Sunday 11th December – Moralee Division
Blackburn Hawks 3 - YKK Widnes Wild 2
The YKK sponsored Widnes Wild lost out 3-2 in their Moralee Division league game away to Blackburn Hawks on Sunday.
Following on from the excitement of winning the North West Cup against the same opposition the night before, this was always going to be a difficult game and the Hawks certainly put in a stronger performance in front of their own fans.
The Hawks took the lead in the 7th minute and then doubled the advantage 10 minutes later to take a 2-0 lead into the first period break.
Widnes had their own chances – especially in the second period when they out-shot Blackburn by 21 to 6 - but failed to make much of an impression against an in-form Hawks netminder. They finally found the back of the net in the 33rd minute with a goal from Calum Ruddick, his first of the season.
Battle though they might, the Wild were unable to build on this and the score remained 2-1 at the second break.
Blackburn struck again 4 minutes into the third period with a short handed goal to bring the score to 3-1, leaving Widnes with a lot to catch up.
The Wild were given a boost on 45 minutes when they were awarded a penalty shot after a tripping call but were unable to convert the opportunity. They finally pulled another goal back on 55 minutes – another strike from Ruddick against one of his former clubs.
With the score standing at a tantalisingly close 3-2, Widnes pushed forward to try and force a late equaliser. Netminder Miles Finney was withdrawn in favour of an extra attacker but the tactic came to nothing and Blackburn held on for the win.
The results sees the Wild clinging on to 4th place in the Moralee Division table after Solihull Barons joined them on the same number of points after an away win in Nottingham on Sunday.
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