Ice Hockey: Cardiff achieve hollow victory

CARDIFF DEVILS overcame Manchester Storm 2-1 in front of a capacity arena in south Wales on Sunday night - but the home victory was a hollow one, with Storm having pipped them to the Sekonda Superleague title the previous day.

The hosts had to win the hard way, coming from behind after Mike Morin had given Storm the lead in the second period. But in the final session the Devils scored twice in a little more than two minutes with a short-handed goal from Kip Noble and the game winner from Martin Lindman four minutes from the end.

Bracknell Bees, determined to hang on to fourth place, cruised to a 5- 1 home victory over Nottingham Panthers, but there was no joy for last season's Superleague champions, Ayr Scottish Eagles. They were 2-0 up in the 29th minute away to Newcastle Riverkings, who struck back to win in the last five minutes, scoring three with goals in two minutes 12 seconds.

Sheffield Steelers' run of four successive victories was halted when their weakened side was held to a 2-2 draw after overtime away to the bottom club London Knights. Travis Thiessen puts Knights ahead in the 15th minute, but Ken Priestlay equalised four minutes later. Then David Longstaff shot Steelers ahead in the second period, but Mike Harding levelled.

SEKONDA SUPERLEAGUE

P W D OL L GF GA Pts

*M'chester 39 29 1 3 6 144 78 62

Cardiff 39 25 0 4 10 136 96 54

Nottm 39 23 1 2 13 129 125 49

Bracknell 39 17 2 4 16 132 139 40

Sheffield 38 16 3 2 17 125 127 37

Ayr 37 16 3 2 16 120 122 37

Newcastle 37 11 2 2 22 100 135 26

London 38 9 2 4 23 104 168 24 *Champions; OL=Overtime loss, 1pt).