(Image permission: Lois Tomlinson)
LANCASHIRE, UK – Hull Pirates are just one point behind Moralee D1 leaders Sheffield Steeldogs after recording two victories over the weekend.
Bobby Chamberlain (2) and Jason Hewitt (2) topped the scoring for Hull in their 7-2 win at Billingham Stars and Chamberlain went one better the following day with a hat-trick in an 11-0 home success over Whitley Warriors. Matty Davies also scored three against Whitley.
James Spurr weighed in with a couple of goals as Sheffield won 8-2 at home to Solihull Barons. The Yorkshire side completed a successful weekend with a 7-4 home victory over Peterborough Phantoms in the NIHL National Cup.
Telford Tigers are two points behind Hull with a game in hand after winning 11-2 on home ice against Nottingham Lions – Jonathan Weaver (2), Jason Silverthorn (2) and Warren Tait (2) were amongst their goalscorers.
Rick Bentham hit a hat-trick for Blackburn Hawks in their 9-1 win at Deeside Dragons, while Billingham remain just a point off the bottom of the table after losing 7-4 at Solihull.
Hull Jets are the new leaders in Laidler D2 after a 4-2 home win against Bradford Bulldogs – Jamie Lewis, Harry Bridges, Richard Haggar and Kieran Beach got the goals.
Altrincham Aces dropped to second place after losing 7-4 at home to Telford Tigers 2. That result completed an excellent weekend for Telford who also demolished Blackburn Hawks 2 18-1 on home ice.
Mikey Gilbert scored both goals for Widnes Wild in their 2-0 success at Sutton Sting. Sheffield Senators won 15-2 at Deeside Dragons 2 and Coventry Blaze NIHL triumphed 10-2 at Blackburn.
PHN’s top two talking points
GB U20 trio do NIHL North proud
Great Britain U20 came up short in Dumfries last week, but NIHL North’s three playing representatives did the league proud.
Stuart Kerr (Solway), Lewis Baldwin (Blackburn) and Thomas Stubley (Hull) all performed well, with the latter also bagging his first international goal against Netherlands.
Liam Kirk was GB’s standout player throughout the tournament, but Kerr, Baldwin and Stubley should return to their respective clubs with their heads held high.
Whitley’s away woes a worry
Whitley’s heavy defeat at Hull on Sunday was their fifth in a row and their form away from Hillheads is hindering their hopes of a top-half finish this season.
It’s been a common theme for the club in recent years and one which player/coach David Longstaff needs to address moving forward.
Warriors have also won just once against sides currently in the top six, but their squad is talented enough to improve on that record in the second half of the season.
WEEKEND RESULTS
Moralee D1
Billingham Stars 2-7 Hull Pirates
Deeside Dragons 1-9 Blackburn Hawks
Hull Pirates 11-0 Whitley Warriors
Sheffield Steeldogs 8-2 Solihull Barons
Solihull Barons 7-4 Billingham Stars
Telford Tigers 11-2 Nottingham Lions
Laidler D2
Altrincham Aces 4-7 Telford Tigers 2
Blackburn Hawks 2 2-10 Coventry Blaze NIHL
Deeside Dragons 2 2-15 Sheffield Senators
Hull Jets 4-2 Bradford Bulldogs
Sutton Sting 0-2 Widnes Wild
Telford Tigers 2 18-1 Blackburn Hawks 2
NIHL National Cup
Sheffield Steeldogs 7-4 Peterborough Phantoms
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