Sunderland Scorpions have strengthened their lead at the top of the women's premier league with two victories to make it unbeaten in ten outings.

Also keeping in tact a 100 per cent record Cardiff Comets were visitors to the Telewest Arena and in what was a close contest lost 6-4.

Gemma Watt gave Scorpions the lead at 02.03 and added a second at 06.14. Comets drew level by the end of the first period and went ahead after 33 minutes. Scorpions equalised five minutes later through Claire Oldfield to end the middle period 3-3.

In the first minute of the final period Cardiff regained the lead converting a powerplay opportunity. Four minutes later Jayne McClelland tied the scores and pressure on Cardiff's net paid off in the 52nd minute when Teresa Lewis put Scorpions 5-4 ahead. Victory was made certain with a Lynsey Emmerson strike on the powerplay at 57.21.

Bracknell Queen Bees were visitors the following day and were dispatched home nursing a 6-2 defeat. Helen Stowe gave Scorpions the lead at 02.47, Lewis twice on the powerplay and a fourth from Nikki Pattinson too the score to 4-0 at the first interval.

Scorpions' Gemma Watt and Queen Bees' Lydia Westcombe came to blows with the latter getting a match penalty for attempted kicking to go with roughing penalties. Watt received roughing penalties.

Pattinson and Emmerson took the score to 6-0 before Bev Hutchinson in home goal was beaten by two late goals.

Scorpions (v Cardiff): Gemma Watt 2+0, Lynsey Emmerson, Teresa Lewis 1+1, Jayne McClelland, Claire Oldfield 1+0, Helen Stowe 0+3, Heather McDermott 0+2, Nikki Pattinson, Jane Price 0+1.

(v Bracknell): Lewis 2+1, Pattinson 2+0, Emmerson 1+1, Stowe 1+0, Price 0+3, Oldfield 0+1.

Sunderland Arrows completed a league double over Nottingham Cougars in the English U16 North A after a 6-0 win at the Telewest Arena. Jimmy Moutrey put Arrows ahead after 27 seconds and double the lead two minutes later.

Dean Holland and Jeremy Lundin were on target in the 23rd minute for 4-0 and Callum Hewitt drove home number five six minutes later. The scoring was wrapped up with two minutes to go from Aidan Parker. Netminder Richard Lawson faced 18 shots for a shut-out and was Arrows' man of the match award recipient.

Arrows: Jimmy Moutrey 2+2, Dean Holland 1+2, Jeremy Lundin 1+1, Aiden Parker, Callum Hewitt 1+0, Danny Lamb, Callum Pattison, Karl Nelson 0+1.

Sunderland Cherokees moved up to third place in the English U12 North A League after an 11-1 victory over struggling Blackburn Sparrowhawks at the Telewest Arena. Callum Davies began the demolition with the opening goal on 18 seconds. Ashleigh Holland and Jack Watkins made it 3-0 before Blackburn hit their consolation goal. Adam Perrie added a fourth in the 12 minute.

Davies completed his hat-trick at 18.38 adding another two, Watkins and Alex Lawson extended the lead to 8-1 by the end of the second period. Davies, Daniel Bamling and Perrie completed their scoring with final period goals. Netminders Evie Roberts and Mark Watson plus Emma Hall were the only Cherokees players not to register a point.

Cherokees: Callum Davies 4+3, Jack Watkins 2+3, Adam Perrie 2+2, Daniel Bamling 1+1, Alex Lawson, Ashleigh Holland 1+0, Sean Bamling, Dale Sharp 0+2, Graham Robson, James Hamilton, Lee Gill, Matthew Read, Luke Shanks 0+1.

Whitley Bay Arrows slumped to a 19-2 home defeat at the hands of Nottingham Tiger Cubs in the English U12 North A at Hillheads. Nottingham, top of table, scored twice in the second minute and led 4-0 when Liam Brown pulled a goal back. Matthew Sellars scored Arrows second goal at 19.26 by which time Tiger-Cubs were 9-1 ahead.

David Lawrence and Joseph Harley faced 51 shots between them in Whitley's goal while Arrows managed 19 on Nottingham's net.

Arrows: Liam Brown, Matthew Sellars 1+0, Joe Zajac, Daniel Bentley 0+1.

Billingham Pumas are still unbeaten in the English U12 North B League. Their latest win was a 7-3 victory at Solihull Kings. Joe Watson gave Pumas a fourth minute lead which James Moss doubled at 18.43.

Solihull hit back on the powerplay three minutes later and the two-goal lead was restored by Josh Goodrick three minutes from the end of the second period.

