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Nov 12 2007 The Journal

Whitley Warriors5

Kingston Jets4

THE Whitley Warriors edged a nine-goal thriller at home to rapidly-improving Kingston Jets last night to maintain their lead at the top of English National Ice Hockey League North.

Jordan Davies scored a powerplay goal at 8.17 to open the scoring for the visitors, but a short-handed marker from DJ Good saw Whitley level four minutes later.

However, Kingston again edged ahead early in the second session and it was not until 31.27 that Ryan Sample fired home the equaliser.

On Saturday, the Warriors were too strong for Blackburn Hawks, running out 6-3 winners despite the absence of injured player-coaches Andrew Carter and Karl Culley for the English National League encounter. Adam Hendry netted the only goal of the opening period to put Whitley ahead, with Ryan Sample extending the advantage early in the middle session.

The Hawks did, though, manage to pull one back before the break.

However, the game was won in the first 10 minutes of the last period as Callum Watson (2) and Michael Allinson took the Whitley lead to 5-1.

Blackburn then pulled a couple back but a further Ryan Sample strike completed the scoring, Thomas Murdy then denied David Meikle a hat-trick for the home side when he saved a last-minute penalty shot.

WHITLEY WARRIORS (v Kingston Jets): D Good and M Good 1+1, R Sample, S Zajac and Carter 1+0, Tindale 0+2, Wilson, Mole and D Murdy 0+1.

WHITLEY WARRIORS (v Blackburn Hawks): R Sample 2+1, Watson 2+0, Hendry and Allison 1+0, T Murdy, Barrett, Wilson and Mole 0+1.