Sharks lack teeth in defeat to Renegades
WHITLEY Renegades defeated Kingston Sharks 4-3 in a very close English Under-20 League encounter at Hillheads.
The Renegades included Billingham Stars’ trio Jacob Hammond, Joseph Dowdle and Wilkinson in their line-up as well as the Bradford Bulldogs’ duo of Logan Jean-Jacques and Alex Mitchell.
Netminder Hammond kept the Renegades in the game in the opening stages – but it was the home side who went ahead through Josh Hutton in the nineth minute.
Matthew McDonald claimed the assist for the only goal of the first period.
The home side doubled their advantage just 65 seconds into the middle period thanks to a Jean-Jacques strike.
Hammond was eventually beaten at 35.31 on the powerplay by Edgars Aboltins – but Whitley’s two-goal lead was restored three minutes later when JeanJacques fed Owen Curry.
The visitors cut the deficit inside the opening two minutes of the final period through an Adam Jasceko strike.
However, the Renegades restored their two-goal cushion in the 49th minute with a debut goal for Callum Wilkinson – Jamie Ord and Thomas Fraser picking up the assists.
Kingston made it 4-3 with a little over six minutes to go through a Harry Barwell strike – but the Renegades held on for victory.
■ WHITLEY Tomahawks drew 2-2 against Sheffield Greyhounds at Ice Sheffield in English Under-15 North Division Two after trailing 2-0.
A close opening period brought no goals but not until the Greyhounds’ first powerplay opportunity did they take the lead through Carl Hodgson at 19.43.
They went further ahead seven minutes later with an Abi Rowbotham goal.
It was not until midway through the final period Tomahawks made their breakthrough – neighbours Billingham Stars’ Lewis Sinclair with his first goal for the club.
Parity was restored 65 seconds later with Conor Beattie’s first counter of the campaign.
■ WHITLEY Mohawks enjoyed a comfortable 12-0 home victory over Nottingham Pumas at Hillheads in English Under-13 North Division Two.
The Mohawks proved far too strong for their Lace City counterparts thanks to Ethan Dunn (2), Chris West, Jack Williams, Dylan Towndrow, Oliver Jardine (4), Max Torre (2) and Kian Kennedy.