English National Hockey League North: FLINTSHIRE FREEZE ...7 BLACKBURN HAWKS ...4

BLACKBURN Hawks brought their regular league season to a close with a disappointing defeat at champions-elect Flintshire Freeze.

Playing to win the league for the first time in their history, the Deesiders were clearly fired up and raced into a 6-1 lead in the first session.

Mark Stokes completed a hat-trick in 16 minutes while the Hawks replied with a single strike from Michael Brunton.

The Hawks' goal came after good work between Lance Derbyshire and Andy Sheffield.

Freeze extended their lead soon after the break, before the Hawks began to show their mettle. Good approach play from Bobby Haig and Neal Haworth

played in Scott Barnett to score the only other goal of the second period.

It seemed the Hawks, who are guaranteed a place in this season's play-offs, had given themselves a mountain to climb but, with great resolve, they took

the game to their hosts. And in the third period, they scored twice and shut out their opponents.

Player-coach Haig, with another Haworth assist, gave the Flintshire support some cause for concern and David Sheffield closed the margin further as he notched the Hawks' fourth on 53 minutes.

Despite a superior shots tally of 59 to 46, the Hawks were unable to break down the Freeze and ended up disappointed.

Hawks' manager Peter Sheffield commented: "Apart from the first ten minutes when Flintshire came out firing on all cylinders, we actually played well and eventually out shot them.

"But the killer first period was just too much to claw back."

With their schedule completed and 11 wins racked up, the Hawks finished fourth overall but, unlike the disappointments of last season, have the excitement of the play-offs to look forward to.

Hawks (v Flintshire): Holmes, Barnet Scott, Leaver, Meikle Gary, Barnet, Wesley, Hulme, Black, Derbyshire, Brunton, Haworth, Fuller, Kinder, D Sheffield, Haig, Meikle David, Slater, Kelly, Saxton, A Sheffield, Cooper.