Bison face top two with title on the line (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Bison face top two with title on the line

8:00am Thursday 11th March 2010 in

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THE BASINGSTOKE Bison can have a big say on the English Premier League title race this weekend as they face both teams looking to claim the crown.

On Saturday, the Herd travel to second-placed Slough Jets, and then on Sunday, they will entertain league leaders Milton Keynes Lightning.

The Bison themselves are locked in a battle for third place – just one point behind the Guildford Flames and one above the Manchester Phoenix, who do have a game in hand.

Basingstoke player-coach Steve Moria admitted that this weekend would go a long to deciding the final position of the Herd in the standings.

Moria said: “At this stage of the season, this is a tough weekend as both of our opponents have their eyes set on the league crown.

“I think if we can get four points, we have a superb chance of taking third spot. I am sure, after this weekend, we will have a much clearer picture where we are likely to finish.”

The added incentive for finishing third is that in the quarter-final play-offs, the team in this position would meet sixth-placed side Peterborough Phantoms.

Otherwise, it will be the tougher looking match-up of a fourth against fifth showdown for the Herd on Easter weekend.

The trip to the Hangar on Saturday will give the Bison a great chance to avenge last weekend’s controversial 4-2 defeat to the Jets – a game that was played in front of the highest-ever Basingstoke EPL crowd of 1,471.

Talking ahead of this weekend’s first game, which has a 6.30pm face-off, Moria said: “We did not play as well as we can against Slough last week. So we will be looking to put that right.

“When we won there earlier in the season, it was because we kept it close and then had a great final period.”

Twenty-four hours after taking on the Jets, the Bison will lock horns with EPL top dogs Milton Keynes, which is at the earlier face-off time of 5.30pm.

When these sides last met, just over a week ago in the same arena, a thrilling encounter saw the Herd edge the game in a sudden death penalty shoot-out.

It is sure to be just as close on Sunday, and Moria said: “MK have the complete hockey team.

“They have nine good forwards, a solid defence from one to six and both netminders can play.

“We beat them last time and will hope to repeat that again, but we know it is going to be tough.”

One player who is sure to have a say in the outcome of this weekend’s games is Bison leading goalscorer Ondrej Lauko, who scored his third four-goal tally in the win over Bracknell last Sunday.

Moria said: “Lauko was struck on 49 goals for a few games and then scored his 50th against Slough, and it was great to see him grab another four in Bracknell. It is sure to have boosted his confidence.”