(Image permission: David Morrison)
LANCASHIRE, UK – Just two points covers the top three teams after a thrilling weekend of action in Moralee D1.
Leaders Telford Tigers started the weekend in style, winning 12-3 at Billingham Stars. They came down to earth the following day at Blackburn Hawks as a fine display by home netminder Niks Trapans lifted the home side to a 4-3 victory after a shoot-out.
Sheffield Steeldogs are just a point behind Telford after picking up a pair of wins. Ashley Calvert bagged a hat-trick in Sheffield’s 8-1 home win against Nottingham Lions, while Milan Kolena matched the feat in a 3-2 success at Solihull Barons.
Five goals in the final period helped Hull Pirates to a 6-2 win at Blackburn and they followed up with a 23-4 victory at Deeside Dragons.
Whitley Warriors’ 7-3 defeat at Solihull was their tenth on the road this season, but they bounced back on home ice with a 3-1 win against Solway Sharks. Jack Emerson (2) topped the scoring for Billingham in their 6-0 victory at Nottingham.
Sutton Sting moved to the top of Laidler D2 courtesy of a four point weekend on home ice.
Stanislav Lascek (2) and Scott Morris (2) topped the scoring in their 6-2 victory over Bradford Bulldogs, while Joseph Colton weighed in with a couple of goals during a 5-4 success against Hull Jets.
Telford Tigers 2 recovered from 3-0 down to secure a 6-3 home win against title rivals Widnes Wild – James Smith hit a hat-trick for the home side. Widnes bounced back with a 20-1 home success against Deeside Dragons 2.
Altrincham Aces moved back up to third in the table after recording a 6-2 home victory over Bradford.
Hull defeated Deeside 16-0, while the game between Sheffield Senators and Coventry Blaze was abandoned after 57 minutes with the home side leading 4-1.
PHN’s top two talking points
Trapans the hero as Blackburn stun Telford
Blackburn put off-ice niggles to their back of their minds to record their best result of the season against Telford on Sunday.
Netminder Nik Trapans was the star of the show, making 48 saves and standing firm in the shoot-out to lead the Hawks to just their second win in 13 games.
This result highlights what the club could achieve if it collectively put its mind to it. The coaches and players certainly deserve plenty of praise for turning over Telford.
Let’s hope the people behind the scenes start recognising and supporting their efforts properly.
Keep the rivalries real
There was some questionable marketing going on in Laidler D2 ahead of Sunday’s game between promotion-chasing Widnes Wild and lowly Deeside Dragons 2.
In a post on the club’s Facebook page, Widnes dismissed their rivalry with Altrincham Aces to claim that “Deeside have been the team to beat since the day the Wild were created”.
That statement would certainly apply to Deeside’s first team, who now play in D1, but linking it to a side who have conceded over 300 goals this season and have only been in existence a few months smacks of false advertising.
WEEKEND RESULTS
Moralee D1
Billingham Stars 3-12 Telford Tigers
Blackburn Hawks 2-6 Hull Pirates
Blackburn Hawks 4-3 Telford Tigers (SO)
Deeside Dragons 4-23 Hull Pirates
Nottingham Lions 0-6 Billingham Stars
Sheffield Steeldogs 8-1 Nottingham Lions
Solihull Barons 7-3 Whitley Warriors
Solihull Barons 2-3 Sheffield Steeldogs
Whitley Warriors 3-1 Solway Sharks
Laidler D2
Altrincham Aces 6-2 Bradford Bulldogs
Hull Jets 16-0 Deeside Dragons 2
Sheffield Senators A-A Coventry Blaze NIHL
Sutton Sting 6-2 Bradford Bulldogs
Sutton Sting 5-4 Hull Jets
Telford Tigers 2 6-3 Widnes Wild
Widnes Wild 20-1 Deeside Dragons 2
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