HAWKS 4 ALTRINCHAM ACES 5

WHITLEY WARRIORS 10 HAWKS 2

IT WAS a weekend of woe for Blackburn Hawks as they crashed to a cup and league double defeat, first at home to Altrincham Aces and then away at Whitley Bay.

Arch-rivals Altrincham pitched up at the Arena for the second successive Saturday and all but put an end to Hawks' hopes in the English Cup.

The Aces capitalised on the absence of key players from the Hawks' ranks, though it was a tight game, with the visitors winning 5-4.

In-form goalkeeper Colin Downie missed both weekend games through a stomach bug, though stand-in Robbie Smith played well. Craig Sharman, who picked up a knee injury against the Aces seven days earlier, is set to miss the rest of the season. And coach Bobby Haig opted to rally the troops from the bench rather than on the ice.

The Aces forced the pace throughout, but the Hawks never gave up and almost earned a result. Goals came from Wes Barnett, Michael Brunton, Wayne Slater and Gordon Whyte, Youngster Neil Howarth was man of the match for the Hawks.

Player-coach Haig returned for Sunday's visit tot Whitley Bay in the league, but the in-form Warriors, with Andrew Carter, Simon Leach and Swede Freddie Jonsson on top form, punished the Hawks, running out 10-2 winners.

For the Hawks it was their first league defeat in 11 matches. And to compound the misery, Mark Gabbitas suffered a suspected broken leg. Haig and Barnett scored for Blackburn.