NIHL Weekend Action

 Untameable Tigers triumph as startled Sharks torn apart

Telford Tigers  6

Solway Sharks 3

In what appears to be the surprise of the season so far, Telford Tigers left the Sharks shaken on Saturday evening, coming back from two goals down to leap above Solway in the NIHL Moralee Conference league table.

From the first face off Martin Grubb’s side hurled themselves into the game and, just 56 seconds later, his team took the lead with a quick goal from skilful left winger Steven Moore.

Immediately on the front foot, the Sharks maintained their usual pace to control possession whilst the Tigers found themselves chasing the puck to rediscover level terms. This undertaking was soon cut short with the concession of a boarding penalty by Telford defenceman Corey Goodison which left his team mates defending a Solway power play. Though the Sharks were unable to take advantage in front of goal, the Tigers were no sooner back to full strength than Marc Fowley lit the lamp on 13:15 after a pass from Irishman Steven Balmer. 

Photo credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

However, with five minutes left on the clock, Sharks gifted the Tigers a way back into the game when influential import Martin Cingel was directed to the sin bin by referee Roy Hamilton for a minor penalty. Just over a minute into the power play, forward James Smith, who last weekend bagged himself a hat trick against Whitley Warriors, set the Tigers on the right track to diminish Solway’s two goal cushion before the break.

As play resumed in the second period, the Sharks were running down the remainder of an interference penalty and soon after the Tigers were ordered to serve a two minute bench penalty having iced too many men. These interruptions over, the home side picked up the pace much to Solway’s surprise and Telford began to battle back with full force to equalise in the twenty seventh minute through Karol Jets who was assisted by alternate captain Callum Bowley and goal scorer James Smith.

Telford continued to dominate and, though failing to capitalise on a third power play, James Smith decided to punish the visitors with two even handed goals scored in the space of 55 seconds to earn his second hat trick in Telford’s 2015-16 campaign. The score line now 4-2, Grubb’s side began to feel the points slipping away and the pressure showed as Joe Coulter picked up a two minute roughing penalty. Down on their luck but unwilling to give up, Solway rallied to break through Telford’s defence which allowed Iain Bowie to slot home a shorthanded goal before both sides headed for the interval.

With such a narrow margin separating the two sides, both coaches returned to their benches, knowing that the next goal would have a massive impact on the outcome of the game but little expecting that it would arise only 11 seconds into the final stanza when the impressive James Smith supplied his team with a fifth; his fourth of the contest.

Telford now completely in control, the Sharks racked up another two penalties before creative import Karol Jets got his second of the game to make it 6-3. A stunned Solway sought a way back, going one-on-one with young netminder Denis Bell who managed to keep the opposition out on both occasions to maintain Tigers’ three goal lead and to see them take two points from another successful fixture.

This result may have been a shock to some but Solway’s only win so far this season has come against newly promoted side Sheffield Senators who have suffered heavy losses to their opposition and are now adrift at the bottom of the table with a goal difference of -23. In previous seasons, Sharks have found no difficulty in competing with the best but are struggling to do so this campaign and currently occupy sixth place in the NIHL going into their game against Solihull Barons.

Sharks sink as bold Barons seize win

Solihull Barons 5

Solway Sharks 4

Taking to the ice for their second away game of the weekend, Solway knew they had to make an impact to overcome the previous day’s defeat to Telford Tigers and they did so with less than three minutes played as left winger Steven Balmer slotted the puck into the net. Play was interrupted as both teams took minor penalties; Solihull’s Perry Doyle guilty of a trip whilst Solway were dealt two minutes for delaying the game. Neither team could capitalise on the power play but, as play continued, it was Solway who made the most of possession, adding a second goal to their tally through young defenceman Stuart Kerr on 12:30.

Solihull were down but certainly not out of the contest at this point and it showed. Attacking Sharks’ defence and moving forward creatively, Barons forward Edward Eaton dispatched the puck past netminder Kieran Hobbins to make it 2-1. However, not content with this score line, Eaton decided to change it further, adding a second before the interval with assists from Richard Crowe and Slovakian import Erik Bakalar.

Photo credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Failing to hold onto a lead for a second consecutive evening, Solway returned to the ice with the hope of reclaiming lost ground. It was the Barons who made their intentions clearest in the opening minutes though as they took full advantage on the power play courtesy of a Ross Murray cross check, this time Bakalar achieving an unassisted goal of his own. As Barons took the lead, Solway struggled to find a way back and looked on as Solihull restored the two goal cushion to the visitors’ disadvantage as Eaton turned assistant to two way player Thomas Soar.

