MANCHESTER, UK - MANCHESTER Phoenix ended a run of six defeats with morale boosting victories over Romford Raiders and Peterborough Phantoms this weekend.

Adam Walker scored a hat-trick in a 10-2 away romp at the Raiders before repeating the feat a day later at home to the Phantoms.

Sunday night's 6-4 win over last season's Grand Slam Champions was important as Phoenix jostle for final playoff placings.

They were also missing forward Steven Wallace with an ankle injury and Ed Courtenay - the league's top goal scorer - who was back home in Canada.

Phoenix were 2-1 down after the first period as Maris Ziedins and Joe Miller sandwiched an Andre Mattsson powerplay marker.

But they stepped up their work rate in the second, outshooting the Phantoms 26-9 and going in one up thanks to Iain Bowie and Robert Lachowicz.

Walker reached forty goals for the season with a treble within 11 minutes of the third period to give Manchester a 6-2 lead, and despite two late goals, the result was never in doubt.

On Saturday, Phoenix got their first win in three matches in Romford – coasting to a 10-2 win even though the home side scored first.

Lachowicz cancelled out the opener and then dynamic forward play blew away the bottom of the league Raiders.

Tony Hand and Adam Walker combined to set up Jaakko Hagelberg for the go-ahead goal – Darius Pliskauskas leveling it up – before Mattsson and Hand gave them a 4-2 lead.

From there Walker grabbed a treble, with Hand and Lachowicz weighing in braces apiece.

Phoenix eased back in the third period and duly completed a satisfying night's work with Greg Wood grabbing his 11th of the season in the final minute.

“I wasn't happy after the opening period against the Phantoms but from that point we played very well,” Phoenix player-coach Tony Hand said. “Jaakko [Hagelberg] was more disciplined tonight and I thought played one of his best games in recent weeks for us, and overall, it's been an excellent weekend for us.”

Contact Mike.Appleton@prohockeynews.com