Junior round-up

Billingham Bears went down to a 3-0 home defeat against Nottingham Cougars in English Junior (Under-16) North A League at the Forum Arena. Nottingham, who won 4-2 in the lace city against Bears earlier in the season, were a goal up after 80 seconds. Cougars doubled their lead in the seventh minute and went further ahead with a goal on the powerplay at 16.06.

The final period brought over 150 penalty minutes handed out. A fracas with 38 seconds remaining saw Bears' Steven Pritchard and Cougars' Nick Dodwell each receive five plus game misconduct penalties for roughing as well as match penalties for fighting. Cougars' Jo Horner also picked up five plus game misconduct for roughing.

Billingham Wildcats still lead the women's division one north and have a 100 per cent record. This was after a 3-2 win at Telford Wrekin Raiders. It was not as close as the scoreline suggests as Telford's netminder Amy Andrews performed heroics to reduce the margin of victory with Wildcats outshooting Raiders 47-13.

Telford twice took the lead through Ann MacLean only for Zoe Bayne and Kirsty Amos to equalise at 30.24 and 35.59 respectively. Bayne's second of the game at 40.35 proved to be the winning goal.

Wildcats: Zoe Bayne 2+1, Kirsty Amos, Rachel McCabe, Vicki Wallace 0+1.

Sunderland Apaches were 5-1 winners over Blackburn Merlins in English Under-10 North League match at Whitley Bay. It took Apaches until 14.37 to take the lead from Grant Sharp with 63 seconds left in the first period Blackburn scored.

Sharp restored Apaches advantage after 26 minutes and he hit a hat-trick at 32.07 for a 3-1 lead. The victory was wrapped up with two late strikes from Callum Davies and Sharp at 37.40 and 39.39 respectively.

Apaches: Grant Shar 4+0, Callum Davies 1+0, Michael Elder, Joshua Lalande 0+2.

Sunderland Cherokees lost 3-2 at Whitley Bay against Blackburn Sparrowhawks in the English Bantam (Under-12) North A League. Martyn Davies gave Cherokees a good start, scoring in the fourth minute. Blackburn were level at 25.32 only for James Moutrey to regain the lead on the 26th minute mark. Sparrowhawks struck twice at 35.54 and 36.22 to go 3-2 ahead and held on to earn two points. Their victory would have been more except for Cherokees man of the match netminder Mark Thurman.

Cherokees: Martyn Davies, James Moutrey 1+0, Richard Emerson, Callum Davies, Rachel Hooper 0+1.

Sunderland Commanches came back from their English Pee-Wee (Under-14) North A League encounter pointless following a 2-1 defeat at Telford Tiger-Cubs. Telford were ahead after seven minutes before John Wilson equalised at 18.28. Tiger-Cubs winning goal coming after 33 minutes.

Commanches: John Wilson 1+0, Liam Telfer 0+1.

Whitley Tomahawks were 6-2 winners over their hosts Altrincham Jets in an English Junior (Under-16) North A clash. Ian Emerson gave Whitley the lead at 6.50 on the powerplay. Jets reduced the deficit seven minutes later.

Tomahawks scored two minutes into the restart from Dale Howey. Two goals in ten seconds from D J Good and Howey made it 4-1. Jets cut the deficit in the 38th minute.

Tomahawks: D J Good 3+0, Dale Howey 2+0, Ian Emerson 1+1, Rob Wilson, Richard Dunn 0+1.

Whitley Braves lost 6-3 at Hillheads to Altrincham Tigers in English Under-19 North B League. Paul Sample equalised an early Tigers goal and a Mark Good goal made it 2-2 at 10.18. Tigers scored twice in two minutes for a 4-2 first period lead and they added two early in the second. Martin Gamsby scored a third at 46.18.

Braves: Paul Sample, Mark Good, Martin Gamsby 1+0, Bryan Dunn, Paul Graham, Claire Oldfield 0+1