Ice hockey: North Wilts Vikings, Wiltshire’s Junior Inline Puck Hockey club, had a successful conclusion to their 16 and under campaign in the GB Hockey Inline Southern League at Bisley.

Starting the day in fifth position, Vikings knew a win over bottom team Cambridge Thunder would lift them into fourth.

A tight first 5 minutes saw defences on top, but Vikings mid-rink passing game started to create chances and finishes were found by Matt Downward and Matt Baxter.

Robert Webster added a third after good work by Mike Barton, who then set up James Townsend for a fourth. Baxter fed Webster to finish one on one with the Cambridge netminder seconds before the break to give Vikings a 5-0 interval lead.

Cambridge were first to score after half-time, but Barton created goals for Townsend, Jordan Jefferies and Matt Powell before Jefferies returned the complement for Barton to get on the scoresheet.

Baxter and Townsend combined with Townsend applying the finish for his hat-trick and despite a rally by Cambridge with 6 minutes remaining, first time drives from the blue line by Dayne Leonard and Webster restored Vikings advantage.

Goals continued to result from selfless team play with every goal producing an assist.

Webster completed his hat-trick and all the outfield players found the net with Duncan Morton rarely troubled in the North Wilts goal for a 13-3 victory.

Scorers: Townsend 3+2, Webster 3, Downward 2, Barton 1+5, Baxter 1+3, Leonard 1+1, Powell 1+1, Jefferies 1+1

Vikings ended their season facing joint league leaders Brighton Street Stormers and were keen to revenge their 5-1 defeat in January.

An early goal by Baxter resulted from a good pass from Leonard.

Townsend then beat the goalie after exchanging passes with Baxter and straight from the face-off Powell found Downward unmarked in front of the net to give Vikings a 3 goal advantage.

Powell then went through from defence unchallenged before Brighton regained some composure with top scorer Nock finding the net on the third rebound, after Morton had blocked the first two shots.

Undaunted, Townsend finished another passing move involving Baxter to leave Vikings 5-1 up at half-time.

Brighton could clearly see their title hopes slipping away and responded magnificently in the second-half, but Vikings held them at bay with Morton producing heroics in goal and Leonard and Webster keeping a tight reign on the Brighton forwards.

Vikings finally conceded with 9 minutes remaining and when Brighton scored again 30 seconds later their comeback was on, but two end-to-end goals by Downward, a third from Townsend and a goal from the hard-working Barton saw Vikings produce their best result of the season, the final score of 9-6 also handing the league title to Cardiff Capitals and cementing Vikings fourth place finish.

Scorers: Downward 3+1, Townsend 3, Baxter 1+2, Powell 1+1, Barton 1, Leonard 0+1.

The Wiltshire club are hoping to enter teams in the 18 and Under and Senior divisions of the GB Hockey Inline Southern League next season, any interested players should contact Karl Leonard on karl.leonard@talktalk.net for further details.