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| Sharks celebrate title win |
Solway Sharks clinched the NIHL1 North title with an 11-0 win at home to Trafford Metros – Stevie Adams (3), Nathan Salem (2), Struan Tonnar (2) & Mark Gallagher (2) led the scoring. Billingham Stars won 8-3 at Trafford Metros – Karl Culley (2), Michael Bowman (2) & Michael Elder (2) were amongst the goals.
Sutton Sting came from behind to win 4-1 at Whitley Warriors. Blackburn drew 3-3 at Telford Titans – Hawks’ Matt Viney scored twice – while Petr Jagr hit a pair as they followed up with a 7-4 win at home to Sheffield Spartans. Coventry Blaze look set to finish in the relegation play-off slot after grabbing a 3-3 draw with Telford.
Nottingham Lions claimed the NIHL2 North crown with a pair of huge wins. Five goals by Christy Johnson-Brown helped them to a 12-3 success at Fylde Flyers and they secured promotion in style with a 15-0 victory over Blackburn Eagles – Simon Hunt (4) & Stuart Parker (3) led the scoring. Jordan Bannon scored twice as Deeside Dragons boosted their promotion hopes with a 7-3 win at home to Sheffield Senators. Solihull Barons remain in the mix after a narrow 5-4 win over the Eagles.
Chelmsford Chieftains still lead NIHL1 South after a mixed weekend. They fell 6-3 at Wightlink Raiders, but bounced back on home ice beating Bracknell Hornets 8-1 – Gary Clarke scored three. Wightlink are now second after a 4-2 win at MK Thunder – Robbie Brown bagged a brace. Romford Raiders’ title hopes suffered a blow as they lost 7-3 at Invicta Dynamos. However, Raiders’ are one win away from the final of the NIHL South Cup after beating the Dynamos 9-2.
Basingstoke Bison kept their faint EPL title hopes alive with a four-point weekend. Bison downed current leaders Guildford Flames 4-2, while Greg Chambers’ late winner sealed a 6-5 win at Swindon Wildcats. Flames’ defeat was their second in a week as they also lost 6-3 at Peterborough Phantoms. Michael Psurny (2) & Bari McKenzie (2) led the scoring for Manchester as they beat Peterborough 7-2, and McKenzie followed up with another pair as Phoenix won 8-3 at Bracknell Bees.
MK Lightning won 7-5 at Sheffield Steeldogs – Adam Brittle scored a couple – while Blaz Emersic’s hat-trick helped them demolish Swindon 10-2. Lightning completed a successful week with a 3-1 win at Peterborough. Bracknell beat Slough 7-3, but the Jets recovered to win 4-2 at Telford Tigers. Sheffield’s hopes of reaching the play-offs are over after a 3-1 defeat to the Tigers.
Nottingham Panthers are on the brink of the Elite League crown after extending their winning run to 11 games. Guy Lepine’s late empty netter capped a 2-0 win at home to Sheffield Steelers and they followed up with 3-1 success at Hull Stingrays. Andrew Fournier hit a hat-trick as Belfast won 6-2 at Braehead Clan, but Giants’ title hopes suffered a massive blow as they slipped to a 3-2 defeat at Edinburgh Capitals.
Adam Henrich grabbed a late winner for Coventry Blaze as they edged past Cardiff 4-3, and the Devils completed a miserable weekend with a 5-4 defeat at home to the Steelers. Two Matt Davies goals helped Hull to a 5-3 win over Dundee, but Stars recovered to beat Fife Flyers 5-4. Sheffield and Nottingham will meet in the Challenge Cup final after the Steelers completed an 8-4 aggregate success over Braehead.
(Image permission: David Morrison)
