Hull Seahawks not holding back as they look to reach NIHL National play-off semi-finals
BOBBY CHAMBERLAIN says Hull Seahawks have “nothing to lose” as they go all out to try and book their place at the NIHL National Final Four Weekend for the first-ever time.
The Seahawks take on Telford Tigers in the final double-header weekend of the play-off group stages knowing two wins in regulation will take them to Coventry for the semi-finals on April 18.
Matty Davies’s team handed themselves a lifeline when coming from behind to beat Group B leaders Leeds Knights 4-3 in overtime on Sunday.
It leaves them level on points with Telford and Milton Keynes Lightning, with Leeds ahead of all three of their rivals by two points.
“We can only control what is within our room and we’ve got to win two games and that’s that,” said Seahawks’ captain Chamberlain.
“We can’t look at or worry about the other games too much, we just have to concentrate on ourselves and give ourselves the best chance to win. Just win two games and let’s see what happens.
“Every game is do or die for us now, so we’ve got nothing to lose. We’ve just got to go for it.
“We’ve got the personnel in there to do what we need to. We’ve just got to believe and we do.”
The Seahawks will have to try and get to Coventry without the help of veteran Jason Hewitt who found his season ended after being hit with a four-game ban.
It follows a slash made on Leeds’ Kieran Brown late in the game during the first play-off clash between the two sides at Elland Road last Saturday.
Remarkably, no call was made on the night by match officials but the incident was referred to the league disciplinary department who on Thursday handed out their punishment for a slash that was “delivered with a baseball type swing”.
Hewitt played the following night in Hull, scoring the hosts’ second goal in their dramatic 4-3 win.
“It’s a big loss for us,” said head coach Davies, who will move Jamie Chilcott back into defence. “He’s gutted about it but you can’t really argue it. We’ve just got to deal with it.
“He’ll still be a voice around the team, offering advice.”
Davies is glad his team get to play at home first against a team who they enjoyed superiority over during the regular season, winning four of the five meetings between the two.
“We’ve had a good build-up this week,” added Davies. “But we know it is still going to be tough.
“They are on the same points as us at the moment and they will rightly be thinking they have got as good a chance as us.
“We’ve just got to worry about ourselves and make sure we do what we need to.
“I think we’re better equipped this season to play against Telford, in the past we’ve struggled against them.
“But it’s a play-off game and form and previous games all goes out the window, it just comes down to who wants it more on the night.
“I’ve said all along, the best teams will go (to Coventry) and it’s on us to make sure we’re one of them.
“I’m happy we’re at home on Saturday, it’s important to hopefully get off to a good start for the weekend
“Every team plays hard at this time of year and they’ll be wanting it as much as we do.
"I’m confident though because the way we played last weekend is the best I’ve seen this team play this season.”