NIHL North - week 26

Solway Sharks edged closer to the NIHL1 North crown with a comfortable 6-1 win at Trafford Metros on Saturday. Nathan Salem and Stevie Adams set Sharks on their way in the first, before Adam Reynolds extended the lead to three in the middle session. Mark Gallagher, Aidan Fulton and Salem again added further goals in the final period, with Tomas Hnilica hitting a consolation for the Metros.

Reigning champions Billingham Stars kept their title hopes alive with a 7-3 win at home to Coventry Blaze. Stephen Wallace and Dave Manning put Stars 2-0 up in the first, but Philip Pollok pulled one back for Blaze early in the second. Karl Culley and Michael Elder sent Stars 4-1 in at the second break and goals early in the final period from Elder and Ben Davison looked to have put the game beyond the visitors. Rikki Bryniarski pulled a couple back for Blaze to give the home fans a few nervy moments, but Manning’s second of the night late on secured the points.

Blackburn Hawks strengthened their grip on fourth place with an impressive 6-3 win at home to Sutton Sting on Saturday. First period goals by Matt Viney, Dan MacKriel and Ivo Dimitrijevs set Hawks on their way, but Sting hit back in the second through Chris Sykes and Shaun Ashton. Rick Ravey made it 4-2 to the home team just before the second buzzer, but Sykes’ reduced the deficit to one early in the final session. Jared Owen quickly restored Hawks’ two-goal cushion and Petr Jagr added another late on to seal the win.

Sutton bounced back on Sunday with a 3-2 win at Telford Titans – Ryan Johnson, James Goodman and Matt Jeffcock got their goals. Titans managed a win of their own the previous day, with a 6-4 win at home to Whitley Warriors. Dan Taylor (3), Cameron Blakemore (2) and Ryan Stanton got Titans’ goals, with Mark Good (2), DJ Good and Harry Harley replying for the visitors.

Warriors returned to home ice on Sunday to face Sheffield Spartans. Two goals in the first period from Mark Good set Warriors on their way, before Nathan Ryder and DJ Good doubled the lead in the second. In the final period Mark Good added his third and fourth of the night either side of a Christian Johnson strike. Spartans’ Alex Harding and Ollie Barron pulled a couple back, but Warriors coasted home to a 7-2 success.

Nottingham Lions moved back to the top of NIHL2 North with an 8-0 demolition of Hull Stingrays. Reece Glossop and Michael Rose put Lions 2-0 up in the first, before Simon Hunt and Dan Hazeldine doubled their lead in the middle period. Ben Wood, Joe Wightman, Stuart Parker and Luke Branin added further goals in the final session to leave Lions looking strong favourites to make an immediate return to Division One.

Solihull Barons kept their promotion hopes alive with a hard fought 7-5 over Deeside Dragons. Pete Founds put the visitors ahead after 16 minutes, but three quick goals by Mike Rodger, Neil Adams and Joe Henry saw Barons 3-1 up near the end of the second. James Parsons and Tom King pulled Dragons level, before Richard Slater edged Barons back in front early in the final period. Founds soon made it 4-4, but two more from Slater and Henry again put the game beyond Dragons. Founds completed his hat-trick late on, but Barons comfortably held on.

Next week sees Solway host Telford, before travelling to meet Blackburn. Billingham are away at Coventry and Whitley.

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