Giants run riot to leave Vipers in a spin

 BELFAST Giants roared back to the top of the Elite League by inflicting a record defeat on the Newcastle Vipers in the process.

Pat Bateman, Steve Thornton and Craig Peacock all hit doubles, adding to goals from Evan Cheverie,  Brandon Benedict, Mark Morrison, Sean McMorrow and a 17th of the season for Jeff Szwez helped the Giants to an 11-3 thrashing.

Perhaps the biggest surprise of the match was that EIHL leading points scorer could only register two assists but he was ably assisted by his team-mates who equallled their highest ever score.

The match was over as a contest after the first period when the Giants had raced into a 4-0 lead, courtesy of strikes from Bateman, Thornton, Peacocj and Benedict.

The second period was a quieter affair but ended with a flourish when Bateman netted again, before the visitors finally got on the scoresheer as David Longstaff notched on a delayed penalty.

But in the final minute of the period Peacock and Thornton both scored again to put the hosts 7-1 to the good.

And the floodgates opened in the final period as Morrison, McMorrow, Cheverie and Szwez all found the net before Jason Tejchmna restored an ounce of pride for the Vipers with a late double.