Dragons celebrate their win away at Solihull (Photo by Keith & Jenny Davies)
The Deeside Dragons have qualified for the semi-finals of the Moralee Cup after their sensational win away in Solihull on Sunday.
As has been the case in recent seasons, there aren’t separate qualifying
matches for the early stages of the cup.
The 10 teams in the Moralee Division have been placed in two groups of 5
and the results from the first league games home and away between the sides in
the group count towards the final table.
The top two teams in the two groups then meet in the semi finals.
Deeside were placed in a Cup Group A, along with Solihull, Hull Jets,
Widnes Wild and Sheffield Scimitars and their results in the 8 games against
those teams - 5 wins, 1 OTW and 2 defeats - have netted them 17 points, which
means that they can’t be knocked out of the qualifying positions and will finish
at least second in the group.
There is one qualifying game still to be played in Group A – between Solihull
and Hull - and the result of that will decide who the second team are that will
go through to the semis.
If Solihull win - or even just pick up one point for an OTL - they will finish top of the group and Deeside will be second. If Hull win in regulation time (ie 3 points), they will leapfrog Solihull and finish in second place behind Deeside.
This is important because the top team in the group will play the second
place finisher in the other group and vice-versa.
Blackburn Hawks have already qualified from Group B and finish top with
8 wins from their 8 qualifying games.
Telford Tigers currently occupy second spot but they play Billingham
Stars away on 14th December and the outcome of that game will decide
who finishes in second place.
So, depending on the outcome of those remaining games in Group A and
Group B, Deeside could play Blackburn, Telford or Billingham in the semi final.
The dates for the two legged semi finals have been pencilled in as
Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th January and who plays where and when
will be arranged once the match ups are known.
The winners of the two semi final ties will go through to the two legged
final, which will take place over the weekend of 21st/22nd
February.
