DESPITE racing into a two-goal lead against highly-fancied Whitley Bay, Blackburn Hawks contrived to lose 2-6.

After winning their opening fixture against Sunderland two weeks earlier, coach Bobby Haig had his men fired up to meet their Geordie arch-rivals who this season are the team tipped to win the English Ice Hockey League (North).

Goals from Haig himself and Mark McDonald got the Hawks off to a flying start as the Warriors were restricted to long range shots and a shut-out in the first period.

Unfortunately, the Hawks appeared to run out of steam as the game wore on and the Warriors' superior physical strength began to tell.

Hitting four goals without reply and forcing the Hawks ever backwards, the Warriors eventually lived up to their reputation and ran out worthy winners.

A disappointed Bobby Haig said: "We gave it to them in the end, it's a real let-down. I know it's an amateur game and we play it for fun. But we have a responsibility to the people who pay to watch and to ourselves as players.

"I intend to tighten up on training and hopefully we will learn from this setback."

Hawks have a busy weekend away coming up next as they face back-to-back cup fixtures at Kingston on Saturday, face-off 5.30 and Nottingham 24 hours later, facing off at 5.45 pm.

RESULT: BLACKBURN HAWKS...2 WHITLEY BAY WARRIORS...6