SWINDON Spitfires leapt to the top of the table after the second round of games in the BISHA South West Senior Skater Hockey League.

With unbeaten leaders Cardiff Panthers absent for the day, it gave the rest of the teams a chance to shine.

Spits took full advantage, although they were shocked in the first game as Gloucester’s Sprint Raiders edged to a 4-3 victory.

Three potential Spits goals were not awarded as the officials failed to spot the ball crossing the line and allowed Raiders to enter the break in front.

The Spitfires raised their game in the second period and goals from Craig Davies (2) and Will Harding pulled them clear but a disastrous last couple of minutes saw the Raiders score twice to take the win.

Elsewhere, Swindon Flames played their first games of the season and performed exceptionally well. Comprising mostly of junior players, Flames were also handicapped by a short bench, which saw them with just five outfield players.

Despite this, they began with a 9-5 victory over Swindon Chiefs.

The first half was evenly contested, with the Flames holding a 4-3 lead. In the second period, they made the most of the space available and hit the Chiefs on the counter to pull away, with Liam Coleman doing most of the damage with six goals, while the Dolphin brothers, Josh (3) and Zac (2), replied for the Chiefs.

Game three saw the Spits take out their frustrations from their earlier game on the Chiefs as they notched up a comfortable 13-0 win, with Craig Davies and Lee Ryan netting four goals apiece.

The Flames kept the Raiders on their toes in their second game, with the Gloucester side ultimately bagging a 7-4 success despite strikes from Coleman and Dylan Bonner.

Flames’ counter-attacking tactics proved even more effective against the Spitfires as they edged into a 3-2 lead during the first half, with Coleman (2) and Bonner repeating their goalscoring feats.

Spits turned it around and goals from Davies (3), Lee Ryan (3), Jack Townsend (2) and Harding earned a 9-3 success.

The final game saw Sprint Raiders pick up their third win with a 20-3 romp over the Chiefs, for whom Josh Dolphin, Zac Dolphin and Callum Stroud struck.