Blackburn Hawks 8 Whitley Warriors 4 HAWKS are coming to, they're coming to, they're coming...

Two outstanding victories over the weekend and some notable individual efforts, not least from new boys Neil Abel and Colin Downie, suggests that this could develop into quite a season down at the Arena.

Manager Mike Cockayne, careful not to get too carried away, could still enthuse: "The signs are encouraging, very encouraging.

"We have put a new squad together and it was always going to take a little time, but as the players get to know one another the confidence grows. "We have some good imports backed up by some top British players - I was very pleased with our weekend's work."

And so too was a healthy crowd down at the Arena last night, not that Hawks had everything their own way.

Whitley Warriors stunned the home fans by clocking up two quick goals, but Abel and a superb effort from Phil Brook pulled the home side level.

Hawks sneaked in front in period two to lead 5-4 and then took the game by the throat to clinch a fine victory.

Abel, cool as you like and oozing class, also showed himself prepared to scrap for the cause...a "boxing" match with Matt McGuffin bringing the Blackburn new boy a 2+2+10 for unsportsmanlike conduct!

Period scores: 2-2, 3-2, 3-0.

Scoresheet: Neil Abel 1+2, Phil Brook 1+0, Patrik Ferlander 2+2, Ismo Rokala 2+1, Johan Goransson 1+0, Paul Fleury 1+0, Jim Pennycook 0+1, Bobby Haig 0+1.

A wide range of point scorers was also in evidence at Paisley Pirates on Saturday night - not to mention a tremendous debut display from netminder Downie - the undisputed man of the match. It was deep in the third period when Downie conceded his first goal and by that stage Hawks were two goals ahead.

The Pirates got within a goal again at 2-3, but Hawks took charge late on to run out convincing victors.

The only black spot being an incident involving Lee Colclough who made an obscene gesture at an official and now faces a six match suspension.

Period scores: 0-0, 0-2, 2-4.

Scoresheet: Pennycook 1+2, Tom Burridge 1+0, Fleury 0+3, Abel 1+0, Rokala 2+0, Ferlander 0+1, Goransson 0+1, Haig 0+2, Brook 1+0.

Hawks have re-scheduled a home date with Paisley Pirates for next Saturday (6pm).

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.