PREVIEW: MATCH WEEK 21
IT’S A BREAK from League action this weekend as Billingham Stars do battle with Hull Jets over two legs for the right to play either Blackburn Hawks or Deeside Dragons in the final of the Moralee Cup next month.
A clash in fixture scheduling in the National League meant that Billingham were unable to exercise their right as top seeds to choose Sunday as their home leg, so Hull travel to Teesside later today before the Stars make the return journey tomorrow. For the Jets, this semi-final represents a chance to put the four League games between the two sides into the past and start from scratch. A 5-0 defeat at the Forum last Sunday was the last of the series, however Hull should travel with a larger bench today and potentially a new face. A full strength Jets are not to be underestimated, up until last weekend their form on the road was the best in the League and consequently the Stars can ill afford to take anything for granted if they are to overcome what is a very talented Hull outfit.
🔗 Hull Jets on Elite Prospects: https://www.eliteprospects.com/team/15817/hull-jets
Billingham must keep the momentum of recent weeks going if they are to secure a slot in what would be their third Cup Final in a row. Psychologically last Sunday’s victory will have helped the Stars, but the game was scrappy in parts and the coaches will feel that they had several more gears to move up through. The Teessiders will be at approaching full strength for the weekend, although with the N2 Buccaneers also in Cup semi-final action, Sam Dowd, Stuart Jackson and Tom Wakefield will be icing for the Buccs against Telford Tigers 2.
The Stars host Hull Jets in the Moralee Cup semi-final first leg later this evening, face off 5.30pm. Tickets are priced at £14 adults, £10 concessions, £46 family [2+2] – this is NOT a season ticket game. They then travel to Humberside for the second leg tomorrow evening, face off also 5.30pm.
Weekend Fixtures:
NIHL N1/Moralee Cup Saturday:
💫 Billingham Stars 🆚 Hull Jets ✈️ (C SF)
🐉 Deeside Dragons 🆚 Blackburn Hawks 🦅 (C SF)
⚔️ Leeds Knights 2 🆚 Solihull Barons ⚜️ (L)
NIHL N1/Moralee Cup Sunday:
✈️ Hull Jets 🆚 Billingham Stars 💫 (C SF)
🦅 Blackburn Hawks 🆚 Deeside Dragons🐉 (C SF)
🦁 Nottingham Lions 🆚 Leeds Knights 2 ⚔️ (L)