Sunderland Cherokees lifted the Peterborough U12 tournament at the Planet Ice Arena, Peterborough, at the weekend.

They defeated Chelmsford Mini-Chieftains 5-2 in an absorbing final. They twice went ahead before being pegged back by a resilient Chelmsford side.

Grant Sharp gave Cherokees a second minute lead and Nathan Salem scoring the second at 11.07. Chelmsford twice equalised in the eight and 22 minutes.

Salem broke clear and raced to round Chelmsford's netminder at 26.00 to restore Cherokees' lead. The final period saw Chelmsford put pressure on Sunderland's net but Thomas Murdy was equal to anything that was thrown at him.

Two minutes into the period with Cherokees short-handed Salem hit his hat-trick marker and increased his side's lead to 4-2 on the end of a Ross Hanlon shot. There was still time for him to register his fourth goal of the game with only three seconds remaining and seal the 5-2 victory and title.

There were to have been eight teams split into two groups of four only for Milton Keynes to pull out of the tournament at short notice. Instead seven teams all played each other and the top two progressing to the final.

Sunderland's first match of the tournament was against Chelmsford which sent them on their way with a 3-0 win. Salem put his side ahead after 17 minutes and Alex Lawson doubled the lead six minutes later. The victory was wrapped up with a Sharp goal two minutes from time.

Kingston Rivermen fell behind to Cherokees at 03.14 through a Lawson goal and 36 seconds later Sharp grabbed a second Jack Watkins netting, the third in the final minute with Cherokees short-handed.

Peterborough Beavers were next opponents for Cherokees. Watkins gave Sunderland a ninth minute lead which was wiped out by Beavers three minutes later. Salem restored the lead in the 22nd minute and Callum Davies made certain with a third after 30 minutes.

Billingham U12 Bombers were also in the event and began the second day's programme up against Sunderland. Salem was on the scoresheet at 07.43 when he put Cherokees ahead. A one-sided affair brought 19 shots on Chris Snaith in Bombers' net during the first period and Davies doubled the lead with a second at 11.38.

Ross Hanlon extended the advantage with a third goal after 20 minutes and Sharp rounded off the scoring in a 4-0 win at 25.11. Cherokees outshot Bombers 34-1 and Snaith made some fine saves in Bombers' net to keep the score down.

The Wearsiders' fifth match was again a winning one and ensured their place in the final even though one game was still to be played. North Ayr Penguins received the same punishment losing 4-0.

Salem put Cherokees ahead in only 53 seconds and Watkins made it 2-0 at 03.14. Before the first period had ended Davies tucked away the third at 12.14. Alex Lawson completed the scoring with a fourth in the 22nd minute.

Their final round robin match was against Telford Venom and Cherokees winning run continued with a 3-1 victory. Hanlon put Sunderland ahead at 05.51 and Salem doubled the advantage at 12.20 with a short-handed strike.

Telford cut the deficit with a powerplay goal a minute later. Michael Elder restored the two-goal lead within two minutes of the restart and completed the scoring.

Billingham U12 Bombers began their games holding North Ayr to a 1-1 draw. They went behind to a tenth minute goal only for Jonathan Galloway to equalise on the powerplay six minutes later.

Telford were 3-0 victors two goals coming in the first period and the third with a minute to go.

Bombers had a 2-0 victory over hosts Peterborough. Robert Heale put the side ahead after ten minutes and Alex Atkinson scored a second in the 27th minute.

Sunderland brushed passed Bombers 4-0 in the first match on Sunday and a second Teesside game with a 3-1 win over Kingston. This was after Rivermen had gone ahead. Heale tied the scores at 17.44 before a James Moss double strike in the 21st and 26th minutes gave them a second victory.

Billingham's final match was against Chelmsford and a win would have given them a very creditable third place. However, Chelmsford proved a little too strong and won 4-1. Scott Cooper struck the consolation goal in the last minute for a fourth place finish.

Results: Peterborough 2, Kingston 1; Sunderland 3, Chelmsford 0; North Ayr 1, Billingham 1; Telford 2, Peterborough 0; Kingston 0, Sunderland 3; Chelmsford 9, North Ayr 1; Billingham 0, Telford 3; Peterborough 1, Sunderland 3; Kingston 1, Chelmsford 2; North Ayr 0, Telford 5; Billingham 2, Peterborough 0; Kingston 8, North Ayr 0; Sunderland 4, Billingham 0; Telford 2, Chelmsford 4; Sunderland 4, North Ayr 0; Kingston 1, Billingham 3; Peterborough 1, Chelmsford 1; Telford 4, Kingston 1; Peterborough 0, North Ayr 4; Sunderland 3, Telford 1; Chelmsford 4, Billingham 1. Final: Sunderland 5, Chelmsford 2.

Final placings: 1 Sunderland; 2 Chelmsford; 3 Telford; 4 Billingham; 5 North Ayr; 6 Peterborough; 7 Kingston.

Cherokees scorers: Nathan Salem 9+3; Grant Sharp 4+2; Callum Davies 3+2; Alex Lawson, Jack Watson 3+1; Ross Hanlon 2+1; Michael Elder 1+!; Jack Connon, Joseph Royale 0+1.

Bombers: James Moss, Robert Heale 2+1, Alex Atkinson 1+1, Scott Cooper, Jonathan Galloway 0+1.

Nathan Salem was named forward of the tournament and Alex Atkinson defenceman of the tournament.

This weekend Sunderland will be participating in the Telford U16 and U19 tournament over two days. Arrows will come up against Basingstoke, Bradford and Telford.

In the U16s tournament the opponents will be Bristol, Milton Keynes and Telford in the U19s.