Kieron’s treble for Braves leaves the Scorpions feeling so Down

JUNIOR ICE HOCKEY

WHITLEY Braves were 4-0 winners over Sheffield Steel City Scorpions at Ice Sheffield in an English Under-18 North Division Two encounter.

The Braves, as in their previous games this season, looked very sharp at the start - but Scorpions’ netminder Isaac Parker made a string of outstanding saves.

It was not until the visitors were on their second powerplay of the period they beat Parker - Kieron Downs on hand at 18.27 to score.

The Braves doubled their advantage, Downs striking again.

The middle period was played in much the same vein as Parker made saves, while at the opposite end Whitley netminder Jack Wakefield did not have much to do.

There was only one goal for all Braves’ endeavours in the middle session and that was from Downs as he completed a hat-trick for his 11th goal of the season.

Parker gave way at the start of the final period to Charlie Renzi in the home goal and only three minutes had elapsed before Renzi was picking the puck out of the net as Matthew Wood struck home his first goal of the season in the 44th minute.

There were no further goals for the Braves as they defeated Steel City for the third time this season.

The victory took them two points clear of Nottingham Leopards and Sutton Sting.

Their next opponents are Sutton, who visit Hillheads on December 10 and who have won their five league games to date. ■■WHITLEY Arrows played host to Manchester Storm in an Under-11 North League game at Hillheads.

The Tynesiders were without netminder Orson Groot and Mark Lowes was handed his debut between the pipes.

He did not get off to the best of starts as league leaders Storm went ahead after only 14 seconds and added a second at 01.43.

Lowes did make some fine stops but by the end of the opening period the lead had been extended to 7-0.

Only 34 seconds had gone in the second period when the Arrows scored their lone reply through Dylan Towndrow - but Storm added two more goals to record a 9-1 victory.