Billingham Stars face a weekend on the road bidding to end their disappointing NIHL North season on a high.

Stars’ fifth place finish in the league saw them miss out on a place in the Moralee D1 play-offs, but victories at Blackburn Hawks and Widnes Wild this weekend would secure the Northern Cup.

Director of Coaching Terry Ward said: “We’ve been working our way towards a win over the Hawks over the past few weeks – we’ve pushed them really close and we know we’ve got what it takes.

“They play exceptionally well on their own ice – you only have to look at their results to see that – but they shouldn’t be engraving their name on the Cup just yet.

“Of course, beating Blackburn is only half of the story – if we pull it off we still need to beat the Wild and that will not be easy.

“A tough weekend to end our campaign, but if we work as hard as we can then we’ve got every chance of bringing that Cup back to Billingham.”

WEEKEND FIXTURES

Northern Cup

Saturday

Blackburn Hawks v Billingham Stars
Solway Sharks v Widnes Wild

Sunday

Widnes Wild v Billingham Stars