Billingham Wolves lost for the first time this season in English Under-19 North A League in a close encounter at Forum Ice Arena against Nottingham Leopards. The teams only met a week ago in Nottingham which was also a close affair which ended 3-3.

Leopards went ahead in the fifth minute and for the remainder of the first period Wolves were on top but could not find a way past Carl Edwards in the visitor's net.

Nottingham put a little more pressure on the Wolves goal and two goals in as many minutes, the second on the powerplay, increased Nottingham's lead to 3-0 after 29 minutes.

The final period was just 36 seconds old when the visitors extended their advantage to 4-0.

Wolves got the breakthrough at 41.59 when James Udell struck. Udell pulled another goal back for Billingham when he converted a powerplay seven minutes later.

Leopards were still pressing forwards but Richard Griffiths in Wolves net denying Nottingham. Wolves kept in contention with a little under two minutes remaining with an Andrew Thornton strike.

Wolves scorers: James Udell 2+0, Andrew Thornton 1+1, Robert Dowd 0+2, Michael McKenna 0+1.

Billingham Pumas' unbeaten start in English Under-12 North B league continued with a 10-3 win away to Coventry Blaze.

Pumas scorers: Joe Watson 5+0, Robert Heale 2+1, Jack Chapman, Josh Goodrick and Stephen Simcox 1+0.

Billingham Bears went to the lace City and defetaed Nottingham Cougars 8-3 in English Under16 North A League. It was Bears third win which keeps them top of the table, and Cougars at the bottom point less.

John Elkins put Bears ahead in the 50th minute and Robert Down sent Bears into the first break 2-1 ahead after Cougars had equalised. Nottingham were level again only for Paul Smith, Dowd and Matthew Bence to give the visitors a 5-2 advantage after the second period.

Anthony Price scored Bears sixth on the powerplay his side's third of the game at 35.35. Cougars hit back with their third three minutes later and the victory was wrapped up with late strikes from Dowd for his hat trick and Price for a 8-3 win.

Bears scorers: Robert Dowd 3+2, Anthony Price 2+1, Paul Smith 1+1, Matthew Bence and John Elkins 1+0, Michael Mckenna and Michael Farn 0+1.

Sunderland Arrows are without a point after losing 3-2 at the Telewest against Blackburn Eagles. The opening period failed to provide a powerplay at 18.05 to give Arrows the lead. Daniel Murdy's strike at 22.27 was also on the Powerplay as Arrows led 2-1.

Eagles equalised four minutes later to end the period 2-2 and thanks to Richard Lawson in Arrows that Blackburn were not ahead.

The visitors took the lead for the first time in the match at 36.38 and secured the win with a fourth.

Arrows scorers: Callum Hewitt and Daniel Murdy 1+0, Jeremy Lindin and Richard Westgarth 0+1.

Sunderland Commanches had two welcome points after a 5-0 victory over Blackburn Kestrels.

Commanches scorers: Nathan Salem 2+1, Grant Sharp 2+0, Jimmy Moutrey 1+1, Mark Bell and Callum Patisson 0+1.

In Under-14 North B, Sunderland Mohicans, Commanches' second string, picked up their first win of the season defeating Coventry Blaze 6-2. A brace from Callum Davies gave Mohicans a 2-0 first period lead only for Blaze to draw level at 22.91.

Mohicans restored their lead at 33.23 with a Jake Shanks striek and Jay Haisell made it 4-2 at 35.46 40 seconds later Davies netted his hat trick marker before Jack Watkins completed the scoring with four minutes left.

Mohicans scorers: Callum Davies 3+0, Jack Watkins, Jay Haisell and Jake Shanks 1+0, Joshua Lalande and Jake Roberts 0+2, Daniel Coffey, Callum Ross and Kimberley Hughes 0+1.

In Under-12 North A Sunderland Cherokees won at Hillheads against neighbours Whitley Arrows 10-4. After seven minutes Callum Davies (2) and Alex Lawson had given Cherokees a 3-0 lead. Arrows opened their account through Sarah Mason two minutes later.

Jack Watkins (2) Jack Connon and Graham Robson increased Cherokees advantage to 9-1 before Matthew Sellars scored Arrows second at 26.42. Dave Sharp restored the seven goal lead in less than a minute.

Whitley's Captain Liam Brown bagged a brace in the final period to double his side's total. Watkins comleted his hat trick with Cherokees short-handed.

Arrows scorers: Liam Brown 2+0, Sarah Mason 1+1, Matthew Sellars 1+0, Joe Zatac and Daniel Bentley 0+1.

Cherokees scorers: Jack Watkins 3+1, Callum Davies 2+3, Alex Lawson 2+2, Jack Connon, Dale Sharp and Graham Robson 1+1, Daniel Bamling 0+1.

