BLACKBURN Hawks made it three wins on the spin courtesy of a 6-2 victory at home to Nottingham Lions.

The two teams went into the game in mid-table, both looking to gain two much-needed points in their push for the play-off places.

Hawks were immediately on the offensive and opened the scoring on three minutes when Matt Viney squared the puck to Rick Ravey, who fired a wrist-shot past the Lions keeper.

After a couple of close escapes, Hawks doubled their lead on eight minutes when a determined passage of play by Jared Owen culminated in him finding Rick Hughes, who finished clinically.

With three minutes of the period remaining, a slick passing move ended with the hosts increasing their lead further. Owen exchanged passes with Jordan Bannon and beat the static keeper with ease.

The Lions eventually registered a goal during a four-on-four but Hawks restored their three-goal lead when Finn Sami Narkia skated the length of the ice before unselfishly played the puck to Matt Viney, who beat Richard Griffiths.

And the score soon became 5-1, as Bannon drew the keeper and fed Hughes, who fired into an open net.

After a 10-man scrap in the final minute of the second period, the visitors beat Brittle for a second time with just five seconds remaining. But the final 20 minutes saw Hawks take control, despite only adding one more to their tally.

The sixth goal came midway through the period, Narkia teeing up Chris Arnone for a fierce slap-shot, which proved too hot for Griffiths to handle.

Team manager Graham Lomax said: “It was a very good win and quite convincing in the end, against a decent team in Nottingham.

“We got 3-0 up early doors and it was plain sailing from then on. We didn’t play to our maximum potential, but we are going in the right direction.

“Our import signing, Sami Narkia, has made a big difference. He has calmed everyone down and taken a lot of pressure off everybody else.”