Fife Flyers 7 Blackburn Hawks 0

Blackburn Hawks 6, Castlereagh Knights 4

LEE Cowmeadow's stirring one man show earned Hawks a first win in the new ice hockey Northern Premier League last night - a timely tonic after a Saturday night to forget in Fife.

An Arena crowd of around 800 - a highly encouraging turnout after a summer of discontent and uncertainty within the sport - watched Cowmeadow smash and grab his way to four goals in a superb solo effort.

It was a triumph for the "home grown" contingent in the home ranks as, for the second game running neither of the two new imports, Patrik Ferlander or Johan Goransson, managed to contribute a single point.

Not that it mattered much with Cowmeadow in such form. He scored twice as Hawks established a 2-0 lead only for the new Northern Ireland side to force back level. A goal from Bobby Haig and another from Cowmeadow put Hawks in control again only for the brave Knights to pull back to 4-4. Two strikes in the final eight minutes, a vital unassisted effort from player coach Jim Pennycook and Cowmeadow's fourth, left the Hawks fans singing their approval at the end of a tense contest.

Period scores: 1-0, 3-2, 3-2. Scoresheet: Lee Cowmeadow 4+0, Bobby Haigh 1+1, Jim Pennycook 1+0, Tom Burridge 0+1.

Up in Scotland the previous night Hawks were well beaten against a Fife side fancied to make a real impact in the new league structure this season. The period scores made depressing reading: 2-0, 3-0, 2-0.

Manager Mike Cockayne said: "We were poor at Fife, but not as out-played as the scoreline suggests. Obviously we needed to bounce back straight away and it was a good effort against Castlereagh who will be a threat with the likes of Vas Vasilenko in their side. We were pleased with the attitude and application of the players."

Hawks are making moves to add a third import in time for next week. Star Finnish forward Ismo Rokaly, 30, is due to fly into the country and expected to sign.

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