Hawks homing in on derby day challenge (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Hawks homing in on derby day challenge

9:00am Saturday 3rd December 2011 in Ice Hockey

Derby day looms for the Blackburn Hawks, who travel to Sheffield Spartans today, before the eagerly-anticipated return clash with local rivals Trafford Metros.

Hawks will be looking to return to winning ways after suffering back-to-back defeats to Whitley Warriors.

Hawks triumphed 4-2 at home to the Spartans earlier in the season and team manager Graham Lomax is confident of a repeat performance.

“The last time we met saw a comfortable Hawks victory at the Arena and we are hoping for much of the same,” he said.

“But it’s always a tough place to visit and their results have been somewhat hit and miss to say the least.”

On Sunday, Hawks host Trafford Metros. Trafford took the spoils 5-0 in the previous meeting between the two teams this season and Lomax described the game as ‘must win’.

“It’s fair to say that when we visited them a few weeks ago we didn’t exactly cover ourselves in glory and ‘revenge’ is a word that has been banded around our dressing room for weeks now,” he added.

“Unfortunately we will be without the services of Matt Viney and Scott Glover, who are away, Lance Derbyshire is still out with a groin injury and Adam Baxendale and Gary Dixon are still missing.

“We will however have Tom King back in the line-up after serving his three-match suspension, along with popular import Sami Narkia, who missed last Sunday’s game. Craig Rogers should also be good to go.”