Barbarians top at Christmas

Barbarians 7                                Kingston 0

Usually most of the games between Barbarians and Kingston were close affairs but this game was the exception.  In the 1^st minute of the game the Diva line turned the puck over in the opponents’ half which resulted in Nick Clapham scoring. That was the start of the domination by our first line which would span all three games!!  The 1^st period would end with the Barbarians 5-0 up and cruising with goals from Steve Walker (x2) and a 1^st goal of the season from Jack Cousins on another offensive turn over by LLoydy who fed the puck to Jack for his first of many (we hope) and Nick with his 2^nd of the game in the last minute.  The 2^nd period started much more evenly with some good chances at both ends. At the 12 minute mark of the 2^nd Nick Clapham completed his hat trick with an assist from Chris Cusick.  With under 4 mins left to play in the game the frustration from both teams meant penalties were called and we found ourselves playing 3 on 3 hockey, creating more space of  which was capitalised on by Tom Wilson with some great give-and-go passing with Steve walker to round the game off at 7-0 a great start to the day.

Stats

Points:- Clapham 3+0, Walker 2+2, Oades 0+2, Wilson 1+0, Cousins 1+0, C.Cusick 0+1

Netminder:- Cusick Shots 19 Saves 19
Penalties:-

 

Barbarians 5                                Bottesford 5

This game didn’t start as planned, conceding 3 lack lustre goals in the space of 4 minutes gave the Barbarians a massive hill to climb, which started on the powerplay as J.Oades scored a ripper from the top of the circles.  This was followed by another goal 3 mins later by the diva line scored by S.Walker. With 1 minute 30 seconds left in the period the Bulldogs re doubled their lead scoring on a delayed penalty leaving the Barbarians a mountain to climb to get back into the game.  To make things worse for the Barbarians the Bulldogs scored their 5^th goal in the 2^nd period on the powerplay when the PK line pushed up too far and got caught on a 2 on 1 break that was finished well.  The Barbarians were now 3 down and only 15 minutes of the game left, surely they were dead and buried?  Well the team from last year may have imploded but this year’s squad stuck to their game plan and started the comeback at the 14 min mark with a goal from Phil Sanderson and 3 mins later Tom Wilson was on the score sheet to make it 5-4.  The comeback was complete with 7 mins left when James Oades scored a rap around goal. What followed was a nervous affair as both teams knew that the next goal would win it and both teams had their chances but the game ended 5-5.  A good second period after a period to forget for the Barbarians, but still their first point dropped this season.

 
Stats

Points:- Oades 2+1, Walker1-0, Sanderson1-0, Wilson 1+0, Clapham 0+1

Netminder:- C.Cusick Shots 20 Saves 15

Penalties:-

Barbarians 7                              The Chiefs 4 

Always a good game when the Barbarians play the Chiefs. In the history of this game honours are about even.  The Diva line got the Barbarians off to a great start scoring twice on their first shift Nick Clapham and Steve Walker adding to the goal tallies for the season.  The next shift proved to be one for the Chiefs as they scored next 1 min after Steve’s goal making it a 2-1 game.  The diva line came out and did it again with Nick Clapham scoring with just over a minute left in the game but again the next shift Chiefs scored a soft goal with under 10 seconds remaining to make the game 3-2 at half time.  In the second shift of the second period the Chiefs equalized only for the Barbarians to retake the lead on the PP with a laser from Nick Clapham (hat trick goal for the game) and then press home their advantage with just over 10 minutes remaining with a goal from P.Sanderson, only to be pegged back again 30 seconds later by the Chiefs making the game 5-4.  Then it was the new 2^nd line’s chance to shine as D.Lloyd scored with 5 mins left in the game and a twine  seeking missile from B.Bradley put the game beyond doubt with under a minute left  final score 7-4 win for the Barbarians.

Stats 

Points:-Clapham 3+0, Walker 1+2, Oades 0+2, Bradley1-0, Sanderson1-0, Lloyd 1+0 Wilson 0+1     

Netminder:-C.Cusick Shots 24 Saves 20
Penalties:-

Debutants Shine.

League leading Barbarians faced off against Cleckheaton Comets and rivals Khaos last Sunday.


Both games looking very tough on paper.  The Barbarians struggling against Comets last year falling to a 5-3 defeat and collecting 2 points in a hard fought 2-1 victory.  Barbarians beat Khaos in the opening weekend 5-1 but the games are usually even.








