Rivals in nail biting ENL South title race

LONDON, UK – The English National League South title race reaches its final stages as Essex rivals Chelmsford Chieftains and Romford Raiders go head to head for the championship. Pro Hockey News features a full preview of the run in.

 
It has been a long time since the Romford Raiders won a league title, over a decade in fact. Only Player Coach Danny Marshall and defenseman Tyrone Miller still remain within the ranks at Rom Valley Way from that successful season in 2000/01; however other players currently pulling on the famous blue and gold jersey such as former Peterborough Phantoms utility player Shaun Yardley are no strangers to lifting silverware in recent times.
 
A mixture of skill, speed and aggression across the Raiders team has made them formidable opponents this season. Despite a massive blow at the start of the season when star prospect Frankie Harvey was ruled out with injury, Marshall has built a strong squad that has lost only one league game on home ice all season.
 
Nineteen miles up the A12, Chelmsford’s recent Play-Off success has provided the foundation for another strong showing despite a change of Coach in the summer.
 
Marquee signing Gary Clarke has done well in his first season combining the roles of playing and coaching, with his inspirational signing of old MK Lightning team mate Dwayne Newman, a massive help in uniting a locker room that has had to blend in new faces as the season has progressed.
 
A far less aggressive side than their neighbours, Clarke has followed the model of his former Lightning Coach Nick Poole by signing quick and agile players around a strong local core of players, whilst adding a couple of skilled agitators to combat physicality from other teams.
 
Chelmsford have recently played catch up to their rivals, but slip ups from both sides in recent weeks have added to the uncertainty as to where the title will end up.
 
With just a few weeks till the end of the season, Pro Hockey News looks ahead to the challenges both teams face, the players who are likely to play a big part and the thoughts of the biggest names in ENL South on who they think will lift the title.
 
The run in…
 
Romford have arguably the toughest run in, as they face two tricky tests against top four sides that Chelmsford will not have to face. A recent trip to Cardiff ended badly for the Raiders and they have to travel there again, plus they host an in form Wightlink Raiders side that are currently ten games unbeaten in the league.
 
Chelmsford have an easier schedule with four straightforward fixtures on paper as they play Milton Keynes twice and also Streatham and Slough in succession at the Riverside. Previous fixtures against these sides have all been one sided victories thus far this season and few would bet against Chelmsford taking maximum points, although the away trip to MK is likely to be the biggest potential banana skin.
 
What the experts say…
 
Invicta Dynamos Coach Kevin Parrish
 
“Romford and Chelmsford have been playing a snakes and ladders game all season. Just when you think one team are home they seem to slip up and the other team is back in, then a week later vice versa”
 
“Both teams have great quality throughout the squads with a great mix of experienced ENL players and also which has been a big factor for both these teams being at the top all season is the EPL experience”
 
“Romford got their old style of hockey back this year, which is totally running the fear factor through teams. Once JJ, Wallis and Bomber was signed you knew this was the old school Romford coming back”
 
“You add in the mix of that Huska, Marshall, Turner and AJ you know that goals are going to be a plenty. And with Leone leading the team on and off the ice you know they are up for every game they play”
 
“Chelmsford have the mix in Clarke coming in at the helm this year and brining in Dog (Dwayne Newman) was one of the best signings of the seasons. Good quick youngsters in Ayling and Brears. At the back adding toughness and skill with Coxy”
 
“Then when you finally get past those guys you look up and you have the best pairing of   goaltenders in the league with Clements and Wride. Very quick in transition and they use that to their advantage going North to South”
 
“I think and only because of the run in Chelmsford have, they might just edge it, but it’s very close to call. Best of luck to both (as I jump off the fence)”
 
 
Wightlink Raiders Coach Jeremy Cornish
 
“I would rather have us within contention than be talking about this but…”
 
“As for the two Essex sides, they couldn’t be any more different. Romford is a tough team and as everyone knows I like tough teams. I believe intimidation can win hockey game by itself, but they do also have some quality in Marshall and Huska and depth with the likes of McGrath and Leone”
 
“Chelmo is a much more skilled team and rely on pure skill and puck possession. I think Chelmo is a much more likeable team, but I’m not sure I would want to be known as a nice team to play against”
 
“Clarke and Hammond are a couple of the best players in the league and they also offer solid depth with Ranby and Green”
 
“Chelmo I believe have more skill, but Romford has a noticeable more amount of grit and team morale”
 
“I would like to see Chelmo win the title, but only because we have developed a little rivalry with Romford and we don’t really like each other when we play”
 
“Whoever wins I’m happy it’s gone to the wire again this year, the league is getting better each year and the quality of players and teams is growing each season”
 
 
Milton Keynes Thunder Coach Simon Howard
 
“It’s been clear from the start that these two teams would go head to head for the title. So similar in that they have 3 strong lines, EPL experience and strong imports yet so different in styles of hockey”
 
“With both teams virtually neck and neck all season just like the two Manchester clubs in the premiership it could go down to the last game which for Chelmsford will be in MK”
 
“The gulf between these two teams has been evident all season although for me, the surprise package has to be Cardiff who have shown to be both good on any given night both home and away.   Cardiff to me has been a great example of what you can do with a solid junior programme combined with young players who are hungry to play at a higher level”
 
