Ice Hockey: Wasps on the fast and loose

SCORING bursts by Durham Wasps and Peterborough Pirates, plus a tied thriller between Slough Jets and Sheffield Steelers, were the Heineken League highlights at the weekend, writes Steve Pinder.

Wasps beat Humberside Seahawks 9-1, four goals coming in five minutes. Pirates had it tougher. Trailing 3-2 to Whitley Warriors, they scored five in the second period to lead 7-5 and, thanks to Scott O'Connor in goal, won their first league game of the season 10-8.

Wasps were brought down to earth the next day at Bracknell Bees, who slammed in three in the first period and went on to win 6-2.

Steelers, away to the Jets, were 8-4 up with 16 minutes to go. Peter Quiney and Greg Ware pulled two back before Scott Rex scored two in four seconds to tie the game 8-8. Quiney then put Jets in front and Gary Stefan made it 10-9 to Slough with three minutes to go. Finally, Ron Shudra's slap shot a minute later made it 10-10.

HEINEKEN LEAGUE: Premier Division: Saturday: Billingham 5 Cardiff 10; Durham 9 Humberside 1; Fyfe 5 Nottingham 4; Peterborough 10 Whitley 8. Sunday: Bracknell 6 Durham 2; Humberside 5 Peternborough 8; Murrayfield 9 Nottingham 3; Whitley 7 Cardiff 11. First Division: Saturday: Basingstoke 7 Milton Keynes 4; Slough 10 Sheffield 10; Swindon 13 Lee Valley 4. Sunday: Lee Valley 4 Romford 12; Medway 7 Swindon 10. Milton Keynes 4 Sheffield 5; Telford 10 Slough 2.