Barbarians 7                                    Comets 0




Barbarians came out of the blocks slower than of late.  Giving the Comets a bit too much respect on the puck.  Netminder Coote with a bit too much to do.  The tie was only 4 minutes old when Collins fired home his first goal as a Barbarians on his first shift.  Two minutes later other debutant Cousins supplied a pass to Hawke who doubled the lead.  The rest of the period was played out to a frustrating end for the Barbarians who looked a little out of sorts.




The second period started much the same as the first with play after play breaking down.  However it was Clapham who made it 3-0 with 16 minutes remaining.  With 7 minutes remaining the smaller benched Comets folded and the flood gates opened. As Walker then Clapham and Bradley (twice) hit 4 goals to total flatten a Barbarians team that never reached that extra gear. 




Final score Barbarians 7 Comets 0.  First shut out of the season for Coote. 
Coach Coote after the game expressed his dissatisfaction with the display saying ''it was ok but we should have at leased a couple more goals''.




Stats
Points:- Cousins 0-3, Clapham 2-0, Bradley 2-0, Hawke 1-1, Walker 1-1, Collins 1-0
             Oades 0-1
Netminder:- Coote 19 shots 19 saves
Penalties:- Bradley 12 mins, Oades 4 mins


Barbarians 4                                       Khaos 2


After a frustrating morning the Barbarians lined up against Khaos with hope of a repeat performance like 3 weeks before.  The Barbarians were up for it and were totally dominant however 2 fortunate goals on the counter attack saw the Barbarians 2 down in the opening 8 minutes.  A situation 12 months previously that the Barbarians would have just collapsed.  This wasn't the case today as the Barbarians stuck to there game plan and started working away.  A power play goal from Wilson who skated in from high slot cut Khaos led to 2-1 with 7 minutes remaining in the period. 


The second period was all Barbarians who were unlucky to be back on level terms if shots would have been on target.  The tie turned in the 9th minute of the second.  A loose puck in front of net saw Hawke go for a puck only for the Khaos netminder to cover the stick and puck at the same time.  Resulting in the netminder to loose his catching mitten.  From the insuring face off on the left Clapham made a clean draw back to Oades who fired to corner to make it 2-2.  30 seconds later the duo made it 3-2 with Clapham firing high blocker side.
Wilson scored his 2nd and Barbarians 4th of the game with less than 5 minutes remaining to give the Barbarians some breathing space.


Final score 4-2 Barbarians.  Great upbeat team performance that merited the way the team has been playing of late.


Stats
Points:- Oades 1-2, Wilson 2-0, Clapham 1-1, Lloyd 0-1
Netminder:- Coote 20 shots 18 saves
Penalties:- Hawke 2 mins, Lloyd 2 mins.

Next time out Barbarians face off against 3 opponents.  Kingston, York and Chiefs
7th December.  Can the Barbarians make it to Christmas undefeated?

Barbarians off to a flying start

Barbarians went into the weekend matches looking to carry there momentum from Wednesday friendly encounter against Norton Jnr Cyclones (A league and current national champions).


Barbarians 5                    Khaos 1


First up was a 9am meeting with local rivals Khaos, which has seen the Barbarians struggle against there fast younger forwards.  This resulted in heavy defeats last season, going down 6-1 and 5-2.  


The momentum had carried from Wednesday, as it only took assistant captain Bradley to hit the net after just 107 seconds.  Every shift was putting 110% in and the rewards were clear to see.  Khaos only opportunities were coming from wide areas and from far out.  The tie was only 8 minutes old when Barbarians made it 2-0.   Oades scoring unassisted.  It was 3-0 by half time with good link up play between Walker assisting Sanderson goal.


The second half was much of the same a relentless Barbarians chased for more goal.  4 minutes into the period it was that man again Bradley that slotted home the biscuit to make it 4-0.  Both Bradley goals assisted by Lloyd.  At 11.10 in the second period Oades scored another unassisted goal to make it 5-0.  Khaos did pull a consolation goal back in the last minute but it was the Barbarians that were smiling final score.  Very convincing 5-1 win to open the season.


