(Image permission: Duncan Speirs)
LANCASHIRE, UK – Sheffield Steeldogs maintained their place at the top of Moralee D1 after picking up four points on home ice over the weekend.
Andrew Hirst (2) and Cam Brownley (2) topped the scoring in Sheffield’s 7-1 victory over Blackburn Hawks, while Duncan Speirs weighed in with a couple of goals in their 5-4 success against Sutton Sting.
Luke Brittle (2) led the way for Solihull Barons in their 5-4 victory at Blackburn, while Jason Hewitt hit a hat-trick for Hull Pirates in their 12-1 home victory over Nottingham Lions.
Billingham Stars ended an 11-game losing streak with a comfortable 13-1 win at Nottingham.
Telford Tigers enjoyed a successful weekend in the NIHL North Cup, winning 4-2 at Solway Sharks and 7-1 at home to Hull. Solway bounced back with a 6-4 success at Murrayfield Racers.
Widnes Wild moved four points clear at the top of Laidler D2 with a 5-2 victory at Deeside Dragons.
Sheffield Senators are up to second after cruising to a 19-1 home win over Blackburn Hawks 2.
Coventry Blaze NIHL lost 5-2 at Telford Tigers 2, but regained the winning thread the following evening with an impressive 10-1 success at home to Altrincham Aces.
PHN’s top two talking points
Time for change at Solihull?
It’s fair to say that Solihull is a club with the potential to achieve much more than it has over the past few years.
The Barons will no doubt finish mid-table in D1 again, although with an intimidating home rink and decent-sized fanbase it could be argued that would be an underachievement.
However, with rumours reaching PHN’s offices that a Midlands-based businessman with connections to the sport is interested in taking over the Barons, there could be some big changes happening at Hobs Moat Road.
Widnes look ready to deliver
Widnes Wild have come up short over the past few years in D2, but they finally look ready to deliver success in the league.
Sunday’s victory at Deeside was their eighth successive win and took them four points clear at the top of the table.
Wild’s performance in beating a Dragons side who had won three on the spin was impressive and they will be tough to topple this season.
WEEKEND RESULTS
Moralee D1
Blackburn Hawks 4-5 Solihull Barons
Hull Pirates 12-1 Nottingham Lions
Nottingham Lions 1-13 Billingham Stars
Sheffield Steeldogs 7-1 Blackburn Hawks
Sheffield Steeldogs 5-4 Sutton Sting
Laidler D2
Telford Tigers 2 5-2 Coventry Blaze NIHL
Coventry Blaze NIHL 10-1 Altrincham Aces
Deeside Dragons 2-5 Widnes Wild
Sheffield Senators 19-1 Blackburn Hawks 2
NIHL North Cup
Murrayfield Racers 4-6 Solway Sharks
Solway Sharks 2-4 Telford Tigers
Telford Tigers 7-1 Hull Pirates
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