The London Knights had a good chance to climb the Superleague table with three successive homes game at the London Arena, including playing the bottom two clubs.

But those hopes were soon dashed when they lost the first two against Belfast Giants and Manchester Storm, both by 3-1 margins.

Expectations were high when Mike Barrie collected the puck in his own defensive zone and raced down the left wing before somehow finding a gap between Giants' keeper Mike Bales and his left-hand pipe. But they had no answer to the Irish side's response as they showed the form which has taken them to the top of the table.

It was then a case of torture, or should we say Torchia, as the Storm's keeper played at his most brilliant to deny waves of Knights' attacks.

Torchia was beaten only once, by Kim Ahlroos' goal in the the third period. But they were two-down at that point, and their fate was sealed when Paul Rushforth the Knights were already a man short after Rob Donovan was sent off for butting was sin-binned and Storm took advantage to score their third goal.

Sheffield Steelers were the visitors on Sunday, but the Knights put behind them their recent poor home form by winning 5-1 with goals from Kim Ahlroos, Eoin McInterny, his first for club, Mo Mansi, Mike Barrie and Sean Blanchard.

November 6, 2001 10:25