SUNDERLAND Arrows came out on top in their English Junior (Under-16) North promotion/relegation play-off encounter against local rivals Billingham Bears.

Arrows found themselves 2-0 down at Hillheads as Bears scored twice in a minute by 11.08 with a brace from Stuart Gibbon. Arrows were on level terms in a quick time as Liam Telfer helped himself to a brace. He tucked away the first at 11.19 and fired home the equaliser 22 seconds later.

The Wearsiders went ahead for the first time in the 21st minute through Jonathan Heslop and the seesaw match soon brought the teams level, Paul Harland driving home the Bears' third at 21.28.

Heslop took Sunderland into the second break when he was on target with only one second remaining in the period. The advantage was extended when Helsop recorded a straight hat-trick on the 32nd minute mark.

Bears kept plugging away and reduced the deficit on the powerplay through Andrew Bennett at 32.29. but Sunderland made sure of victory. when captain Stephen Laidler the marksman after 39 minutes.

Arrows: Jonathan Heslop 3+0, Liam Telfer 2+0, Stephen Laidler 1+0, Shaun Kippin 0+1.

This weekend Arrows host Blackburn Eagles tomorrow and travel to Bradford Pirates on Sunday while Bears visit Blackburn on Sunday.

Whitley Braves hosted Telford Trojans in the English Under-19 North promotion/relegation play-off at Hillheads on Sunday. Braves went a goal behind as early as the sixth minute and were unable to tie the scores in an evenly matched opening period.

Telford had Jamie Burnett thrown out of the game at 14.24 for cross-checking.

The middle session brought no goals with Braves' netminder Gordon Ford performing well with some good saves to deny Telford from doubling their lead.

Braves piled on the pressure on Lea Ross in the Telford net and he too was in good form to hold off. Whitley Braves outshot Telford 28-7 in the third session but it was not until 53.54 on the powerplay that Whitley got their equaliser. Mark Good fired home from just inside the blue-line.

Braves: Mark Good 1+0, D J Good 0+1.

Billingham Wildcats women's division one North league home encounter against Blackburn Thunder on Sunday did not take place. This was because Blackburn had travel problems and the match will be awarded 5-0 to Billingham.

Wildcats are already champions and go to the promotion/relegation play-offs winners of the Southern title. The bottom side from the premier league and Wildcats play a round robin series to determine the premier league spot.

The annual junior inter-conference tournament at Hull arena took place over three days at the weekend. Under-11, 13 and 15 age levels participated in the Midlands, North, Scotland, South East and South West conference round robin games then brought the leading two into finals which North did not achieve.

Results of Northern Conference and local points scorers - Under-11: North 2, Midlands 5 (Callum Pattison (Whitley Bay) 0+1; South-east 3 North 4 (James Moutrey (Sund) 2+1; North 5, Scotland 3; North 2, South West 4 (Moutrey and Pattison 0+1).

Under-13: North 0, Midlands 5; South East 3, North 2 (Robbie Dowd (Bill) 1+0); North 1, Scotland 2; North 2, South West 1 (Richard Westgarth (Sun) and Dows 1+0).

Under-15: North 2, Midlands 4 (Peter Rix (Bill) 1+0); South East 2, North 4 (M Allinson (Sun) 1+0); North 0, Scotland 5; North 0, South West 4.

Local players were on England Under-17 duty against Scotland Under-17 at Hull on Sunday. Billingham were represented by Stephen Wallace and Scott Ward and Sunderland by James Hutchinson and David Thomas.

England won 9-2 with Wallace top scorer with 2+2. Thomas and Hutchinson each hit a goal apiece and Thomas received a five plus game misconduct for roughing in the 57th minute.