BASINGSTOKE UK: The new look Herd surprised many as they picked up three points from their opening weekend of regular season double header against the Sheffield Steeldogs.
The Bison with 14 new players in their line-up won their Autumn Cup opener on home ice, as they came back from 2-0 down to win 6-2.
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In the return on Sunday night in Yorkshire, the Herd were beaten in overtime 5-4.
The first game of the weekend did not start the way the Herd wanted as Sheffield scored on the powerplay from the impressive Duncan Spiers and then a shorthanded marker from Nathan Salem.
The home side hit back with a pair of goals in the tenth minute from Ashley Tait and Richard Bordowski.
Russ Cowley then made it 3-2 by the fiirst break and made it two goal game 56 seconds after the interval from Bordowski on his way to the man of the match award.
Liam Morris added the Bison’s fifth by the second buzzer and Hallam Wilson netted the sixth.
Both sides had a player dismissed in the final five minutes of the contest as Morris was given a match penalty for butt ending and Tim Smith was handed a match for fighting.”
“I felt we did not play well in the first 20 minutes and told the guys this. I thought we were a lot better for the last 40 minutes of the game,” said Bison player/coach Tait.
On Sunday night, the Herd got off to a great start in Sheffield as Michal Klejna scored after 77 seconds.
Sheffield hit back as Salem netted his second shorthander of the weekend and Ashley Calvert made it 2-1 in the second period.
Bordowski levelled things, but Salem and Calvert moved the score to 4-2 by the 41:47.
Once again, the Herd replied as Bordowski and George Norcliffe both scored either side of saved penalty from Adrian Palak.
With the score 4-4 at the final buzzer, the game went to overtime and Salem completed his hat-trick for the game winner.
“I would have taken the three points before the weekend. We are a new team and the important thing is that we get better with each game and I saw that at the weekend,” said Tait.
This weekend, the Bison continue their Autumn Cup quest with back-to-back games with the Hull Pirates, who opened their cup campaign with a split weekend with Swindon.
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