Junior Round-up, Sunderland Cherokees edged a little further towards retaining the U12 North A League place for the season 2002-03

when they were 10-4 winners at Birmingham Rockets. The Wearsiders share top place with Altrincham Spitfires in the promotion/relegation play-offs and are the duo to be in the A league next season.

Cherokees got off to an excellent start going 3-0 ahead after six minutes with James Moutrey (2) and Nathan Salem both scoring on powerplays. Birmingham opened their account on 11.46 only for Moutrey to record his hat-trick market a minute later. By the interval Birmingham hit back with two goals for 3-4 scoreline.

The first minute after the restart Cherokees were awarded a penalty shot after a stick was throw towards a Sunderland forward bearing down on goal by a Birmingham player. Salem stepped up to score and converted to make it 5-3.

Four minutes later Rockets reduced the deficit only for Cherokees to surge forward once more. Salem, Ross Cameron and Moutrey all scoring in the space of three minutes to increase their lead to 8-4.

Callum Davies and Salem completed the scoring for a comfortable victory.

Cherokees: James Moutrey 4+2, Nathan Salem 4+1, Callum Davies 1+2, Ross Cameron 1+-, Daniel Pye 0+2, Richard Emerson 0+3, Grant Sharp 0+1.

Sunderland Cherokees were at Edinburgh on Saturday competing in the final Murreyfield U12 Capital Cup. They began the four-team event losing 0-3 to Whitley Bay Arrows and held 0-0 to Murrayfield Rascals against Kirkcaldy Redskins. Grant Sharp put Cherokees ahead only for Kirkcaldy to draw level in a 1-1 tie. Cherokees finished third and met kirkcaldy again in third/fourth place play-off. Ross Cameron gave Sunderland the lead. Kirkcaldy equalised before Sharp pounced to net the winner.

Whitley Arrows won the tournament after a 3-0 win over Sunderland. Arrows were 2-0 victors over both Kirkcaldy and Murrayfield. In the final they overran Murrayfield 15-3.

In the individual awards Jamie Tinsley picked up winner of the top points scorer award and Callum Watson received best forward of the tournament.

Whitley Bay Tomahawks finished last of the four-team U16 Capital Cup in Edinburgh. It was mainly an U14 side due to Tomahawks U16 league play-off commitments.

Perth Select (0-1), Castlereagh Colts (0-2) and Murrayfield Racoons (0-4) were Whitley's results in the round robin format. For third/fourth place play-off Tomahawks played Perth and were beaten 7-1. Peter Zajac scoring Whitley's consolation goal.

Results: U12 event

Murrayfield 1, Kirkcaldy 0; Sunderland 0, Whitley Bay 3; Murrayfield 0, Sunderland 0; Kirkcaldy 0, Whitley Bay 2; Murrayfield 0, Whitley Bay 2; Kirkcaldy 1, Sunderland 1.

Third/fourth place play-off: Kirkcaldy 1, Sunderland 1.

Final: Whitley Bay 15, Murrayfield 3.

U16 event: Murrayfield 2, Castlereagh 1; Perth 1, Whitley Bay 0; Murrayfield 3, Perth 1; Castlereagh 2, Whitley Bay 0; Murrayfield 4, Whitley Bay 0; Castlereagh 0, Perth 0.

Third/fourth play-off Perth 7, Whitley Bay 1.

Final: Murrayfield 2, Castlereagh 0.

Whitley Tomahawks defended neighbours Sunderland Arrows twice at the weekend in the English Junior (U16) North promotion/relegation play-offs. Tomahawks, winners of the 13-0 on Saturday and 5-0 the following day, those four points put Tomahawks top of the pile as one of three teams on six points, but with a better goal difference.

Both games were played at Hillheads and in the first Tomahawks got off to a good start striking four goals in as many minutes through Andrew Wile. Ricky Box (2) and Ian Emerson for a 4-0 lead at 08.35.

The middle period was a little more one sided as Tomahawks added seven for an 11-0 lead which included Box's hat-trick market. Wile completed his hat-trick with the final goal of the game at 42.21.

Sunday's game was a little more physical and Whitley began the scoring in the fourth minutes from Ian Emerson, Peter Zajac increasing the lead ten minutes later.

Emerson and Rob Wilson doubled the advantage with goals in the middle period and Paul Shreeve rounded off the scoring on the powerplay at 34.57.

Tomahawks (Sat): Andrew Wile, Ricky Box 3+0, Rob Wilson 2+3, Rob Cairns 2+2, Ian Emerson, Ben Campbell 1+1, Philip Atherton 1+0, David Barrett 0+2, Ryan Sample 0+1.

Sunday: Emerson 2+1, Wilson 1+1, Shreeve, Peter Zajac 1+0, Cairns 0+2, Box, Atherton 0+1.

Sunderland Apaches were involved in a thrilling 5-5 draw at Hill Ice Arena against Kingston River Rats in an U10 challenge.

Kingston took a first minute lead and Apaches hit back to lead 3-1 with goals from Graham Robson, Alex Lawson and Jack Watkins. A see-saw encounter brought Kingston to 2-3 before Michael Elder gave Apaches a 4-2 advantage.

Kingston went 5-4 ahead with three minutes to go. The honours were shared when Watkins scored with 45 seconds remaining.

Apaches: Jack Watkins 2+1, Michael Elder 1+1, Graham Robson, Alex Lawson 1+0, Matthew Izzatz 0+1.

Billingham Wolves' outstanding U19 North promotion/relegation play-off encounter against Sheffield Ice Hawks is in Sheffield on June 1, face off 5pm. Billingham Ice Hockey Club held their annual presentation night at the Swan Hotel, Billingham, at the weekend.

U10: Play of the Year Ben Davison; Most Improved Player Robert Heale; Players' Player Joe Watson (U10 annual shield).

U12: Andrew Finn, Christopher Snaith, Andrew Finn (U12 annual shields).

U14: Michael Farn, John Elkins, Michael Farn (U14 annual shields).

U16: Stuart Gibbon, James McCabe, Jamie Pattison (U16 annual shields).

U19: David Thomas, James McCabe, David Thomas (U19s annual shields.

Most dedicated player Craig Hall (annual Lee Barker Memorial Trophy).

Seniors

Player of the Year Michael Snook