Ice hockey: Cardiff object to referee

Cardiff Devils are to complain to the British Ice Hockey Association about the refereeing of Graham Horner during their Premier Division victory over Nottingham on Boxing Day. Cardiff won the top-of-the-table game 6- 5 after leading 6-1, but the team's owner, David Temme, confirmed they would be writing to the BIHA.

"Graham Horner has refereed our last three matches and we are not happy with what has happened," Temme said. "Perhaps if we had lost we would have thought twice about complaining, because it would probably have been seen as sour grapes. But we won and, after watching a video of the game, we have to complain."

Devils had three goals disallowed during the match. Mike Ware, their wing who was sent to the sin-bin for roughing late in the match, said he was "mystified" by the decision.

Sheffield Steelers moved to within two points of Cardiff at the top of the Premier Division with last night's 9-5 home win over Humberside Hawks. Rob Wilson and Steve Nemeth scored hat-tricks for Steelers, who could go top on Saturday if they can win at home to Basingstoke, whom they beat 4-3 on Tuesday. Cardiff are not in action again until 6 January.