Rhys Edwards in action for Widnes (Photo by Steve Cunningham)
The new NIHL season starts in September and, as with every year, the most keenly anticipated dates in the Deeside fixture schedule are the meetings between the Dragons and Widnes Wild, who enjoy a fierce local rivalry going back some 12 years.
Because of the relative proximity between the two teams, these games are always robustly competed and passionate affairs. There has been a regular interchange of players over the years and this season’s new arrivals are likely to add further spice to the meetings between the two teams
The Dragons squad for the coming season includes a number of players who have previously turned out for the Wild - Phil Pearson, Matt Wainwright, Will Harper and MJ Clancy, as well as coaches Mike and Dave Clancy - and they have upped the ante this summer with the signings of Matty Barlow and Rhys Edwards.
Barlow has been a long term favourite at Widnes and has scored 54 competitive goals for the Wild in 140 games spread over 3 spells with the club.
Rhys Edwards made his Moralee Division debut with the Wild in the 2022/23 season and made 49 competitive appearances for them over 2 seasons, scoring 25 goals and 27 assists. He spent last season playing in Hull where he split his time between the Jets in the Moralee Division and the Seahawks in the National Division.
Talking about the two signings, Dragons head coach Mike Clancy said:
”We’re excited to add Matthew Barlow to the S4S Deeside Dragons. He’s a smart, skilled forward with real pace and strong vision. Across Leeds and Widnes last season, he scored 30 goals and 17 assists in 30 games, showing that he can produce consistently and perform in big moments.”
“What really stood out was Matty’s hunger to keep developing and challenging himself — exactly the kind of mindset we value here. We believe he’ll bring a new dynamic to our attack and be a key contributor throughout this season.”
“Rhys is exactly the type of player we want in our lineup. His skillset, attitude, compete and drive are second to none. He will be a huge asset for us both on and off the ice.”
“It’s not just about what he brings in terms of scoring or playmaking, it’s the example he sets in training, his professionalism, and his hunger to improve. Players like Rhys elevate the group around them.”
“It takes a big player to wear a club legend’s number – #5 (previously worn by James Parsons – who has just retired). These are big boots to fill, and I am sure Rhys will excel in doing just that.”
Further intrigue has been added to this Deeside / Widnes dynamic with two Dragons players - Alex Parry and Oliver (Oli) Howells - moving the opposite way up the M56.
Parry is a long term Deeside junior and senior player and made his ENL debut with the Flintshire Freeze back in the 2009/10 season. Apart from the 2021/22 season when the Deeside rink was closed after Covid, he has played his whole career to date with the Freeze and the Dragons notching up some 280 competitive games at ENL / NIHL level, scoring 91 goals and 130 assists.
Last season he was a Dragons Alternate Captain and scored 12 goals and 20 assists in 30 league games.
Oli Howells has played for the Dragons for the past 2 seasons, scoring 1+6 in 53 games from his defensive role. He is a graduate of the Telford junior development system and, with spells with the Tigers 2, Sheffield Titans and Scimitars and Solihull Barons – as well as his stint at Deeside - has some 137 NIHL appearances to his record since his senior breakout season in 2021/22.
Since Widnes first joined the Laidler Division in 2013, there have been 41 games between the Wild and the Dragons, of which Widnes have won 20, Deeside 19 - and there have been two draws.
The overall goal tally from those matches is 238 to Widnes and 195 to Deeside - however that does include a season against the “Dragons 2” development side which, obviously produced some rather one-sided games - with some 55 goals being conceded in the 3 games that were played.
In the Moralee Division era (post 2022 when the Deeside rink re-opened after the Covid closure), the two teams have met 15 times in league and cup competitions. The Dragons have won 9 games and Widnes 6 - with the “goals scored” being 85 to 68 in Deeside’s favour.
With all teams playing each other twice at home and twice away during the regular league season, there are 4 league meetings between the Dragons and the Wild for fans to look forward to – spread over two weekends.
The first meetings will take place over the weekend of 4th and 5th October, with the game in Deeside on the Saturday and the return in Widnes on the Sunday. The second local derby weekend will take place on 10th and 11th January with the game being played in Widnes on the Saturday and the reverse fixture in Deeside on the Sunday.
The Dragons start off the season with home and away friendly matches against Telford Tigers with the home game on Saturday 6th September at Deeside Leisure Centre, 5.15pm face off, and the away game down in Shropshire the next day.
