MANCHESTER Phoenix under-18s are closing in on the Northern Division 2 title after a comprehensive 15-3 victory over Grimsby Blackhawks.

They need just one more point from their remaining three away games to secure the championship.

The Blackhawks arrived at the Silver Blades Ice Dome as the sacrificial lambs but they stunned the Phoenix with the opening goal in the second minute, Alex Raithby the scorer.

However, the early setback was quickly erased as they took just 24 seconds to equalise through Rick Ravey and the tone of the game was quickly set as the Phoenix proceeded to lay siege to the Grimsby goal.

The go-ahead marker didn't arrive till shortly before the midway point of the period, Danny Bullock firing Phoenix in front.

Having edged ahead, Phoenix took a firm grip with their third and fourth goals, Shaun Dippnall scoring unassisted and Bullock adding his second in the 14th minute.

Phoenix continued their assault on the Grimsby goal in the second period with a superb solo goal of mesmerising stick-handling skills from Phil Hamer coming in the first minute.

The Blackhawks reduced the arrears on a 23rd minute powerplay, Dan Maver scoring before Michael Townsend and John Murray, with the first of his personal hat-trick gave Phoenix a 7-2 lead by the half-hour mark.

Goals continued to flow and by the end of the session, Dippnall, Murray, Ryan Pike and Alfie Olinski had all netted for Phoenix with another Grimsby marker from Rhys Chambers.

With the game well and truly won and the crowd of around 200, including most of the Phoenix Elite League squad, thoroughly enjoying the spectacle, it was just a matter of how many more goals the champions elect could manage against a Grimsby side looking severely shell-shocked.

John Murray completed his hat-trick and Rick Ravey added his second, both in short-handed fashion before Hamer added his second unassisted goal of the game in the 48th minute.

The final goal of the game fittingly went to Phoenix captain Tom Hammond in the final two minutes.