Season 2017/18 - November 25th & 26th

(Action between London Raiders & Invicta Dynamos on Saturday night which the hosts ran out 5-2 winners in, thanks to Kent Sports News for the photo)

Another week and another action packed round of NIHL Hockey took place at the weekend, here is what happened in South One (Britton):-

Saturday 25th November
London Raiders 5-2 Invicta Dynamos

National Cup Group B
Sheffield Steeldogs 6-3 Peterborough Phantoms

National Cup Group D
Swindon Wildcats 3-2 Telford Tigers (OT)
Basingstoke Bison 6-1 Bracknell Bees

Sunday 26th November
Invicta Dynamos 2-3 Peterborough Phantoms (APS)
Milton Keynes Thunder 4-2 Cardiff Fire

National Cup Group C
Streatham 3-2 London Raiders

National Cup Group D
Bracknell Bees 3-4 Swindon Wildcats

NIHL South One (Britton) Latest Standings:-
1. Peterborough Phantoms Played 14 Won 12 Pts 25
2. Basingstoke Bison Played 10 Won 10 Pts 20
3. Bracknell Bees Played 13 Won 10 Pts 20
4. Swindon Wildcats Played 11 Won 7 Pts 16
5. Milton Keynes Thunder Played 15 Won 6 Pts 15
6. London Raiders Played 12 Won 6 Pts 12
7. Invicta Dynamos Played 14 Won 4 Pts 11
8. Streatham Played 12 Won 3 Pts 7
9. Cardiff Fire Played 15 Won 0 Pts 0

Only three games took place in the South One (Britton) division due to National Cup action and on Saturday evening London Raiders smashed Invicta Dynamos at home for their sixth win of the season to leapfrog their opponents into sixth spot. Invicta almost bounced back in style as they came close to beating leaders Peterborough Phantoms on Sunday night in Kent but eventually lost out on penalty shots which saw the leaders open up a five point lead at the top. And in the other league game on Sunday evening Milton Keynes Thunder maintained fifth by seeing off Cardiff Fire at Planet Ice who themselves have now lost all fifteen games this season. In the National Cup Phantoms lost again, this time at Sheffield Steeldogs, as they remain bottom of Group B with only one win from four, whilst it was another win for Streatham in Group C, their eighth win in eight, as they beat Raiders at home to male it a perfect group stage for the South Londoners. And it was a busy weekend in Group D and saw a double for Swindon Wildcats over Tigers and Bees to take charge of the group. Bracknell Bees lost both their Group games after they were thrashed by Basingstoke Bison on Saturday night too to remain at the foot of the group.

Here are next weekend’s fixtures:-

Saturday 2^nd December

Swindon Wildcats vs Invicta Dynamos

Basingstoke Bison vs Streatham

Cardiff Fire vs London Raiders

National Cup Group B

Peterborough Phantoms vs Sheffield Steeldogs

Sunday 3^rd December

Invicta Dynamos vs Cardiff Fire

London Raiders vs Peterborough Phantoms

Milton Keynes Thunder vs Basingstoke Bison

Streatham vs Bracknell Bees

National Cup Group D

Telford Tigers vs Swindon Wildcats

And now for the NIHL South Two (Wilkinson) action:-

Saturday 25^th November

Invicta Mustangs 4-3 Lee Valley Lions (OT)

Guildford Phoenix 8-4 Cardiff Fire 2

Haringey Huskies 3-7 Chelmsford Chieftains

Bracknell Hornets 9-3 Slough Jets

Sunday 26^th November

Lee Valley Lions 1-11 Bristol Pitbulls

Oxford City Stars 7-0 Peterborough Phantoms 2

Chelmsford Chieftains 5-0 Guildford Phoenix

Swindon Wildcats 2 4-5 Solent Devils

NIHL South Two (Wilkinson) Latest Standings:-

1. Oxford City Stars Played 12 Won 11 Pts 22

2. Solent Devils Played 10 Won 8 Pts 17

3. Bracknell Hornets Played 9 Won 8 Pts 16

4. Peterborough Phantoms 2 Played 11 Won 8 Pts 16

5. Guildford Phoenix Played 12 Won 7 Pts 15

6. Haringey Huskies Played 12 Won 7 Pts 14

7. Chelmsford Chieftains Played 7 Won 6 Pts 12

8. Cardiff Fire 2 Played 8 Won 4 Pts 8

9. Basingstoke Buffalo Played 10 Won 4 Pts 8

10. Bristol Pitbulls Played 9 Won 3 Pts 7

11. Invicta Mustangs Played 12 Won 3 Pts 7

12. Slough Jets Played 12 Won 3 Pts 6

13. Lee Valley Lions Played 11 Won 0 Pts 1

14. Swindon Wildcats 2 Played 9 Won 0 Pts 0

Oxford City Stars have a five point lead at the top after they mauled Peterborough Phantoms 2 which saw the Phantoms second string drop to fourth in the table.  Solent are into second spot after they sneaked past winless Swindon Wildcats 2 on Sunday, whilst Bracknell Hornets bounced back from last weekend’s loss at Chelmsford with a big home win over Slough Jets to take third spot.  Guildford Phoenix slipped to fifth after they were shut out by the Chelmsford Chieftains on Sunday evening, that win was the Chiefs second of the weekend after they netted seven in a win at Ally Pally against Haringey Huskies the night before, meaning the Riverside club have now won six of their seven games so far.  Phoenix did record a good win at home to Cardiff Fire 2 on Saturday though so it wasn’t all bad news for the Surrey outfit, whilst Bristol Pitbulls netted eleven against Lee Valley Lions to record only their third win in nine.  The Lions did pick up their first point of the season the night before though, although it was in a losing cause at Invicta Mustangs after they picked up a losing bonus point after an Overtime loss in Kent, but it did move them off the bottom of the table and above Swindon Wildcats 2 who still have zero points from nine games.

Here are next weekend’s fixtures:-

Saturday 2^nd December

Invicta Mustangs vs Guildford Phoenix

Lee Valley Lions vs Cardiff Fire 2

Slough Jets vs Swindon Wildcats 2

Sunday 3^rd December

Peterborough Phantoms 2 vs Basingstoke Buffalo

Chelmsford Chieftains vs Oxford City Stars

I’ll be back with the latest action at the weekend next week in my next blog, so it’s bye for now!!!