(Image permission: Keith & Jenny Davies)LANCASHIRE, UK – Solway Sharks head into the latest round of games aiming to build on two impressive performances last weekend.
The Sharks narrowly lost against reigning Moralee D1 champions Sheffield Steeldogs on Saturday, before bouncing back with an impressive NIHL North Cup victory at Blackburn Hawks the following day.
Forward Struan Tonnar (above) is confident that the Dumfries outfit can carry their form into this weekend’s games against Billingham Stars (cup) and Whitley Warriors (league).
“Disappointment was the emotion at the front of our minds after Saturday,” said Tonnar. “I thought we played really well against last year’s league winners.
“We skated well and took a lot of the game to them, but they showed how clinical they can be on our few mistakes and that cost us in the end.
“We took a lot of positives from that game and put them to work in a tough Blackburn building to get a job done on Sunday.
“If we take the same effort and play from the Sheffield match into every game we are going to continue to be a force to be reckoned with this season.
“We’ve built a really good team with the guys we’ve brought in and we have all spoken a lot about our roles.
“Everyone is buying into what is required which will hopefully help us reach our goal of breaking into the top three.”
Sutton Sting boss Simon Butterworth has strengthened his squad after his side suffered two heavy defeats against Hull Pirates last weekend.
Sting have signed Niks Veiss from Liepaja Juniors in Latvia ahead of this weekend’s fixtures against Solihull Barons and Billingham.
The 19-year-old qualifies as British-trained due to his time spent within the EIHA junior system with both Bradford and Sheffield.
“Niks has trained with us a couple of weeks now and brings a different dimension to the team that I think will prove to be a useful asset,” said Butterworth.
“He is 6′ 4” and can play either forward or defence and plays a very aggressive style of hockey, so it’s going to be interesting to see how his role within our team develops.
“Last weekend we gave a good account of ourselves for five periods and ran out of steam, partly due to early season conditioning and partly a shorter than expected bench, so I am not overly concerned by the scoreline.
“This weekend we face another double-header with more bodies in the line-up, so we hope to be there or thereabouts come the final buzzer in both games.
“We are under no illusions that to win any games this season we are going to need to play a near perfect game and hopefully we can start doing that this weekend.”
WEEKEND FIXTURES
Moralee D1
Saturday
Sutton Sting v Solihull Barons
Sunday
Blackburn Hawks v Sutton Sting
Nottingham Lions v Billingham Stars
Whitley Warriors v Solway Sharks
Laidler D2
Saturday
Hull Jets v Bradford Bulldogs
Sunday
Deeside Dragons v Hull Jets
NIHL North Cup
Saturday
Murrayfield Racers v Blackburn Hawks
Solway Sharks v Billingham Stars
NIHL Autumn Cup
Saturday
Swindon Wildcats v Hull Pirates
Basingstoke Bison v Sheffield Steeldogs
Peterborough Phantoms v Telford Tigers
Sunday
Hull Pirates v Swindon Wildcats
Sheffield Steeldogs v Basingstoke Bison
Telford Tigers v Peterborough Phantoms
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