Three up for second leg

Manchester Phoenix will take a three-goal margin into the second leg of the Knockout Cup semi-final after a comprehensive 4-1 win in Newcastle.

In a niggly game with both teams trying to out-muscle each other, David Beauregard’s 49th of the season got the ball rolling.

Nathan Ward doubled the lead in the 32nd minute finishing a move started by Lucas Burnett and Kyle Bruce.

Then Brett Clouthier fired a third with less then seven minutes on the clock.

Vipers Captain David Longstaff scored almost immediately, but the game was always Manchester’s to take and they did with Luke Fulghum’s 26th of the campaign to make next Thursday’s home leg an easier prospect.