Spurred into action by this sudden change of fortune, Sharks pulled a goal back thirty four seconds later as promising youngster Duncan Speirs lit the lamp to make it 4-3. As Barons captain Rob Ely was sin binned for interference, Solway were handed an opportunity to find that all-important equaliser and they did so. Not one to waste such a chance, Struan Tonnar received the puck from Juraj Senko to make the score 4-4 before the break.

When both teams returned to the ice, it was evident that fans would be in for a thrilling third period and tensions soon began to grow as it became increasingly clear one goal would seal the fate of either team. Barons were the first to concede penalty minutes early on, their Scottish forward Josh Bruce sitting out two minutes for charging. Solway could not add to their tally and three minutes later, Tonnar found himself punished for hooking. This quickly became the key turning point for both teams as Solihull combatted the growing likelihood of sharing the points with their rivals with a power play goal on 49:05, Thomas Soar accomplishing his second of the game.  

In the remaining ten minutes, Solway could not change the outcome of the game and it was captain Struan Tonnar who received further punishment, referee John Freeman delivering a ten minute misconduct penalty on 60:00. Coach Martin Grubb will be concerned that the Sharks now sit in seventh place with only two points from five games but he can perhaps take advantage from the lack of fixtures his team have next weekend to prepare for Solway’s away clash to last season’s NIHL champions Blackburn Hawks.

War-waging Warriors go one better in clash with Tigers

Whitley Warriors 4

Telford Tigers     3

After last weekend’s compact contest between Telford Tigers and Whitley Warriors saw both sides engage in some untidy game play, David Longstaff decided to hit his opposition hard from the first face off which became clear just 6 seconds in when Canadian import Andre Payette dropped the gloves with Tigers captain Daniel Croft. Both players received 2+2 for fighting and the game quickly became a feisty affair as, moments later, Josh Maddock was dealt two minutes for high sticks whilst Telford forward James Smith lost his cool with Payette and soon found himself in the sin bin for an attempted spear, meriting the heavier sentence of 2+2+10.

Photo credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Despite these early interruptions, play began to build up nicely, inspiring both teams to have some early shots on goal which were fended off by netminders Denis Bell and Richie Lawson to make the opening tight. Yet, the challenges did not end there and it was not long before Bradley Betteridge, who has certainly racked up the penalty minutes so far this season, committed a crosscheck which put Whitley on the power play. Unable to take advantage, Telford returned to full strength unscathed but the sin bin was not to be empty for long as a second fight broke out before the fifteen minute mark between Warriors’ defenceman Josh Maddock and Tigers’ alternate captain Callum Bowley. Like Payette, Maddock took his fight well and was sent to serve two minutes more than his opponent for a slashing offence. As the sides cancelled each other out, they headed in after twenty minutes at 0-0.

It was all change after the first break however as Whitley began to dominate in Telford’s third, causing trouble for the Tigers defence and working Denis Bell in goal. Eventually, almost twenty six minutes into the game, Callum Watson was able to make the most of a double assist from Shaun Kippin and Jordan Barnes to find the target, allowing Whitley to take the lead. Though the home side had struggled to find their first goal, a second was not far behind and, just thirty six seconds later, captain Jamie Tinsley lit the lamp after a James Smith tripping penalty allowed the Warriors to capitalise on the power play. As Longstaff’s line up did not let up, the Tigers found it difficult to make an impact in the middle section of the game and the gap between the two teams deteriorated further before the interval when Martin Crammond secured his first goal of the season, assisted by fellow team mates DJ Good and Ben Richards.

The score line at 3-0, the visitors knew they would have their work cut out to get back in the game but managed to find an opportunity on 48:35 through a power play goal from forward Adam Taylor. The Tigers suddenly sprang into action, picking up the pace to get a second approximately four minutes later when Smith struck an impressive long range goal past Richie Lawson after an assist by Karol Jets. As the tables began to turn on the Warriors, they were forced to defend but failed to prevent Smith from returning the favour to Jets and it was not long before the Slovakian forward found the back of the net to see his team equalise.

