Junior round-up

Sunderland Commanches lost to eventual winners Slough Bombers at the semi-final stage of the 2003 Hockey UK Under-14 tournament. Bombers scored the only goal of the game after six minutes and held on for the narrow victory.

Commanches began the tournament by losing 3-1 to hosts Kirkcaldy Chiefs who went ahead on 63 seconds. Aiden Parker equalised for Commanches five minutes later. Kirkcaldy won with goals in the16th and 25th minutes.

The Wearsiders' second game on Good Friday brought them victory by 2-1 over Murrayfield Rapiers. Callum Pattison fired Sunderland into a 12th minute lead which Rapiers equalised five minutes later. The winner came after 25 minutes from Jimmy Moutrey.

Saturday began for Commanches with a second loss this time to Blackburn Kestrels by 3-0. However, they completed the round robin mini league with two wins which secured them a semi-final place.

Slough runners-up in Under-14 South A League are a tough side and against them Jimmy Moutrey gave Commanches a third minute lead.

Slough were level in the 90th minute and a 2-1 victory was completed for Commanches with an Aiden Parker strike at 22.30.

Kingston Aeros Having lost all of their previous four games without scoring a goal took the lead after just 27 seconds against Commanches. Martyn Davies equalised two minutes later and Pattison gave Sunderland victory in the 11th minute.

This win saw Commanches finish fourth and take on Slough in the first semi. The other brought Kirkcaldy and Blackburn together which went to way of Kirkcaldy 2-0. It was abandoned with 20 seconds to go following a bench clearance and the 2-0 result stood.

Commanches' defenceman Danny Lamb was voted best defenceman of the tournament.

Commanches: Aiden Parker, Jimmy Moutrey 2+1, Callum Pattison 2+0, Martyn Davies 1+0, Daniel Murdy 0+3, Martin Thrimble, Ross Cameron 0+1.

In the Under-16 tournament held over the same three days Slough Hurricanes won 2-1 over Fife Flames in the final.

England Under-17s, who meet Scotland Under-17s at Hull on May 4 held Nottingham Lions to a 3-3 draw. Twice England were ahead only for the English premier league to equalise twice at 38.34. Lions went 3-2 ahead on the powerplay. It took England just two minutes to earn the tie.

Billingham Bombers defenceman Steve Pritchard and Whitley Warriors defenceman Robert Wilson are the only two North-Easterners in the England squad.

Sunderland Scorpions were as expected winners over Basingstoke Lady Bison in the women's premier league at Basingstoke by 10-0. Leaders Scorpions did not take the lead until 19.48 through Teresa Lewis. Three goals in four minutes from Lewis, Nicky Pattinson and Lynsey Emmerson made it 4-0 after 28 minutes. Helen Stowe's strike eight minutes later increased Sunderland's lead to 5-0.

Lewis completed her hat-trick at 44.25 and her fourth at 49.49. Sandwiched in between was a brace from Jayne McClelland. The final goal of the game which saw Scorpions into double figures at 55.30.

Sunderland must hope Cardiff Comets drop points against Guildford Lightning and Bracknell Queen Bees for them to lift the title.

Scorpions: Teresa Lewis 4+1, Jayne McClelland 2+3, Lynsey Emmerson 1+3, Nicky Pattinson 1+2, Helen Stowe, Claire Oldfield 1+1, Heather McDermott 0+1.

Whitley Bay Squaws suffered a 4-3 loss at Blackburn Thunder in the women's division one North. Sarah Smith gave Squaws and early lead only for Blackburn to go 3-1 ahead. Smith cut the deficit with her second before Thunder's fourth goal of the game insured victory. Charlotte Willey struck a late third strike for Squaws.

Squaws: Sarah Smith 2+0, Charlotte Willey 1+0.

Northern Conference Under-15 squad finished fifth in a tournament at Compiegne, France, at the weekend. Not having the best of starts and playing mostly teams with players a year older, Conference lost all of their three opening day games.

Serj Eagles (Switzerland) 0-4, hosts Compiegne (France) 1-5 Brest (France) 0-2. Billingham's Robert Dowd scoring the only goal and against Brest the goals came against run of play.

On the next day Finland Vikings 1-4 with a fourth defeat, but improvement began with a battle 0-0 draw against INC Louven (Belgium).

North's final match was fifth/sixth place play-offs with Finland Vikings. North trailed 0-3 after the first period and recovered to win 4-3.

The full North Under-15 Conference squad for the Inter-Conference tournament at Hull Ice Arena on May 3,4,5 includes several North-East players. James Flavell, Michael Farn, Robert Dowd and Paul Smith (Billingham), Gareth Hughes (Whitley Bay), Dean Holland and Richard Westgarth (Sunderland). Billingham's Terry Ward is head coach.

Tomorrow the side tackles a joint Hull U16/19 squad at Hull (face off 6.30pm).

Tomorrow's fixtures

English U19 championship play-offs, semi-final second leg: Swindon Cougars (4) v Billingham Wolves (3) (5.30pm).

English U16 North promotion/relegation play-offs: Sheffield Greyhounds v Sunderland Arrows (12.15pm.

U19 Challenge: Kingston U16/19 Select v North Conference U15 (6.30pm).

Sunday's fixtures

English U19 North promotion/relegation play-offs: Sunderland Tomahawks v Solihull Sabres (6pm) (match being played at Billingham).