BLACKBURN Hawks suffered back-to-back cup defeats in what proved to be a hard-going weekend in more ways than one.

During the 12-5 English Cup reverse at Whitley Bay, Hawks number nine Peter Tapp broke his collar bone and will most certainly miss the rest of the campaign.

Player coach Bobby Haig said: "It was just one of those collisions that you get in ice hockey - there was nothing malicious in it. We'll monitor Peter's progress but I can't see him playing again this season."

The game was evenly poised after the first period with goals from Adam Fuller, Adam Leaver and a Haig penalty cancelling out the hosts' trio of strikes.

Whitley Bay edged in front with a further four scores to the Hawks two - from Leaver and Haig - and five third period goals without reply saw the North East side cruise home.

The following day, the Hawks returned to Lancashire to play host to Premier Champions Milton Keynes.

The visitors certainly lived up to their billing in the first period as they raced into a five-goal lead. Hawks never recovered from this opening blitz and two further goals in periods two and three meant the game finished 7-0.

Despite the emphatic scoreline, Haig was pleased with how his players fared against their higher league opponents.

"After the disappointment of Saturday I thought we competed well against Milton Keynes. They're obviously a great side and we did well to limit them to seven goals.

"After the cup exits, we need to re-group and turn our attentions back to the play-offs."

ENGLISH CUP

WHITLEY BAY 12 HAWKS 5

ENGLISH PREMIER CUP

HAWKS 0 MILTON KEYNES 7