Photo credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

At this point, victory was slipping away from Whitley’s grasp as the Tigers suddenly became dangerous but the home side’s refusal to give up paid off fifteen seconds later when defenceman Daniel Harrison was punished for a trip. The Warriors burst into life to utilise the additional man and, with only three seconds left on the power play, it was youngster Ben Richards who managed to put his side back in front, prompting Telford to call a time out. For the short period of play that followed, Whitley did their utmost to retain possession and were soon rewarded with a win.

This hard-earned result brought to light just how influential Warriors youngsters are as Man of the Match voting saw 18 year old Ben Richards take the award at the end of the game whilst dexterous forward Callum Queenan was ranked second. Player/coach David Longstaff will be relieved that the Warriors got the result they deserved from this game, meaning they have achieved four wins from five games to stay top of the table with a very respectable nine points. This gives Whitley drive as they prepare for next Sunday’s fixture against Sutton Sting who have so far taken two points from three games, narrowly missing out to Sheffield Spartans by one goal to nil on Sunday.

To view more photographs, visit http://www.icehockeymedia.co.uk/.

Weekend Preview

WEEKEND

PREVIEW

NIHL NORTH DIVISION 1 MORALEE CONFERENCE

Saturday 26th September 2015

Telford Tigers vs. Solway Sharks

Sunday 27th September 2015

Whitley Warriors vs. Telford Tigers

Solihull Barons vs. Solway Sharks

As the Billingham Stars enjoy a deserved break from the NIHL action this weekend, their rivals Whitley Warriors and Solway Sharks will attempt to hunt down maximum points, both teams taking on a tough Telford Tigers side and the Dumfries outfit facing an additional encounter against seventh placed Solihull Barons.

Martin Grubb’s Sharks go into their game against Telford itching to climb up the Moralee Conference league table. Currently siting in fifth, Solway have not started their 2015-16 campaign with their usual dynamism, but their much-needed victory against Sheffield Senators last Saturday may just have instilled captain Struan Tonnar and his men with the confidence they require to match, if not surpass, the quality of their contenders.

Solway’s quest for success will be made difficult by the menacing opposition they are set to face in their back to back away games this weekend. At present, Telford Head Coach Jason Parry will be more than happy with his side’s approach to life in Division One of the NIHL. Only losing 5-3 to an outstandingly strong Blackburn Hawks line up, and securing a point in a thrilling 3-3 draw against a travelling Whitley Warriors squad, the Tigers are perfectly positioned to pounce. Should they triumph against Solway on Saturday, they would have three points and a source of momentum to carry them into their away fixture at Hillheads on Sunday as they aim to put the Warriors to the test for the second time this September.  

Photo credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

If Solway were to snatch a win from the Tigers, they would not only be level on points with Sheffield Spartans and Billingham Stars, but could look to enhance their league position further with a victory against Solihull Barons on the following evening. So far the Barons have failed to register a single a point from two NIHL games, both of which were played against Whitley Warriors. Though two losses may suggest otherwise, Solihull have played with obstinacy and were unlucky not to gain more from their fixture at Hillheads last Sunday as the home side held on to a tight 2-1 lead.

This season the Barons have a strong mix of experience and youth as Captain Rob Eley and player/coach Perry Doyle offer guidance and leadership to those breaking into Solihull’s senior squad, such as Brandon Anderton and James Moeller. It would therefore be a great boost to Solway if they could beat both the Tigers and the Barons on the road because such an accomplishment would give them six points, potentially lifting them above the Stars, and would also indicate that the former NIHL champions are making progress to get back to their best.

Likewise, hoping to prove that they are over last season’s disappointment of a relegation-promotion playoff battle, Whitley Warriors will take to the ice against Telford Tigers on Sunday, but this time have the home advantage. Last weekend, the two sides featured in a closely contested clash which left Whitley bewildered as, fighting back from 2-0 down to take the lead 3-2, they found themselves going home with a draw after a dramatic goal from James Smith to complete his hat trick. Only just top of the table due to a point separating the Warriors from Blackburn Hawks who have a game in hand, player/coach David Longstaff will urge his team to do everything they can to maintain their current league position but may face competition from Sheffield Spartans who could displace Whitley should they win their double header against Sutton Sting this weekend.

