Telford Tigers planning for Steeldogs revenge
Head coach Tom Watkins hopes revenge is on the menu when Telford Tigers face Sheffield Steeldogs tonight in the NIHL play-off semi-finals.
The Tigers host their rivals at the Ice Rink in the first leg (7.15pm), before travelling to South Yorkshire for tomorrow’s second leg.
Sheffield have proven something of a bogey team of late, having pipped Telford to the NIHL North Cup before then scuppering their Moralee Conference title hopes with a 3-2 win earlier this month.
Watkins said: “We certainly feel like we owe them one.
“We were disappointed not to win the cup and then we played well in the league game, only to lose in a shoot-out.
“I felt over the 60 minutes we were the better team and we’ll be looking to produce the same kind of performance.”
Watkins believes his players are raring to go after blaming ‘complacency’ for their sluggish start to the post-season. Telford eventually overcame Solihull Barons 13-7 on aggregate last weekend after trailing 6-2 at one stage in the first leg.
Watkins believes the return from suspension of Andy McKinney will further help the cause.
