Season 2017/18 - February 14th - 18th

I'll start this week’s blog with my first trip to The Sapphire in Romford as the London Raiders hosted NIHL South One (Britton) league leaders Basingstoke Bison:-

London Raiders 1 Basingstoke Bison 2

I made the trip to the newest arena in the NIHL South on Sunday evening as London Raiders, formally known as Romford Raiders of course, moved back to Romford at the start of the month, and this was their third game in the arena.  And another healthy 1000+ crowd packed into the Sapphire to see if their side, currently fourth, could topple one of the league’s best in Bison.  The first two periods yielded plenty of fast and furious action, with the match end to end as both sides traded attempts on goal, however both net minders were in good form and this meant going into the final period the contest remained goal less.   The deadlock was finally broken early into the final period though when a misplaced pass from the visitors was pounced upon by Ayliffe and he took aim and fired home to give the hosts the lead.  And it looked like this goal may well be enough for the hosts to claim a superb win, however Bison kept plugging away and with under four minutes remaining finally breached the hosts defence when Connolly netted after Raiders could not clear, and then with 1:02 left saw Sutton fire home to turn this one on its head.  Raiders almost found a way back in the final minute but Bison held on after some rather interesting tactics in the final few seconds, and it meant Raiders took nothing from the contest, which was very harsh indeed.  However Bison found a way to win, which is what champions do, and they remain top and ahead of Peterborough Phantoms on tiebreakers.  It was an enjoyable game of hockey it has to be said and a good experience too, will most certainly return to watch more games no doubt.

Here are some photos from the Sapphire on Sunday evening:-

Right lets get into the results for the latest round of matches

Wednesday 14^th February

National Cup Semi Final South First Leg

Swindon Wildcats 3-3 Telford Tigers

Thursday 15^th February

NIHL South One (Britton)

Invicta Dynamos 3-7 Swindon Wildcats

Saturday 17^th February

NIHL South One (Britton)

Swindon Wildcats 6-2 Streatham

Cardiff Fire 3-4 Invicta Dynamos (OTW)

Basingstoke Bison 5-2 Bracknell Bees

Peterborough Phantoms 5-1 Milton Keynes Thunder

NIHL South Two (Wilkinson)

Cardiff Fire 2 3-11 Chelmsford Chieftains

Invicta Mustangs 3-2 Basingstoke Buffalo (PSOW)

Lee Valley Lions 0-8 Oxford City Stars

Guildford Phoenix 7-2 Swindon Wildcats 2

Haringey Huskies 1-7 Solent Devils

Sunday 18^th February

NIHL South One (Britton)

London Raiders 1-2 Basingstoke Bison

Cardiff Fire 2-3 Swindon Wildcats (OTW)

Bracknell Bees 2-6 Peterborough Phantoms

Streatham 5-1 Invicta Dynamos

NIHL South Two (Wilkinson)