Photo credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

The second highest points scorer in the Moralee Conference so far, David Longstaff will hope that his line up can improve on last week’s performance against the Tigers, in which his side failed to hold on to their 3-2 lead to take a single point instead of two. In this game Longstaff showed his disappointment by declining to nominate one of his own players for Man of the Match, so his side will surely be out to prove that they have what it takes to defeat Telford at Hillheads on Sunday. A positive outcome for Whitley will take them up to nine points and give them the best chance of staying ahead of Blackburn Hawks who will not feature until the 3^rd and 4^th October against the NIHL’s two Sheffield outfits. Tigers have shown themselves to be a close match for Whitley, utilising the skill and experience of import Karol Jets, and the goal scoring ability of young forward James Smith, to level the playing field against the more established Warriors. With Whitley’s full potential still unknown this season, the Warriors have clearly started their 2015-16 campaign with greater desire for success which has been demonstrated by the implementation of effective coaching systems and a sense of fortitude which appeared to be lacking last season.

Away from the ice, but set to be a crucial factor regarding the success rate in the Moralee Conference this season, is the announcement of an NIHL Cup featuring Blackburn Hawks, Solway Sharks, Billingham Stars and Division Two team, Widnes Wild who last season lost out on promotion in a relegation-promotion playoff battle to Whitley Warriors. As Whitley are not set to star in the Cup games, which will begin late October, they will not have the additional pressure, distraction and travelling that this competition will bring, though it may be possible for the Stars and the Sharks to gain momentum from playing such fixtures which will them spur them on in the Moralee Conference.

However, for those fans looking to make their way to a game this weekend, Solway Sharks face off against the Tigers at 5:30pm from Telford Ice Rink before taking on Solihull Barons at Hobs Moat Road the following evening at 6:00pm. Whitley Warriors also play on Sunday at Hillheads, with face off at the usual time of 5:00pm.  

To view more photographs, visit:  http://www.icehockeymedia.co.uk/. 

NIHL Weekend Action

Ruthless Sharks attack Senators to take victory

Solway Sharks     12

Sheffield Senators 1

After a punishing start to their first NIHL season in the Moralee Conference, with double 7-1 defeats to their local rivals last weekend, the Senators were always going to be vulnerable against Solway Sharks who were out to attack their opposition in the hope of snatching their first win.

Playing at home, the Sharks got off to a fantastic start, despite racking up four penalty minutes in the early stages of the game, with a shorthanded goal in the fifth minute as the experienced Iain Bowie assisted Sharks’ exceptional import Martin Cingel. When this was quickly followed up with an unassisted second from captain Struan Tonnar, Head Coach Andrew Chapman must have sensed that this was, once again, going to be another insufferable evening for his striving Senators.

From then on, Senators net minder Robert Browne experienced an influx of goals, Cingel scoring his second on 8:41 before linking up with defenceman Stuart Andrews to assist Duncan Speirs. Solway, now with their foot firmly on the gas and showing no signs of slowing down, made it five as Bowie repeated his earlier pass to Cingel, allowing the Slovakian to celebrate his first hat trick in the NIHL.

In pursuit of more goals, forward Joe Coulter engaged in some forceful play and was subsequently sent to the sin bin to serve a roughing penalty in the final two minutes of the first period. However, Sharks only used this time to cause further pain to the Senators, this time Juraj Senko scoring before the break.

Resuming play after an undoubtedly interesting team talk, Senators faced off with defender Matthew Pigott still serving time for interference. Not one to waste a goal scoring opportunity, Martin Cingel added another to his tally to take the score up to 7-0 which was followed up with two rapid additions to the score line from Stephen Balmer and Scott Henderson, both of whom were yet to score prior to this fixture.

Though the Sharks continued to dominate game play, the Senators were not going to let their opposition hold onto their clean sheet for much longer and it was Thomas Humphries who found the net on 35:25. Nevertheless, this was to be little more than a consolation as Cingel managed to get his fifth just sixteen seconds later to send Solway in 10-1 up at the second break.

The game now well and truly beyond the Senators, the Sharks tormented their rivals further, Iain Bowie slotting home another early on in the third stanza. This was shortly followed up Senko’s second and Solway’s last input of the game. Sheffield were now frustrated by their substantial loss and the contest began to heat up, Shark Stephen Adams and Senator Sam Hurst both receiving 2+2 for roughing around the fifty minute mark. Both sides conceded one further minor penalty before the sixty minutes were up and, as the teams lined up to shake hands, Martin Grubb would certainly have been the happier coach, his team achieving their first win this season after a shaky start.

