Lookers of Yardley Solihull Barons : 2
Blackburn Hawks : 5

The Lookers of Yardley Solihull Barons welcomed league leaders the Blackburn Hawks to Hobbs Moat for the first time this season on Sunday. The Barons would play a tough physical game but it would be the Hawks who would emerge victorious, continually threatening the Solihull net while preventing the Barons exerting any sustained pressure themselves.

With a delayed face-off to accommodate the Hawks struggling through M6 traffic the first period got off to a poor start for the Barons with a couple of early penalties for the home side to weather before being able to ice a full line. This done, the Barons made a solid effort against the high flying Hawks, though it would be the Lancashire side who probably held the balance of play. A strong early performance from Josh Nicholls in the Barons net kept the puck out of the Solihull goal, while a neatly taken powerplay goal by Tom Soar ensured it would be the Barons who would head to the dressing rooms 1-0 leaders after the first period.

The second period would however be a frustrating one for the Barons. No sooner had the puck dropped than the Stars had levelled things and while the Barons would have a couple of power plays in the middle twenty minutes, they struggled to get the puck into the Stars end to exert any consistent pressure on Billingham. By contrast the Stars took their chances well, Richard Bentham and Rjay Berra netting for the visitors. The Barons frustrations would end up boiling over in the final minute of the period, Rob Eley, Dave Rogers and Stephen Heape involved in a line brawl.

The final period would be more of the same. Jordan Bannon extended the Hawks lead to 4-1 before a Tomas Janak goal would give the Barons some hope of staying in the game. With ten minutes to go however Rjay Bera got his hat trick to leave the final 5-2 in favour of the visitors.

The Barons have a busy start to 2016. On Saturday 2nd January the Barons travel to Sheffield to take on the Sutton Sting, while the following day they make the long trip North to visit the Billingham Stars. The following weekend, Sunday 10th of January will see the Barons welcome the Stars to the Solihull rink, face-off 6:00pm.

v Hawks

Barons goals : Soar, Janak Barons assists : Henry(2), Bruce, Janak Barons MoM : Nicholls

NEXT HOME GAME SUNDAY 10th JANUARY The Barons next home game is against the North East's Billingham Stars. The Barons have faced the Stars twice already this season, coming out on top both times and will face the Stars up in Billingham on the opening Sunday of 2016. Runners up in the 2014-15 season, the Stars have had a mixed year this season but will be keen to have a solid second half of the year to maintain their play-off chances. Make it loud and ensure the Barons have that extra man on the ice ! Sunday 10th January Face-off : 6:00pm Adults £8 : Concessions £4 Family ticket £24 (2 adults and up to 3 children)