Sharks Top Scottish Table with Back-to-back Wins

Sunday saw the Building Craftsmen Dumfries Solway Sharks journey to Dundee for more SNL action, taking on the Tigers in their first meeting of the season.

A cagey start from Sharks saw Tigers make a strong attacking start, determined to make an impression against the league leaders. Sharks soaked up the early pressure, including a good penalty kill.  Almost immediately once back to full strength Sharks got their first, a well placed pass from Kyle Horne to Marcus Murdoch who was on his way to the Tigers net seeing him shoot over the shoulder of Tigers netminder Mallinson to take the lead at 9:01.  Sharks continued to keep the pressure up offensively, while working hard to keep Tigers out of their defensive zone. Smart defensive play from Liam Stenton and Stuart Kerr fed the puck to Scott Henderson, whose slick work from his own end to the front saw him slot the puck under Mallinson for the Sharks’ second at 13:17.   End to end play followed, Tigers single-mindedly thwarting Sharks attempts on goal, while looking dangerous on the break when they got the chance.  There was no further scoring and going into the first break the score was Tigers 0 Sharks 2.

The close physical play continued in the second period, both teams battling hard for every puck and looking for any advantage, Tigers working hard and having the upper hand for spells, Sharks netminder Hepburn standing strong.  Sharks found themselves a man down again as a result of a penalty at 30 minutes, but undaunted they won possession and rushed the tigers goal, Iain Bowie finding Liam Stenton in space at the hash marks, and the latter backhanded the puck up and over the netminder for a shorthanded goal.  Back to full strength and looking to capitalise on their momentum Sharks continued to drive the Tigers net at speed, Ewan Anderson picking out Gordon Horne who made no mistake sending the puck home at 33:33 for Sharks’ fourth.  On the front foot Sharks drove the net again from the face off, a quick series of shots from close range deflected by Mallinson before Kieran Hair poked the puck over the goal line from Stevie Adams and Marcus Murdoch.  After the flurry of Sharks’ goals the final 5 minutes of the period passed without further incident, and the second break saw the Sharks with a commanding 5 goals to nil lead.

At the start of the third Tigers piled on some early pressure, forcing a number of heroic saves from Hepburn. Sharks quickly turned the tide, taking control of possession and dictating the play.  As the halfway point of the period approached they turned over a Tigers attack, Henderson sending the puck to Stenton who skated hard towards the Tigers net before slipping the puck to Anderson who was approaching at speed, to knock it past the sprawling Mallinson for Sharks’ sixth.  The rest of the game played out with both teams still working hard and both netminders having to remain alert, Sharks having most of the play.  At the final buzzer the score sat at Tigers 0 Sharks 6.  Stuart Kerr was Sharks’ man of the match.  The four point weekend cements Sharks’ place at the top of the SNL table.