NIHL National: Hull Seahawks enjoy bragging rights over Sheffield Steeldogs as Leeds Knights prove comeback kings

The teams went in level at 1-1 after Owen Sobchak’s third-minute power play opener was cancelled out by Nathan Ripley, two minutes later.

But then the hosts plundered seven unanswered goals in the next 40 minutes, Owen Bruton (2) Josh Hodgkinson, James Spurr, Johnny Corneil, Tom Stubley and Declan Jones all getting on the scoresheet, before Sam Tremblay posted a late consolation.

The second period was where the hosts began to assert control, getting themselves 4-1 ahead before the intermission.

Bruton hit his first of the night at 22.13 before defenceman Josh Hodgkinson got his first for the Seahawks just after the halfway mark, before Bruton added a powere play marker in the 37th minute.

Spurr then scored against his former club at 42.42 to make it 5-1 with the game put beyond doubt when Johnny Corneil added a sixth goal just 30 seconds later.

Stubley got in on the act at 48.38 before Declan Jones rounded off the home team’s scoring with a shorthanded strike in the 57th minute.

Leeds Knights twice came from behind to win 4-2 at Romford Raiders.

Oli Endicott struck first for the defending champions in the 35th minute to cancel out Jake Sylvester’s sixth-minute shorthanded opener.

Shaun Miller then edged the hosts ahead again early in the third period and it wasn’t until the last 10 minutes that the Knights rallied.

Matt Haywood pulled the defending champions level for a second time at 51.28 but it took a late effort from Matt Barron - with just 130 seconds remaining - to put Leeds ahead for the first time on the night.

Haywood added an empty net strike with just 14 seconds remaining.