Stats
Points:- Bradley 2-0, Oades 2-0, Lloyd 0-2, Sanderson 1-0, Walker 0-1
Netminder:- Coote 26 shots 25 saves
Penalties:- Sanderson 4 mins, Lloyd 2 mins


Barbarians 8                  Hull 2


Barbarians faced a short benched Hull team that had dropped down from the A division.  It was a match up on paper that looked tough.  The early stages of the game looked to be a tense affair with chances at both ends.  Another early goal by Oades, assisted by Clapham settled a few nerves.  The game was only 8 minutes old when tempers flared.  28 for Hull taking a dislike to Barbarians forward Sanderson, with Sanderson not wanting to get involved and keep coach Coote of his back he skated of but was attacked from behind.  With no help from the referees he retaliated and got a few punches in of his own.  This resulting in both players given 5 minute major penalties and ejected from the game. Sanderson will be missing for the up coming Comets match due to a one match suspension. 


Hull pulled level but within a minute the line of Ancliff, Oades, Clapham and Walker had regained the lead with Walker with the goal.  Two more goals came before the break as first Oades and then Bradley both unassisted.  Half time score 4-1.


Second period saw the Barbarian notch four goals with out reply.  It was still end to end but some superb netminding from Coote and clinical finishing saw the gap open to 8-1.  First Wilson scored unassisted.  Then Wilson scored assisted by Lloyd and Oades.  Oades then made it 7 assisted by Clapham and to round it of Myers scored assisted by Wilson. 


The Barbarians conceded yet another consolation goal 30 seconds before the end but the tie was way over before then.  Final score 8-2 and a 4 point weekend.  Lets hope there is plenty of those this season.


Stats
Points:- Oades 3-2, Wilson 2-1, Clapham 0-3, Walker 1-0, Bradley 1-0, Myers 1-0,
             Lloyd 0-1  
Netminder:- Coote
Penalties:- Sanderson 5 mins +game +match

Summer Break over! New faces, New Season.

The Barbarians have been quietly working away over the past 3 months for the new season which starts Sunday Morning 9am.  Old faces have returned and new additions been made. 


Jack Cousins and Adi Collins have joined the ranks to provide a much healthier roster with the team struggling at times to field a decent number of players last season.


Jack arrives from Sheffield Kings who have folded.  A fast forward that maybe the Barbarians have been lacking, also possesses a venomous shot.  A player that has fitted in well and looks to be a success.


Adi signed on after a few year playing ice but before that player his roller hockey for Norton Cyclones.  We all know what standard they set.  An all round left hander that isn't scared of any position.  Another asset for the red army.


Noticeable returnees are Walker who missed a large portion of last season and Lycett who due to work commitments and injury only played 2 games out of 22.


Since the Nationals the team entered a tournament mid August with a depleted team and a borrowed net minder and finished second.  Wednesday 16th October saw the team taken on A division National Champions Jnr Cyclones.  A defeat  of 7-4 over 3x 20 minute periods gave plenty of insight into where we are and need to be but a good experience had by all.


On to Sunday which sees two tough match ups against Hull Fury who have dropped down a division and last years league champions Khaos.  Both teams are going to be difficult to beat but an new focused and energised Barbarians will look to gain 4 points this weekend.

2nd Place for the Barbarians in the National Finals

After a roller coaster of a season it all came down to Super Sunday on 29th June.  The National Finals.  With the Barbarians only able to field a team on Sunday due to a scheduling mistake by BIPHA, it was all or nothing for a Barbarians team lacking some influential players.






First up was Kernow Wizards in the group stages of the competition at 8am.  Usually the Barbarians struggle early mornings but were up for this one.  After a positive start and plenty of possession the deadlock was broken with 1.31 remaining in the 12 minute period.  Kernow replied quickly and levelled the score going into half time.  The second half was all Barbarians.  Two goals a minute a part in the middle of the period sealed the victory, followed by a fourth with 1.53 remaining completed the score line.  final score 4-1, this guaranteed a place in the quarter finals as Kernow had lost heavily 6-0 to SE Steamrollers the previous evening. 






Second group game was against SE Steamrollers.  A very well organised group of players that had plenty of energy and this showed.  They sprinted out to a 2 goal lead in the first period and the Barbarians had their backs to the wall.  After a stern word from Coach Coote the second period was more even and mid way through the half Barbarians cut their deficit to one.  With a minute remaining a well deserved equaliser came.  Making the final score 2-2.  This left the Barbarians second in group having conceded one goal more than SE Steamrollers.






