Ice hockey: Cardiff bedevilled in torrid encounter

Cardiff Devils were held 3-3 by Basingstoke Bison in an ill-tempered SuperLeague match on Sunday. Several offences went unpunished and the beleaguered referee, Jouni Lehtonen, then lost the services of linesman Matt Thompson, who was injured after crashing into the boards.

Also on Sunday, Ayr Scottish Eagles overcame Newcastle Cobras 5-1. It was only in the last five minutes of the second period that Dennis Purdie and Jamie Steer put the Eagles in control, however, taking them to a 3- 1 lead. They reinforced their supremacy in the final period, scoring through Sam Groleau. Purdie then secured the win.

Another stalemate came at Bracknell where the Bees could not find an elusive overtime winner in a 2-2 draw with Nottingham Panthers. The Panthers, at full strength, took the lead after three minutes, with Derek Laxdal firing home on the rebound, but Rob Stewart levelled the game 90 seconds later.

Once again the visitors had the advantage when Brent Bobyck scored, before a second-period onslaught from the Bees resulted in Tom Gomes taking the game into overtime with an equaliser on the hour.

The Bees dominated extra time but failed to convert pressure into the vital winning strike, with the Panthers netminder, Trevor Robbins, proving an insurmountable obstacle.

Ian Taylor, the former Great Britain goalkeeper, has been appointed SuperLeague chief executive. He takes over in December from John Lord.