Leeds Knights: Fans Jury on Phantoms win and Bison loss plus weekend preview

Jim Piper, 67, from Manchester

THE Knights started their weekend on Saturday against an in-form Peterborough Phantoms side with lofty expectations of continuing their winning streak.

The visitors scored early with an early goal from Markey and it took Knights till 14.05 to equalise through Cole Shudra. That finished the scoring for the first period but the fans could not have expected the goal frenzy of the second.

Phantoms raced out of the blocks to score three goals in seven minutes and had the Knights well and truly on the back foot.

Then something woke the home side up and three goals in 66 seconds raised the roof, as fans roared their approval of an astonishing minute or so of hockey.

Goals from Brown, Fisher and Barnes made it 4-4 at the end of the second. No scoring in the third or overtime periods led us to a penalty shoot-out and Knights took the extra point with two unanswered penalty shots.

Sunday night was a major disappointment as a Basingstoke Bison side took the points with a good physical display against a home side that looked tired and flat after their efforts the previous evening.

Bison ran out comfortable and deserved winners 5-1 with Cole Shudra scoring a consolation goal near the end.

A two-point weekend is still a good return for the team’s efforts and was much appreciated by the near 2,400 total fans who certainly had the rink rocking.

A home game against Raiders this Saturday should see Knights back to winning ways before a tough trip to Peterborough on Sunday.

Michael Prior, 33, from Otley, Leeds

Hockey, like all sports, is a rollercoaster of emotions and nothing demonstrated this clearer than Leeds Knights’ home double header at the weekend.