Tomahawks’ victory stings Sutton

JUNIOR ICE HOCKEY

WHITLEY Tomahawks suffered mixed fortunes in English Under-15 North League Division Two in their two fixtures against Sutton Sting and Telford Tigers.

Tomahawks first made the journey to Lammas Centre to face fourth-placed Sutton Sting and won 12-5.

They took the lead after just 58 seconds as Owen Curry converted for his ninth goal of the season after an assist by Harvey Starkie for his fifth point of the campaign.

Sting were on level terms inside a minute through Alex Williams.

The visitors’ lead was restored at 06.36 thanks to Matthew Betham, Liam Rowell claiming the assist.

By the end of the period Tomahawks had gone 3-1 ahead as Curry fed Owen Yarrow to drive home.

Sutton, through Owen Jenkinson, halved the deficit at 19.23 - only for the visitors to begin a series for six goals in the game in under nine minutes.

Rowell tucked away his third goal of the season at 21.04 after a pass from Betham and James Toby with an unassisted strike at 24.10 clinched a 5-2 lead.

Tyler Harriman fired past Jamie Ryan in the Tomahawks’ net for the home sides third goal of the game before Yarrow sent Betham away for his second of the match at 27.28.

With Yarrow sitting out his second penalty of the game, Sting reduced the deficit with a powerplay goal at 29.26 from Nathan Mead.

There was still enough time in the period for Betham to complete his hat-trick as the visitors’ lead was stretched to 7-4.

During the second period Ryan in the Tomahawks net was the busier of the netminders and made some outstanding saves to keep the visitors ahead.

Sutton brought on their other netminder Melissa Veal to replace Joshua Halkyard for the start of the final period.

She was picking the puck from out of the net within 90 seconds of the restart as Toby struck and he was on hand to assist Betham for his fourth goal of the match and tenth goal of the season at 32.01.

Williams cut Whitley’s lead with his second Sting goal of the game at 35.27 for a 9-5 scoreline.

Toby became the second Tomahawks player to register a hat-trick during the game for his fifth goal of the season at 39.25.

Yarrow picked up the assist to send the goals total into double figures.

At 41.24 Yarrow netted his second goal of the game and his 16th goal of the season as Curry nabbed his third assist.

Yarrow also added his third assist when he set up Bailey Stone to complete the scoring at 42.51.

However, the Tomahawks could not repeat that when they returned to Hillheads to face unbeaten league leaders Telford Tigers.

They lost 10-1 despite a Curry strike - his tenth of the season.