Phoenix build healthy lead

MANCHESTER Phoenix have one foot in the Challenge Cup final after beating Basingstoke Bison 5-2 in the first leg of their last-four tie last night.

Adam Walker and Josh Garbutt gave Phoenix a 2-0 lead within the first three minutes and from there it was always going to be difficult for the depleted Bison to respond.

David Beauregard made it 3-1 on the powerplay 11 minutes in then added another seven minutes later.

Bruce Mulherin got his 14th of the season four minutes into the second period.

If Phoenix negotiate the second leg, they will face Belfast in the final.