Giants Drive The Snakes Out Of Newcastle

The Belfast Giants hadn't played in the Newcastle Metro Radio Arena since the days of the Newcastle Jesters, but with the rumoured entry of the Newcastle Vipers to next years Elite League, they may be more frequent visitors in the seasons to come. Tonight, however, the Giants were on a quest to make it two wins out of two crossover games following the 3-1 defeat of Hull the previous night.

They were given an early shock however when they were welcomed back to the "Toon" with a Rob Trumbley goal after only 30 seconds of the game. An offensive lapse by the Giants allowed the Vipers to break forward, forcing Martin Klempa to venture out of his crease to try and claim the puck, he failed to do so and David Longstaff placed it perfectly for Trumbley to fire into the net behind a back peddling Klempa.

It took the Giants a while to wake up from their slumber. Player-Coach Tony Hand looked more intent on passing than shooting despite some clear cut opportunities and some of the stick to stick passing left a lot to be desired. However once the Giants hit their stride their was no stopping them

Marc Levers equalised for the Giants after 9 minutes and put them ahead a few minutes later, sneaking the puck in from the right of goal. George Awada made it 3-1 in the first with a cracking shot from the right circle into the top left of the goal. And the Giants began to dominate play.

Newcastle pressed hard in the second period, hitting the post a number of times. Hilton Ruggles playing well against the team he haunted last season with the Coventry Blaze.

It was Curtis Huppe who made it 4-1 in the second period and as the Giants began the final session both sets of fans knew it would take a great comeback to deny Belfast the points.

Unfortunately for the approx. 1700 Vipers fans in attendance that revival didn't happen and a spirited Newcastle display was made to suffer when Awada netted his second and Curt Bowen fired home the Giants 6th and final goal of the evening.

A well fought and amicable game, without the much touted Ferone v Angelstad match-up some had been hoping for, gave the Giants maximum points from what could have been a banana-skin weekend.

Giants move on in their Road trip to face the Cardiff Devils in what is likely to be a vital Game in the race to be Elite League Champions

Patrick Smyth