(Image permission: Steve Brodie)
LANCASHIRE, UK – There is no change at the top of Moralee D1 after the three title chasing teams all recorded four-point weekends.
Leaders Sheffield Steeldogs cruised to a pair of home victories, beating Blackburn Hawks 11-2 and Solway Sharks 7-2.
Telford Tigers won 10-2 at home to Sutton Sting and 6-2 at Blackburn – Doug Clarkson (above) scored nine goals over the two games.
Hull Pirates demolished Solihull Barons twice, winning 12-3 on the road and 9-1 back on home ice.
Sutton bounced back from their defeat at Telford with an impressive 7-4 success at Billingham Stars – Stanislav Lascek (2) and Ryan Johnson (2) topped their scoring.
Ben Campbell hit a hat-trick for Whitley Warriors in their 4-0 victory at Nottingham Lions.
Widnes Wild are 12 points clear at the top of Laidler D2 after recording 3-2 wins against Coventry Blaze NIHL and Sheffield Senators.
Hull Jets lost 2-1 after a shoot-out at home to Bradford Bulldogs, but recovered in style the following day to record a 6-1 victory at Telford Tigers 2.
Deeside Dragons won 13-2 on home ice against Blackburn Hawks 2, while Altrincham Aces lost 6-2 at home to Telford.
PHN’s top two talking points
Clarkson form ominous for title rivals
Telford started 2019 with a disappointing defeat against D1 title rivals Sheffield, but they immediately bounced back to form with three successive victories.
Star forward Doug Clarkson has bagged 11 goals during those three games and his experience could prove crucial during the run-in.
The defeat against Sheffield may end up being a blessing in disguise for Telford, particularly if it was the catalyst to fire-up Clarkson.
Get behind the play-off weekends
The EIHA announced details for the NIHL Championship Series over the weekend, with the dates for the respective Final Four events now set in stone.
Coventry, Widnes and Bracknell are the three venues chosen to host the events and it is hoped that there healthy attendances for each one.
The play-off weekends are a great opportunity for fans of all clubs to get together and have an end-of-season party – see you there?
WEEKEND RESULTS
Moralee D1
Billingham Stars 4-7 Sutton Sting
Blackburn Hawks 2-6 Telford Tigers
Hull Pirates 9-1 Solihull Barons
Nottingham Lions 0-4 Whitley Warriors
Sheffield Steeldogs 11-2 Blackburn Hawks
Sheffield Steeldogs 7-2 Solway Sharks
Solihull Barons 3-12 Hull Pirates
Telford Tigers 10-2 Sutton Sting
Laidler D2
Altrincham Aces 2-6 Telford Tigers 2
Coventry Blaze 2-3 Widnes Wild
Hull Jets 1-2 Bradford Bulldogs (SO)
Deeside Dragons 13-2 Blackburn Hawks 2
Telford Tigers 2 1-6 Hull Jets
Widnes Wild 3-2 Sheffield Senators
THE WEEKEND AHEAD
Telford face Solway twice next weekend and their trip to Dumfries on the Saturday is a potential banana skin. The Sharks have proved troublesome to D1’s top sides this season and they will be eager to show they can match the Tigers ahead of their upcoming meeting in the semi-finals of the NIHL North Cup.
Widnes appear nailed on to win D2, but who will finish alongside them in the top four is less clear. Telford 2 host Bradford on Saturday before travelling to face the Senators in Sheffield the following day. Two victories would be a major boost to their hopes of qualifying for the play-offs.
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