By Xanthe Boursier-Gazzard

The Bristol Honda Pitbulls skated away with the two points last night following a huge 10-3 win in the Pound against the Peterborough Phantoms.

Heading into the game, the home side was without GB prospects Tyler De La Bertouche and Jacob White-Sey; however, they saw the addition of netminder Morgan Garside into the lineup.

Elliot Lewis was quick to get the Pitbulls onto the board in the first period, taking the rebound from Sean Morris and pushing the puck backdoor, giving them an early lead just over thirty seconds in. Penalties followed for both teams back to back, which the Phantoms took advantage of as Reece Cochrane sat two for cross-checking, allowing Cameron Hough to equalise, directing the puck through traffic. The visitors ensured they took a lead before the end of the first as Nathan Salem followed quickly, firing a shot to the back of the net, lighting the lamp.

The Pitbulls took possession in the second period and produced an impressive spell of seven goals, taking an extensive lead. Ewan Hill was the first in the period to put the puck past the line, receiving a pass from Bayley Harewood to slide a shot behind Hayden Lavigne. Rhys Smetham chased this seconds later, followed by Mason Lipsey and Bari McKenzie, who lined his shot to the netting, tallying the score to 5-2. There were still plenty more goals to come from the home side, however, with Harewood cutting through the Phantoms defence, launching a shot past Lavigne’s shoulder, and Smetham following this with two more consecutive goals, taking the puck from Morris and sliding it past the pads to get his first hat trick in Pitbulls colours as well as bringing the score to 8-2. Gloves were dropped entering the last few minutes of the period, leading to both Cameron Hamill and Cameron Hough leaving the ice as well as multiple penalty calls on both teams.

Luke Clark took to the net for the Phantoms in the final period as they took a five-on-three advantage in the first few minutes; however, the home team was able to kill the penalty and deliver another goal just minutes later from Nick Pryce, sweeping the puck under the pads of Clark to glide past the line. Minutes later, gloves had been dropped again, this time between Harewood and Jasper Foster, giving the Pitbulls a two-minute power play where Tanner Butler was able to give the fans the tenth goal they wanted, putting the scoreboard into double digits. Jarvis Hunt created a chance to light the lamp minutes later for the opposition, getting their third of the evening, finalising the scoreline at 10-3.

Man of the Match for the visitors went to Austin Mitchell-King and to hat trick-scoring Rhys Smetham for your Bristol Honda Pitbulls.

Image : Pete Fears

 

The team will be back in action on the 11th of January against the Leeds Knights; tickets are available to purchase below.

https://iceaccount.co.uk/bristol-pitbulls/event/?event_id=7533