Flyers await Fox appeal

Fife Flyers are anxiously awaiting word from discipline chiefs following their appeal over a five-game ban handed out to Justin Fox.

The suspension followed a request from Dundee Stars to review an incident involving Fox during the game at Dundee Ice Arena on Sunday.

With only 33 seconds of the game left Fox was assessed a two-minute plus two-minute penalty for accidental high-sticks.

Following a review of the incident, using the video footage and referees report, the department of player safety upgraded the penalty to a match penalty for high-sticking.

A match penalty carries an automatic one game ban but it was increased by a further four games.

The Canadian-born forward Fox misses tonight’s clash at third-placed Belfast Giants and tomorrow’s home fixture with Sheffield Steelers.

Meanwhile, ninth-placed Stars visit Braehead Clan tonight and coach Marc Lefebvre reminded his men that they have won there twice so far this season in the league.

Lefebvre said: “We’ve won our last two games but it is not about what Braehead do, it is about what we do.

“It’s our one game of the weekend and we want to get something from it.”

Craig Cescon will not ice after suffering an eye injury against Fife.

Edinburgh let a Guinness PRO12 victory slip through their hands as Cardiff boosted their chances of a top-six finish with a barely-deserved win in an errorstrewn game at gale-lashed Myreside

Flowing rugby was at a premium in testing conditions and the home side played most of what was on show.

They scored a first-half try through captain Neil Cochrane, converted by Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, before Rory Scholes bagged a double after the break.

That saw Edinburgh leading 17-6 heading into the final 20 minutes and seemingly on course for victory, but Cardiff hit back.

Sion Bennett’s try was converted by Steve Shingler – adding to two penalties from the first half – to reduce the deficit before Lloyd Williams crossed for what would prove to be the match-winning score as Blair Kinghorn missed a late penalty for the hosts.

After a subdued opening seven minutes in which neither side visited the opposition 22, the first opportunity fell Cardiff’s way and Shingler banged over a 40-metre penalty to open the scoring.

Edinburgh, who were playing against the elements, responded with a spell of pressure that yielded a series of three penalties and a yellow card for Cardiff prop Anton Peikrishvili.

All three penalties were booted into touch and a powerful drive following the third lineout shunted the Cardiff defence backwards, allowing Cochrane to touch down the game’s opening try.

Cardiff immediately cut the deficit to 7-6 when Shingler landed his second penalty before Hidalgo-Clyne sent a 45-metre penalty wide.

The Cardiff penalty tally continued to mount and Jarrad Hoeata was sent to the sin bin after half-an-hour.

As they had done with the previous sin-binning, Cardiff shrugged off their numerical disadvantage and finished the half the stronger of the two sides.

However, a string of errors in sight of the target meant they failed to add to their points tally and Edinburgh reached the interval with a single point lead.

After dominating the opening eight minutes of the second period, Edinburgh grabbed a second try when Jason Tovey freed Chris Dean who offloaded to Scholes to race in in the corner.

Justin Fox: penalty upgraded after review of incident in Stars’ game.