Wasps and Hawks given pounds 1,000 fines

Ice hockey

Durham Wasps and Humberside Hawks have been fined pounds 1,000 each by the British Ice Hockey Association, following the brawl that halted Saturday's play-off match at Sunderland after just 58 seconds. A further fine of pounds 5,000 per club has been suspended - pending both teams' good behaviour during the remainder of the British Championship play-off games.

Durham and Humberside were found guilty of bringing the game into disrepute because of their players' actions during the warm-up. Police arrived to break up trouble and Humberside's former Durham player, Bruce Bell, was taken to hospital with facial injuries. Two Durham players were later arrested.

The BIHA said that it has not ruled out taking action against individuals involved in the incident. The abandoned match was replayed, with Durham winning 6-4, on Wednesday.

The Humberside manager, Terry Geraghty, said the club was disappointed with the BIHA action and would be lodging an appeal. "We are the injured party," he said.