NATIONWIDE Knights defeated Bristol Warriors 7-6 in an entertaining special recreational challenge match.

Knights got off to the best possible start when an Ian Houston pass put former Swindon Wildcats player Robin Davison through to score the opener on 25 seconds.

Neil Edmunds added a second on 12.08 and Alex Collins a third on 18.19 before Jamie Newton responded with a marker for the Warriors on 19.30.

At the start of the second after a probing move by Davison, Ray Taylor picked up the loose puck to fire in for the Knights' fourth at 20.56.

Arron Curran pulled one back on 31.24 for the Warriors before ex-Swindon Cougars player Adi Smith linked with linemates Newton and Erik Hobbins to pull it back to 4-3 on 37.43.

Warriors first line again linked up and Hobbins netted the equaliser on 42.50.

Houston picked up a Davison pass to fire past Warriors' netminder Lee Purvis to re-establish Knights lead on 46.20.

Hobbins then set up Newton who broke away to make it 5-5 on 48.14. However a fine move involving Davison saw Collins add his second only 26 seconds later for Knights to re-establish a lead at 48.40.

Conrad Purvis set up Marcos Pearson to again tie the game for the Warriors at 6-6 on 49.11.

Just over three minutes later Shaun Littlewood set up Edmunds to score Knights' seventh on 52.38.

Knights scorers: A Collins 2+1; Edmunds 2+0; Davison 1+2; Houston 1+1; Taylor 1+0; S Littlewood and G Collins 0+2; Mike Joyce 0+1.

Period scores: 3-1; 1-2; 3-3.

Shots on goal: Knights 39; Warriors 34.

Penalty minutes: Knights 16; Warriors 16. Knights Man of Match: Ray Taylor.