Ice Hockey: Bracknell on the move

Bracknell Bees added to the misery of Newcastle Cobras in the Superleague. The Cobras' attempts to record their first points came adrift at the John Nike Arena on Sunday as they lost 6-2 to the Bees.

Newcastle must have feared the worst when, just five minutes into the game, they lost their powerful forward Carmine Vani on a game misconduct penalty for checking from behind. Fellow Italian-Canadian Joe Ferraccioli made them pay with a goal in the ensuing power-play period - and Newcastle were heading for an eighth successive league defeat.

Bracknell, whose netminder Mark Bernard received the man of the match award for turning away 41 of the 43 shots on his goal, jump from seventh to fourth in the table as a result. Newcastle are now six points adrift at the bottom.

Elsewhere, Ayr Scottish Eagles did not show any signs of a hangover less than 24 hours after clinching a place in the final of the Benson and Hedges Cup.

At the Centrum, Eagles prevailed 5-4 over Sheffield Steelers, whose defeat confirmed that last season's BT Play-Off champions are finding winning form elusive this time round.

Cardiff Devils, last season's league champions and Ayr's opponents in next month's Benson and Hedges final, suffered a rare defeat, 4-2 on home ice, at the hands of the early Superleague pacesetters, Manchester Storm.