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Ice Hockey: Widnes extend their winning run

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TOP FORM: Solid defence from the Wild (Picture:GW-images)

By Paul Breeze

Sunday, November 20 – Moralee Division

YKK Widnes Wild 5 – Sheffield Scimitars 3

The YKK sponsored Widnes Wild extended their recent winning run to 4 matches with a 5-3 victory over Sheffield Scimitars at Planet Ice Widnes on Sunday.

As with the away game earlier in the season, this was a very closely fought encounter, with the lead changing hands several times, and the result remained in doubt until the very last seconds.

The game was so close, in fact – with both teams closing the other down – that the first period was played out goal-less and the shots on goal tally was a mere 12 to 9 in Sheffield’s favour. It took until the 27thminute for the deadlock to be broken and, when it finally came, it sparked off a flurry of activity.

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The first goal went to Widnes – off the stick of Wild player coach Richard Haggar – making the most of a 5 on 4 powerplay for tripping. The lead lasted only 44 seconds, however, as Sheffield equalised almost immediately.

The visitors edged into the lead on 30 minutes but were pegged back again by an equaliser from Adam Jasecko just 40 seconds later.

The Wild were visibly on top for the rest of the second period and outshot the Scimitars by 18 to 9 over the 20 minutes. Their offensive pressure was eventually rewarded with a goal from Rhys Edwards on 39 minutes – a delayed penalty strike on a Sheffield tripping call – and that took the score to 3-2 at the second break.

GOAL: #05 Rhys Edwards scores for the Wild (Picture: GW-images)

Two more goals for Widnes early in the third period – from Joe Greaves on 46 minutes and Bez Hughes 60 seconds later – looked to have the game done and dusted but Sheffield upped their game and the Wild started to get into penalty trouble as they battled to keep the Scimitars attack at bay.

Sheffield scored a powerplay goal with 7 minutes left to play to bring the score to 5-3 and continued to pile on the pressure. A big fight broke out on 56 minutes after a hefty challenge in front of the Sheffield goal and this resulted in Rhys Edwards and Bez Hughes both getting 5 minute major penalties for fighting along with their two Scimitars counterparts and taking no further part in the game.

ROCKET: #94 Joe Greaves beats the keeper with another trademark rocket (Picture: GW-images)

Just to add to the end of game drama, the Wild’s Joe Greaves picked up 2 minutes for slashing plus 2 for unsportsmanlike conduct with just over 2 minutes left to go, meaning that Widnes would have to play with a man short for the remaining time.

However the hosts held – despite – being narrowly outshot by 13 to 11 over the period – to clinch an all-important 5-3 victory.

The win sees Widnes leapfrog Solihull Barons into 4thplace in the Moralee Division table as the Barons’ game away to Deeside was postponed due the North Wales rink not being ready.

The Wild have two games next weekend as they travel to East Lancashire to take on Blackburn Hawks in the M56 Cup on Saturday 26thNovember – 6pm face off – and are then at home to Billingham Stars in the league on Sunday at Planet Ice Widnes.


Sunday, November 20 – WNINHL Div 2 N

Leeds Roses 1 – Widnes Wild Ladies 9

The Widnes Wild Ladies team moved clear into second place in the WNIHL North 2 league table after an emphatic 1-9 away win over Leeds Roses on Sunday.

The Roses are a new team in the league for this season and this was the Wild Ladies first ever visit to the new Leeds rink so this encounter was always going to be a bit of an unknown quantity.

Widnes took the lead with a goal from Charlotte Cramp after 80 seconds and made it 0-2 with a strike from captain Leen de Decker on 8 minutes.

Three more Widnes goals followed in the first period – from Preston Gennoe on 9 minutes, Laura Marcroft on 14 and Victoria Connelly just 44 seconds after that – before Leeds finally found the back of the net themselves and the score stood at 1-5 at the first period break.

A powerplay goal from Sav Sumner on 25 minutes was the only goal in the second period and Widnes looked well in control heading into the third with a 1-6 lead.

Leen de Decker scored her second goal of the game 3 minutes into the third period and Lisa Gillen further extended the lead on 50 minutes.  Preston Gennoe completed her brace in the 57thminute and that rounded off the scoring for the match, handing Widnes an impressive 1-9 victory in their first ever visit to Leeds.

The win sees the Wild women in second place in the league table with 6 points from their 4 league games to date. Early season leaders Solway Sharks Ladies are 2 points ahead with a 100% record of 4 wins from 4 starts.

The Widnes Ladies have another away game this Sunday, November 27 when they make the long trip to the north east to take on Whitley Bay Beacons, 5pm face off.

The Beacons were the champions in this division last season but have had a slow start to the new campaign with 1 win and 1 defeat from their 2 games.

The Wild women beat them 9-0 in their first game in Widnes but the Whitley team had been short-benched on that occasion and will be sure to present much tougher opposition on home ice.


Wild Junior Academy

The Wild Academy Under 10 team travel to Bradford on Sunday to take part in a 4-team Cross Ice tournament which also includes the hosts as well as Manchester and Blackburn.

Games are played across the width of the ice, instead of using the full length of it, and are played for fun with no scores being recorded or player statistics officially collected. The action faces off at 5pm.


Get all the latest news, updates, things to do and more from Widnes, Cheshire‘s dedicated InYourArea feed.



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