Billingham Stars moved a point behind NIHL1 North leaders Solway Sharks after a four-point weekend. James McCabe (left) scored twice as Stars came from behind to win 5-3 at Sheffield Spartans and they followed up with a 6-1 victory at home to Trafford Metros. Whitley Warriors are third after winning 5-3 at home to Sheffield, while Blackburn Hawks beat Deeside Dragons 4-1 in the Trans-Pennine East/West Trophy.
Nottingham Lions stay top of NIHL2 North after beating Sheffield Senators 7-5 – Joe Wightman scored four. Solihull Barons suffered a blow to their promotion hopes losing 4-1 at Sheffield – Nathan Britton scored twice. Brian Worrall hit a hat-trick as Deeside won 11-4 at Fylde Flyers, while Hull Stingrays beat Blackburn Eagles 7-1.
Wightlink Raiders moved back to the top of NIHL1 South after a pair of wins. They beat Cardiff Devils 6-4 – Jiri Hanzal hit a hat-trick – and followed up with a 2-1 win at Bracknell Hornets. Chelmsford Chieftains are second after beating MK Thunder 5-2 – Julius Sinkovic scored three. Romford Raiders kept their unbeaten league record intact with a 10-4 win at Solent & Gosport Devils – Juraj Huska scored four. In the NIHL South Cup Invicta Dynamos beat Romford 6-4.
EPL leaders Manchester Phoenix came from behind to win 7-5 at Slough Jets – Andy McKinney scored twice – and they completed a successful weekend with a 7-1 success at home to Bracknell Bees – Michael Psurny hit a hat-trick. Greg Chambers & Greg Owen both scored twice as Basingstoke Bison won 4-2 at Swindon Wildcats and they followed up with a 4-3 overtime success in the return on home ice – Joe Miller got the winner.
Guildford Flames beat Peterborough Phantoms 5-2 and secured a four-point weekend with a 7-3 victory at Sheffield Steeldogs – Curtis Huppe scored three. Steeldogs also fell 1-0 at MK Lightning, while Peterborough beat Slough 3-0. Telford Tigers enjoyed a profitable weekend winning 5-4 after a shoot-out at Bracknell, before returning home to see off Lightning 3-0.
Belfast Giants and Sheffield Steelers shared the spoils in their Elite League double header. Colin Shields scored three as Steelers won 5-1 on Friday, but Giants gained revenge the following evening with a 3-0 success. Nottingham Panthers scored a trio of wins on their Scottish road trip beating Braehead Clan 5-1, Edinburgh Capitals 5-0 & Fife Flyers 5-3. Jereme Tendler scored twice as Hull Stingrays beat Fife 5-4, while Mac Faulkner’s brace helped Cardiff Devils to a 4-2 win at home to Dundee Stars. Braehead completed a miserable weekend losing 5-3 at Dundee.
In the Challenge Cup Coventry Blaze beat Cardiff 2-1 at the Sky Dome, before twice coming from behind to win 3-2 in the reverse fixture.
(Image permission: Colin Lawson)
