 25.44 on the powerplay with a Michael Farn strike. The lead was doubled at 29.08 when Paul Smith beat Thurman also on the powerplay.

After being a spectator for most of the first two periods Bears netminder James Flavell was beaten 30 seconds into the final period.

The two-goal Bears' advantage was restored on the 34th minute mark from a marathon Bence shot. Arrows were back to within one when Martyn Davies struck 61 seconds later.

Sunderland was also in contention being within one of Billingham. The Teessiders' 100 per cent record remains in tact and victory assured with Farn's second goal of the game with three minutes remaining.

Arrows: Dean Holland 1+1, Martyn Davies 1+0, Matthew Bence 1+0, John Elkins, Anthony Price 0+1.

Bears: Michael Farn 2+2, Paul Smith 1+1, Matthew Bence 1+0, John Elkins, Anthony Price 0+1.

Whitley Tomahawks hosted Nottingham Cougars to another U16 North A League match at Hillheads. Whitley went ahead in the first minute through Jamie Tinsley. Cougars hit back in the fifth minute and led 3-1 after the opening period.

Ben Moore cut the deficit in the second minute of the middle period and at 17.23. Nottingham went 4-2 ahead, their fourth goal from five shots and Mick Rowe coming on for the unfortunate Liam McAllister in Tomahawks' net.

Nottingham did not score again until the 42nd minute when they struck twice in 16 seconds on powerplays for a 6-2 win. Whitley like Sunderland are without a point.

Tomahawks: Jamie Tinsley, Ben Moore 1+0, Sam Zajac 0+2, Daniel Harris, Mark Nicholson 0+1.

Two of the leading sides in the English U12 North B League met at the Forum Ice Arena when Billingham Pumas entertained Flintshire Flyers. A seesaw game ended with the honours shared from a 4-4 draw. Robert Heale put Pumas ahead at 13.45 and goals either side of the first break saw Flyers lead 2-1. Heale's second in the 20th minute tied the scores again.

A hectic four minutes brought two goals to each side. Joe Watson struck at 38.31 to put Pumas 3-2 ahead. Goals for Flyers at 40.15 and 41.33 gave them back the lead, but Heale's hat-trick marker at 42.37 insured a deserved point for Billingham.

Pumas: Robert Healed 3+0, Joe Watson 1+0, Stephen Simcox 0+2.

Flintshire Raptors defeated Billingham Coyotes in a U10 challenge match by 8-0.

Sunderland Cherokees completed a U12 North A League double over Whitley Arrows after a 20-0 win at the Telewest Arena. Jack Watkins and Callum Davies began the scoring in the opening minute. Michael Elder, Watkins and Davies made it 5-0 by the end of the first period - Watkins and Davies each completed hat-tricks in the second period plus Elder and Alex Lawson got on to the scoresheet at Cherokees went into a 12-0 lead.

It was one way traffic during the final period as an Adam Perrie brace along with single strikes from Luke Shanks and James Hamilton eased Sunderland on to the 20 mark. Watkins finished top scorer with seven goals and Davies weighed in with six.

Evie Roberts faced only seven shots on Cherokees' net while David Lawrence faced 58 shots in Whitley's net.

Cherokees: Jack Watkins 7+1, Callum Davies 6+6. Michael Elder 2+5, Adam Perrie 2+0, James Hamilton 1+1, Luke Shanks, Alex Lawson 1+0, Emma Hall 0+4, Ashleigh Holland 0+2, Lee Gill 0+1.

Sunderland Mohicans played two U14 matches at the weekend. In North Be League Sheffield Sabres went away with both points from a 5-1 victory. Sabres led 2-0 after the first period and increased to 4-0 before Jack Watkins netted the consolation goal at 20.19. Sheffield's fifth came after 32 minutes.

The previous day Mohicans hosted North A League side Telford Venom in a challenge match. Watkins was on the mark at 12.59 and five minutes later Davies added a second.

Telford clawed their way back for a 2-2 draw with goals in the 27th and 37th minutes.

