Poor run of form continues for Blaze - The Rugby Observer

Poor run of form continues for Blaze

Rugby Editorial 8th Dec, 2014 Updated: 27th Oct, 2016   0

INJURY-HIT Blaze tasted back-to-back defeats to Nottingham Panthers and Hull Stingrays as the club’s miserable run in the Elite League continues.

Trevor Frischmon registered a goal and an assist on his debut but it was not enough as Blaze went down 5-3 to Hull Stingrays at Hull Arena on Saturday night.

And despite producing a gutsy performance they lost 4-3 to Nottingham Panthers at the Skydome the following evening.

It means Blaze have lost seven of their last eight league matches which put them sixth in the table on 19 points but interim player-coach Steve Goertzen saw plenty of positives from the weekend.




He said: “I am really proud of the guys. They played a lot of minutes but the effort they put in was great.

“We kept coming back and seemed to have more energy despite us playing short. But it certainly stings a little bit to get nothing from the games.


“We are struggling to get wins but we must focus on the positives and look forward.”

The weekend began with a 5-3 defeat in Hull where American Frischmon cancelled out Eric Galbraight’s opener before Zach Hervato put Stingrays back in front.

Frischmon then assisted on Russell Cowley’s short-handed marker 52 seconds into the middle session. Jordan Mayer nudged Stingrays ahead for the third time only for Cale Tanaka to make it 3-3 just 14 seconds later.

But Dominic Osman struck the game-winning goal before Frederick’s effort ten nine minutes from time wrapped up the points for Stingrays.

Captain Ashley Tait missed the game with an upper-body injury, joining Mike Egener, Derek Lee, James Griffin and Mark Smith on the sidelines, while Justin DaCosta only managed half the game.

This meant Blaze were without six players when they hosted Nottingham Panthers the following evening.

Evan Mosey handed the visitors a first-period lead before a short-handed Jonathan Boxill marker doubled their advantage.

But Steven Chalmers and interim player-coach Goertzen pulled Blaze level with Panthers forward Chris Lawrence then having a penalty shot saved by Brian Stewart.

But Lawrence scored twice in the final period to restore Panthers’ two-goal cushion, with Jereme Tendler grabbing a third for Blaze three minutes from time which proved to be consolation.

Goertzen added that he was also pleased with the performances of new American forward Trevor Frischmon this weekend.

He added: “He played another great game tonight. He plays the right way, he has a lot of speed and he was always in the right spot. We cannot have too many of those players.”

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