Leeds Knights find that winning feeling again after NIHL National crown passes to Swindon Wildcats
HAVING seen the NIHL National regular season league crown they have worn for three years finally head elsewhere, Leeds Knights got over their ‘loss’ by ending a rare and uncharacteristic losing streak.
A 4-3 defeat at Basingstoke Bison on Saturday had stretched their losing run to six games in all competitions but, when the two met 24 hours later in Leeds, the Knights deservedly came out on top 4-2.
It wasn’t pretty, it didn’t have to be. All that mattered were that the goals from Matt Bissonnette (2), Liam Peyton and Danny Harrison – allied to a strong, collective defensive effort – was enough for two points.
Swindon Wildcats secured the 2025-26 league title with six games to spare after Chris Jones’ overtime strike secured a 3-2 win at second-placed Sheffield Steeldogs, the extra point gained meaning the hosts could no longer catch them.
Leeds’ own slim hopes of making it four in a row were already gone, their defeat in Basingstoke on Saturday ensuring it was no longer mathematically possible.
Having conceded last week that the league was long gone, Aldridge admitted the team’s main focus remains the NIHL National Cup, which sees them head to the Steeldogs on March 11 trailing 3-1 after Thursday’s first leg at The Castle.
“The league is done,” said Aldridge after a penalty shot goal 15 seconds from time from Bair Gendunov had enabled the visitors to double their first leg lead.
“If you’re going to come second, you might as well come eighth. Let’s be honest, it’s the same.
“You look at the (play-off) groups right now and there isn’t going to be an easy group, so we’ve just got to focus on the Cup.
“We’re obviously not just going to roll over - but the Cup is the main focus for us.”
The Knights were 2-0 down in Hampshire before they halved the deficit through Liam Peyton at 14.23.
Zak Shankar restored the two-goal lead at 25.44 before Matt Bissonnette scored on the breakaway at 38.36.
Liam Morris made it 4-2 74 seconds into the third but the Knights rallied and gave themselves hope when Danny Harrison struck on the power play at 54.47 – but it was as close as they got.