(Image permission: David Morrison)
LANCASHIRE, UK – Hull Pirates host Sheffield Steeldogs on Sunday aiming to continue their march up the Moralee D1 table.
After a patchy start to the season Hull have won five league games in row and are now third in the standings, five points behind leaders Sheffield with a game on hand.
Defender Chris Wilcox believes Sunday’s game could have a big bearing on who wins this season’s title.
“Our slightly disappointing start to the season has been turned around in recent weeks,” said Wilcox. “We have been playing some very nice hockey and moving up the league table.
“This weekend we face the Steeldogs again who remain unbeaten in the league. We’ve played them before and snatched a win in the cup, but we are not taking that for granted as this game could have a big impact come the end of the season.
“It should be a great game and one we are all looking forward to playing in.”
Sheffield are also in action on Saturday as they face Peterborough Phantoms in the NIHL National Cup.
The Steeldogs have won six in a row in the league, with their most recent defeat coming against the Phantoms in the Autumn Trophy.
Player/Coach Ben Morgan says it will an exciting weekend for the club’s fans.
“If you want to watch a good game, you need to come to see us play the likes of Peterborough and Hull,” he told the club’s official Facebook page.
“They’ll be intense, high-paced games, plenty of action and quality opposition that are up there for us to measure ourselves against.
“Both teams kept the core group from last season, but the progress we have made as a team over the last four to six weeks has been quite substantial.
“So it’s going to be a tough weekend, a real test for us, but a good marker for us as a group of players and for the fans to see where we are.”
WEEKEND FIXTURES
Moralee D1
Saturday
Solway Sharks v Nottingham Lions
Whitley Warriors v Deeside Dragons
Sunday
Deeside Dragons v Nottingham Lions
Hull Pirates v Sheffield Steeldogs
Telford Tigers v Whitley Warriors
Laidler D2
Saturday
Blackburn Hawks 2 v Sutton Sting
Bradford Bulldogs v Coventry Blaze NIHL
Hull Jets v Telford Tigers 2
Sheffield Senators v Widnes Wild
Sunday
Altrincham Aces v Sheffield Senators
Sutton Sting v Telford Tigers 2
Widnes Wild v Hull Jets
NIHL National Cup
Saturday
Sheffield Steeldogs v Peterborough Phantoms
Swindon Wildcats v Telford Tigers
Sunday
Blackburn Hawks v Solway Sharks
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