t was “all change” at the top of the NIHL North Moralee Conference this weekend as last season’s NIHL North 1 league champions Solway Sharks leapfrogged Billingham Stars into top spot.Stars slumped to a shock 3-0 shut-out defeat at second bottom Sutton Sting on Sunday evening and the Sharks took full advantage by shutting out Sheffield Spartans 8-0 on Saturday night and then winning 7-5 away at third place Whitley Warriors on Sunday.
Solway now lead the Moralee Conference with 18 points from 10 games. Billingham have 14 points from 10 games and Whitley have 12 points from 9 games.
The Spartans bounced back from that Saturday night set back to beat bottom club Telford Titans 8-2 on Sunday to maintain their 4th place in the table.
In the weekend’s other league game, Blackburn Hawks drew 2-2 at home to Manchester Minotaurs, leaving the two rivals in 5th and 6th respectively.
Laidler Conference (N2) league leaders Deeside Dragons were held to a 2-2 draw at second bottom Sheffield Senators on Sunday, despite outshooting the opposition 33 to 17. This was quite an achievement for the Senator who had previously only picked up 3 points all season as they who led 1-0 at one point and kept the Dragons at bay until the 37th minute.
Widnes Wild moved up to 5th place in the table after a 2-2 draw with last season’s N2 champions Nottingham Lions.
In the division’s other game of the weekend , 4th place Solihull Barons beat 2nd place Coventry blaze 6-3 to lift themselves to the edge of the chasing pack. They are 4 points behind 3rd place Lions and 5 behind Blaze but have 2 games in hand over both of them. Deeside remain top with 19 points from 11 games.
More info: www.eiha.co.uk www.blackburnhawks.com
Photo: Blackburn Hawks v Manchester Minotaurs by John Milton www.togger.co.uk
