Ice-hockey: Streatham secure fourth successive NIHL 1 South title

Streatham RedHawks secured an historic fourth NIHL 1 South league title in a row after defeating Romford Buccaneers 4-1 on Sunday night, writes Christopher Beal.

Streatham have booked a return to the national play-off final in April, against the winners of the northern section.

Buccaneers netminder Sonny Phillips and his defence endured a storm of shots in the first period, with Streatham possibly feeling the effects of a hard-fought 3-0-win in Slough the night before.

Streatham failed to find a way past Phillips as the first period was tied up at 0-0. They started the second period on the back foot after Ben Paynter had to sit a tripping penalty on 23 minutes.

Ziggy Beesley struck, burying a pass from Ryan Watt, no sooner had the penalty expired at 25:27 .

Streatham doubled that lead nine minutes later after Ben Ealey-Newman was set up by Beesley and Tomasz Skokan.

That goal had not even been announced over the public address system before Beesley struck again at 34:46, redirecting Luke Brittle’s chance in mid-air past Phillips.
Buccaneers soon showed they would not go quietly.

Just 48 seconds into the third period Romford’s star prospect Brynley Capps intercepted a Streatham pass in the defensive zone and fired it past Danny Milton to break the shutout with 19 minutes to play.

For the next 10 minutes both sides threw everything they could at each other’s nets before Beesley sealed his hat-trick at 50:28 – again with help from Brittle and Skokan.

Man of the match Beesley said: “We played really well as a group.

“We had one thing on our mind – just get the job done. It didn’t matter how we get there, as long as we got there in the end.

“But I am really happy with Sunday night. We had a lot taken out of us after last night, especially going into Sunday and Saturday short.

“Rolling two centres was tough, especially against young, quick and skilled forwards.

“I almost found myself following them about a bit at the end because I was pretty tired.

“But we showed great resilience and got the job done.

“It feels amazing to be headed back to Coventry, it’s nice to give back to Dawn and Graham (D’anger, Streatham’s management team). Hopefully we can get it done for them this year.”

Head Coach Ben Paynter was pleased but humble despite just becoming the most successful coach in Streatham hockey history.

“We controlled the game from start to finish,” he said. “I’m pleased to see how we reacted when everything is on the line and we needed a result to win the league.

“We bought in and from five minutes in I had no doubt we were going to win the game.

“We’re a group – we win as a group and we lose as a group. I signed this team at the beginning of the year to win trophies.

“It’s been tough, there’s been a bit of adjustment, but we all bought in and we got the job done together.

“It’s not about me as an individual, it’s about this team. We’ve got one down and four more to get. The D (defencemen) worked their socks off this weekend, I’m over the moon with how hard they worked, but it takes all five guys on the ice – and as a unit we played well.”

The Buccaneers win followed a valiant rearguard action the night before which had seen Streatham give a statement of intent against a Slough Jets team that had beaten them on their own ice the weekend before and face them tomorrow in the EIHA Southern Cup final.

They shut out the Jets’ potent offence 3-0 – JJ Pitchley, Jared Lane and Ethan Lane scored the goals.

The first leg of the Southern Cup final is in Slough on Saturday with the return on Sunday (6.45pm).

PICTURES: MEL O’BRIEN/FUSIONAL