Injury-hit Leeds Knights now looking over their shoulders in NIHL National
KIERAN BROWN marked his return from injury with a three-point night on Sunday - but it wasn’t enough to prevent defeat for Leeds Knights.
Two weeks earlier, the Knights - without their captain - had pulled off a stunning comeback on the road at Peterborough Phantoms, trailing 4-2 with less than three minutes to play before going on to win 5-4 in overtime.
But - back in the same building - there was to be no repeat show as Peterborough prevailed by the same scoreline to move alongside the Knights in the standings, the three-time defending champions remaining in third place by virtue of having more wins in regulation.
Leaders Swindon Wildcats were not in action on Sunday, having lost 5-2 at home to Romford Raiders the previous night.
But the damage to Leeds’ hopes of catching them was done on Friday when a severely-depleted Knights team went down 5-1 in Wiltshire, leaving the Wildcats 15 points clear.
With just 14 games remaining, it seems a near-impossible task for Leeds to catch their rivals.
What they might have to add to their concerns, though, are the teams gathering beneath them.
The Phantoms have refused to go away all season but, on the back of a run of five wins in six games, Hull Seahawks are now just five points adrift of Leeds and Peterborough. Telford Tigers are a point further back.
Starting with Friday’s visit to The Castle from Swindon, the Knights now face a gruelling schedule of six games in just nine days – two of which are against the Seahawks.
Thankfully the Knights will have further numbers back for this weekend, with captain Brown and Finley Bradon – back from the European Cup of Nations with Great Britain – having returned for the trip to Peterborough.
Liam Hine, Daragh Spawforth and Danny Harrison will be available after being away with GB Under-18s, although defencemen Jonas Bennett, Sam Cooper and forwards Innes Gallacher and Arturs Mickevics are still expected to be sidelined through injury.
It was Brown who got Leeds off to the perfect start in Peterborough when he struck with just 95 seconds gone.
Tom Norton and Cameron Hough replied to put the hosts 2-1 ahead after 22 minutes, Brown levelling with his second of the night at 33.01 only for Dillon Lawrence and Luke Ferrara to hit back to ensure a 4-2 lead at the second intermission.
Strikes within 12 seconds of each other by Sam Dunn and Owen Sobchak hauled Leeds level with less than three minutes of the third period gone, offering hope of a second win in two weeks at Mallard Road.
But Morgan Clarke-Pizzo’s goal at 48.38 proved to be enough for Ashley Tait’s team, earning revenge for their late capitulation at the hands of the Knights’ back on January 25.