Laidler Conference Round Up - Weekend of 13th & 14th February

Deeside Dragons celebrations
Photo by Geoff White www.gw-images.co.uk)

The first league title of the 2015/16 season was decided On Sunday night as Deeside Dragons picked up a 7-7 draw away at nearest neighbours and second-placed contenders Widnes Wild to secure the NIHL North 2 Laidler Conference crown for the first time.

Following a 10-3 home win over Hull Jets the night before, the Dragons merely needed to avoid defeat.

A huge crowd of over 700 watched a thrilling game that saw the Wild take a 3-1 lead into the first break only to be overhauled by the title chasing Dragons who made it 4-5 after two periods.  A 3-2 period for the Wild with the GTG goal coming just over a minute to go left the nerves on edge and Dragons’ fans reaching for their calculators to see if the result was enough to hand them the title.

Widnes are favourites to take second place and contest the home and away Promotion Play Off game with whoever finishes second from bottom in the Moralee Conference but they are still looking over their shoulders as third place team Nottingham Lions – who won 1-2 away at Altrincham Aces - could still catch them.     

The other Laidler game of the weekend saw Blackburn Eagles notch up a 10-3 win over strugglers Coventry Blaze.  That result leaves them clear in 4^th place and 6 points clear of 5^th place Altrincham Aces in the battle for the final play off spot.