Whitley Bay Mischiefs Under-10 North match, which ended as a 12-6 defeat, at Kingston River Rats was played as a challenge and not as a league game, due to Whitley having insufficient players.

Mischiefs scorers: Kate Ord and Scott Newman 2+0, Andrew Cook and Bobby Chamberlain 1+0, Rees Middleton 0+1.

Sunderland Scorpions' fourth victory (7-0) of the season at Flintshire Furies kept their 100 per cent record intact and top of the Women's Premier League.

Scorpions scorers: Jayne McClelland 3+1, Lynsey Emmerson and Sara Clare 2+0, Teresa Lewis 1+2, Helen Stowe, Claire Oldfield, Nikki Pattinson and Heather McDermott 0+1.

English National Hockey League North

Whitley Warriors were sent crashing to their first defeat of the season on Saturday, going down 14-2 at Sheffield Scimitars. League champions Scimitars took an early lead only for Paul Watson to cancel it out with his first goal for the club.

Paul Graham was Warriors second goalscorer late in the second period as Sheffield led 6-2. Nic Rowe came on to replace Stephen Hoult in the Whitley net only to be beaten eight times in the final period.

The following Night Warriors lost for the second time over the weekend. It was a narrow 2-3 defeat. Andrew Wells opened Bombers account at 25.30 and Raymond Haslam tied the scores four minutes later.

Bombers' netminder Adam Flett was outstanding and the main reason why his side were still level. Paul Windridge restored Bombers lead at 56.19. Billingham called a time out at 58.04 and Whitley pulled their netminder soon afterwards but with the empty net Scott Ward struck for a 3-1 lead at 58.57.

Again Hoult was pulled and at 59.34 Lee Baxter cut the deficit to one. A Warriors time out followed but Bombers held on for their first win of the season.

Warriors scorers: Raymond Haslam and Lee Baxter 1+0, Paul Graham, Andrew Robinson and Gary Wood 0+1.

Bombers scorers: Paul Windridge and Scott Ward 1+1, Andrew Wells 1+0, Ian Richardson and Andrew Thornton 0+1.

Warriors coach Peter Winn who has been looking to strengthen his squad of late has signed Simon Burns and Richardson from Billingham after the match. Winn is hopeful of both being available for tommorow's trip to Blackburn Hawks.

Sunderland Chiefs, without a league game until the end of the month, hosted Whitley Bay Islanders in a challenge match. Michael Allinson and Kristian Lloyd put Chiefs 2-0 ahead. Tom Glazzard netted the recs opening goal at 16.59 and Anik Sachdsra tied the scores at 24.44. Dean Hamilton, Lloyd (2) and Shaun Black responded to put Chiefs 6-2 ahead at the halfway stage.

Former Whitley Warrior Wayne Dunn struck Islanders second in the 33rd minute. Allinson (2) and Keith Barker increased Chief's lead to 9-3 by the end of the second period. Lloyd with his fourth of the game took Chiefs into double figures four minutes into the final period.

The final minute brought Islanders fourth goal from ex-Warrior Terry Wilkinson.

Chiefs Scorers: Kristian Lloyd 4+0, Michael Allinson 3+0, Dean Hamilton and Shaun Black 1+1, Keith Barker 1+0, Shaun Black 1+1, Keith Barker 1+0, Adam Hendry, Richard Danskin, Neil Secombe, Paul Rolfe, Sean Anderson and Johnny Helsop 0+1.

Islanders Scorers: Terry Wilkinson 1+2, Wayne Dunn and Anik Sachdsra 1+1, Tom Glazzard 1+0, Mark Brown 0+1.

Tomorrow's fixtures

Findus Challenge Cup: Bracknell Bees v Newcastle KBS Vipers (6pm)

English Under-16 North A League: Billingham Bears v Sheffield Rapiers (6.30pm)

English Under-14 North A League: Billingham Falcons v Sheffield Stormers (4.30pm)

English Under 14 North B League: Coventry Blaze v Sunderland Mohicans (4.15pm)

Sunday's fixtures

English National Hockey League North: Billingham Bombers v Bradford Bulldogs (6.15pm)

English National Hockey League Cup North: Blackburn Hawks v Whitley Warriors (6pm)

English Under 19 North A League: Nottingham Leopards v Sunderland Tomahawks (7.15pm)

English Under 14 North A League: Whitley Mohawks v Sheffield Stormers (12.15pm)

English Under 12 North A League: Nottingham Tiger Cubs v Whitley Arrows (5.30pm)

Womens Division One North: Whitley Bay Squaws v Telford Wrekin Raiders (12.15pm).