Cobras came flying out of the blocks scoring 4 goals in the first 8 minutes with markers for Fobres, Hogarth, Naylor and Florence. The first period saw Cobras camp in Bradford’s zone with Caddle in the Bradford net coming under a barrage of shots. From the relentless pressure, Cobras added a further 2 goals towards the end of the period to take a commanding 6-0 lead after one.

The second period started where we left off in the first period. Florence notched his third of the game with only 16 seconds on the clock to put the game to bed. Bradford to their credit carried on resiliently and after Staniforth replaced Smith in goal after 32 minutes, Kuffner took advantage scoring on the first shot against Staniforth. Cobras added 3 more before the period was out, leaving the scores 10-1 after two.

The final stanza saw Cobras further strengthen their lead adding four goals before Kuffner netted his second of the night with 10 minutes left on the clock to leave the scores at 14-2. The final ten minutes petered out as both teams began to show early season legs, with Cobras tallying a final 3 goals to take the final score to 17-2.

Notes:

Mark Florence was player of the game for Kingston with 4+8.

Mark Florence’s point total of 12 is his highest as a Cobra

Cobras penalty total of 2 minutes, matches their previous lowest total in a game. The opponent that day… Bradford Cannibals away in 2011.

The winning margin of 15 is Cobras second highest against Bradford. The highest being a 19-3 win in 2006.

Summer Cup 2012 fixtures have been released on the Summer Cup website.

Friday 20 April Home Bradford SUMMER CUP 10.00pm

Sun 13 May Away Whitley Bay SUMMER CUP 16.15
Sat 19 May Home 12.30noon TBA
Sun 20 May Away Solihull Vikings SUMMER CUP 18.30

Sat Sun 2 & 3 June Kingston Tournament
Sat 16 June Home Solihull Vipers 17.00
Sat 23 June Home Solihull Vikings SUMMER CUP 17.00
Sat 30 June Home TBA

Sat 7 July Home Blackburn SUMMER CUP 17.00
Sat 14 July Away Bradford SUMMER CUP 10.00
Sat 21 July Home  Whitley Bay SUMMER CUP 17.00

Sat 4 August Home Cleveland Comets SUMMER CUP 17.00
Sat 11 August Home Durham Dragons 17.00
Sat 18 August Home Don Valley Vikings 17.00

Sat 25 August Playoffs Ice Sheffield – All day (If qualified)

Games to arrange:-
AWAY BLACKBURN (SUMMER CUP)
AWAY CLEVELAND (SUMMER CUP)

A fixture list can be found here: http://www.kingstoncobras.com/schedule

Gary Embrie of Kingston Cobras finished top of the assist charts with 18 helpers in 9 games.

Mark Florence (22+15), Andy Ward (21+10), Mike Forbes (12+15) and Liam Sewell (13+13) finished 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th in overall points

Kingston’s semi-final opponent is still unclear with with Whitley Bay, Grimsby and Blackburn all fighting for playoff spots.

Cobras are next in action on Saturday 13th August at home to Cleveland Comets in their final home game of the season.

Cobras finish their Summer Cup campaign with road games at Whitley Bay and Grimsby before the playoffs on 29th August at Ice Sheffield.

The Falcons have proved to be a Jekyll and Hyde side of late. Last season they finished bottom of the Summer Cup without registering a win and this year finishing runners up in the Kingston Tournament beating some strong sides on the way.

Cobras went into the game missing a number of defencemen meaning Andy Dunn dressed for his first game of the season and skated for the first time since 2010. Cobras other defenceman Matt Street took the unorthodox method of breaking in a new pair of skates, by wearing them for the first time in the game.

Kingston got off to a quick start and quickly set up camp in the Falcons zone. As Cobras launched attack after attack, Thirkettle in the Falcons net proved to be the proverbial thorn in Cobras’ side, pulling off a number of outstanding saves. Thirkettle’s resilience was finally broken on 11.52 as Andy “Cheese Grater” Daintith took a feed from Alan Hague and slotted home neatly. However despite peppering the Blackburn net with 22 shots in the first period the score remained 1-0 when the period buzzer sounded.

The second period started in much the same way as the first, with Cobras spending large periods of time in the Blackburn zone, only to be relieved by the odd puck launched down the ice by Blackburn players in the need of respite.
Liam Sewell opened the scoring early in the period with a goal on 21.01 assisted by Florence and Forbes. Andy Ward was soon in on the act with the first of a hattrick on the night assisted by Gary Embrie on 30.05.

Alan Hague was to increase the lead with two goals towards the end of the period. The first a cool deke and backhand finish, with everyone expecting a pass across the crease to an open teammate. The second was more power than finesse as he ripped home a slap shot from just inside the Falcons blue line, assisted by Sewell and Florence.

Late on in the period netminder Staniforth, who had spent most of the game watching the action, made a superb save on Blackburn’s Lord clear breakaway to preserve his shut-out into the 3rd period.

During the 2nd intermission, coach Daintith decided to juggle the lines, switching Florence and Embrie onto different lines. Blackburn made a change in goal with Thirkettle being replaced by Winnard.

Cobras got off to a quick start in the 3rd with Florance and Ward adding quick fire goals on 42.18 and 43.32 respectively. Ward added his hattrick goal on 55.42 after a nonchalant pre-planned move with Florence came off to near perfection. Florence added his second of the game with less than two minutes to go, to cap of a six point night and secure a 9-0 victory for the Cobras.

The victory mathematically secures Cobras place in the Summer Cup Playoffs. Cobras are next at home against local rivals Grimsby Lightning on 30.07.11

Notes:
Staniforth’s shutout was his second of the season.
Gary Embrie was player of the game for Kingston.
Cobras extended their unbeaten run against Blackburn to 12 games (since we started recording games)
Mark Florence notched his 40th point of the season (20+20)

Times will be as follows:

Semi Final 1 – 1st place vs 4th place – 10.00

Semi Final 2 – 2nd place vs 3rd place – 12.15

Plate Final – Loser Semi 1 vs Loser Semi 2 – 15.45

Cup Final – Winner Semi 1 vs Winner Semi 2 – 18.00