(Image permission: David Morrison)
LANCASHIRE, UK – Sheffield Steeldogs boosted their Moralee D1 title hopes with two impressive shut-out victories over the weekend.
The Steeldogs won 5-0 at home to Telford Tigers and followed up with a comfortable 11-0 success at Solihull Barons.
Telford bounced back from their defeat at Sheffield to record a 5-4 shoot-out win on home ice against Hull Pirates.
Billingham Stars lost 11-2 at Hull, but regained the winning thread back on home ice with a 5-1 win against Nottingham Lions.
Ben Campbell (3) topped the scoring for Whitley Warriors in their 4-3 home victory over Blackburn Hawks.
The Lancashire side had better luck in the NIHL North Cup, winning 6-4 at home to Murrayfield Racers.
Widnes Wild still lead the way in Laidler D2 after 9-1 win at Blackburn Hawks 2 – Ollie Barron (2), Stuart Brittle (2) and Jakub Hajek (2) were amongst their scorers.
Lewis Otley bagged the decider as Sheffield Senators secured a 7-6 overtime win at Telford Tigers 2.
Bradford Bulldogs picked up four points, winning 8-2 at home to Altrincham Aces and 7-4 at Deeside Dragons.
Coventry Blaze NIHL also recorded two victories, winning 18-3 on home ice against Blackburn and 4-3 after overtime at Sheffield.
PHN’s top two talking points
All to play for at the top
Just three points separates the top three sides in D1 and it’s impossible to predict with any confidence who will come out on top.
Reigning champions Sheffield did their chances no harm with two shut-out victories over the weekend, although Telford and Hull are still firmly in the mix.
The Dogs perhaps have an easier run-in, but there is likely to be little to choose between the three sides in the final reckoning.
Sutton throwing a spanner in the works
It’s fair to say that Blackburn and Billingham have underachieved massively in D1 this season and their cause is not being helped by Sutton Sting.
The newly-promoted side were tipped to struggle this term, but they are currently 7th in the table and in with a good chance of qualifying for the play-offs.
Sutton may yet put sixth-placed Solihull Barons under pressure, creating the very real prospect that one of the supposed ‘big NIHL clubs’ could miss out on the post-season.
WEEKEND RESULTS
Moralee D1
Billingham Stars 5-1 Nottingham Lions
Hull Pirates 11-2 Billingham Stars
Sheffield Steeldogs 5-0 Telford Tigers
Solihull Barons 0-11 Sheffield Steeldogs
Telford Tigers 5-4 Hull Pirates (SO)
Whitley Warriors 4-3 Blackburn Hawks
Laidler D2
Blackburn Hawks 2 1-9 Widnes Wild
Bradford Bulldogs 8-2 Altrincham Aces
Coventry Blaze NIHL 18-3 Blackburn Hawks 2
Deeside Dragons 4-7 Bradford Bulldogs
Sheffield Senators 3-4 Coventry Blaze NIHL (OT)
Telford Tigers 2 6-7 Sheffield Senators (OT)
NIHL North Cup
Blackburn Hawks 6-4 Murrayfield Racers
THE WEEKEND AHEAD
The D1 title-chasing trio will fancy their chances of each picking up four points next weekend, with Sheffield’s home game against Solway Sharks on Sunday undoubtedly the most difficult task any of the sides face.
Elsewhere, Billingham’s home fixture against Sutton on Sunday could be hugely important to their chances of finishing in the top eight. Sting visit Telford the previous day, but if they can take something from their trip to Teesside their hopes of qualifying for the play-offs would be greatly enhanced.
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