Flames doused. Tigers tamed. Phoenix back on top

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Saturday: Phoenix 4 Guildford Flames 3
Sunday: Phoenix 9 Telford Tigers 2

Manchester Phoenix returned to the top of the English Premier League this weekend after back-to-back home wins.

On Saturday, erstwhile EPL leaders Guildford Flames were the visitors. Phoenix were trailing 2-0 after two goals by Nathan Rempel, but Tony hand pulled one back for the home side just after the half way mark.

Andrew Sharp equalised for Phoenix in the 43rd minute, before Martin Masa restored Flames’ lead. Ladislav Harabin equalised in the 55th minute before Curtis Huppe scored the winner just over a minute later.

On Sunday, Phoenix comprehensively defeated a battling Telford side that once again refused to let their heads go down.

Tigers were without young GB internationals Ashley Calvert, Jack Watkins and Dan Scott who were flying out to Belarus this weekend to compete in the World Championships, and Tom Watkins, who received a ban on Saturday away at Sheffield Steeldogs.

The game was effectively over by the first interval after Phoenix raced into a 5-1 lead. Phoenix Man of the Match Curtis Huppe opened the scoring on 7 minutes, and after Tigers equalised almost immediately through Josh Bruce, Tom Duggan bagged a second for Phoenix on 14 minutes, capitalising on a superb assist from Andrew Sharp. Ben Morgan, Marcus Kristoffersson and Stephen Wallace added to the first period scoring.

Adam Summerfield came on for Stephen Fone in goal at the start of the second period, and kept a clean sheet while Huppe made it 6-1 after 37 minutes.

Telford pulled another goal back on 45 minutes when Tigers’ Man of the Match Scott McKenzie finished a superb move, but then Phoenix reasserted their superiority with strikes from James Archer, Andrew Sharp and Huppe, who got his hat trick goal on 59.59.

Phoenix player coach Tony hand said: “Saturday’s game was a huge win for us. It took us back to the top of the table and proved we have the character to win the big games, even by doing it the hard way. Sunday, we had a different kind of battle. Telford never give up, we’ve seen that before, and they never stopped coming at us. It shows how important it is to retain your focus.

“But we’re back where we want to be. Now we have to stay there.”

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