Junior round-up

Billingham Wildcats head the Women's Division One North by seven points and now require four from their last four matches to take the title.

Wildcats defeated nearest challengers Sheffield Shadows at the Forum Arena 3-1 at the weekend.

Wildcates went ahead in the sixth minute through Zoe Bayne. Shadows had chances to equalise in the first period but found Jenny Smith in Wildcats' goal in outstanding form. Bayne doubled the home side's lead in the 33rd minute.

Smith maintained her shut-out and it came as no surprise that gaps at the back let in Wildcats once more. Vanessa Hill struck a third at 51.14. Sheffield eventually broke Smith's grip at 54.11 on the powerplay.

Wildcats four remaining matches are against Blackburn Thunder (three times) and Telford Wrekin Raiders.

Wildcats: Zoe Bayne 2+0, Vanessa Hill 1+0, Rachel McCabe, Viucky Wallace 0+1.

Billingham Bears still have much to do if they are to escape from the promotion/relegation play-offs in English Junior (U16) North. They are in the bottom three in the North A League and the bottom two go into the play-offs. Their latest outing resulted in a 4-2 defeat at the Forum Arena against Telford Rockets.

A goalless first period sprang to life in the second when Robert Dowd opened Bears' account at 17.39. Telford were level two minutes later and two goals in as many minutes put the visitors 3-1 ahead after 30 minutes.

The lead was extended to 4-1 after 37 minutes before James McCabe reduced the deficit in the 39th minute.

Bears: Robert Dowd 1+1, James McCabe 1+0, Peter Rix, Stuart Gibbon 0+1.

Billingham Pumas were beaten by Sheffield Lancers in the English Bantam (U-12) North A league. Lancers boast a 100 per cent record and head the table. The young Billingham side lost 19-0 but put up a valiant effort against the top U-12 team in the country.

Whitley Bay Mischiefs won 2-1 over visitors Altrincham Colts at Hillheads in the English U-10 North League. A keenly fought contest brought Mischiefs only a single first period goal, Bobby Mole on target in the 19th minute. Colts' netminder Declan Ryan made plenty of saves to halt Whitley.

Altrincham were back on level terms six minutes into the final period,. There was only two and a half minutes left when Callum Watson scored the winning goal.

Mischief: Callum Watson 1+1, Bobby Mole 1+0, Nathan Salem 0+1.

Whitley Bay Squaws conceded a last- minute goal to Telford Wrekin Raiders which robbed them of victory in the Women's Division One North. Squaws were on course for their second win of the season until Telford struck with only 50 seconds remaining for a 3-3 draw.

Earlier Claire Oldfield scored a hat-trick for Whitley. She opened their account after 35 seconds with her second at 36.22. Oldfield's hat-trick marker came when Squaws were short-handed in the 52bnd minute.

Squaws: Claire Oldfield 3+0, Vicky Wood 0+1.

Sunderland Cherokees completed a league double over Solihull Kings in the English Bantam (U12) North A League at the weekend. Home side Solihull

went ahead and almost immediately Mark Robson equalised and Richard Emmerson gave Cherokees a 2-1 lead before the break. Daniel Coffey and Robson added goals in the final session for a 4-1 win. Coffey's goal was his first at U-12 level.

Whitley Braves have been given the two points for their English U-19 North B league encounter against Solihull Knights. The Midlands side refused to fulfil the fixture last weekend.

Sunderland held U-10 and U-14 tournaments at Newcastle Telewest Arena at the weekend. Both events had four teams competing on a round robin basis with the top two going into the final. Sunderland contested both finals with Sunderland Apaches winning the U-10 final. Joshua Lalande scored the only goal in Apaches 1-0 victory over Peterborough Bulldogs.

Sunderland Commanches lost 3-0 to Peterborough Caribous in the U-14 final.

U-10: Sunderland 1 (Callum Davies), Fife 0; Telford 0, Peterborough 2; Sunderland 3 (Jack Watson 3), Telford 0; Fife 2, Peterborough 0; Sunderland 0, Peterborough 0; semi-final, Fife 4, Telford 3. Final, Sunderland 1 (Joshua Lalande), Peterborough 0.

U-14: Sunderland 7 (Liam Telfer 5, Shaun Kippin 2), Flintshire 1; Murrayfield 0, Peterborough 4; Sunderland 2 (Telfer 2), Murrayfield 1; Flintshire 1, Murrayfield 4; Sunderland 0, Peterborough 5; semi-final, Flintshire 0, Murrayfield 10. Final, Sunderland 0, Peterborough 3