(Image permission: Steve Brodie)
LANCASHIRE, UK – Telford Tigers and Sheffield Steeldogs booked their places at the Final Four Weekend in Coventry after safely coming through their semi-final ties over the weekend.
The Tigers found themselves 3-0 down after 10 minutes of their home game against Hull Pirates, but a rocket from head coach Tom Watkins had the desired effect as the Shropshire side fought back to secure a 5-5 draw.
Hull led 3-2 in the return fixture back on home ice, but Jonathan Weaver’s goal five minutes from time sent the tie to overtime. Weaver struck again early in the extra period to seal a 9-8 aggregate victory.
In the other semi-final, Sheffield Steeldogs won 4-3 at Solihull Barons and followed up with a 5-2 home victory to complete a 9-5 overall success.
Telford and Sheffield will now meet over two legs in the Moralee D1 play-off final over the Easter weekend, before heading to Coventry for the showdown with NIHL1 South sides Basingsoke Bison and Peterborough Phantoms the following week.
Telford Tigers 2 secured their spot at the Laidler D2 Play-off Finals Weekend at Widnes with an 8-0 victory at Blackburn Hawks 2 – Karol Jets (2), Callum Bowley (2) and James Smith (2) topped their scoring.
Joseph Colton’s late goal sealed a 9-8 win for Sutton Sting at Hull Jets. Sheffield Senators picked up four points, winning 18-4 at home to Deeside Dragons 2 and 6-3 at Widnes Wild.
Altrincham Aces completed their regular season fixtures with a comfortable 10-2 victory at Deeside.
PHN’s top two talking points
Watkins’ rocket fires Telford to Coventry
Telford Tigers’ boss Tom Watkins will have been a happy man on Sunday night after seeing his side finally edge past Hull Pirates in the play-off semi-finals.
The Tigers were three goals down inside 10 minutes of the first leg, but after Watkins dished out a few home truths during a time out his players responded in style.
Telford needed overtime in the second leg to finally see off Hull, but their willingness to dig in and get the job done was a credit to Watkins’ man-management skills.
Solihull should be proud despite defeat
Solihull Barons put up a brave fight against Sheffield Steeldogs in their semi-final, but the D1 champions eventually proved too strong.
However, a four goal deficit over two games against a club who previously played at a higher level is a praiseworthy effort.
The challenge for the likes of Solihull and the other ‘original’ NIHL clubs now is to kick on and look to close the gap in quality next season. With hard work and ambition it is an achievable goal.
WEEKEND RESULTS
Moralee D1
Solihull Barons 3-4 Sheffield Steeldogs
Sheffield Steeldogs 5-2 Solihull Barons (agg 9-5)
Telford Tigers 5-5 Hull Pirates
Hull Pirates 3-4 Telford Tigers (OT) (agg 8-9)
Laidler D2
Blackburn Hawks 2 0-8 Telford Tigers 2
Deeside Dragons 2 2-10 Altrincham Aces
Hull Jets 8-9 Sutton Sting
Sheffield Senators 18-4 Deeside Dragons 2
Widnes Wild 3-6 Sheffield Senators
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