Ice Hockey: Hoad's treble lifts Eagles

ALL THREE Benson and Hedges Cup group matches involving Sekonda Superleague teams finished level.

The most exciting contest on Sunday was in South Wales, where Cardiff Devils and Ayr Scottish Eagles shared 10 goals in an entertaining match in which the lead changed hands three times.

Cardiff led 2-1 at the end of the first period but the Grand Slam winners hit back strongly in the second session, with Jeff Hoad netting twice as they took a 4-2 lead.

The hosts scored three goals in six minutes to regain the initiative, but the Gold Award winner Hoad squared the game, with his hat-trick goal coming very late.

London Knights picked up their first point in Group B as they drew 2- 2 with Nottingham Panthers in front of a sparse crowd at Milton Keynes.

Jason Campeau and Kelly Glowa gave London a 2-0 lead but a brace of goals by Brent Bobyck - the second of which came less than two minutes from the end - earned Panthers a point and crowned a brave fightback.

The group winners, Manchester Storm, and second-placed Sheffield Steelers also shared four goals, with Jeff Jablonski and Jonathan Weaver netting for Storm and the new signing Richard Uniacke and Frank Kovacs hitting the target for Steelers.

Fife Flyers have taken over as the leaders in Group C, coming from behind to beat the bottom side Paisley Pirates 3-2. Telford Tigers won 5-3 at Edinburgh in the other game.

Group D - also made up of British National League sides - was won by Guildford Flames. Barcley Pearce's second goal of the night in the last minute gave them a 7-6 win at Peterborough Pirates, which made sure of their position at the top of the table.

Slough Jets won 5-4 at Kingston Hawks to scupper the Hull-based side's hopes of recording a first win in the competition this season.