Blackburn Hawks left it late to earn a deserved 3-3 draw away to local rivals Trafford Metros in the English National Ice Hockey League North One.

The Hawks equalised with just 90 seconds left on the clock to pick up a useful point which keeps them in the hunt for the play-offs.

After a goalless first period, Hawks took the lead through Rick Hughes, but two quickfire goals on a five-on-three powerplay gave the hosts the edge going into the second break.

Trafford extended their lead in the final period, but Jordan Bannon reduced the arrears before Aaron Davies secured a share of the spoils right at the death.

Team boss Graham Lomax said: “We’re not interested in bragging rights, at the end of the day, we’ve picked up a point and they’ve dropped a point.

“They were the home team and so they would be expected to win. It’s good to have local rivalry, but we’re happy with the point because it keeps us above Trafford in the standings.

“We had a great following down there and I thought it was a good advertisement for ENL North 1 ice hockey.

“The game had everything – a few goals, some good scraps, a bit of controversy and the right result.

“We’re still very much in the mix and everyone continues to take points off everyone else, so it is shaping up to be a very interesting run-in.”

n Lancashire Raptors’ season of suffering continued – but at least they managed to get on the goal trail.

The Raptors lost their 18th North Two game of the season as Hull Stingrays ran out 8-3 winners.