NORTH CUP
WIDNES WILD 6 NOTTINGHAM LIONS 3
Wild kept up their impressive start to the North Cup with their second win in two games to move into pole position.
Richard Haggar’s two first period goals put them in front over Nottingham Lions, despite Jack Hopkins picking one up for the visitors.
Hopkins levelled in the second period and further goals, one from either team by Ollie Barron (Wild) and Joe Humphries (Lions) saw both sides locked at three apiece.
Widnes kicked on in the third period and went on to complete victory through goals from Michael Gilbert and two from Adam Barnes, adding to the four he scored last week.
SHEFFIELD SCIMITARS 3 BLACKBURN HAWKS 4 (After penalty shots)
They needed penalty shots but it was enough to enjoy victory as Blackburn Hawks picked up their first win of the North Cup, edging past Sheffield Scimitars.
Sam Jones put the home side ahead, but was soon cancelled out by a shorthanded finish by Matthew Viney to keep the teams tied after one period.
It took until late in the second before the stalemate was broken as Jack Brammer netted for Scimitars to edge them in front.
Hawks turned the game in their favour with third period goals from Finlay Ulrick and Logan Jean-Jacques, but Tom Humphries levelled on the powerplay to take the game beyond regulation time.
Even penalty shots was also a tight affair and only when Brammer’s was denied by Blackburn goalie Niks Trapans could the visitors celebrate their hard fought victory.
SOUTH CUP
SLOUGH JETS 0 SOLENT DEVILS 2
The NIHL South Cup began and it was an impressive away win for Solent Devils, who took the first points in a 2-0 shutout win on the road in Slough.
It was a closely fought contest as these teams played their first games in almost a year and you could tell there were some cobwebs as they felt their way in.
It took 17 minutes for the opener to come as Mark Pitts finished off from Alex Murray’s assist to put the Devils in front on the powerplay.
They doubled their lead through Ralf Circenis during the second period and in the end, proved to be enough, allowing Solent goalie Chico Cole to enjoy his blank, saving 32 from 32.
