Two of the North East recreation ice hockey sides played host to Northern Ireland Prowlers over the weekend. The visitors to the area winning both games against Cleveland Comets and Spartak Durham.

Billingham Ice Arena was the venue for Saturday's encounter against the Comets. Paul Anthony put Comets ahead in the second minute. Pete Kearney equalised ten minutes later and went 4-1 ahead before Neil Anthrobus netted Comets second at 32.49.

Prowlers had increased their advantage to 7-2 before the end of the second session.

The goals continued to flow in the final period with the teams sharing 12 goals. Les Charlton and James Parry each netted hat tricks in the period. for Prowlers their captain Raymond Munt hit a hat trick as well as assisting on six others and Stu McMasters went one better with four goals.

On target with one goal and three assists for Prowlers was Anthony Sinton who works over in Northern Ireland and was a member of Whitley Bay Junior Ice Hockey Club.

Comets Scorers: James Parry 3+3, Les Charlton 3+2, Paul Anthony and Neil Antrhobus 1+0, John Kerry 0+3, Scott Williams 0+2, Marty Lavery, Claire Ascough, Sean Robinson, Mark Lavender and Andy Ford 0+1.

Prowlers Scorers (v Comets): Stu McMasters 4+1, Raymond Mount 3+6, Darren Ewing 2+4, Stephen Ewing 2+3, Anthony Sinton 1+3, Pete Kearney 1+0, Steven Stewart 0+1.

Prowlers moved on to Hillheads, Whitley Bay on Sunday lunchtime to face Spartak Durham. Despite an excellent post-game socialising sampling the delights of Middlesbrough's night life, Prowlers were ready for their second match of the weekend.

Spartak's netminder Neale Secombe was the busier of the two keepers as Prowlers outshot Durham 11-4 in the opening period which ended 0-0.

End to end ice hockey still brought no goals. Spartak matched Prowlers but it was the tourists that broke the deadlock. After 33 minutes with Stephen Ewing driving the puck home.

The lead was doubled four minutes later on the Powerplay with a Darren Ewing strike. Spartak looked to cut the deficit but could not find a way through. Darren Ewing converted another Powerplay five minutes into the final period when he made it 3-0.

Spartak tried to claw their way into the match but Prowlers kept them at bay for a 3-0 win. Neale Seccombe was Spartak's man of the match. Stu McMasters was Prowlers recipient.

Prowlers Scorers (v Spartak): Darren Ewing 2+0, Stephen Ewing 1+1, Raymond Mount 0+2, Stu McMasters and Anthony Sinton 0+1.

Spartak's next game is tomorrow (Sat 2 August) when they meet Cleveland Comets at Billingham Forum Ice Arena, face off 6pm.

Spartak train at Whitley Bay Ice Rink at 9.15pm Thursday night each week. they have a qualified level two coach. Anyone 16 and above interested in playing ice hockey are welcome to come along and have a look. Players will require full equipment if they want to train. For more information on the team log onto their web site: spartakdurham.co.uk.

Billingham Wolves, Sunderland Tomahawks and Whitley Braves will all be in competitive action this coming season in English Under 19 North A League. Sunderland remain in the A league following second place in the promotion/relegation play-offs at the end of last season. They finished second from bottom in A league while Whitley Bay avoided the play-offs by being one place above Sunderland. Billingham were North A league winners ahead of Nottingham Leopards on results between them.

The first Under-19 derby of the season is on September 13 when Billingham host Whitley Bay with the return on March 7. The Tees-Wear derbies are lined up over one weekend in March.

Wolves entertaining Tomahawks on March 20 and 24 hours later the teams meeting at Telewest Arena.

Sunderland travel to Hillheads on January 4 and the return is on March 13.

All the fixtures are subject to change.

Billingham Wolves: Sept 7 Telford A; Sept 13 Whitley Bay H; Sept 21 Kingston A; Sept 28 Nottingham A; Oct 4 Nottingham H; Nov 1 Kingston H; Dec 6 Blackburn H; Dec 20 Sheffield A; Jan 10 Telford H; Jan 31 Blackburn A; Feb 7 Sheffield H; March 7 Whitley Bay A; March 20 Sunderland H; March 21 Sunderland A.

Sunderland Tomahawks: Sept 13 Kingston H; Sept 14 Sheffield A; Oct 12 Nottingham A; Oct 18 Nottingham H; Oct 26 Telford A; Nov 9 Blackburn H; Nov 30 Kingston A; Dec 7 Sheffield H; Jan 4 Whitley A; March 6 Telford H; March 13 Whitley H; March 14 Blackburn A; MArch 20 Billingham A; March 21 Billingham H.

Whitley Braves: Aug 30 Kingston A; Sept 13 Billingham A; Sept 20 Blackburn A; Oct 26 Blackburn H; Nov 16 Telford H; Nov 22 Sheffield A; Dec 14 Nottingham A; Dec 28 Telford A; Jan 4 Sunderland H; Jan 11 Sheffield H; Feb 15 Nottingham H; Feb 29 Kingston H; Mar 7 Billingham H; Mar 13 Sunderland A

Sunderland Apaches and Whitley Bay Mischiefs are the two northeast sides in English Under-10 North/Midlands league. The first of the derby games is at Hillheads on August 31 and the return at the Telewest Arena on March 20.

Sunderland Apaches: Aug 31 Whitley Bay A; Sept 13 Telford A; Sept 14 Kingston H; Sept 28 Nottingham A; Nov 8 Sheffield A; Nove 9 Sheffield H; Dec 7 Coventry H; Jan 17 Telford H; Feb 7 Coventry A; FEb 8 Nottingham H; Feb 28 Kingston A; Mar 20 Whitley H.

Whitley Bay Mischiefs: Aug 31 Sunderland H; Sept 28 Kingston H; Oct 5 Kingston A; Nov 16 Nottingham H; Nov 29 Sheffield A; Dec 21 Sheffield H; Dec 27 Telford A; Jan 3 Coventry A; Feb 7 Nottingham A; Feb 15 Coventry H; Mar 20 Sunderland A; Mar 28 Telford H.

Whitley Bay's application to join the Findus British National League will be heard by a three man selection committee panel tomorrow (Sat). the company behind Whitley Bay's application will make a presentation before the panel. If the application is successful the Tyneside club will announce a new name and signing of players as well as a coach will follow.