Swindon show fight

Ice hockey

It was another weekend where Super League teams won all their games against Premier League sides, but at least Swindon Ice Lords made a fist of it before two narrow defeats.

Against Cardiff Devils, Swindon fell behind twice in the first quarter but they equalised within seconds both times before going down 3-0 in the second to trail 5-2 at half-time. Jarri Virtanen and Petri Murtovvara then pulled back two for a 6-4 scoreline. The last thing they probably needed was a trip to Manchester Storm's rink the next day, but at the end of the first quarter Swindon were only 2-1 down. Despite a hat-trick from Storm's Craig Woodcraft in the second period, they went into the third just 5-3 down. Eventually, though, Storm prevailed 6-4.

Slough Jets had worried Manchester the day before, Storm taking a 5- 0 lead before Joe Stefan scored for Slough. Jets slogged their way back, though, to close to 6-3.