NIHL North - week 4 round-up

25 Sep 2012 | Michael Black

Two victories give Solway leadership

Solway Sharks are the new leaders of NIHL1 North after wins over Coventry Blaze and Sheffield Spartans. Saturday’s clash at home to Blaze saw the visitors take an early lead through Phillip Pollok, but Sharks took control in the middle period with goals from John Connolly, Daniel Murdy, Struan Tonnar and Adam Reynolds. Ross Murray and Reynolds put Sharks further ahead before Pollok grabbed his second of the night to make it 6-2.

Solway Adam Reynolds, 5 goals in the weekend
(image by permission of David Morrison)

On Sunday the Sharks travelled to face Sheffield Spartans and ran out comfortable 4-1 winners – Reynolds (3) and Bob Chalmers got the goals. Spartans picked up two points the previous evening with a 6-4 win at Trafford Metros – Will Barron (3), Jon Woolhouse, Shaun Wild and Elliott Knell scored for Spartans, while Alan Hough (2), Sean Day and Max Drakeley replied for Trafford. The Metros completed a miserable weekend on Sunday, losing by the same scoreline at Whitley Warriors – Dean Holland and DJ Good were amongst the goals.
Billingham Stars maintained their unbeaten start to the season with a pair of wins over Sutton Sting. Goals from Cal Davies, James Udell and James Moss helped Stars to a 3-2 win in the Trans/Pennine East West Trophy on Saturday. The following evening’s league clash at the TFM Ice Arena started in cagey fashion with neither team able to break the deadlock. Ryan Johnson put Sting in front after 21 minutes, but Stars roared back to lead 3-1 at the second buzzer – Michael Bowman (2) and Stephen Wallace got the goals. Mikey Elder added a fourth midway through the final period, but Richie Oliver brought the visitors back into it with nine minutes left. Wallace grabbed his second of the night after 57 minutes to seal a 5-2 win.
Nottingham Lions moved to the top of NIHL2 North with an easy victory at Blackburn Eagles. First period goals by Ollie Betteridge and Luke Branin put Lions 2-0 ahead, before Gareth O’Flaherty (2), Michael Rose and Ben Wood put the game out of Eagles’ reach in the second. Betteridge grabbed his second of the night in the final period to secure a 7-0 win. Deeside Dragons faced Division One’s Telford Titans in a challenge game and ran out impressive 9-3 winners – Aaron Davies, Ric Hughes and Brian Worrall were all on the scoresheet.
This weekend sees Solway face-off against Billingham, while in Division Two Deeside travel to meet Nottingham.