Mohicans (v Sheffield): Jack Watkins 1+0, Callum Davies, Callum Ross 0+1.

(v Telford): Watkins, Davies 1+0, Richard Emerson 0+1.

Sunderland Scorpions made it five wins out of five in the women's premier league after a 13-0 victory at the Telewest Arena over Swindon Top Cats. The floodgates opened at 01.14 when Jane Price gave Scorpions the lead. Lynsey Emmerson and Nikki Pattinson made it 3-0 by the end of the first period.

It was all one way traffic as Ben Hutchinson in Scorpion's net was a virtual spectator. Pattinson, Emmerson, Claire Oldfield, Teresa Lewis and Price extended the lead to 8-0 by the end of the second period.

Oldfield completed her hat-trick early in the final period scoring at 40.24 and 43.59. Emmerson's hat-trick marker came at 55.22 sandwiched between goals from Lewis and Helen Stowe.

Scorpions: Claire Oldfield 3+2, Lynsey Emmerson 3+1, Teresa Lewis 2+2, Jane Price, Nikki Pattinson 2+0, Helen Stowe 1+0, Jayne McClelland 0+4, Gemma Watt 0+1.

Billingham Wildcats played their first game in two seasons on Sunday in Telford in a women's division one North game being re-formed during the close season. Wildcats acquitted themselves well at title favourites Telford Wrekin Raiders losing 3-2. Vanessa Hill gave Wildcats the lead three minutes into the second period and Emma Gourlay restored the lead at 31.17 after Telford had equalised. Two goals in five minutes in the final period gave Telford victory.

Wildcats: Vanessa Hill, Emma Gourlay 1+0, Rachel McCabe, Lynsey Amos 0+1.

Sunderland Tomahawks are still without a point in the English U19 North A League following a 7-2 home defeat at the hands of Nottingham Leopards. Two goals for Leopards in only the second minute of the game put them on their way to victory.

They led 4-0 by the end of the first and it was 5-0 before a John Wilson powerplay goal got Tomahawks on the scoresheet at 32.15. David Michie was on target in the final period and there was a further two for Nottingham to edge out Sunderland.

Tomahawks: David Michie 1+1, John Wilson 1+0, Jonny Heslop 0+1.

Nathan Salem and Jimmy Moutrey each scored twice as Sunderland Commanches won 4-1 at Blackburn Kestrels in English U14 North A League.

English National Hockey League North

Whitley Warriors were the only North-East side involved in ENHL at the weekend. It was another defeat for Warriors losing 6-2 at Hillheads against National League champions Sheffield Scimitars. It was Whitley's fourth straight defeat, the second loss against Sheffield in three weeks.

Sheffield led 1-0 through a fifth minute powerplay goal and three more in a five-minute spell in the second period made it 4-0. It went 5-0 at 41.25 before Andrew Carter began Warriors' reply two minutes later. It was Carter's first game of the season after receiving a hand injury at work.

Garry Dowd netted Whitley's second with 63 seconds remaining.

Warriors: Garry Dowd 1+1, Andrew Carter 1+0, Paul Graham, Andrew Robinson 0+1.

Fixtures

Tomorrow: English National Hockey League North: Blackburn Hawks v Whitley Warriors (6pm); Grimsby Buffaloes v S'land Chiefs (5pm); Kingston Jets v Bill. Bombers (5.30pm).

English U16 North A League: Billingham Bears v Sunderland Arrows (6.30pm); Sheffield Rapiers v Whitley Tomahawks (4pm).

English U14 North A League: Billingham Falcons v S'land Commanches (4.30pm).

Sunday: Caledonian Cup: Newcastle KBS Vipers v Dundee Stars (6pm).

English National Hockey League North: Bill. Bombers v Sheffield Scimitars (6.15pm).

English U19 North A League: Telford Trojans v S'land Toma. (4.30pm); Whitley Braves v Blackburn Thunderhawks (6.30pm).

English U14 North A League: Whitley Mohawks v Sunderland Comm. (12.15pm).

Women's Division One North: Nottingham Vipers v Whitley Bay Squaws (5.30pm).