“Looking at the fixtures it will be no comfort to Romford that they still have to go to Cardiff to play whilst Chelmsford are effectively playing the 3 bottom teams including ourselves.   I guess in the same light we could also ruin the party for Chelmsford as the decider could be a late night midweek trip to Buckinghamshire and if we can discover the form of last year’s playoff games we could just sneak a point or two off them”
 
“Slough’s run in looks hard however they could ruin both Romford’s and Chelmsford title hopes and with survival to play for and little or no pressure they are the potential banana skin for either team”
 
“Beyond the league title I believe the team with the best form going into the playoffs is Invicta and a dark horse that has laid low all season and my tip (aside from MK) for the playoffs”
 
 
Bristol Pitbulls forward Alan Armour
 
“Romford have arguably the toughest run in with a trip to the big blue tent being a real test for any team as they already found out a couple of weeks ago when they lost to Cudd’s (Mark Cuddihy’s) Devils in Cardiff”
 
“Add to that a visit from the ‘other’ Raiders, a team that is very capable of taking points off anyone on their day if Cornish has them fired up in the right direction which I am sure he is doing with the playoffs only weeks away”  
* 
“Romford have a good team with a mix of grit, talent and the ability to finish teams off.   Not exactly a free flowing team but certainly a team that not many people look forward to playing, particularly in their own rink as Super Dan has them playing the physical intimidation game very well at home”
 
“So my tip for the title has to be Chelmsford, they have a stronger all round team with at least three strong capable lines.   They also have arguably the easier run in with only Streatham a contender to unsettle them, if they travel to Essex with a smart physical mind-set, although I really don’t see them dropping points at all”  
 
“For me they have the most complete all round team this season, they play a good fast game and don’t rely heavily on any one or two players to get them points.   Their only real lacking is a physical presence but I suppose there is a good argument that they haven’t needed it this season, or maybe they just haven’t shown it, because with the likes of Dog and Coxy they certainly have the potential for mixing it up if needed”

“I really see the key game being Cardiff away for Romford as a potential title decider”
 
 
Comparison of key players…
 
Marshall v Clarke
 
Two quality players who are always a threat in front of goal, both are combining their playing duties with coaching to good effect.
 
Marshall has the greater experience as a coach but Clarke can call upon the experienced Dean Birrell to run his bench in the big games and defenseman Sean Easton sometimes chips in with his emerging coaching pedigree.
 
Clarke will probably not need to use his bench skills quite so much in the remaining league fixtures but Marshall will be stretched.
 
Wightlink and Cardiff are both more than capable of taking a physical approach to the games against the Raiders and when penalties occur, as they most certainly will, the Raiders legend will have to have his wits about him to ensure he gets the special teams just right whilst also concentrating on influencing the game on the ice.
 
 
McGrath v Ranby
 
Similar in some respects but not others. Chelmsford have no one to compare with McGrath since opting to do away with the traditional enforcer position after the departure of BT Williams.
 
Happy to drop the gloves with anyone in the league, McGrath can intimidate opponents but also play the game too, as his 14 goals so far this year demonstrate.
 
Ranby is also able to drop the gloves if necessary but plays more of intense in your face style of hockey that often sees him parking his tall frame in front of the goalie to good effect.
 
Exactly the type of player that infuriates opposition fans and delights his own.
Once again, it will be the Romford player who is likely to be more needed in the remaining fixtures as they face more physical opponents.
 
Ranby will look to add points to the board in the remaining Chelmsford games however it will likely be the likes of Danny Hammond, Tom Long and Alan Green who take the game to the potentially weaker opponent’s defense.
 
 
Huska v Klima
 
Only seven points separate these two imports, with the Slovak Huska currently sitting on 31 goals and 47 assists and Czech forward Klima on 30 goals and 41 assists so far.
 
Huska has the strongest pedigree of the pair with Klima a new arrival earlier in the summer. Neither player shy’s away from the physical stuff although Huska has a size advantage over his fellow eastern European.
 
Both teams have a second import each, with the experienced Canadian Dwayne Newman patrolling Chelmsford’s blue line and former Bracknell Bees defenseman Andrius Kaminskas playing a utility role for Romford.
 
Kaminskas’s versatility is invaluable to Marshall on the power play and short-handed teams.
 
 
Leone v Newman
 
The two captains bring differing qualities to their teams. Romford’s skipper Leone is a local boy who knows the league well having iced with Invicta in four consecutive league title winning seasons, after moving ironically from Chelmsford in 2006/07.
* 
A revelation since joining the Raiders last season, Leone has gone from a crash and bang player on the checking line with the Mo’s, to a bona fide scoring forward on either the first or second line. A passionate player Leone will know exactly what his team have to do to win the league and will be a valuable asset in the remaining games.
 
Passionate is a word that can also be attributed to Newman. The experienced Chelmsford Captain is a born winner with an intense focus on the job at hand. Off the ice Newman is as laid back as they come but on the ice he has a steel about him that can only inspire his team mates.
 
There is nobody better for Clarke to have by his side than Newman when it comes to making sure his team don’t take the remaining games too lightly.
 
 
Remaining fixtures
 
Chelmsford: Milton Keynes (H), Streatham (H), Slough (H) Milton Keynes (A)
 
Romford: Slough (A), Wightlink (A), Cardiff (A), Slough (A)
 
For full fixture details and ticket prices visit the club websites at:
 
http://www.romfordraiders.co.uk/new/site/
 
And
 
http://www.chelmsfordchieftains.co.uk/
*
 
Contact the author david.carr@prohockeynews.com