Hellfire clinch promotion

Wheelchair rugby

Canterbury Hellfire, the city club’s wheelchair rugby stars, won their final Super Series tournament to become champions of BT Division 2 and gain promotion to the sport’s top flight next season.

Victories over Liverpool, Yorkshire Lions, Ospreys and Gloucester earned the city side a place in BT National Division 1 and secured their second promotion in three seasons.

Their only setback in the twoday tournament at Walsall was a 50- 42 loss in the final game to West Coast Burn which ended a run of 14 straight wins.

Canterbury started off against big-hitting Liverpool Lions who provided a physical test with both David Barber and Ollie Mangion being tackled to the ground.

Liverpool couldn’t, however, handle the pace of Mangion, Brown and Barber who scored at will as Canterbury eased to a 44-28 win.

Next up, Hellfire dominated Yorkshire Lions from start to finish as they won 52-39.

Substitutes Brian Pitchford and Ben Richardson put on a long ball master class, creating easy scores.

The final match of the opening day was a fierce game against Welsh club Ospreys who smartly double-teamed captain and lowest pointer Harry Langley out of the game, depriving the Canterbury ball handlers of help.

However, Hellfire got to grips with this and started to use their man advantage more efficiently, eventually winning 54-50.

In the first half against Gloucester the following day, Hellfire played some fine rugby as they came out ruthlessly energetic and committed, although in the third quarter, concentration slipped as a 12-goal lead dwindled to two.

Gloucester brought back their starters as they sensed an opportunity but Hellfire pulled away to win 52- 45 to secure the title and promotion.

Canterbury wanted to go through the entire Super Series unbeaten and despite leading West Coast Burn in the final game at the break, they went down 50- 42.