HAWKS boss Bobby Haig admitted his side have a mountain to climb in order to reach the divisional playoffs after another average weekend of ice hockey.

Saturday saw Hawks lose 13-5 on the road at Billingham, but when Sunderland came to town last night, Haig's side did not disappoint the Arena crowd with a 4-3 win, despite losing netminder Colin Downie to a hamstring injury midway through the game.

But still lying in mid-table obscurity, the Hawks boss knows his side have to do better. The play-offs still look a long way away" said Haig. "It is still a possibility but we do have a mountain to climb.

"But there were several encouraging factors over the two games this week. On Saturday Billingham were never that much better than us and the 6-1 scoreline at the end of the first period didn't do us justice.

"We gave them a bit of a scare when we pulled it back in the second, but to be fair they showed why they are at the top of the league.

"Then last night we played well even without some top players. Dan Macriel was still concussed and Paul Mahon still has a shoulder problem, but we coped with that well.

"It was unfortunate that we had to lose Colin, but Robbie Smith came in and did very well. They usually beat us by the odd goal so it was nice to get one over on them in front of our own fans."

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