TOPCATS took their winning streak this season to nine as they easily clipped the wings of Milton Keynes Falcons in a very one-sided affair.

Despite icing a depleted squad of only eight skaters plus two netminders, Swindon recorded a 7-0 away victory.

Becci Hargreaves and Jenni Fleming both played the full 45 minutes and finished as the two top points scorers.

The win takes TopCats four points clear of Chelmsford at the top of the British Women's Division One South table at the halfway point in their season.

They are unbeaten in nine games and on course to retain the south title, but whether they can go on and win the promotion play-offs and clinch a place in the Premier League is another matter, having missed out two years in a row.

TopCats dominated at Milton Keynes, outshooting Falcons 47-4, with netminders Sue Hart and Amy Woodward, who shared duties for a half each, virtually spectators. However, it was only in the last 15-minute session that the goals really began to flow.

Swindon only held a 1-0 lead at the end of the first period courtesy of a goal from Fleming, assisted by Hargreaves on seven minutes.

In the second they outshot Falcons 21-1 but only added two more goals from Hargreaves (23.52) and Janine Townsend (27.44).

The final session saw Hargreaves increase the lead to 4-0 at 33.14 before a late flurry took the final scoreline to 7-0.

Ruth Leopold bagged a brace at 42.56 and 43.29 while Fleming rounded-off the scoring at 44.24.

TopCats' next league game is at the Link Centre on Sunday, February 24, when they entertain Oxford University (6.45pm).

TopCats scorers: Hargreaves 2goals + 3assists; Fleming 2+1; Leopold 2+0; Townsend 1+0; Alyson Greetham 0+2 and Lynn Taylor 0+1 Period scores: 0-1; 0-2; 0-4 Shots on goal: Falcons 4; TopCats 47 Penalty minutes: Falcons 2; TopCats 0

  • WILDCATS ENL side were beaten at home in a low scoring game in their latest English National Ice Hockey League match.

They were heavily outshot 40-25 by Super League side Coventry's second team ENL Blaze, but still only went down 3-1.

Netminder Olli Lansdowne pulled off a string of fine saves for Wildcats ENL side to keep the scoreline respectable.

Swindon's development side were level at 1-1 at the end of the opening 20-minute period thanks to Andrew Coakley.

His strike at 19.21 beat former Wildcats keeper Dan Shea to cancel out a Blaze penalty shot, awarded by referee Dave Cloutman, and successfully converted by Thomas Pease at 16.56.

The second period saw Coventry well on top again but only score twice when shorthanded through Joe Henry.

He caught Cats ENL side on the break when they had powerplays at 33.38 and 39.58. The final period was very even with both sides registering nine shots each but no further goals.

Cats ENL scorers: Coakley 1+0; Shannon Taylor and Grant Richardson both 0+1 Period scores: 1-1; 0-2; 0-0 Shots on goal: Cats 25; Blaze 40 Penalty minutes: Both sides 10