Rivermen back to winning ways

KINGSTON Rivermen under-12s returned to their winning ways by grinding out a hard-fought 3-2 victory against the Coventry Blaze at the Skydome Arena.

The Rivermen had lost twice in the space of a week to the undefeated Sheffield Lasers in the English Ice Hockey Association League coming into the match.

The latest defeat to Sheffield came at the Hull Arena and despite goals from Kate Marsden, Finlay Ulrick, Alfie Glenn and Jack Sewell they fell to a 6-4 loss, in a game where Aiden Strangeway was player of the match.

Following these two set-backs, the Rivermen started cautiously at Coventry and took time to find their feet on the slow, uneven ice.

After five minutes Coventry took the lead from a face-off and, despite strong pressure from Kingston, they kept the lead up to half time.

The second period opened with a blistering shot from Strangeway which was well saved by the Coventry goalie.

This was followed by another Coventry break that split the defence with two attackers on goal, but the shot was well covered by Kingston goalie Thomas Weatherley.

Sewell then won the puck and took it down the ice, Susanna Pearson crossed to Glenn in front of the Coventry net, who fired home the equaliser.

Two attacks by Marsden were rewarded when she was able to pick out man of the match Braden Jennings through the crowd of players in front of goal, who shot Kingston into the lead.

Some brave defending by Carla Clark and Beth Barwell denied Coventry the chance to get back in the game and then on 30 minutes, Marsden took the puck into the corner, broke free of her markers to centre the puck to Cain Taylor who extended the Kingston lead to 3-1.

Coventry hit back from the restart and surged forward, catching the Kingston defence napping to leave two unmarked players free on goal to bring the score back to 3-2.

Coventry then put all their efforts into trying to equalise, with all of the Kingston team defending valiantly as Weatherley was stretched to the limit in the Kingston goal.

Team manager Michelle Wilkinson said: "It was a good win but the team were made to work hard for it. Special thanks to Jamie, Reaghan and Kieran who came with us but did not get on the ice."

Kingston Rivermen: Thomas Weatherley, Susanna Pearson, Cain Taylor, Aiden Strangeway, Kate Marsden, Alfie Glenn, Beth Barwell, Carla Clark, Braden Jennings, Jack Sewell, plus Reaghan Taylor, Jamie Robinson, Kieran Clark.