A six-point lead has opened at the top of the Women's Premier League after leaders Sunderland Scorpions defeated Guilford Lightning 5-1 at John Nike Leisure Complex.

Guilford Scorpions, main title challengers, went ahead in the fifth minute only for their lead to last just two minutes when Teresa Lewis equalised.

Scorpions ended the period 2-1 ahead after Helen Stowe struck three minutes from the first break. Sunderland were much the dominant team for the remaining two periods as they kept up the pressure. Only one goal resulting which came on the powerplay from Nikki Pattinson.

Likewise in the final session as Lynsey Emmerson and Gemma Watt completed the scoring.

Scorpions meet Guildford on March 27 in their next match at Newcastle Arena.

Scorpions scorers: Lynsey Emmerson and Gemma Watt 1+1; Helen Stone, Teresa Lewis and Nikki Pattinson 1+0; Jane Price, Clare Foster and Claire Oldfield 0+1.

Billingham Wildcats returned to winnings ways in Women's Division One North with a 6-1 victory over Sheffield Shadows at Forum Ice Arena. Wildcats went ahead after ten minutes through Stephanie Box and Jenny Carter doubled the lead three minutes later.

Wildcats found the target three times at the half-way stage in under a minute as Emma Gourley (2) and Claire Ascough were the scorers. The visitors pulled a goal back, Vanessa Hill completed the scoring in the 49th minute

Wildcats scorers: Emma Gourlay 2+1; Vanessa Hill 1+2; Jenny Carter, Stephanie Box and Claire Ascough 1+0; Nicola Borg and Linsday Amos 0+2; Hannah Antrobus 0+1.

Whitley Braves dented any slim hopes that Nottingham Leopards had of winning English Under-19 North A League title with a 7-5 victory. It was a final period recovery with four goals which gave Braves victory.

Ben Campbell's second score at 44.26 put Braves a goal adrift and at 55.26 John Shreeve levelled the match. There was 1.35 left when Simon Day gave Whitley the lead for the first time in the match.

A time-out was called then by Nottingham and with 59 seconds to go, Leopards pulled their netminder in favour of a skater. Whitley called a time-out at 59.15 and just sixteen seconds later Shreeve fired the puck into an unguarded net to make sure of victory.

Earlier Ian Emerson levelled Leopards second minute opened before Nottingham raced 4-1 ahead at 20.19. Campbell and Ryan Sample cut the deficit to 3-4 after 26 minutes and Nottingham's fifth came five minutes later.

Braves scorers: John Shreeve 2+1; Ben Campbell 2+0; Simon Day and Ryan Sample 1+1; Ian Emerson 1+0, Andrew Wile and David Barrett 0+2.

Billingham Bears had little difficulty in polishing off Telford Rockets at Forum Ice Arena. In English Under-16 North A league, Bears are still the only unbeaten side after a 9-1 win.

Bears scorers: Robert Dowd 5+0; Anthony Price 2+2; Paul Smith 1+2; Adam Smith 1+1; Michael Farn 0+2; Steven Charlton 0+1.

Billingham Falcons, without a point in England Under-14 North A League put up a creditable performance despite losing 8-5 against Telford Venom at Forum Ice Arena.

Falcons scorers: Jimmy Moutrey 3+0; Max Hodgson 1+1; Toby Jackson 1+0; Robert Heale, Simon Geldart, Jonathan Galloway and Alistair McGill 0+1.

Sunderland Mohicans had two matches in English Under-14 North B League picking up three points. A final period recovery at Blackburn Harriers on Saturday gave Mohicans a 6-3 win. Jack Watkins put Mohicans ahead in the first minute only to see Harriers lead 3-1 at the break.

Callum Davies and Watkins scored to tie the scores at 30.39. Davies struck another three in as many minutes to finish the game with four goals and take Mohicans to victory.

With an Under-12 match on Sunday Mohicans travelled to Nottingham Ice Cats with just nine skaters. This game ended 0-0 with Ice Cats netminder Steven Randall earning his side the point after facing 26 shots.

