HAWKS 4 WIGHTLINK 3 ICE HOCKEY: Blackburn Hawks flew straight to the top of the English Premier League last night with a phenomenal 4-3 win over high flying Wightlink . . . but it took over 40 minutes for them to find their feet.

A supercharged final period saw Hawks finally go on the offensive. And it was the Canadian contingent who were left to storm the visitors' net -- Lamonte Polet turning hero with a brace.

His second, and Hawks' third goal in an action packed three minute assault, drew it level at 3-3: a tremendous solo run from behind his own net before unleashing a long range rocket which threatened to burst through the netting.

"Lamonte looked asbsolutely unstoppable," said player.coach Bobby Haig, who watched the game from the sidelines after a nose operation on Saturday. "It was a ferocious shot and he struck it well . . . there was no way anyone was going to stop it going in."

Hawks looked sloppy for the first two periods, trailing 2-0 after the first period and unable to break down the visitors' solid defence. Andrew Dickson --ao often the hero this season -- grabbed the winner five minutes from the final buzzer to fire Hawks straight to the top of the table.

"We are delighted to get back on top, but we found it very hard to break them down. In the third period we changed tactics completely and chased the puck much more and it paid off."

Period scores: 0-2, 0-0, 4-1.

Scorers: Brandimore 1+1, Jones 0+1, Burridge 0+1, Smith 0+1, Dickson 1+2, Polet 2+0. On Saturday Hawks crashed out to a highly experienced Peterborough side in the Christmas Cup competition.

The same three pronged strike force were on hand to bag five goals, but Pirates outclassed and outplayed the home team in a rough and tumble affair. Up 3-2 at the end of the first, Hawks crumbled and let in seven and then five in the final two periods.

Period scores: 3-2, 1-7, 1-5.

Scorers: Brandimore 1+2, Doherty 0+1, Dempsey 0+1, Dickson 2+1, Polet 2+1.

Bobby Haig misses the next three weeks on doctor's advice after his operation on Saturday.

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