With both Stars and Hawks winning home and away against
Solway Sharks in the competition earlier in the season – and the 4th
team, Widnes Wild, really only taking part to gain experience rather than having
any real hope of winning silverware - it all came down to the two cup encounters
between the top two in the group.
Hawks won 1-2 away in Billingham after a 1-1 draw was
decided in overtime – the first time that an overtime win was used in NIHL competitions.
That gave Blackburn 2 points from the
game and Billingham one point for an “overtime loss”. Then in Blackburn’s last home
game of their Moralee Conference winning season, Billingham shocked the new
champions with a 2-6 victory to put them well and truly in the driving seat. Two points from a win at Widnes the following evening
would suffice to put them clear at the top of the group and the ensuing 1-7 win
meant that Billingham were able to celebrate their first trophy since winning the
ENL North title in 2012.
Story to follow....
