(Image permission: Rob Hutchinson)
LANCASHIRE, UK – Altrincham Aces visit Widnes Wild on Sunday aiming to put a disappointing end to 2017 firmly behind them.
The Aces’ bid to win promotion from Laidler D2 has hit the buffers in recent weeks after recording just two wins from their last six matches.
Despite that run of results Altrincham are still second in the table, level on points with leaders Hull Jets having played a game more.
With Widnes just two points behind in third place, forward Jordan Ashington is keen to regain the winning thread this weekend.
“The first half of the season started very well for us considering the amount of changes that were made to the entire set up from last season,” he said.
“We had a slight hiccup and lapse of concentration as the year came to an end, but we have since had a team meeting to talk everything over and all is well and back on track in the Aces camp.
“Obviously we hope to regain our winning ways this weekend.”
Billingham Stars head into the New Year in Moralee D1 with new-found confidence after a morale-boosting win over Blackburn Hawks last Saturday lifted them into eighth place, one spot above Saturday’s opponents Nottingham Lions.
Stars are also in action on Sunday as they travel to face title-chasing Telford Tigers, and general manager Allen Flavell is hoping the team can build on last week’s result.
“I don’t want to pile the pressure on by saying that we must win against the Lions, but there’s no denying it’s a massive game for us,” said Flavell.
“We’ve not faced them so far this season, but we know how they set themselves up and we believe we have the game plan to crack them.
“They’ve got results on the road against Whitley and Solihull, so we cannot afford to be complacent despite their league position.
“The trip to Telford is obviously a tough one for us, but we saw Solway get the win there last Saturday which proves it can be done.
“We have the confidence now after last weekend – I want to see us use that and push both teams hard.”
Blackburn will aim to spring a surprise when they face Hull Pirates in the quarter-finals of the NIHL National Cup this weekend.
The Pirates have won their last 11 league and cup games, while the Hawks have lost eight of their previous 12 matches, and defender Ollie Lomax admits it will be difficult to come out on top over two games.
“They don’t come much tougher than Hull Pirates over both days,” said Lomax. “They’re flying at the minute and are near the top where they should be with their budget.
“We did turn them over at home earlier in the season, but I think we caught them on an off night so we’re going to have to be really on our game to get anything out of this weekend.”
WEEKEND FIXTURES
Moralee D1
Saturday
Billingham Stars v Nottingham Lions
Sheffield Steeldogs v Deeside Dragons
Solway Sharks v Whitley Warriors
Sunday
Nottingham Lions v Deeside Dragons
Sheffield Steeldogs v Solway Sharks
Telford Tigers v Billingham Stars
Whitley Warriors v Solihull Barons
Laidler D2
Saturday
Coventry Blaze NIHL v Sutton Sting
Deeside Dragons 2 v Widnes Wild
Telford Tigers 2 v Hull Jets
Sunday
Blackburn Hawks 2 v Deeside Dragons 2
Widnes Wild v Altrincham Aces
NIHL National Cup
Saturday
Basingstoke Bison v Telford Tigers
Blackburn Hawks v Hull Pirates
Sunday
Hull Pirates v Blackburn Hawks
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