This victory leaves Senators adrift at the bottom of the table with a goal difference of -23 but lifts Solway into fifth place beneath Billingham Stars. This win will unquestionably give Martin Grubb’s side a much-needed boost as they look ahead to next weekend’s away fixtures, first travelling to Telford Tigers on Saturday before stopping off at Solihull for a 6:00pm face off against the Barons. With four points up for grabs next weekend, these games will be no walk in the park. The Tigers have already shown that they are more than a match for the NIHL’s top teams, only losing by a small margin to the Hawks and successfully holding Whitley to a 3-3 draw whilst the Barons have demonstrated their ability to fight, whether it be for the puck or against the player. Whatever the outcome, win, draw or lose, these fixtures will definitely give a deeper insight as to what we can expect from Solway this season.

Fierce Tigers claw a draw as Warriors comeback cut short

Telford Tigers     3

Whitley Warriors 3

With much history between these two sides, and every game always closely contested, Whitley Warriors kick-started their NIHL action with a difficult trip to Telford, aware that they were in for a demanding evening. And the home side did not disappoint. Conceding two early minor penalties, Telford found themselves shorthanded but, even with five men against three, Whitley could not take advantage of the power play and were soon punished when youngster James Smith’s strike sailed past Whitley netminder Richie Lawson to see the Tigers take the lead. Whitley also suffered a second setback when Alex Lawson was forced to leave the game early with what appeared to be a knee injury.

Returning for the second period with a 1-0 deficit, Warriors and Telford engaged in some untidy play before the Tigers extended their lead around the twenty seven minute mark with another from talented forward Smith. However, Warriors continued to battle on and Harry Harley delivered a reply of his own on 38:28 to chip away the Tigers’ two goal cushion.

Taking to the ice for the third period, Warriors sought to level with the Tigers, and level they did on the power play as David Longstaff and Shaun Kippin worked together to assist goal scoring enforcer Andre Payette. Now on equal terms, Warriors’ experience began to show and DJ Good managed to put his team in front for the first time with approximately seven minutes left in the game. Despite this blow, Tigers pulled netminder Denis Bell from his goal, allowing Smith time to grab his hat trick with a shot from the blue line that deflected into the Warriors’ goal.

At the end of the game, Telford’s net minder Denis Bell took the man of the match award for his good work throughout but David Longstaff decided to make a sharp statement, declining to nominate his own players for the prize.

Warriors win close contest against battling Barons

Whitley Warriors 2

Solihull Barons   1

Last Sunday’s spectacular showdown with Solihull Barons was enough to entice a large crowd to Hillheads, but fans were to be in for a very different game to the one played by the two sides just seven days ago. From the first puck drop, frantic play ensued but it was the Warriors who enjoyed the better share of possession and soon capitalised just four minutes in with a superb goal from defenceman Josh Maddock. Not a team to give up easily, the Barons dug in deep and, both outfits beginning to engage in some untidy play, the game became an end to end war of attrition. Neither side racking up the usual number of penalty minutes, referee Anthony Boynton made his first call with almost fifteen minutes played, dishing out a boarding penalty to Solihull captain Rob Eley. Unable to take advantage of this power play, Whitley were then punished just minutes later by two-way player Thomas Soar.

Before the break, impressive youngster Callum Queenan was sent to the sin bin for a hooking offence which ran into the early stages of the second period. But the Warriors had no sooner made it back to full strength when Josh Maddock was served two minutes for interference. In recent games, however, Warriors have defended so systematically in such situations that they have managed to run down the clock when under pressure and did so again on this occasion. 

With both sides having opportunities on goal but unable to convert chances, it appeared that whichever side bagged the next goal would come out of the match victorious and, as the period struck thirty minutes, the puck found its way to Callum Watson who happily clipped it past Barons’ netminder Sam Hewitt. The possibility of points heading Solihull’s way appeared to spur the team on and they certainly did not give up hope, striking the crossbar and creating numerous offensive openings of their own. Yet, try as they might, Barons could not alter the score line in the second stanza and saw themselves leave the ice a goal down.

In an uneventful third period, the Warriors and Barons failed to impact the goal count, though Solihull were on the power play in the forty first minute as Andre Payette was dealt a two minute interference penalty. Barons called a time out late on and Whitley followed suit as the attacking visitors looked set to take a point from the game. In the last crucial minutes, Solihull’s Hewitt was pulled from his goal to give the Barons an extra man going forward but Whitley’s defensive tactics prevailed to take the Warriors to the top of the league.

