JON Adams and player-coach Jared Owen both scored hat-tricks against Telford Titans to fire Blackburn Hawks into second spot in the National Ice Hockey League Moralee Conference.

Their stay was short, with Sutton Sting and Billingham Stars both winning their league games on Sunday and leapfrogging Hawks, who were on cup duty.

But Saturday’s result leaves them in a good position for a late charge for the top two, providing they can use their games in hand over Billingham Stars and Sutton Sting, who sit second and third respectively.

Hawks had expected an easy ride away to Telford in their first game of a double-header weekend, having thrashed them 16-1 earlier in the season.

But they were in for a shock as a much-improved Titans line-up recovered from an early 3-0 defeat to lead 5-4 in the second period.

Hawks were stunned into life and Adams completed a quickfire treble, before Owen also claimed a hat-trick with the final goal in a 10-6 win.

Other scorers were Dan Mackriel, Aaron Davies and Adam Brittle, who scored two.

Sunday’s cup win was a more convincing one over Manchester Minotaurs, with the second period being the busiest of the three.

Going into it 1-0 up thanks to Rick Ravey’s fourth minute goal, Ric Hughes doubled the lead early in the second before Adams scored either side of a David Meikle double.

By that point Manchester had pulled a goal back.

But Ivo Dimitrijevs completed a 6-1 win.