NIHL North round-up - week 12

19 Nov 2012 | Michael Black

The challenge between Solway and Billingham continues

NIHL1 North leaders Solway Sharks picked up another two points with a 4-1 win at home to Sheffield Spartans. Adam Reynolds gave Sharks an early lead, but Alex Harding levelled things up late in the first. Bob Chalmers and Reynolds again made it 3-1 in the middle period, before Nathan Salem’s 44th minute strike sealed the victory.

Solway Sharks Adam Reynolds
image by permission of David Morrison

Billingham Stars remain a point behind Sharks after they won 4-1 at Trafford Metros. James Moss (2) and Adam Robinson put the visitors in control in the first, but Stars failed to add to their tally in the second. Cal Davies made it 4-0 in the final period, but Metros continued to battle and were rewarded when Tomas Hnilica grabbed a late consolation.
Sutton Sting are up to third in the table after a 3-0 win at Whitley Warriors. Simon Butterworth put Sting ahead after 14 minutes and second period goals from Ben Lowe and Jamie Spurr secured an impressive success. Coventry Blaze crushed Telford Titans 11-2 – Philip Pollok (2), Adam Alfoldy (2) and Rikki Bryniarski (2) led the scoring.
Titans bounced back with a deserved 2-1 win at Blackburn Hawks. Dave Meikle gave the home team an early lead, but Titans turned things around in the middle period with goals from Sean Weeks and Karol Jets. Meikle spurned an opportunity to tie things up in the third, as he hit the post with a penalty shot and Titans held firm to pick up just their second win of the season.
Next weekend sees Solway host Telford, while Sutton face off against Blackburn.

Sheffield Senators moved up to third in NIHL2 North after a four-point weekend. They came from behind to beat Deeside Dragons 5-4 on home ice – Tom Humphries scored twice – and followed up with an 11-3 win at Hull Stingrays – Humphries and Nathan Britton both hit hat-tricks.