Now on seven points, player/coach David Longstaff will prepare his team going into their home against Telford Tigers on Sunday and, though his team managed a fantastic three from a possible four points, he will perhaps feel that the Warriors style of play was very different to that of Whitley’s first two fixtures. Despite this, the fact that Whitley have gained top spot over the weekend is a great achievement and should not be detracted from, particularly as the team had reached the depths of a relegation-promotion playoff battle only six months ago.

Stars seize win to topple Spartans 

Billingham Stars    4

Sheffield Spartans 0

With Spartans having only played a double header against their fellow Senators this season, it was always going to be difficult to measure the true potential of the club who finished fourth last season. Going into the game off the back of their first win, the Stars whirled onto the ice and very quickly made their aims clear as Tom Keeley struck the back of the net with little over two minutes played. In the same vein as the fixture at Hillheads, the opponents were closely matched as chaotic and fragmentary play ensued.

This goal was followed by two minor penalties from each side but neither team were able to capitalise on the power play, though Billingham had their fair share of chances. Sheffield then went on to find the back of the net in the seventeenth minute, but the goal was ruled out for a blatant high stick which went uncontested by Head Coach Martin White.

After the interlude, both teams appeared ready to go again from the first face off and the Sheffield line-up had by no means written itself off. On the contrary, the visitors battled hard but failed to make the most of their attempts on goal and soon found themselves 2-0 down as Chris Sykes broke away to hit the puck into the top corner of Brandon Stones’ net. Continuing to fight back, the Spartans were soon stopped in their tracks when a confrontation between Stars’ player Jamie Pattison and Sheffield’s captain Ollie Barron escalated into a full blown fight in the twenty ninth minute. 

Both men served minor roughing penalties, though Ollie Barron was delivered an additional two minutes for a cross check by referee Michael Evans. It was during this time that Swedish import Dennis Boström decided to add to Spartans’ woes, beating netminder Stones on 31:05 after an assist from Michael Bowman before achieving his second of the evening just over four minutes later.

The Stars returned to the ice for the final third with a four goal advantage which easily could have been five had Boström’s shot not pinged off the bar. Chris Sykes and James Moss also had their sights set on goal and a glimmer of the Spartans’ spirit shone through as they attempted to break down Billingham’s defence. Regardless of this effort, neither side could carve out a goal and the score remained 4-0 to allow Billingham to take two points and claim third position in the NIHL league table. Next week, Terry Ward’s Stars have no fixtures and will therefore have more than enough time to prepare for their next encounter with the Spartans at Ice Sheffield on the Saturday 3^rd October. Stars now have a total of four points and could easily make up for lost ground in the coming weeks as they sit behind last season’s league leaders Blackburn Hawks and the promising, if not unpredictable, Whitley Warriors.  

NIHL Weekend Preview

WEEKEND PREVIEW

NIHL NORTH DIVISION 1 MORALEE CONFERENCE

Saturday 12th September 2015

Telford Tigers vs. Whitley Warriors

Solway Sharks vs. Sheffield Senators

Sunday 13th September 2015

Whitley Warriors vs. Solihull Barons

Billingham Stars vs. Sheffield Spartans

If last weekend’s NIHL clashes were anything to go by, it would seem that the above up and coming fixtures will not disappoint. In a game of strange significance, Solway Sharks encounter newly promoted Sheffield Senators on Saturday and, though both teams have failed to register points so far, Sharks will be feeling that this is a game they should win due to their experience in the NIHL North Division One Moralee Conference. So far, scoring has not been an issue for Martin Grubb’s side with his team notching up seven goals from some intelligent game play but this good work has been largely overshadowed by Sharks’ inability to find a victory.  

Comparably, last weekend saw the Senators suffer a double defeat to close rivals and current league leaders Sheffield Spartans, with 7-1 the score line on both occasions. A goal difference of -12 now leaves the Senators vulnerable at the foot of the league table but, taking into account Solway’s recent defensive woes, coach Andrew Chapman must sense that his unfaltering Senators can attempt to challenge the Sharks this weekend, particularly as they have NIHL (N1) experience in the shape of former Sutton Sting defenceman Andrew McEwan who will again captain the Sheffield outfit as he takes to the ice at the Dumfries Ice Bowl.

