Billingham Bears were victorious in both of their English Under-16 North A League matches at the weekend. The wins guaranteed Bears runners-up slot behind winners Sheffield Rapiers.

On Saturday Bears hosted Blackburn Eagles and went ahead in the 28th minute through Anthony Price.

Eagles were level at 31.09 and only 22 seconds later Paul Smith restored Billingham's advantage. Three minutes later James Udell increased the lead to 3-1. Smith and Michael Farn found the net again to extend Bears to 5-1 ahead, the latter with Bears short-handed.

With 61 seconds remaining Blackburn's netminder Greg Ruxton received his marching orders for roughing.

Billingham made the trip to face Altrincham Jets the following day and were ahead after 33 seconds with a Udell strike. In the fifth minute he added a second for Bears.

Altrincham cut the deficit after 19 minutes only for Udell's hat-trick market a minute later. Ricky Box put Billingham 4-1 ahead with a powerplay goal after 25 minutes.

Bears (v Blackburn): Paul Smith 2+0, Anthony Price 1+1, James Udell, Michael Farn 1+0, Robert Dowd, Adam Smith, Michael McKenna, Daniel McConnell 0+1.

(v Altrincham): Udell 3+1, Ricky Box 1+1, Dowd, Farn, Richard Griffiths 0+1.

Sunderland Commanches consolidated third place in the English Under-14 North A League following two coins at the weekend over Nottingham Tigers. The first was Commanches home match which was played at Bradford due to Sunderland having no home ice.

At Bradford it was a closely contested encounter which Commanches won 4-3. Sunderland were pegged back three times after taking the lead. Callum Pattison, Jimmy Moutrey and Karl Nelson put Commanches ahead and each time Nottingham equalised. Their third came on the powerplay at 41.22.

Inside a minute Daniel Murdy struck a fourth which gave Commanches victory.

The return in the lace city the next night saw Commanches take a 3-0 first period lead. Aiden Parker, Murdy and Richard Emerson struck between 09.09 and 11.23. England Under-13 netminder Mark Thurman in Commanches goal was being kept busy in the second and final periods.

Nottingham cut the deficit with two goals before Murdy's second goal of the game at 29.15 put Sunderland 4-2 ahead. With under three minutes remaining Tigers came within one goal of Commanches.

Thurman repelled Tigers in the latter stages and Aiden Parker (Sunderland) and Robert Lechowicz (Nott) each received five plus game misconduct penalties for fighting.

Sunderland were out-shot 44-17 but held on for a 4-3 victory.

Commanches (at Bradford): Callum Pattison 1+2, Jimmy Moutrey, Karl Nelson, Daniel Murdy 1+0, Mark Robson 0+1.

(at Nottingham): Murdy 2+0, Aiden Parker 1+1, Richard Emerson 1+0.

Billingham Falcons suffered another defeat going down 12-2 at Hull Ice Arena against Kingston Aeros.

Falcons are without a point and in the promotion/relegation play-offs but gave Kingston a scare. Stephanie Box put Falcons ahead at 01.24 and two goals in three minutes put Aeros 2-1 ahead after the first period.

Falcons thought they had a second only for Kingston's netminder to pull it back from the line. Aeros went into a 10-1 lead before Robert Coxon hit Falcons' second.

Falcons: Stephanie Box, Robert Coxon 1+0.

Whitley Mohawks moved up to fourth place after a 7-1 win over Blackburn Kestrels at Hillheads.

Nathan Taylor gave Mohawks a sixth minute lead and Kestrels equalised three minutes later.

A Mark Nicholson brace either side of the first interval saw Whitley 3-1 ahead before Mark Crammond and Taylor increased the lead to 5-1. Callum Watson and Taylor's hat-trick marker completed the scoring.

Mohawks: Nathan Taylor 3+1, Mark Nicholson 2+2, Martin Crammond, Callum Watson 1+0, Jamie Tinsley 0+2, Alistair Brummitt 0+1.

Whitley Bay Mischiefs travelled to Altrincham Colts for a Under-10 challenge. Mischiefs played two lines and Colts with four. This was Colts' last home match due to the closure of the rink at the end of the month.

Harry Harley scored Mischiefs' lone goal in the first period as they trailed 3-1. Kate Ord found the net five times plus Andrew Cook and Josh Maddock as Colts' strength in numbers gave them a 19-8 victory.

Whitley netminder Joseph Harley faced 64 shots on net. After the match Whitley were presented with a silver salver to commemorate the last Under-10 game at the Devonshire Road ice rink.

Mischiefs: Kate Ord 5+0, Josh Maddock 1+1, Harry Harley, Andrew Cook 1+0, Paris Lloyd, Jonathan Coyne, Christian Johnson 0+1.

Billingham Coyotes and Sunderland Apaches met at the Forum Ice Arena in a Under-10 challenge. Michael Elder gave Apaches an early lead and Jack Watkins and Alex Lawson put their side 3-0 ahead at the break.

Adam Perrie and Luke Shanks scored for a 5-0 lead before Mark Watson was beaten by Josh Goodrick at 31.20. Two minutes later Lawson's second goal of the game rounded off the scoring.

Coyotes: Josh Goodrick 1+0.

Apaches: Alex Lawson 2+0, Michael Elder, Adam Perrie 1+1, Jack Watskins, Luke Shanks 1+0.

English National Hockey League North play-offs

Whitley Warriors played their final home match in ENHL North play-offs at Hillheads against Sheffield Scimitars suffering a 9-6 defeat. Warriors were boosted by the return of Under-19 players not available last week due to a league match, but Dale Howey and Daniel Good did not play because they were on Great Britain U18 duty in Latvia.

Lee Baxter and Andrew Tindale were Warriors' scorers in a first period which Sheffield led 6-2. Tindale and Shaun Kippin - his first Warriors goal netted in the second plus Paul Graham and Bobby Bradley were on target in the final period as Sheffield won 9-6.

Stephen Winn received 72 penalty minutes in an incident with Scimitars Manuel Keinlen. This included game and gross misconduct penalties plus a match penalty.

Garry Dowd and Bryan Dunn missed the game due to suspension and will also be unavailable for this Sunday's return in Sheffield.

Warriors: Andrew Tindale 2+2, Paul Graham, Lee Baxter 1+2, Shaun Kippin, Bobby Bradley 1+0, Robert Wilson, Kevin Bucas, John Shreeve, Ben Campbell 0+1.

Paul Graham received Hillheads player of the year award after the match presentations. Runner-up was Lee Baxter and third place went to Anthony Markham.

Another presentation was made to Lee Baxter when he was voted supporters' player of the year.