Spirited Wild lose out to Storm in playoffs
THE Widnes Wild women’s team can hold their heads up with pride after an heroic performance at the Women’s Premier League playoffs in Sheffield at the weekend.
They managed to qualify for the EIHA’s Women’s Trophy Weekend somewhat against the odds by having to win their last three league games away from home and, having achieved that, they then found themselves up against league champions Streatham Storm in the semi-final match.
Unfortunately the Wild team – who had struggled with numbers through injuries and player unavailability all season – were further affected by international call-ups and had to travel to Sheffield with just nine players, of which one was the netminder.
Needless to say, only having eight skaters to play a 60 minute game that is designed to be played using two or more alternating lines of five players each is far from ideal and the Wild women were up against it right from the start.
The buoyant – and more numerous - Streatham team were much too strong for the Widnes girls but they battled away and managed to keep the score to - in the circumstances - a very respectable 6-1 defeat.
The Widnes goal was scored by Belgian international player Leen de Decker, bringing her total to 12 goals and five assists from 12 games this season.
The goal was assisted by Katie Hills who finishes the season as the Wild women’s second-highest scorer behind de Decker with nine goals and seven assists.
Teammate Sav Sumner finished with one goal and four assists in her first season of competitive hockey, during which she was ever-present in the team. ●
The other semi-final saw Milton Keynes Falcons beat league runners-up Chelmsford Cobras.
The final on the Sunday saw a bit of an upset as the third-place finishing Falcons beat the Storm to take the title.
The Widnes Wild women’s team are back in action later this month when they take part in the 12-team Friendship Tournament which is held every year at Swindon. ● TWO of the Widnes-based recreational teams were in action at the weekend. The Riverside Raiders consolidated their position at the top of the Puckstop Summer Classic table with an 11-1 win away in Blackburn against the Wyre Seagulls on Saturday night. Meanwhile, the ● Halton Huskies beat the Wyre Seagulls at Silver Blades Widnes 11-3 in a challenge game on Sunday evening. ● THE other Widnes recreational team – Widnes Wildcats – will be action this Sunday when they entertain the Durham Dragons in a Summer Cup game at Silver Blades Widnes. The game faces-off at 8.30pm and admission is free of charge.