Report

Cardiff Redhawks entered the Inline nationals championships for the second time, having disappointed last year only finishing in 7th position. Disappointment is what Cardiff came away with from their first group game only managing to draw with the Kent Cardinals after leading 2-0, 2-2 the final score. Things were only going to get tougher for the Redhawks as next they were up against the defending champions from Edinburgh. The draw against Kent seemed to be the kick up the backside Cardiff needed as a solid defensive display coupled with solid and at times outstanding netminding from John Dibble and moments of offensive prowess from Sam Hayman and Luke Elward gave Cardiff a 2-1 victory. Cardiff finished the group stage with a comfortable 5-0 win over the York Vikings.

To the quarter finals and the Sheffield Bears awaited the Redhawks, earlier this year the Bears beat Cardiff 7-4 in the UHL so Cardiff were up against it. The Redhawks got the first goal of the game through Sam Hayman and looked to maintain a strong defence to hold onto the lead. Sheffield struggled to find a way through that resolute defence and on the occasions they did John Dibble was there to turn them away. Dave Willaims then doubled Cardiff’s advantage just before the end of the first. Sheffield eventually did find a goal to kep themselves in the game, but shortly after Alyn Wallace was hauled down on a break away and dispatched the ensuing penalty shot with ease to restore Cardiff’s 2 goal lead. Sheffield weren’t going to lay down yet though and cut Cardiff lead again with just 2 minutes remaining. As Sheffield pushed for the equalising goal a lead pass found Dave Williams on a breakaway, which he finished neatly on the backhand to cap off a very popular 4-2 win for Cardiff.

With only taking 5 players and a netminder to the tournament Cardiff took on the Birmingham Eagles in the semi-final who had looked very impressive in their previous games. Birmingham stretched out to a 3-0 lead early in the second period, maybe the Sheffield game had taken a lot out of the Cardiff team. But the Redhawks put on a spirited fightback only to come up short losing in the end by a score of 5-3 to the team who would go onto easily beat Edinburgh 5-1 in the final.

Cardiff couldn’t manage to pick themselves up after the semi-final loss and tiredness set in and against a fast-skating St. Andrews side they were easily beaten into 4th place, losing the game 6-0.