Quarter final was against Central rivals The Chiefs.  After a 2-1 lose and a 4-4 draw during the league season it was always going to be a close affair.  From the off their was plenty of chances at both ends with Cusick (ex Chiefs) netminder making a number of saves.  With 3 minutes remaining in the period the Barbarians opened the scoring making it 1-0 at half time.  The second period however was only a minute old when chiefs jumped on a rebound to make it 1-1.  Only a minute later the tie turned on its head as the line of Wilson Clapham Sanderson and Chambers ripped open the Chiefs defence three times in a minute and half.  The drama wasn't over as the Chiefs scored with a minute to go and then again with 11 seconds remain whilst on the powerplay.  The Barbarians hug on for a 4-3 victory.


Semi final against York.  Once again another team from our league.  The league matches this season has seen 2 hard fought battles with close games and plenty of penalty minutes.  Barbarians taking 3 out of a possible 4 points.  This however was different, a cup game to take use to the National finals.
Nerves kicked in early on and the Barbarians were struggling to create any offence.  Once again the Barbarians went behind again before the break and then further behind 2 minutes into the second half.  The clock was ticking down and with 4 minutes remaining Sanderson took a penalty to make things harder for the Barbarians and the prospect of elimination was looming.  With 3.28 remaining that prospect changed and the next couple of minutes will go down in history for the Barbarians.  Wilson made it 1-2 shorthanded, then Lloyd equalised with a sensational goal with 1.20 remaining.  The tie looked like going to overtime until Bradley sneaked in nicked the puck from the advancing York netminder and slotted home the winner on a very tight angle with only 5 seconds remaining.  What a come back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Final score 3-2 and the Barbarians had advanced to final for the first time in the clubs history.


The final was against SE Steamrollers which the Barbarians had played earlier in the day.  It wasn't to be for the Barbarians as a dominate Steamrollers hit 3 unanswered goals in the first period and were happy to sit on the lead.  Try as they might the Barbarians had hit the wall, with nerves playing a big part as most players had not experienced a major final before.  Final score 3-0.


So it was the silver medal for the Barbarians, which surprised plenty of people over the course of the day.  Congratulations to the SE Steamrollers on colleting the cup.


Preparations for next seasons Barbarians are already underway.  News will be filtering through the blog in the next month or so.


Who will be in black and red next season???????????????

Super Sunday - Barbarians look to take National Title

Barbarians look to take next step at this years National finals after been defeated in the semi finals in two of the last three years.  It will be a tough ask as number of players are unavailable.  See below the fixtures.

2014 SENIOR B FIXTURES ALL GAMES ARE 2x 12 MINUTE PERIODS
GROUP A	GROUP B	GROUP C
BARBARIANS	KHAOS	HORNETS
SE ROLLERS	CAMBRIDGE	CHIEFS
KERNOW WIZZARDS	YORK	FARNBOROUGH
		PAIGNTON

 

GAME	TIME	HOME	SCORE	AWAY	GROUP
1	4.45	HORNETS		CHIEFS	C
2	5.15	FARNBOROUGH		PAIGNTON	C
3	5.45	SE ROLLERS		KERNOW	A
4	6.15	CAMBRIDGE		YORK	B
5	6.45	HORNETS		FARNBOROUGH	C
6	7.15	CHIEFS		PAIGNTON	C
SUNDAY
7	8.00	BARBARIANS		KERNOW	A
8	8.30	KHAOS		YORK	B
9	9.00	HORNETS		PAINGTON	C
10	9.30	CHIEFS		FARNBOROUGH	C
11	10.00	BARBARIANS		SE ROLLERS	A
12	10.30	KHAOS		CAMBRIDGE	B
WINNERS OF GAMES 13/14 GO TO QTR FINALS THEY WILL BE PLACED IN GAMES AGAINST TEAMS THEY HAVENT ALREADY PLAYED EG IF A3 WINS GAME 13 THEY CANNOT PLAY AGAINST A1 OR A2 IN QTRS
13	11.00	A3		C3	PLAYOFF
14	11.30	B3		C4	PLAYOFF
QTR FINALS
15	12.00	A1		B2 OR W 13/14	QTR
16	12.30	A2		B1 OR W 13/14	QTR
17	1.00	C1		B2 OR W 13/14	QTR
18	1.30	C2		B1 OR W 13/14	QTR
19	2.00	L15		L17	CUP SEMI
20	2.30	L16		L18	CUP SEMI
21	3.00	W15		W17	CHAMP SEMI
22	3.30	W16		W18	CHAMP SEMI
23	4.00	L19		L20	CUP 3/4TH
24	4.30	L21		L22	CHAMP 3/4TH
25	5.00	W19		W29	CUP FINAL
26	5.30	W21		W22	CHAMP FINAL