NIHL Weekend Action

Weather sets back Sharks’ clash with Sutton

For a second consecutive weekend, bad weather hampered ice hockey in Dumfries as Solway Sharks’ game against Sutton Sting was called off. This being Solway’s last game of 2015, the Sharks are next in action against Sheffield Senators on Saturday 9^th January 2016.

Warriors’ comeback closed down as Hawks swoop on win

Blackburn Hawks       5

Whitley Warriors         4

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Facing the Hawks on away ice was always going to be a tough contest for Whitley Warriors, with the Lancashire outfit out for revenge after last weekend’s 4-2 defeat to David Longstaff’s line up. Though Blackburn were without Ollie Lomax who suffered a broken wrist at Hillheads last Sunday, the Hawks started the better of the two teams as Daniel MacKriel’s side retained possession to engage in some strong attacking play in Warriors' defensive zone.

Running into penalty trouble from the outset, the Warriors soon found themselves a goal down as forward Lee Pollitt pounced on a rebound to light the lamp for his team. This tremendous opener was quickly followed by a war of words between enforcer Andre Payette and the troublesome Reece Cairney-Witter; both players more than happy to pick up from where they left off last Sunday. With unruly Warrior Alan Yarrow joining Payette and Cairney-Witter on the ice, events took the turn that was very much anticipated after last weekend’s clash between the two sides, Yarrow ultimately receiving 2+10 for a check to the head, and a further two minutes for roughing, whilst Cairney-Witter found himself on the receiving end of a ten minute misconduct penalty.

Whilst Yarrow and Cairney-Witter served out their respective punishments, Jordan Bannon took the opportunity to capitalise, doubling Hawks’ lead to pile the pressure on their opposition. As Whitley found it increasingly difficult to pose a threat in front of Daniel Brittle’s goal, the side were soon punished for their lack of organisation, suffering a bench penalty for having too many men on the ice. Looking to extend their lead to three goals, the efficient Hawks rapidly engaged in offensive play, Aaron Davies threading a pass through to the unstoppable Richard Bentham who opted for a wrap around goal on the power play.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Warriors’ poor possession in the first period was evidenced by Hawks’ twenty four shots to Whitley’s seven but, unwilling to give up in the heat of battle, the Hillheads outfit returned for a second period, refreshed and raring to undo Blackburn’s three goal lead. With increased momentum and a desire to create successful attacking play, the Warriors ploughed forwards, Callum Watson crossing the puck to DJ Good which was unwittingly turned into Brittle’s net by Hawks’ captain Chris Arnone to make the score line 3-1.

With Warriors now playing far better ice hockey than that of the first period, Bentham was the next to earn himself a ten minute misconduct, referee Andrew Miller making the call during game play. Both teams playing five on five ice hockey, Blackburn soon found themselves a man down when the Hawks’ top points scorer Adam Brittle was found guilty of a trip on Dean Holland who struggled back to his feet to continue with the game. However, not long after, Warriors’ Martin Crammond conceded a two minute tripping penalty before Payette was subsequently directed from the ice for a minor offence. Blackburn taking this opportunity to regain their three goal cushion before the break, it was import RJ Berra who hit the puck home for the Hawks in the closing stages of the second period. To further add to Whitley’s woes, Shaun Kippin was drawn into a similar situation to that of last Sunday’s game, again dropping his gloves in response to provocation, earning himself an avoidable penalty in the process.

Despite this setback, the Warriors returned for the final period with a desire to win and, continuing to apply pressure to Hawks defence, player-coach Longstaff slotted his effort into the back of Brittle’s net to show that Whitley were not about to surrender to the Lancashire outfit. Slowly beginning to claw their way back into the game, the Warriors were stunned once again when Arnone made up for his earlier mistake with a goal for the home side, swiftly surpassing Whitley’s defence to go one on one with Lawson who was unable to prevent the defenceman’s shot from ending up in the back of the net.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Requiring a spark to ignite a Warriors’ comeback, there was no greater fuse than enforcer Payette. Aware of this, Longstaff gave his team mate the go ahead and the Canadian import raced to confront his nemesis whom he swiftly threw onto the ice after a misplaced punch failed to meet its designated target. Both players receiving 2+2 for fighting, Blackburn and Whitley continued with five players each. There was little doubt that Payette’s action had the desired effect however, and, in much the same way as Arnone had tested Lawson, Good broke clear of Hawks’ defence to challenge Brittle, his effort leaping into the opposition’s net to make it 5-3.

To surprise MacKriel’s side further, captain Jamie Tinsley quickly netted another to allow the Warriors to edge ever closer to their opponents and, following a high sticks from the Hawks which saw Dan Pye fall to the ice, Whitley called a timeout in a bid to snatch a much-sought equaliser. Switching shot stopper Lawson for youngster Mark Turnbull, the Warriors battled on, finally pulling Turnbull from his net to give Whitley the advantage of an extra skater. However, an intercepted pass saw the Hawks try to bag an empty net goal from distance and, though the Warriors were saved by the post, the buzzer sounded on their efforts to go level, leaving Longstaff’s line up just short of what would have been an outstanding comeback. Speaking to NIHL Northern Trio, Longstaff said, “I thought we played a pretty good all round game on Sunday. We started off slowly in the first period and got stronger as the game went on. Penalties cost us. They scored two power play goals and another just after the penalty expired so we'll have to do a better job killing [penalties] off." 

Warriors will now look ahead to a second home clash against the Hawks next Sunday and, now that both teams have won one game each, this is set to be a phenomenal fixture, particularly as tensions between Payette and Cairney-Witter continue to overshadow the main event.

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