Sunday 9th November 2025 – WNIHL
Div 1 North: Sheffield Shadows 12 - Widnes Wild Women 1
Stephanie Drinkwater was the
Wild Women's MVP away at Sheffield
(Photo by Wild Women IHC)
The Widnes Wild Women played their second away game of the new WNIHL
season away to Sheffield Shadows on Sunday and had to travel back home across
the Pennines on the wrong end of a 12-1 defeat.
The Wild Women had played the Shadows in their first game of the new season
– back in early September. This was a baptism
of fire and saw them losing 2-16 at home so losing by “only” 12-1 in an away game
could reasonably be seen as making some sort of progress.
While these results might seem rather one-sided, they need to be looked
at in the correct context.
The Wild Women are playing in a higher division this season, having won
the Division 2 North title last year. The current Division 1 North teams all
seem to have a number of players with Women’s Elite League or international experience
on their rosters, so – with the best will in the world - it is going to be a steep
learning curve for the Widnes Ladies.
As it happened, Sheffield scored three goals very early in the game and
didn’t really look back from there. The score was 6-0 at the first period break
and the game was clearly already over as a contest by then, so it was a case of
damage limitation after that.
Stephanie Drinkwater put in her usual heroic performance in the Widnes
goal and faced an eye-watering 106 shots over the 60 minutes. She pulled off a
string of impressive saves throughout the game – keeping out an incredible 94
of those shots - and was deservedly named MVP for the Wild Women.
The Widnes consolation goal was scored by Leen de Decker - her second
strike of the season.
The Wild Women are next in action on Sunday 23rd November when
they play the Kingston Diamonds for the first time this season at Planet Ice
Widnes, 4.25pm face off.
