(Image permission: Lois Tomlinson)
LANCASHIRE, UK – The winners of the Moralee D1 title will be decided this weekend as Hull Pirates and Sheffield Steeldogs battle to claim top spot.
Sheffield head into Saturday’s home game against Hull one point behind their title rivals and they will be desperate to pick up a victory to take into the reverse fixture the following day.
The two sides have met eight times in the league and cup this season, with Hull currently leading the series 5-3.
Pro Hockey News takes a look at their previous meetings ahead of this weekend’s big double-header.
Hull 5-4 Sheffield – Cup (14/10/17)
James Archer and Bobby Chamberlain weighed in with two goals apiece as Hull took the honours in their first meeting. Sheffield scored twice in the final three minutes of the game, but the home side’s victory never really looked in doubt.
Hull 6-4 Sheffield – League (26/11/17)
Two goals in the final six minutes secured the points for Hull, with the result extending their winning run to six games. Sheffield pushed the hosts hard, but a late empty-netter by Chamberlain sealed the win.
Sheffield 2-3 Hull – Cup (27/12/17)
Sheffield led 2-1 at the halfway stage, but Hull fought back to secure their third victory of the season over their rivals. Chamberlain’s second goal of the game after 41 minutes tied things up and Lee Bonner’s late effort handed the away side the victory.
Hull 2-1 Sheffield – Cup (30/12/17)
Goals by Chamberlain and Sam Towner either side of the first buzzer gave Hull a two goal lead and although Cameron Brownley halved the deficit midway through the game the home side held on for their fourth success of the season against the Steeldogs.
Sheffield 8-3 Hull – Cup (12/01/18)
Sheffield finally broke Hull’s dominance with an excellent performance on home ice. James Spurr, Milan Kolena and Adrian Palak led the way with two goals apiece to take the Steeldogs into the National Cup quarter-finals.
Sheffield 3-2 Hull – Cup (02/02/18)
After easing past Solway Sharks in the last eight, Sheffield secured a narrow 3-2 lead at the end of the first leg of their semi-final tie against Hull. Brownley’s second goal of the game 15 minutes from time gave the Steeldogs the advantage heading into the return match.
Hull 1-3 Sheffield – Cup (03/03/18)
Hull levelled the tie on aggregate in the first period, but goals by Ashley Calvert, Palak and Kolena secured a place in the final for Sheffield against NIHL1 South side Swindon Wildcats.
Sheffield 3-6 Hull – League (23/02/18)
Hull put their cup disappointment firmly behind them with a stylish road performance that kept them firmly in the title mix. The two sides were level at 3-3 early in the final period, but three goals in the final six minutes sealed what could prove to be a pivotal result in the title race.
WEEKEND FIXTURES
Moralee D1
Saturday
Blackburn Hawks v Billingham Stars
Deeside Dragons v Whitley Warriors
Sheffield Steeldogs v Hull Pirates
Solway Sharks v Telford Tigers
Sunday
Billingham Stars v Whitley Warriors
Hull Pirates v Sheffield Steeldogs
Solihull Barons v Blackburn Hawks
Telford Tigers v Nottingham Lions
Laidler D2
Saturday
Bradford Bulldogs v Sheffield Senators
Coventry Blaze NIHL v Blackburn Hawks 2
Hull Jets v Altrincham Aces
Telford Tigers 2 v Sutton Sting
Sunday
Deeside Dragons 2 v Coventry Blaze NIHL
Sutton Sting v Altrincham Aces
Widnes Wild v Hull Jets
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