Mohicans scorers: Callum Davies 4+2; Jack Watkins 2+0; Daniel Coffey 0+1.

Sunderland Cherokees were surprisingly beaten 2-1 by Telford Venom at Newcastle Arena in English Under-12 North A League. Cherokees scorers: Alex Lawson 1+0; Matthew Elder 0+1.

Whitley Bay Mischiefs entertained Coventry Blaze in an English Under-10 North League clash at Hillheads and lost 9-3.

Mischiefs scorers: Harry Harley, Scott Laidler and Andrew Cook 1+0; Kate Ord 0+2; Ryan Dobinson 0+1.

Sunderland Apaches lost 15-3 to Telford Venom in an Under-10 challenge match.

Apaches scorers: Dale Sharp 2+1; Luke Shanks 1+0; William Reynolds, Lee Gill and Bradley Orton 0+1.

English National Hockey League North

Sunderland Chiefs came off second best in their clash against league leaders Flintshire Freeze at Newcastle Arena on Sunday. Andrew Carter, Kristian Lloyd, Paul Shanks, David Brown and David Michie were all missing from the line-up.

Three of Sunderland Arrows under-16 squad - Richard Lawson, Shane Hewitt and Dean Holland were handed their senior debuts to join Jeremy Lundin.

Flintshire went ahead after only 15 seconds and 3-0 was the lead after the opening period. Freeze fast flowing hockey brought them into an 11-0 advantage with 5 minutes still to go. 15-year-old Richard Lowson was handed his senior bow at the start of the final period with Freeze 8-0 ahead.

Chiefs opening goal came at 56.11 through Michael Allinson and he hit a second short-handed two minutes later.

Chief's scorers: Michael Allinson 2+0; Jonny Heslop and Adam Hendry 0+1.

Whitley Warriors played host to Blackburn Hawks in English National Hockey league Cup North at Hillheads. Blackburn could qualify for the next stage of the cup if they won their two last mini-league games.

Hawks were involved in a 3-3 first period which brought Bryan Dunn, Andrew Tindale and Paul Graham goals for Warriors. Dunn, Paul Sample, Ben Campbell and Tindale were on target for Whitley in the middle session as the led 7-5.

Hawks' short-bench began to tire in the final period as well as an injury to Peter Tapp. A hat-trick for 15-year-old Philip Atherton plus Raymond Haslam and Ian Emerson scoring in the third for a 12-5 victory.

Warriors scorers: Philip Atherton 3+0; Bryan Dunn 2+4; Andrew Tindale 2+2, Paul Graham and Ian Emerson 1+3; Raymond Haslam 1+2, Ben Campbell and Paul Sample 1+0; Lee Baxter 0+5; Andrew Robinson 0+2.

In the same competition Billingham Bombers visited Sheffield Scimitars. Four victories in their remaining cup games could see them top the group and qualify for the next stage.

It was not the best of starts for Bombers as Scimitars went ahead. Sheffield led 5-0 before Robert Dowd scored a late consolation goal.

Fixtures

TODAY: Findus British National League: Newcastle M&M City News Vipers v Bracknell Bees (6.30 pm)

English National Hockey League North: Sunderland Chiefs v Sheffield Scimitars (12 noon) (at Newcastle Arena).

English Under-19 North A League: Billingham Wolves v Sunderland Tomahawks (6.30pm)

English Under-12 North A League: Sunderland Cherokees v Nottingham Tigers (2.30pm) (at Newcastle Arena)

English Under-12 North B League: Billingham Pumas v Coventry Blaze (4.30pm)

Sunday: Findus British National League: Hull Stingrays v Newcastle M&M City News Vipers (5pm)

English National Hockey League Cup North: Billingham Bombers v Whitley Warriors (6.30pm.)

English Under-16 North A League: Blackburn Eagles v Whitley Tomahawks (6pm)

English Under-12 North A League: Whitley Arrows, v Telford Venom (12.15pm)

Women's Division One North: Telford Wrekin Raiders v Billingham Wildcats (3.30pm), Whitley Bay Squaws v Blackburn Thunder (4.30pm).