Blackburn Hawks manager Graham Lomax slams ‘unacceptable’ performance (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Blackburn Hawks manager Graham Lomax slams ‘unacceptable’ performance

4:10pm Wednesday 7th December 2011 in Ice Hockey

It was a mixed weekend for Blackburn Hawks as they thrashed Sheffield Spartans 7-2 away, before losing 3-0 at home to local rivals Trafford Metros.

Hawks turned on the style on Saturday in a completely one-sided encounter against their Yorkshire opponents. The visitors led 3-0 at the end of the first period thanks to goals from Brian Worrall, Aaron Davies and Ric Hughes.

The local ice hockey aces doubled their advantage after the interval, with Rick Ravey, Worrall and Jared Owen all scoring.

Ryan Handisides eventually pulled one back for the home side, but a goal apiece in the final period, with Davies getting his second, secured a 7-2 for the Hawks.

Hawks returned to the Blackburn Arena on Sunday looking to build on that impressive performance and enact revenge on the Metros, who had recorded a 5-0 victory when the two teams last met.

However, Hawks failed to hit the same heights, conceding twice in the second period and a third in the closing stages, as they slipped to a disappointing defeat.

“Saturday was our best performance of the season,” said team manager Graham Lomax.

“We played absolutely faultless hockey for three periods, the players stuck to the system and Sheffield never got a look in. It was 7-2 and it could have been a lot more.

“Unfortunately, Sunday was the exact opposite. I was left absolutely fuming, because the performance was unacceptable.

“We are getting crowds of between 700-800 and after what we saw on Saturday, it was disappointing to see what we saw on Sunday.

“If you can’t get up for a game against Trafford, a local derby, then there is something seriously wrong.”