BLACKBURN Hawks have taken immediate steps to shore up their leaking defence by signing two Premiership players.

Hard-hitting defender Neil Abel - very much in the mould of former hero Ryan Kummu - has signed from Sheffield Steelers where he has won the Premiership for the past two years.

And Goaltender Colin Downey has signed from Manchester Storm and both will feature in this weekend's Northern League clashes at Paisley Pirates on Saturday and Sunday's visit of Whitley Warriors.

Player/coach Jim Pennycook said: "After last Sunday's 9-6 defeat against Dumfries Vikings we have been working very hard on improving our defence.

"I was disappointed by the way we threw the game away after leading 6-2 but it was our lack of fitness that let us down. The two signings are great for the club and we'll be looking to bounce straight back with a win for our fantastic fans who we let down."

Hawks fielded their three overseas stars for the first time against the Vikings and Patrik Ferlander, Ismo Rokala and Johan Goransson all got on the score sheet.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.