Sunday 21st July – Challenge Match: Solihull Vikings 16 – Connah’s Quay Cobras 1
The Connah’s Quay Cobras slumped to an uncharacteristic 16-1 defeat away to the Solihull Vikings in a challenge match away in the West Midlands on Sunday evening.
This was their first match since the middle of June as their last cup group game against Trafford Thunder – which had been scheduled for 14th July - had to be cancelled after the Altrincham-based side were unable to raise a team, and this game had been arranged to give the team a decent run out before the Summer Cup Play Offs in three weeks time.
When the two teams met at Deeside back in January, it was a very close game with the Cobras eventually winning 9-7. Sunday’s game was actually closer than the final scoreline suggests but the Cobras travelled with a short bench – just 10 skaters - and found themselves up against a very strong Solihull side.
After a tense opening phase, the Vikings opened the scoring on 5 minutes and were leading 3-0 by the time Cobras’ Player / Coach Emma Dutton fired in a superb goal for the visitors. The score stood at 4-1 at the first period break, 9-1 at the second interval and the hosts ran away with the game with 7 more unanswered goals in the third period as the numerically inferior Cobras began to tire.
The Cobras are next in action at the Summer Classic Cup Play Offs, which will be held in Sheffield over the weekend of 10th and 11th August. The full line-up is yet to be decided as there are group games still to be played and the semi final pairings depend on finishing positions in the two qualifying groups.
Connah’s Quay are currently top of the Elite Group 1 with 13 points from their 8 games but could still be overtaken by Newcastle Predators who are 1 point behind in second place and play Trafford on 27th July in their final group match. The other group sees a three way tussle between Leeds Lightning, Don Valley Vikings and Grimsby Stormers for the other two semi final places.
