Pitbulls Take A 5-4 Regulation Win Against The Tigers

By Xanthe Boursier-Gazzard

The Bristol Drive North Pitbulls came away with the two points in regulation time on Saturday night in their one-game weekend against the Telford Tigers after edging a lead in the final period.

The Pitbulls pushed for a lead in the first period with two goals coming from forwards Rhys Smetham and Jake Bricknell. Smetham opened the scoring just under five minutes into the game, taking the puck off the stick of Bayley Harewood and neatly shooting past Ben Norton from close range. Both teams chased end to end, attempting chances on net; however, within the final minute, Bricknell was able to double the home side’s lead unassisted.

Two more goals would come for the Pitbulls before the visitors could put themselves on the scoresheet, as Jake Bryceland made it three, sweeping the puck past the pads of Norton, chased by John Dunbar, extending the goal cushion to four. Telford took their opportunity to battle back following a hooking penalty that allowed Rhodes Mitchell-King to spark a comeback. Penalties were exchanged between both teams in the following minutes; however, the Tigers were able to score twice as they returned to full strength. Finley Howells lowered the deficit to two before David Thomson could continue to add to the initial efforts to tighten the game.

Smetham struck for the second time within the first minute of the third period to gift them back a two-goal lead. Chances continued to be traded between both teams before Scott McKenzie took a shot on the power play that navigated its way around Tommy Nappier, making the final ten minutes increasingly tense as the scoresheet headed back to a one-goal difference. Despite this, the Pitbulls were able to uphold their narrow advantage gifted to them by Smetham to take the win at the Pound in regulation time.

Man of the Match for the visitors went to Eric Henderson and to Tommy Nappier for your Bristol Pitbulls.