Block 12 Backcheck

Played five, won three, drew one, lost one. Otherwise known as 'keep that up for the rest of the season and Blackburn Hawks will be in the play-offs' - which would be nice.

To be honest, January didn't start well. Losing to anyone isn't great. Losing to Telford is pretty lousy. Losing 11-3 is the stuff of nightmares. Thankfully the Hawks hadn't started the month as they meant to go on.

Home wins over Coventry, Billingham and Nottingham (strangely all 3-1) and a battling draw at Trafford, sees the Hawks in the final place-off position with games in hand on the teams just above them.

Factor in an excellent victory at Solway in the Cup and the month has been a productive one.

Beating leaders Billingham at home was one of a number of highlights. Despite claims from some Stars fans their team hadn't played as they can, the truth was they'd been out-performed, out-muscled and beaten by the better team on the night.



Numerous players have been in impressive form and it seems unfair to single just one out, but Tom King (above) deserves a special mention having become a vital cog in our attacking threat.

Another highlight was Chris Arnone's fight with Nottingham's Joe Wightman. As tough guys go Wightman is about as much a fighter as I am a marathon runner, and it showed as Arnone rang his bell for poking his nose in where it wasn't wanted. Fair play at sticking up for your team-mates Joe, bad choice of opponent though.

Being January we've had all the excitement of transfer deadline day without the big fees. Former favourites Dave Meikle and Peter Tapp have returned to the club, leaving the roster looking very impressive.

With Ollie Lomax hopefully back from injury during February, everything is in place to try and secure a top four slot, though with eight of the last eleven games away from home it won't be easy.

I can trot out endless cliches about hard work and grinding out results and they are crucial, but the team spirit which has shone through recently could well be the key factor in helping the Hawks grab a play-off slot.

Having said that - you can't help but think that Sami Narkia and Danny Brittle (below) have taken that spirit just a little too far.


(Narkia and Brittle image by kind permission of Jared Owen)