Weekend Preview: Moralee Cup Final

BILLINGHAM STARS can secure the first silverware of the season if they can emerge victorious from a two-legged Moralee Cup final against Blackburn Hawks this weekend, their second successive Cup final.

Blackburn are the side that have given the Stars their hardest games this season, and this weekend should be no different. There has been little to choose between the two in any of the four League games, and from a neutral’s standpoint, this was perhaps the final that the fans wanted to see. The Hawks got past Solihull Barons with relative ease in their semi-final, the 13-7 aggregate score not one that was expected given the Barons League position, but nonetheless one that Blackburn fully deserved as they dominated both legs. The Hawks have the beating of any team in the League when they bring their A game, and Billingham will have to keep a close eye on dangerman Adam Barnes and the rest of a very effective first line unit if they are to get their hands on the trophy come Sunday evening.

The Stars last Cup win came in 2016 and today’s side will look to that one for inspiration, a hard-fought win in Blackburn all but securing the Cup before they made sure of it the following night in Widnes. Billingham need to shake off a disappointing loss in Solihull last Sunday, however they can take positives from their own performance and put it down to a number of factors not necessarily within their control. The trip did nothing to ease the Teessiders’ injury woes either, and it is highly likely that the Stars will be missing key players once more this weekend. A large contingent of travelling fans are expected to make the trip across the Pennines this afternoon, and a similar number will no doubt make the reverse journey tomorrow from Lancashire as an epic encounter is expected.

Billingham and Blackburn do battle for the Moralee Cup this weekend. Face off in Blackburn this evening is 6pm, with a 5.30pm face off back at the Forum tomorrow. Tickets for tomorrow’s game are priced at £12.50 adults, £8 concessions, £38 family [2+2].

Weekend Fixtures:

Moralee Cup Final:

Blackburn Hawks v Billingham Stars, Saturday 6pm

Billingham Stars v Blackburn Hawks, Sunday 5.30pm

NIHL(N)1:

Widnes Wild v Sheffield Scimitars, Sunday 5.30pm