TOPCATS made it 13 straight wins with a 5-0 success in Gillingham over Invicta Dynamics.

The Swindon ladies moved six points clear of Chelmsford Cobras and need two more wins from their five remaining games to retain the British Women's Division One South league crown.

Despite operating a short bench, Cats dominated in Gillingham outshooting Dynamics 61-6, but found netminder Bethany Gemson in superb form.

Swindon made a lightning start with captain Lynn Taylor netting from a Laura Merrick pass after only 103 seconds.

The same combination produced the second goal at 4.12.

The second session saw Swindon fire in 23 shots on target but only two goals.

Player/coach Becci Hargreaves increased the lead to 3-0 on the powerplay at 21.32 while Merrick added a fourth at 27.40, with Vicki Hart in the sin-bin.

Cats hit the back of the net once through Merrick at 33.26 on the powerplay in the final period.

TopCats are away to basement team Basingstoke Bears on Sunday (April 6), and can clinch the title at home seven days later against Milton Keynes Falcons.

TopCats scorers: Merrick 2goals + 3assists; Taylor 2+0; Hargreaves 1+0; Ruth Leopold and Lyanne Diotte 0+1.

Period scores: 0-2; 0-2; 0-1.

Shots on goal: Invicta 6; TopCats 61 Penalty mins: Invicta 12; TopCats 6.

n SWINDON TopCats annual women's ice hockey tournament will take place over the weekend of June 14 and 15.

It will be the 13th staging of the British Women's Friendship Tournament - the top women's tournament in the summer calendar.

Teams: Basingstoke Bison Ladies, Bracknell Queen Bees, Bracknell Fire Bees, Cardiff Comets, Chelmsford Cobras, Coventry Phoenix, Flintshire Furies, Invicta Dynamics, Oxford Midnight Stars, Slough Phantoms, Telford Wrekin Raiders, TopCats.

  • PUMAS' Under 14 South One League title celebrations were put on ice in Essex.

They were held to a 5-5 draw by lowly Chelmsford Braves despite leading 3-0 at the end of the first period and 5-3 midway through the final session.

The point did guarantee Pumas a place in the play-offs and extended their brilliant unbeaten run this season to 17 games.

Jack O'Donnell (4.33, assisted by Jorden Smith) opened the scoring with Floyd Taylor (16.55) and Nyle Clinton (19.42) also netting.

But by 31.02, the Braves were level before Sam Godfrey (32.45) and Smith (33.54) edged Swindon 5-3 ahead.

But Chelmsford hit back again at 34.06, leaving the Pumas needing victory in Basingstoke on Saturday to clinch the title.

Pumas scorers: Smith 1+2; O'Donnell and F Taylor 1+1; Clinton and Godfrey 1+0; Zach Sullivan, Dan Pettitt and Josh Dolphin all 0+1.

Period scores: 0-3; 5-2.

Shots on goal: Braves 24; Pumas 34.

Penalty mins: Two each.

  • DEPLETED Cougars crashed 8-1 in Bracknell in their top-of-the-table Southern Under 18 League clash - Amanda Carr netting for Cougars at 8.46.

Cougars scorer: Amanada Carr 1+0; Shannon Taylor 0+1.

Period scores: 1-1; 4-0; 3-0.

Shots on goal: Drones 46; Cougars 14.

Penalty mins: Drones 12; Cougars 24.