Bristol Pitbulls 5-9 Bracknell Hornets

Basingstoke Buffalo 5-2 Lee Valley Lions

Chelmsford Chieftains 6-3 Slough Jets

NIHL South One (Britton) Standings

1.       Basingstoke Bison Played 27 Won 24 Pts 48

2.       Peterborough Phantoms Played 28 Won 23 Pts 48

3.       Swindon Wildcats Played 28 Won 19 Pts 42

4.       London Raiders Played 26 Won 16 Pts 32

5.       Bracknell Bees Played 27 Won 14 Pts 30

6.       Streatham Played 28 Won 13 Pts 27

7.       Milton Keynes Thunder Played 27 Won 8 Pts 22

8.       Invicta Dynamos Played 28 Won 7 Pts 17

9.       Cardiff Fire Played 29 Won 0 Pts 2

NIHL South Two (Wilkinson) Standings

1.       Oxford City Stars (Q) Played 21 Won 19 Pts 38

2.       Solent Devils (Q) Played 20 Won 18 Pts 37

3.       Bracknell Hornets Played 17 Won 16 Pts 32

4.       Peterborough Phantoms 2 Played 20 Won 14 Pts 28

5.       Guildford Phoenix Played 20 Won 12 Pts 25

6.       Chelmsford Chieftains Played 17 Won 12 Pts 24

7.       Slough Jets Played 21 Won 8 Pts 16

8.       Haringey Huskies Played 20 Won 8 Pts 16

9.       Bristol Pitbulls Played 18 Won 7 Pts 15

10.   Cardiff Fire 2 Played 18 Won 7 Pts 14

11.   Basingstoke Buffalo Played 20 Won 5 Pts 13

12.   Invicta Mustangs Played 21 Won 6 Pts 13

13.   Swindon Wildcats 2 Played 18 Won 3 Pts 7

14.   Lee Valley Lions Played 19 Won 0 Pts 3

In South One Swindon Wildcats had a busy few days, playing four times, and after drawing their Semi Final 1^st Leg at home to Telford Tigers, thrashed Invicta Dynamos the following night on the road, before recording an impressive win at home to Streatham.  They then were given one hell of a fright by bottom side Cardiff Fire, who at one stage led, however the Wildcats fought back to win in overtime and make it three league wins for the week.  Fire, who had no points from 27 games, went to overtime in both their games this weekend, but lost both, however did pick up two points overall so that’s progress surely!!!  Bison and Phantoms both picked up two wins each over the weekend to remain the top two in the division ahead of third placed Wildcats, and despite Raiders loss to Bison do remain fourth after Bracknell Bees lost both games at the weekend against the top two to remain two points behind in fifth.  And Streatham remain in touching distance of the top four after bouncing back to thrash Dynamos on Sunday night, with Thunder, Dynamos and Fire making up the bottom three.

Into South Two and the top two both recorded easy wins to secure qualification for the end of season playoffs.  Leaders Oxford City Stars netted eight in a shutout win at bottom side Lee Valley Lions whilst Solent Devils remain a point behind in second after they put seven past Haringey Huskies at Alexander Palace.  Bracknell Hornets remain third after making it 16 wins from 17 with victory at Bristol Pitbulls, whilst fifth placed Guildford Phoenix recorded a comfortable home win over struggling Swindon Wildcats 2.  Highest scorers of the weekend were Chelmsford Chieftains, who netted 17 goals in their two games, 11 at Cardiff Fire 2 before netting six at home to Slough Jets, this after they trailed at one point too.  It also meant that there is now an eight point gap between sixth placed Chieftains and seventh placed Jets, meaning the top six are now starting to pull away from the rest.  Basingstoke Buffalo had a mixed weekend, losing on penalty shots at fellow strugglers Invicta Mustangs before bouncing back to beat Lee Valley at home, however it’s unlikely anyone from the bottom few places will make much of an impression on the post season. 

Here are next weekend’s fixtures

Tuesday 20^th February

National Cup Semi Final South Second Leg

Telford Tigers vs Swindon Wildcats (3-3 after First Leg)

Saturday 24^th February

NIHL South One (Britton)

Streatham vs Cardiff Fire

London Raiders vs Peterborough Phantoms

Basingstoke Bison vs Swindon Wildcats

Milton Keynes Thunder vs Bracknell Bees

NIHL South Two (Wilkinson)

Invicta Mustangs vs Oxford City Stars

Guildford Phoenix vs Chelmsford Chieftains

Haringey Huskies vs Bristol Pitbulls

Slough Jets vs Peterborough Phantoms 2

Swindon Wildcats 2 vs Bracknell Hornets

Cardiff Fire 2 vs Basingstoke Buffalo

Sunday 25^th February

NIHL South One (Britton)

Invicta Dynamos vs Milton Keynes Thunder

Bracknell Bees vs Basingstoke Bison

Swindon Wildcats vs London Raiders

NIHL South Two (Wilkinson)

Oxford City Stars vs Swindon Wildcats 2

Chelmsford Chieftains vs Haringey Huskies