Moss and Watson struck 11 seconds apart for 4-1 at 31.15 and Solihull replied 26 seconds later. Robert Heale and Moss's hat-trick market put Pumas 7-2 ahead after 40 minutes. Solihull struck a late third in the final minutes.

Pumas: James Moss 3+2, Joe Watson 2+0, Josh Goodrick, Robert Heale 1+1, Jack Chapman, stephen Simcox, Dean Fraser, Mitch Haughton 0+1.

Billingham Falcons lost by a 3-2 margin at Blackburn Kestrels in an English U14 North A League encounter. Blackburn went ahead at 10.24 and Andy Finn equalised at 21.41.

Two goals in five minutes put Kestrels 3-1 ahead at 29.10. Jonathan Galloway cut the deficit with a well taken strike four minutes later.

With time running out Falcons pulled their netminder for the last three minutes and 45 seconds in favour of an extra forward. Chances were not converted as Kestrels hung on to take the points.

Falcons: Andy Finn, Jonathan Galloway 1+0.

Whitley Braves and Sunderland Tomahawks were involved in a physical English U19 North A League encounter at Hillheads which saw 192 penalty minutes handed out by the referees. Dale Howey put Braves ahead at 03.37 and Daniel Lathan equalised on the powerplay at 17.50.

English National Hockey League North

Billingham Bombers and Flintshire Freeze were involved in a thrilling game at the Forum Ice Arena which ended 5-5 and a point to each side. Ian Richardson and Andrew Fletcher were available after missing the win at Bradford Bulldogs two weeks ago while Brian Perry was unavailable.

With only four seconds left in the game Bombers earned a share of the spoils with Scott Ward scoring his second of the game on the powerplay.

Freeze went ahead in the second minute only for Bombers to go into the first interval 3-1 ahead with goals from Martin Lewis, Ward and Andrew Fletcher. Flintshire scored three unanswered in this middle period to lead 4-3.

Simon Hehir equalised on the powerplay at 52.50 shortly after Flintshire's former Sunderland and Whitley Bay import Mark Stokes received a game misconduct for abuse of an official.

Freeze restored their lead at 56.03 which was thought to be the winner until Ward's timely intervention.

Bombers: Scott Ward 2+0, Andrew Fletcher 1+2, Martin Lewis, Simon Hehir 1+0, Paul Windridge 0+4, Andrew Thornton, Stephen Pritchard 0+1.

Whitley Warriors went down to a 3-1 defeat to vastly improved Kingston Jets at Hull Ice Arena. No Paul Graham and Bryan Dunn plus Stephen Winn suspended until June, Warriors held out until 32.03 when Jets went ahead.

Garry Dowd equalised for Whitley two minutes later to end the second period level. Jets score on the powerplay five minutes into the final session and made certain of victory short-handed at 59.08.

Warriors: Garry Dowd 1+0, David Barrett 0+1.

Fixtures

Tomorrow: Findus British National League: Hull Stingrays v Newcastle M and M City News Vipers (5.45pm)

English National Hockey League North: *Sunderland Chiefs v Kingston Jets (6.30pm)

English U19 North A League: *Sunderland Tomahawks v Whitley Braves (noon).

English U16 North A League: Bradford Pirates v Billingham Bears (5.15pm)

*Sunderland Arrows v Kingston Crunch (4.30pm)

English U14 North A League: *Sunderland Commanches v Kingston Aeros (2.30pm)

Sunday: Findus British National League: Newcastle M and M City New Vipers v Dundee Stars (6pm)

English National Hockey League North: Blackburn Hawks v Sunderland Chiefs (6pm); Nottingham Lions v Billingham Bombers (6.45)

Women's Division One North: Billingham Wildcats v Nottingham Vipers (6pm)

English U19 North A League: Whitley Braves v Sheffield Steelhawks (5.30pm)

English U16 North A League: Kingston Crunch v Whitley Tomahawks (12.15pm); *Sunderland Arrows v Telford Rockets (12.15pm)

English U14 North A League: Nottingham Tigers v Billingham Falcons (4.15pm); Whitley Mohawks v Blackburn Kestrels (12.15pm)

English U12 North A League: Nottingham Tiger-Cubs v Sunderland Cherokees (5.30pm)

Wednesday, January 14: Findus British National League: Newcastle M and M City News Vipers v Guildford Flames (7.15pm)

Thursday, January 15: English National Hockey League North: *Sunderland Chiefs v Whitley Warriors (7.30pm)

*All Sunderland IHC games are being played at the Newcastle Telewest Arena.