Matty Barlow scored two goals in the Wild’s win away in Sheffield (Photo by RDG Digital)
Saturday 14th December 2024 – NIHL Moralee Division: Sheffield Scimitars 1 - Widnes Wild 4
Sunday 15th December 2024 – NIHL Moralee Division: Blackburn Hawks 7 - Widnes Wild 1
The Widnes Wild NIHL team had a mixed weekend, winning 1-4 away at fellow strugglers Sheffield Scimitars on Saturday and then losing 7-1 to Blackburn Hawks on Sunday.
The 9th v 10th game in the Steel City was a “must win” for the Wild if they are to have any chance of lifting themselves away from the bottom of the league table this season and, for once, things went pretty much their way.
Matty Barlow gave the Wild the lead, before a Sheffield equaliser saw the score delicately poised at 1-1 at the first period break. The second period saw goals from Andrew Hopkins and Ross Chalmers fire the Wild to a 1-3 lead by the second break and the win was assured by Barlow’s second goal of the game in the third.
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| Harry Campbell was the Wild’s MVP away in Blackburn (Photo by Nicole Lomax / Hawks Media) |
The game away in East Lancashire on Sunday was always going to be the tougher of the two weekend matches for the Wild, and that was exactly how it turned out.
The hosts took a 3-0 lead into the first interval but the Wild had the better of the second period keeping the Blackburn attack at bay, with Mikey Gilbert firing in a late goal to narrow the deficit.
The Hawks upped their game again in the third period and four unanswered goals saw them cruise to a convincing victory.
After three away games in a row, the Wild are finally back at home this weekend when they play Deeside Dragons on Saturday 21st December (7pm face off) and Sheffield Scimitars the following day (5.30pm) in a mouth-watering double header at Planet Ice Widnes.
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The Wild NIHL team will be holding their annual “Air The Bear” Christmas Teddy Toss during Saturday’s home game against Deeside Dragons.
Fans are asked to bring a mix of new teddies and dog toys (wrapped in plastic bags to protect them) which will then be thrown onto the ice after the Wild’s first goal is scored.
The donations will be gathered up and distributed to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital and local animal shelters.
