ICE HOCKEY:Penalised Panthers reclaim their poise

Nottingham Panthers maintained their lead at the top of the Premier Division by beating lowly Peterborough Pirates, but only after a nasty scare, writes Steve Pinder. The Panthers' netminder was thrown out of the game for spearing. Pirates capita lised, going 2-0 up, but two quick power-play goals saw Panthers level the first period, 2-2.

Panthers made it 3-2 early in the second, but then it was the turn of Simon Wren, the Pirates' minder, to depart, this time through injury, His replacement, Colin Hamilton, conceded eight goals in 20 minutes, Wren came back on, but Nottingham skated off 13-6 winners. At least Pirates had the consolation of one point from the weekend, after they drew 4-4 at Humberside Hawks.

Milton Keynes Kings, another side at the wrong end of the table, led Durham Wasps 7-5 at the end of the second period on Saturday. Wasps came out for the last session fired up and won the match 10-8.

The following day, in Kings' match against Fife Flyers, a 6-6 draw, the game had to be halted for 30 minutes for the injured Flyers player, Derek King, to be safely moved off the ice after sustaining a serious neck injury.