Billingham Falcons came a creditable fifth place in the Peterborough U14 ice hockey tournament held last weekend.

Kingston were Falcons' first opponents and the opening period failed to provide a goal despite being on top, Matt Turner for Aeros making a string of superb saves.

Paul Smith broke the deadlock at 21.30 and Adam Smith doubled the lead six minutes later. Robert Dowd increased the lead with a third and final goal on the 32 minute mark.

Next opponents were Peterborough Caribous,the eventual winner and were beaten 3-0. Falcons' final mini-league game was against Chelmsford Braves and were a little disappointing being held to a 1-1 draw. Dowd was on target.

On Sunday in the cross-over play-off match brought them up against rivals Sunderland Commanches. Paul Smith put Falcons ahead after 15 minutes with the only goal of the first period. Second and final periods brought three goals in a little over two minutes. Dowd on target at 35.37 and goals in the 38th minute from Smith and Dowd completed a 4-0 victory for Falcons.

Falcons Robert Dowd was voted best forward of the tournament.

Sunderland Commanches finishes seventh in the tournament. Their group brought Ayr Scottish Eagles, Swindon Pumas and Invicta Dynamites and Commanches together.

Commanches began with a narrow 2-1 defeat at the hands of Ayr. Daniel Murdy scored.

Against a strong Invicta squad Commanches found themselves 0-3 down in the opening period with two goals coming on the powerplay.

In the final period Invicta added another three for a 6-0 win.

Swindon were 2-0 winners over Commanches, but had to thank netminder Martin Clarkson as Sunderland were close to scoring goals. Pumas went ahead on the powerplay at 07.07 and secured the victory two minutes from time.

Finishing bottom of their group meant that Commanches faced Billingham, who finished third in theirs. Because of the 0-4 defeat Commanches came face to face with Kingston Aeros for seven/eighth place play-off.

Sunderland got off to a good start and took the lead in the third minute from Dean Holland. Kingston drew level four minutes later. James Horkan restored the lead with a shot from the blue-line which Aeros' netminder had to change within the latter stages of the first period.

The victory was made certain in the 31st minute through a Richard Westgarth strike.

One disappointment for Sunderland was an injury to defenceman Daniel Pye. He took a puck on his foot in Saturday's final game against Swindon.

Result Group A: Peterborough 6, Chelmsford 1; Billingham 3, Kingston 0; Chelmsford 4, Kingston 0; Peterborough 2, Kingston 1; Chelmsford 1, Billingham 1.

Group B: Swindon 3, Invicta 1; Ayr 2, Sunderland 1; Swindon 1, Ayr 1; Invicta 6, Sunderland 0; Swindon 2, Sunderland 0; Invicta 4, Ayr 1.

Play-offs: Billingham 4, Sunderland 0; Kingston 0, Ayr 1; Peterborough 2, Invicta 1 (after penalty shots; Chelmsford 1, Swindon 3.

Seventh/eighth place play-off: Sunderland 3, Kingston 1.

Fifth/sixth: Billingham 2, Ayr 0.

Third/fourth: Invicta 1, Chelmsford 3.

Final: Peterborough 4, Swindon 1.

Falcons scorers: Robert Dowd, Paul Smith 4+2, Adam Smith 2+0, Jamie Kitching, Anthony Price, Tony Cessford, Matthew Bence 0+2, Michael Farn, Scott Harrison 0+1.

Commanches scorers: Dean Holland 1+2, Daniel Murdy 1+1, Richard Westgarth, James Horkan 1+0, Jeremy Lundin, Martyn Davies 0+1.

Billingham's Robert Dowd was best forward of the tournament