BLACKBURN Hawks crashed in their latest Premier Cup tie, going down by 11 goals to one at Whitley Bay.

The under-strength Hawks side travelled more in hope then expectation, but were completely over-run in the opening exchanges and trailed 11-0 going into the final session.

The experienced Colin Downie was absent from the Hawks' nets and though able deputy Robbie Smith put up stubborn resistance, he couldn't stem the tide.

Indeed, he was replaced by Neil Howard in the final session as the Warriors were eventually contained.

By then, it was too late, as they ran in seven without reply in the first session and added another four in the second.

The Hawks had the final say of the match, but it was scant consolation as David Sheffield latched on to coach Bobby Haig's assist to score in the 51st minute.

The shots tally of 62 to 37 in the Warriors' favour tells its own story as the North Easterners celebrated a comfortable post-Christmas win.

Haig now faces the task of lifting the squad ahead of another daunting Premier Cup clash with the visit of Peterborough to the Arena on Saturday.

WHITLEY WARRIORS...11

HAWKS...1