Whitley Warriors did not take to the ice last weekend as Simon Leach’s side bizarrely had no fixtures scheduled only a few weeks into the season. Warriors, along with current NIHL North League Champions Solway Sharks and last year’s Play Off winners Blackburn Hawks remain the only three sides in NIHL North Moralee Conference with 100% records at this stage of the campaign.
Looking through the weekend’s results in NIHL North, Blackburn Hawks and Billingham Stars will both be thoroughly satisfied with their weekend’s work as both sides took four points from their two fixtures. Billingham won 4-1 at Sheffield on Saturday before picking up a 3-1 success at home against Manchester on Sunday, while Blackburn beat Sheffield Spartans 6-0 and then picked up a victory over their local rivals Manchester Minotaurs thanks to a 4-2 scoreline. Elsewhere in the Moralee Conference Sutton Sting picked up their first points of the campaign as they got the better of Telford Titans in an 18 goal thriller at Ice Sheffield, coming out on top by 12 goals to 6.
To date Warriors have won both of their League games, beating Telford Titans 6-1 on the road earlier this month before defeating local rivals Billingham Stars 3-2 in an end-to-end contest at Hillheads in their opening home match of the 2013/14 campaign.
Whitley are next in action this coming weekend when Warriors travel south to take on Sheffield Spartans at the Ice Sheffield facility this Saturday (28th September, face off 3.45pm). Spartans have taken part in three league games to date this term picking up one positive result against Telford (8-1) though they tasted defeat on two occasions losing out against both Billingham (1-4) and Blackburn (0-6).
Warriors Head Coach Simon Leach gave his thoughts on Warriors’ upcoming fixture against Spartans.
“After having a weekend off with no games which has not been ideal especially following a win in the derby game [versus Billingham], we will be looking to build our momentum again down in Sheffield.
“We know it will be another tough task but it is one we will be looking forward to as we try to add to our positive start to the season. With no injury worries we will hope to travel with a full strength squad on Saturday and will be working hard in training for the challenge ahead.”
Fans are reminded that Warriors’ next home game is on October 6th (face off 5pm) at Hillheads rink when Whitley take on Telford Titans in what should be an action packed game against the Shropshire side.