NIHL1 South outfit Invicta Dynamos pulled off the first shock in this season’s British Challenge Cup with victory over the EPL’s Bracknell Bees.
Dynamos’ all-time record points scorer Andy Smith (left) was the hero with a hat-trick in a 6-4 success. Guildford forward Jozef Kohut scored three in Flames’ 7-0 win at Wightlink Raiders.
Chelmsford Chieftains stay top of NIHL1S after a 3-2 win at home to Solent Devils. Juraj Huska (2) & Frankie Harvey (2) led the scoring as Invicta won 8-3 at Oxford City Stars.
Streatham Redskins won by the odd goal in eleven at Wightlink, while MK Thunder eased to a 5-2 victory at home to Solent. London Raiders had a miserable weekend, losing 5-0 at Cardiff NIHL and 8-1 at Bracknell Hornets.
Slough Jets retained their 100% NIHL2S record with a 5-0 win at home to Peterborough Islanders. Invicta Mustangs fell 5-3 at Lee Valley Lions and Peterborough ran out 3-1 winners at home to Chelmsford Warriors. In the D2 Cup, Swindon Wildcats NIHL won 5-3 at Bristol Pitbulls.
Solway Sharks’ recent return to form continued as they enjoyed success on two fronts. Richard Bentham scored a couple in their 4-1 win at home to Sheffield Spartans in NIHL1N and they followed up with a 1-0 victory at Whitley Warriors to secure silverware with a 5-1 aggregate success in the St Andrews Cup.
James Spurr (2) & Nat Rose (2) led the way for Sutton Sting as they condemned Billingham Stars to an 8-1 defeat, but the Teessiders bounced back with a 2-0 success in the reverse fixture. Alex Lawson scored twice in Whitley Warriors’ 5-1 win at Manchester Minotaurs.
Solihull Barons still lead the way in NIHL2N after a comfortable 10-2 victory at Coventry Blaze – Thomas Soar hit a hat-trick. Deeside Dragons slipped to a 4-2 defeat at Widnes Wild, but recovered to win 3-1 at home to Nottingham Lions. Blackburn Eagles raced into an early 3-0 lead at home to Hull Jets, but the visitors roared back to claim a 5-3 victory.
EPL leaders Telford Tigers crashed 4-0 at Swindon Wildcats, but bounced back in style on home ice with an 8-2 win against Sheffield Steeldogs. Basingstoke Bison won 3-2 at home to MK Lightning, but failed to follow up as they crashed 8-3 at Manchester Phoenix.
Aaron Nell hit the winner for Swindon as they triumphed 3-2 after a shoot-out at MK Lightning, while Darius Pliskauskas notched the game winning goal for Peterborough Phantoms in their 3-2 shoot-out success at Sheffield. Guildford won 5-3 at home Peterborough and Bracknell Bees secured a 3-1 victory at home to Manchester.
Braehead Clan moved back to the top of the Elite League after a pair of wins against Coventry Blaze. Stefan Meyer scored twice in their 4-2 home success, while Scott Pitt hit the decider in a 4-3 road win. Belfast Giants won 7-4 at home to Cardiff, but the Devils gained their revenge in the return with a narrow 3-2 victory.
Nottingham Panthers enjoyed a 7-2 home win against Sheffield Steelers, but they couldn’t make it a four-point weekend as they surprisingly fell 5-3 at Edinburgh Capitals. Steelers bounced back with a 6-1 win at home to Fife Flyers. John Mitchell scored three in Dundee Stars’ 6-4 win at Hull, but the Stingrays recovered with a 4-3 success in the reverse fixture. Fife won 4-1 at home to Edinburgh.
(Image permission: David Trevallion)
