Young Stars pull away at the top

DUNDEE Stars U/14s and U/16s returned from their trip across the Irish sea with two precious victories in Belfast.

On Sunday morning, the younger squad faced their toughest competitors yet for the league title against the Giants at the SSE Arena.

With both teams unbeaten so far this term, this promised to be a crowd pleaser and it was the game they had been working up to all season.

Stars quickly put themselves at ease, however, when Rio Page found the back of the net on the three-minute mark.

This gave the visitors the boost they needed and, despite taking a couple of harsh penalties, the hosts were unable to take advantage of the powerplay situations that were presented to them thanks to some sterling defence work from the young Stars.

A second marker from Page, assisted by Ben Brown and Luca De Simone in the opening minutes of the middle stanza widened the gap to 2-0.

The final period saw the rivals battle it out in earnest but it was the Dundee side that came through well-deserved winners, with a third goal from Brown assisted by Stephen Scott, and Page completing a very impressive hat-trick bringing the Stars’ cache to four.

Belfast’s Carter Hamill finally managed to get the puck past Stars netminder and Man-ofthe-Match Liam Griffin in the dying minutes of the game but this was slim consolation to the Northern Irish squad as the game finished 4-1.

Coach Domenico De Simone was full of praise for the U/14s after the game and said: “I couldn’t be any prouder of these guys. They went out there and gave it their all.

“Everything they were asked to do, they did, and they totally deserved that win.

“Liam’s Man of the Match was very wellearned for an outstanding performance.”

Not to be outdone by their younger stablemates, Stars U/16s produced a similar score against their Belfast hosts to pick up two points from a 4-2 victory.

Man-of-the-Match Cameron Crumley grabbed two counters, with Page and Christian Clark also getting on the scoresheet.

Stars U/14s host Belfast at the DIA this Saturday for a place in the Scottish Cup Final.

CHESS

CASTLEHILL