Blackburn Hawks finished the league season unbeaten with a 12-1 home win over bottom team Manchester Minotaurs on Sunday night but they very nearly lost that coveted "invincibles" tag 24 hours earlier away in Sheffield.
The Spartans are one of only two teams to take league points off Blackburn this season (the other being Sutton Sting) and they were leading 4-2 going into the 3 period. The Hawks managed to pull it back to 4-4 but then it looked as if Sheffield had snatched a last gasp winner with just 16 seconds to go - but the goal was disallowed by referee Hamilton for a man in the crease.
Hawks finish massive 15 points ahead of second place Solway Sharks - who could still be overtaken by 3rd place Billingham Stars who have their last game of the regular season away at Whitley Warriors next Sunday.
Sharks finished off their own league campaign with a 2-3 win away at Whitley. The Warriors had beaten Minotaurs 1-8 away on Saturday but are resigned to a second bottom finish. They will now face a two legged Promotion / Relegation play off with Widnes Wild on 11th & 12th April.
Photo: All 4 Brittle brothers on the ice together in Sheffield Spartans v Blackburn Hawks - by John Milton www.eventog.uk