Ice Hockey: Storm breeze to another two wins

MANCHESTER STORM, the Sekonda Super League leaders, stretched the gap at the top of the table to six points with a 2-1 away victory over third-placed Cardiff Devils on Sunday.

The champions, Ayr Scottish Eagles, picked up a point in an away draw at Bracknell Bees and Newcastle Riverkings moved up to third from bottom after a 7-4 home win over bottom team Sheffield Steelers.

Storm, who won at second-placed Nottingham Panthers on Saturday, completed a vital on- the-road double at Cardiff where Devils sustained their first home league defeat of the season.

Darren Hurley gave Storm the lead in the 16th minute and although Kip Noble equalised in the 28th minute, Storm's leading scorer, Jeff Tomlinson, got the game-winning goal as early as the 30th minute.

Bracknell shocked Ayr with a goal in the second minute through Sal Manganaro, but Mark Woolf and Sam Groleau had Ayr ahead at the end of the first period.

PC Drouin equalised for the Bees at the half-way stage and after Trevor Burgess had put Ayr ahead again Chris Brant snatched the equaliser with 17 seconds left to send the match into overtime, which failed to separate the sides.

Newcastle sustained their form with a 7-4 home victory over the bottom club, Sheffield.

The Riverkings led 2-1 at the end of the first period. After going 5- 2 down, Sheffield reduced the deficit Rob Wilson and David Longstaff, but Riverkings were not to be denied as Paul Dixon and Jamie Black saw them home.

Paisley Pirates yesterday sold their top marksman Jason Heywood to Sheffield Steelers for an undisclosed sum.

Bruce Eakin, captain of London Knights, is to retire and return home to Canada.