Blackburn Hawks 8 Paisley Pirates 4 ; Murrayfield Royals 5 Blackburn Hawks 8

Christmas has arrived early for born-again Lancashire Hawks with two timely victories all neatly gift-wrapped for their long-suffering fans.

There hasn't been much cause to worry about the structural well-being of Blackburn Arena this season. Until Saturday - when Hawks' frustrated followers raised the roof in celebration of a quite magnificent victory.

Alan Hough was the hero supreme as Hawks got their Christmas Cup involvement off to a flying start against the big guns of Paisley.

And they continued the good work last night with another fine win at Murrayfield to complete by far and away the most productive weekend of the campaign.

On Saturday, the Pirates were all washed up as the energetic Hough and Co simply blew them out of the water. Hough's best-ever display - four goals and three assists had Hawks fans rejoicing, but not until after the Pirates had twice held the lead early on. A frantic seven-goal first period saw the visitors emerge on top, but Hough and Canadian Jeff Daniels put matters right in period two with a couple apiece as Hawks took the game by the throat.

If Hawks felt that Paisley would lie down and die they were mistaken and it took a super display of net-minding from Colin Downie to keep the home side ahead. Paisley had 27 shots on Downie in that final 20 minute spell compared to just 11 on Bill Morrison at the other end and the visitors actually out-shot their hosts by a staggering 32-52.

A victory based around desire and determination coupled with some outstanding individual efforts - more of this will certainly get the crowds back. Pity there were less than 900 to see it.

Period scores: 3-4, 4-0, 1-0. Scoresheet: Jeff Daniels 3+3, Tim Dempsey 0+3, Alan Hough 4+3, Adrian Lomonaco 1+4.

Last night Hough found the scoresheet again - just once this time - as Lomonaco and Daniels shared four in a convincing performance. Hawks were three up inside the first quarter of an hour and although the Royals fought back to claim period two the result was never really in doubt.

Period scores: 0-3, 3-2, 2-3. Scoresheet: Mike Pynonnen 0+1, JIm Pennycook 1+0, Jeff Daniels 2+3, Tim Dempsey 1+3, Alan Hough 1+3, Bobby Haig 1+0, Adrian Lomonaco 2+3.

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