Sting v Warriors Preview

Joe Stamp

Whitley Warriors head into this weekend’s away game with the Sutton Sting in superb form as David Longstaff’s  side are unbeaten in their first 6 league games of the campaign having won 5 and drawn 1 of their opening half dozen NIHL North Division 1 fixtures.

Warriors will be without Dean Holland, Craig Johnson and Alex Lawson who have all been out of action during the last few weeks due to their respective injuries. Whitley’s imposing blue liner Dan Pye could also miss the game as the experienced man is still recovering from the knock he picked up in Warriors last competitive game against Sutton a couple of weeks ago.

Eventhough Warriors could be without 2 d men in Johnson and Pye Whitley still have plenty of options at the back as the club still have 5 senior defenceman available plus youngster Liam Smedley to call upon. A number of Warriors forwards such as Jordan Barnes and Jamie Tinsley can also move back into defence if required to during the course of Sunday’s match up.

Warriors opponents this weekend have begun the season in mixed form as Sting have won 2 and lost 4 of their league games to date. The side based at Ice Sheffield have tasted victory over the Solihull Barons and Sheffield Spartans and have gone down to defeats against Whitley, Blackburn, Telford and the Spartans. Both of the Stings victories have come on their own ice which demonstrates that they are a tough side to beat in their own barn especially when Sutton’s netminder Dmitri Zimzodra is at the top of his game.

Whitley are back in action at Hillheads on Sunday October 25th when Warriors take on their local rivals the Billingham Stars in a crucial league match up. Warriors and Stars have not yet met this season and as ever the Tyne Tees derby will be packed full of passionate play between 2 sides eager to gain the bragging rights against their local rivals. Tickets for the game are priced at £8.50 for adults and £6.50 for children while a family ticket can be bought for £24 which allows admission to the game for 2 adults and 2 children.