Renegades in the clear after victory

JUNIOR ICE HOCKEY

WHITLEY Renegades went four points clear at the top of the English Under-20 League after defeating Sheffield Scimitars 7-2 at Ice Sheffield.

Matthew McDonald, Alex Nergaard and Kieron Downs played their second game of the day, dressing for Renegades after earlier turning out for the Braves.

The visitors could not break the Scimitars’ defence until 11.50, when Lewis Crisp drove home his fourth goal of the season.

The lead was doubled with 90 seconds left in the first period thanks to a Craig Johnson goal.

The middle period was only two minutes old when the visitors took a 3-0 advantage, Ross Traill on target following good link-up play involving Ross Dixon and captain Niall Ryder.

It was pretty much one-way traffic in the second period as the Renegades hit their hosts with three quick goals in the space of four minutes towards the end of the period.

Downs scored his first of the season at 33.55 for the Renegades, followed by Traill on the powerplay for his seventh goal of the campaign at 36.05 and Johnson following on for a 6-0 lead at 37.13.

Johnson completed his hattrick and his fourth of the season in the 50th minute.

Replacment netminder Ben Gill was beaten at 56.26 when Sheffield opened their account on a one-minute powerplay - Nathan Bennett the scorer.

They added a second, also on the powerplay, with 15 seconds still to go when Ryan Fraley found the target.

The Renegades are next in action on Sunday when Kingston Sharks visit Hillheads (face-off 5.15).