Blackburn Hawks soared to third in the English National Ice-Hockey League North One table with a 3-2 win at home to Nottingham Lions.

Goals from David Meikle, Aaron Davies and Matt Viney secured the points for Gary Rogers’ side, who was delighted to follow up the 3-3 draw against Whitley Warriors with another impressive result.

“We were determined to get a good result, as all our hard work from the week before would have been undone if we hadn’t,” said the general manager.

“We received great backing from our home support and it made for a really entertaining game.”

Fresh from the draw away to league leaders Whitley, the Hawks players put a lot of pressure on the Lions’ defence.

They were rewarded with the opening goal when Jared Owen fed Meikle to supply a finish.

Old habits returned in the second period, as Hawks took a number of individual penalties, leaving them short-handed five on four.

But Nottingham failed to take advantage and were made to pay, as Hawks doubled their advantage when Viney won a face-off in the opposing zone, before passing it out to Davies to slot home.

The Lions came roaring back at the start of the third period and pulled a goal back within 30 seconds of the restart.

Chances were being created at both ends, but the Hawks grabbed the all-important third goal when Paul Rigby took the puck off a hapless Nottingham defender, before picking out Viney to score.

Again, the Lions refused to give up and grabbed a second goal with 20 seconds remaining, but Hawks withstood the grandstand finish to secure the win.