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Tallari treble boosts Phoenix Cup Challenge

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Manchester Phoenix 5 - 2 Hull Stingrays

Needing a win to maintain their progress in the Challenge Cup, Manchester Phoenix got just the boost they needed with a hat-trick from leading scorer Joe Tallari.

Keen to put right the wrongs of Saturday nights trip to Hull, Phoenix needed just five minutes to get the scoreboard moving in their direction as captain Scott Basiuk blasted home from the left wing assisted by Sean Starke and Omar Ennaffati. Phoenix doubled their lead in the 16th minute as Tallari netted his first from close range on a delayed penalty. Hull retaliated immediately, Brad Patterson reducing the arrears within twenty seconds of the restart.

Phoenix regained their two-goal lead in the first minute of the second period as Tony Hand converted a Brian Passmore feed. With the home side rotating three lines, the younger British players on the Phoenix roster were seeing plenty of ice time, but it was Tallari who netted the Phoenix fourth marker in the 25th minute. Hull again upped their workrate and enjoyed a good spell of pressure with Scott Fankhouser making a couple of vital saves to send the home side to the second interval with a comfortable lead.

Hull served notice that would not lie down when Jeff Glowa netted their second marker just before the 46 minute mark, but Phoenix responded forcing the visitors back and giving Stingrays netminder Tom Chamberlain the chance to showcase his skills. Phoenix rounded off a good nights work and keep them well in the hunt for Challenge Cup semi-final berth when Tallari completed his personal treble haul on a 55th minute powerplay.

A Phoenix spokesperson noted, "The team responded well after Saturday's disappointing result with a solid all-round effort. Joe (Tallari) will get the plaudits for his hat trick, but everyone contributed tonight and we need to take that kind of performance into next weekend."

Phoenix play the Belfast Giants next Saturday although that game will be staged in Dundalk. Phoenix return home on Sunday for a mouth-watering War of the Roses clash with the high-flying Sheffield Steelers.