BLACKBURN Hawks got their Premier Cup campaign off to an excellent start with a 3-3 draw with Sheffield Scimitars at the Arena.

Bobby Haig's men showed great fighting spirit to claim a point against the reigning ENHL champions after going behind three times during the game.

And no-one showed more spirit than Michael Brunton, returning to the team after a three- week lay off with a broken hand. Brunton equalised for the Hawks in the final period with just three seconds left on the clock.

Goals from David Sheffield and Chris Black maintained the electric atmosphere and kept the Hawks in the game. A cagey opening saw one goal for Sheffield, Ritchie putting them in front, and a number of infringements in a niggly first period.

A relatively uneventful second session saw the Hawks defence hold firm but this was merely a prelude to a barnstorming final period of twists and turns. Hawks equalised on 41 minutes after good work from Scott Barnett, only for Neil Hardy to score for Sheffield four minutes later.

Hardy undid his good work by being sent to the bin and from the resulting power play Peter Tapp put in Black to equalise again for the Hawks.

Player-coach Bobby Haig could be forgiven for thinking his side had claimed a valuable point at this stage but Hardy put Sheffield ahead again with just three minutes left. But another Sheffield infringement saw goalscorer Black set up Brunton for a power play goal with only seconds left.

Player-coach Haig was delighted with the outcome: "Everyone worked hard and showed a better attitude. A draw was probably the fairest result in the end, it shows what you can do when you all work together."

Hawks: Downie, Barnett, Leaver, Meikle, Tapp, Black, Kinder, Brunton, Southall, Hulme, Fuller Sheffield (D), Haig, Slater, Smith, Barnett, Sheffield (A), Cooper