Despite this, Grubb will surely believe that Solway have a distinct advantage as they take to the ice in front of their home crowd for a second consecutive week. As imports Martin Cingel and Juraj Senko will once again be at Sharks’ disposal, not to mention stalwart Struan Tonnar and troublemaker Ross Murray, it would seem that the Senators have a colossal contest of their own on their hands and one which they must win if they are to advance in this division.

Also scheduled for Saturday is the fixture between Telford Tigers and Whitley Warriors. Though Tigers have just bounced back from the second division of the NIHL, coach Jason Parry will be pleased that they only lost 5-3 to last season’s NIHL title champions Blackburn Hawks. On the other hand, David Longstaff will be hoping that his side will carry momentum from their first two league wins of their 2015-16 campaign against Solway and Solihull to keep pace with Sheffield Spartans and Blackburn Hawks who have also managed four points from a possible four. In the past, this fixture has been a heated affair with players dropping the gloves seconds into the first face off. However, discipline is key to Whitley’s success this season and the outfit must curb their frustrations if they are to stand a chance of gaining the playoff spot they so desire.

After last weekend’s performance against Solihull, it seems that this will be no easy feat. As the teams face each other again on Sunday, fans will be anxious to see if there are any repeats of last week’s battles, particularly the much-hyped clash between Andre Payette and Perry Doyle. In spite of these ferocious encounters, it remains clear that Longstaff’s strategy is to first secure points before his players drop the gloves since Payette turned down an early offer from Doyle and only engaged in battle on the fifty eighth minute when the game was beyond the Barons. If Whitley Warriors can come out of the weekend with at least two points, they will have had a fantastic weekend, and if they can snatch all four so much the better for the side who struggled to compete last season.

Likewise, Billingham feature in Sunday’s fixture list as they take to the ice against current league leaders Sheffield Spartans who scooped up four points and fourteen goals against the Senators in back to back matches last weekend. Looking to match, if not improve, on their fourth place finish last season, Sheffield are capable of competing with the best and, as they are not easily defeated, Terry Ward and his men will go into the game knowing they have a challenge on their hands. Yet, after last weekend’s win against Solway, Billingham have received a mental boost, proving that they can score against one of the league’s most prolific teams whilst on the road. 

They will now be hoping that import Dennis Boström can show his worth, providing the Stars with goals as well as effective game play. If Billingham should win, they would sit on four points which would be make league standings an awful lot tighter, especially if Whitley and Blackburn were to suffer defeat also. Alternatively, should Billingham lose to the Spartans whilst Warriors or Hawks triumph, it would be a very different story and a little daylight may begin to filter through the ranks. All in all, Stars face a tough contest against loyal and talented Spartans players who have a habit of scoring goals when you least expect it, chiefly in the form of the Barron brothers, Will and Oliver, who managed thirty three goal between them last season alone.

For those fans hoping to catch a game over the weekend, Solway face off at 7:00pm at the Dumfries Ice Bowl on Saturday whilst Telford Ice Rink sees the Tigers NIHL face off against the Warriors at 5:30pm. On Sunday, Billingham play the Spartans at The Forum from 6:30pm and Whitley take to the ice in their home clash with Solihull Barons at the earlier time of 5:00pm.

NIHL Weekend Action

Stars outshine Sharks as Solway defeated

Solway Sharks    3

Billingham Stars 5

Despite playing host to Billingham Stars this evening at the Dumfries Ice Bowl, Sharks took no advantage from playing in front of their home crowd and, instead, it was the visitors who came out on top with a composed win to recover from last weekend’s home defeat to Blackburn.

With less than two minutes on the clock, Stars caused immediate damage in front of goal as forward Callum Davies opened the scoring, allowing the Stars to dominate whilst a stunned Sharks came to terms with going a goal down in the early stages of the game.

Almost halfway into the first period, this lead was doubled by Michael Elder, prompting a change of tactics from Sharks Player Ross Murray who decided to heat things up with some disruptive challenges. Though a few of the Stars reacted to Murray’s provocation, this became little more than handbags which, in the end, did not develop any further as the first period progressed.

As both teams filed back onto the ice for the middle stanza of the game, the score line remained 2-0 and was only added to in the thirtieth minute of play by surprise scorer Scott Ward who, last season, only managed to score twice in twenty two games.

