Junior round-up

Sunderland Commanches visited Birmingham Rockets in the English (Pee-Wee) Under 15 North A League and came away pointless in a 3-1 defeat. Commanches were on the wrong end of several penalty calls and two of Birmingham's goals came on the powerplay. However, it was one of those powerplays that brought a goal which went the way of Sunderland. Commanches were just 14 seconds into being short-handed when Daniel Murdy put Sunderland ahead on 03.16.

The player advantage soon paid dividends, however, for the home team as they equalised within a minute.They then went on to record the 3-1 win.

Whitley Bay Squaws' Division One North women's match at Telford against Wrekin Raiders was played as a challenge match at the weekend. On arrival at Telford on Sunday, no referee nor linesmen had turned up and there was insufficient time to waste for officials to arrive before Whitley having to board the bus for the tip home.

The game played with running time saw Telford take a 3-0 lead inside the opening eight minutes. Charlotte Willey pulled a goal back at 21.04 for Squaws. Telford were 5-1 ahead when Willey scored a second consolation goal with seven minutes remaining. Telford won 5-2. The match will be rescheduled for another date and played for league points.

Squaws: Charlotte Willey 2+0, Sarah Christie 0+2.

English National Hockey League North

Sunderland Chiefs suffered their second defeat of the season on Sunday, going down 6-2 at Sheffield Scimitars. The South Yorkshire side with ex-Fife Flyers and Sheffield Steelers Les Millie and Neil Abel in their line-up could not find a way past Chiefs netminder John Worrall until 19.13 and that was on a powerplay.

Their second came courtesy of a penalty shot after 27 minutes. Chiefs reduced the deficit five minutes later with a Matthew Chapman powerplay goal. But Scimitars hit back restoring their two-goal lead two minutes from the end of the middle period.

Sheffield were in control of this match and increased their advantage with three goals in just four minutes early in the final period.

A second Chiefs reply from Shaun Black came at 49.58, at which point Chris McKay came on in nets to replace the impressive Worrall for Sunderland. The teams meet again at Telewest Arena this Sunday, September 22 (face off 12 noon).

Chiefs: Matthew Chapman, Shaun Black 1+0, Jonathan Huntley 0+1.

New-look Whitley Warriors had a four-point weekend as they began the defence of their grand slam winning season.

Grimsby Buffaloes hosted Whitley on Saturday and were involved in a close contest which Whitley edged 7-5. Andrew Tindale put Whitley ahead at 05.33 only for Grimsby to respond by taking a 2-1 lead. Dunn and Tindale regained the advantage before the first period finished 3-3 as Grimsby equalised in the final seconds. Whitby went 6-3 ahead as Darren Taylor, Kevin Bucas and Lee Baxter found the net. By 41.24. Buffaloes struck twice in a minute but a two-goal cushion was regained thanks to Bobby Bradley at 56.15.

The home side pulled another goal back, but Whitley held on.

It was much different the next day at Hillheads when Whitley brushed aside Bradford Bulldogs 10-1. If not for Jonny Muff in the visitors' net the winning margin would have been much larger.

Baxter and Tindale gave Whitley a 2-0 first period lead and it was doubled after the second with strikes from Paul McGinnety and Baxter. Whitley bagged four more in as many minutes early in the final period from Paul Graham, Baxter, Dunn and Taylor. Baxter's fourth and a Bucas strike took the score into double figures. Bradford's consolation goal came in between Whitley's final two goals at 56.40 when short-handed.

Warriors (v Grimsby): Andrew Tindale 2+0, Lee Baxter 1+2, Bobby Bradley, Kevin Bucas, Bryan Dunn 1+1, Darren Taylor 1+0, Paul Graham 0+2, Paul Mc Ginnety 0+1.

(v Bradford): Baxter 4+2, Bucas, McGinnety 1+2, Taylor, Dunn 1+1, Tindale, Graham 1+0, Bradley 0+3, Anthony Markham 0+2, Rob Wilson, Ryan Sample 0+1.

Billingham Bombers opening match of the season against Blackburn Hawks was cancelled due to the new ice pad not being ready for matches. The Under 19 North A league match between Billingham Wolves and Blackburn Thunderhawks was also cancelled for the same reason.

This weekend's fixtures: Sat, Sept 22 Findua British National League: Basingstoke Bison v Newcastle KBS Vipers (6.30pm). English Under 14 North A League: Sheffield Stormers v Billingham Falcons (12.15); Sunderland Commanches* v Kingston Aeros (3pm).

English Under 12 North A League

Sunderland Cherokees* v Kingston Rivermen (5pm).

English Under 10 North/Midlands League - Sunderland Apaches* v Kingston River Rates (11am). Under 10 Challenge Billingham Coyotes v Whitley Bay Mischiefs (4.15pm). Under 16 Challenge Sunderland Arrows* v Billingham Bears (12.30). Women's premier league Sunderland Scorpions* v Kingston Diamonds (7pm). Sunday, Sept 27 Findus British National League Newcastle KBS Vipers v Sol.ihull/Mk Kings (6pm). English National Hockey League north Sunderland Chiefs* v Sheffield Scimitars (12 noon); Whitley Warriors v Altrincham Aces (6.30pm) English Under 19 North A League Billingham Wolves v Nottingham Leopards (6pm) English Under 16 North A League Billingham Wolves v Nottingham Leopards (6pm) English Under 14 North A League Nottingham Tigers v Whitley Mohawks (6pm) English Under 12 North A League Altrincham Tomahawks v Whitley Arrows (4.50pm) English Under 10 North/Midlands League Sunderland Apaches* v Telford Turtles (3pm(

*All Sunderland home matches are played at Newcastle Telewest Arena.