Puckstop Summer Classic: Riverside Raiders 17 - Sheffield Ice Tigers 4

Match Details:
Sunday 28th May 2017 – Puckstop Summer Classic
Riverside Raiders (Widnes) 17 – Sheffield Ice Tigers 4
Period Scores: 6-0, 7-3, 4-1
Penalties in Minutes:  Raiders 16 – Sheffield 12

Raiders Scoring:  Thomas Yates 6+2, Geraint Evans 5+1, Owen Tennant 3+3, Jack Walker 2+2, Adam Jenkins 1+2, Anthony Hughes 0+2, Elizabeth Wright 0+1

The Widnes-based Riverside Raiders team got back to winning ways with a comprehensive 17-4 win over Sheffield Ice Tigers in the Puckstop Summer Classic at Silver Blades Widnes on Sunday.

The Raiders took the lead as early as the 3^rd minute and, after adding 4 more by the end of the first period, the game already looked over as a contest against the bottom team in the group.

Despite the scoreline, this was a highly entertaining to watch and not, in fact, quite as one-sided as it might appear.  The Ice Tigers gave a good account themselves and hit back with 3 goals of their own in the second period which was particularly robustly contested – and finished in dramatic style with goals for both teams and a raft of penalties all coming in the last 90 seconds before the buzzer.

With the score standing at 13-3 after 40 minutes of play, the third period was little more than a formality, but the resulting 17-4 scoreline means gives the Raiders a good cushion in terms of goal difference which may become crucial in the deciding stages of the competition.

Scoring-wise, Thomas Yates led the way with 6+2 – including a first period hat-trick, while the competition’s top scorer Gez Evans hit 5+1. Owen Tennant – who also coaches the successful Widnes Wild women’s team added 3+3 which contributed towards him receiving the MVP award at the end of the game.

The Raiders are away next Sunday 3^rd June when they face Wyre Seagulls at the Silver Blades Blackburn Arena in a 6pm face off and after that, they have a few weeks’ respite before playing Telford in a challenge match back at Silver Blades, Widnes on Sunday 2^nd July.

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The Widnes Wildcats lost 3-6 at home to Solihull Vikings in their latest Summer Cup game at Silver Blades Widnes on Sunday night.  They are next at home on Sunday 11th June when they face Durham Dragons in an 8.30pm face off.

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Next Sunday, 4^th June, the Widnes rink’s third recreational team the Halton Huskies are in action when they take on the Wyre Seagulls in a challenge match at Silver Blades Widnes. The game faces off at 7.15 and admission is free.