By this stage of the encounter, the Sharks knew they had to turn things around or face losing two points without giving the game their best. And turn things around they did, scoring two goals in the space of fifteen seconds when Joe Coulter’s effort was quickly followed up by a second from captain, Struan Tonnar.  Gameplay rapidly changed from then on with an end to end battle for possession before the second period came to a close.

With everything still to play for in the final third, the two sides had no sooner faced off from centre ice than the puck was in the back of the net again, this time Stars winger Chris Sykes making it 4-2 to the visitors before getting his second of the game just over a minute later. At 5-2 down there was no way back for the Sharks and a power play goal from import Juraj Senko was the only consolation as the clock ticked away the dying seconds of the game. 

Billingham’s Terry Ward will be pleased that the pressure is now off the Stars as they showed that they were capable of scoring goals to leave Dumfries with two points and a deserved away win which can only boost their confidence as they face Sheffield Spartans at home next Sunday. In contrast, Solway have failed to take any points from their first two fixtures and their coach Martin Grubb will now look to help his team regroup before they go into their game against Sheffield Senators next weekend. In spite of their lack of points on the NIHL league table, Solway should be reassured that they have crafted seven goals in two games and, as their season develops and their lines begin to gel, it should not be too long before they bounce back to winning ways.

Warriors battle Barons  to triumph on the road

Solihull Barons    2

Whitley Warriors  6

Whitley Warriors made the trip to Hobs Moat Road, knowing that they were by no means in for an easy contest against Solihull Barons who have proved themselves to be tough competition in the past. The Barons did not disappoint, holding their visitors to a goalless first period in which play was energetic but largely uncontrolled, though Whitley enforcer Andre Payette resisted an opportunity to drop the gloves with Perry Doyle in the early stages of the game. On five occasions Whitley found themselves on the penalty kill with netminder Richie Lawson making some solid saves to earn a deserved man of the match. The Warriors also attempted to create a few chances of their own but there was little room for flowing hockey and the teams filed in at the break with nothing to separate them.

The sides returned and Watson made it 1-0 with just under twenty two minutes played but it was not long before Solihull found a reply through experienced EPL and Elite League forward Thomas Soar. Less than five minutes later, Harry Harley was assisted by player/coach David Longstaff and fellow goal scorer Callum Watson to find the back of the net. This was quickly added to by youngster Callum Queenan, with another assist from Longstaff and captain Jamie Tinsley.

With a score line of 3-1, the teams took to the ice for one final time but, any hopes of the home side finding a way back were dashed after only twenty one seconds into the third period as Tinsley lit the lamp himself this time as Queenan returned the favour. Just six minutes later and the Barons found themselves under pressure again, this time the netminder bundling Joe Stamp's speculative shot into his own net.

However, the Barons showed increased determination though they were on the trailing by 5-1 and began to create some forward play, allowing Phil Knight to sneak a second goal in front of Solihull’s home crowd. Whitley’s work was not yet finished though as hard-working Queenan skated past several Barons’ players to shoot an unassisted effort into the opposition goal.

If goals were not enough, the game certainly packed a punch in its latter stages with three fights in the space of two minutes. The highly anticipated contest between Andre Payette and Perry Doyle took place around the fifty eight minute mark and, though much speculated about before the face off, it failed to live up to fans’ expectations with both players appearing tired at this late stage of the game. 

This was rapidly followed up by a second battle between Callum Watson and Rob Ely which the Warrior clearly won. Not one to miss out, Whitley forward Jordan Barnes decided to take on Barons’ player Dave Rogers in a scrap which only lasted a matter of seconds but he also undoubtedly won, as portrayed by the picture, right.

Whitley will now look forward to next weekend’s double header, first making the long journey down to Telford to play the newly promoted Tigers before clashing with Solihull Barons at home on Sunday 20^th September. Experienced player/coach David Longstaff will no doubt be happy with his team’s performance last night. To continue their positive start to the season, the Warriors will feel that they need to go into those games with as much determination and fortitude as they have shown in their first two fixtures this season. Solihull, on the other hand, will feature in only the single encounter against Whitley Warriors and will hope to take their revenge at Hillheads. Player/coach Perry Doyle will not be too worried that his side have lost their first home game of the season as there is plenty of scope for improvement and he must feel that his side can cause an upset in the Moralee Conference as they have done in the past.