BLACKBURN Hawks endured a difficult weekend, losing ground to rivals Sheffield and Flintshire at the top of the English League.

And 24 hours earlier, they suffered a heavy defeat in a challenge match at Dumfries.

In a tough 'Roses' battle at the Arena, third-placed Hawks lost 7-4 to Sheffield Scimitars, meanwhile at Whitley Bay, league leaders Flintshire Freeze beat the local Warriors 9-3 to maintain a one-point lead over the South Yorkshire club.

The Hawks, who were forced to play raw teenager Nick Saxton in goal, now trail Sheffield by three points and the Yorkshire side have a game in hand.

Saxton played well, but the Scimitars cut into the Hawks from the outset, a brace from Steve Duncombe and a John Ross strike giving the visitors a 3-0 lead at the end of the first.

Adam Leaver scored for the Hawks early in the second, but Sheffield scored 10 seconds later to maintain a three goal lead going into the final period.

Hawks' player-coach Bobby Haig opened and closed the scoring in the third session. In between, David Sheffield added another following good work from Neal Haworth.

Sheffield, however, added three goals of their own to thwart the Hawks' comeback hopes.

"I can't fault the effort from the team, we just didn't get the breaks," said Haig.

"We had chances, but we simply weren't good enough on the night. It's a wake-up call for the rest of the season."

The previous day, the Hawks took a reduced squad to Dumfries for a friendly challenge.

Chris Kelly fed Ricci Hulme to open the scoring after a barren 12 minutes. But then the hosts, with ex-Hawks' favourite Gordon Whyte in the ranks, took control, sweeping into a 7-1 lead by the end of the second session.

Dave Sheffield underlined his return to fitness after a lengthy spell on the

sidelines through serious injury, hitting two goals after the break. Adam Fuller scored a fourth for the visitors, but five in the third for the Scottish side saw them run out easy 12-4 winners.

"We were a disgrace, nobody played well at all, me included!" admitted a disappointed Haig.

Challenge

DUMFRIES 12 BLACKBURN HAWKS 4

English National League North

BLACKBURN HAWKS 4 SHEFFIELD SCIMITARS 7