Hull Seahawks determined to keep their NIHL National Cup ambitions alive
HULL SEAHAWKS’ head coach Matty Davies says his team face two must-win games this weekend in order to keep their NIHL National Cup semi-final hopes alive.
The Seahawks travel to Swindon Wildcats on Saturday night before hosting Milton Keynes Lightning on Sunday needing to win at least two of their last three cup games.
Their final game in the ‘league’ phase of the competition takes place on Sunday, November 17 at home to Solway Sharks.
Leeds Knights and Sheffield Steeldogs – who won the trophy two years ago – have already clinched places in the semi-final knockout phase, but Hull sit fifth in the standings with three games remaining.
Even if fourth-placed Romford Raiders win their final game, two wins will be enough for the Seahawks to secure a final four spot given their win over their Essex rivals earlier in the season.
“It’s pretty clear what we have to do,” said head coach Davies, whose team reached last year’s final before losing over two legs to the Lightning.
“This is a massive weekend. If we don’t go through to that final four, that isn’t going to be acceptable.
“The team that we’ve got this year and the money that we’re spending, I don’t think we shouldn’t be making the semi-finals of the Cup.
"It’s on us to go and get the job done. We’re more than capable of winning those two games, but we’re going to have to pull it together and play like we have played for most of the season so far.”
The Seahawks will go into the weekend without experienced defenceman Lee Haywood, who suffered a broken hand against Peterborough Phantoms last weekend.
He is expected to be sidelined for six weeks. Player-assistant coach Chris Wilcox will jump into defence this weekend, while the Seahawks will be bolstered later this month by the permanent addition of Josh Hodgkinson.
But the absence of Haywood is one that is keenly felt by his coach.
"It’s a massive loss,” said Davies. “I’m over the moon with how he has been since he came in, he’s just been everything I thought he would be and then some.
“He’s also been really good offensively and him and Thomas Stubley have got a good partnership going. He has a lot of experience and he’s been there and done it and knows how to get it done. But we’ve just got to deal with it and move on.”