Ice Hockey: Devilish trip for Cardiff: Fife maintain unbeaten home run

CARDIFF DEVILS had a miserable Scottish road trip in the British Premier League, losing to Fife Flyers and Murrayfield Racers, the team who also beat them in the Benson and Hedges Cup last weekend, writes Steve Pinder.

First stop Kirkcaldy and a furious first period in which Steven King was the lone marker for the home side. In the second, Hilton Ruggles equalised only for Neil Smith to make it 2-1 to Fife 30 seconds later.

Into the third and Bobby Haig and Mark Morrison made it 4-1 only for Shannon Hope and Ruggles to pull back the deficit with 13 minutes to go. Fife's goaltender, John McCrone, then faced an onslaught, but Fife held on to win 4-3 to maintain this season's unbeaten home record.

On to Edinburgh and another close contest. Ruggles scored the only goal in the first period, but Racers took control in the second with four and finished 7-5 ahead.