Leeds Knights and Hull Seahawks ensure another NIHL National play-off group showdown

Results on Saturday night meant that the two teams will go into Group B in the post-season, presenting them both with double-header weekends against each other, as well as Milton Keynes Lightning and Telford Tigers.

Leeds held off a spirited fightback from hosts Bristol Pitbulls to head home with a 6-5 win, while Hull edged out Peterborough Phantoms 4-3 at Mallard Road.

That means Peterborough and Sheffield Steeldogs - will go into Group A with regular season champions Swindon Wildcats and Romford Raiders, who clinched the eighth and final play-off spot last weekend.

Leeds’ play-off record against Hull is played four, won three, with the Seahawks’ sole victory coming in a 7-6 overtime win in Leeds last season.

But Hull should prove a more dangerous opponent this time around, heading into the post-season with a run of 14 wins in 15 games ahead of Sunday’s final round of regular season fixtures.

On Saturday, the Knights looked to be heading for a comfortable victory in Bristol, having first built a 3-0 first period lead and then taking a 6-2 advantage into the last 10 minutes.

But there were some nervous moments late on as the Pitbulls hit back to make it a one-goal game with strikes from Jake Bricknell (2) and Mason Lipsey.

Earlier, the Knights had gone in front through a third-minute Daragh Spawforth strike, with Finley Bradon and Edgars Vengis - with a 10th-minute shorthanded marker - also getting on the board before the first intermission arrived.

Tanner Butler got the hosts up and running with a 23rd-minute power play strike only for Leeds to respond with two goals in 34 seconds, the first from Liam Peyton at 25.42, before captain Kieran Brown opened his account.

Cameron Hamill made it 5-2 at 34.48 and Brown doubled his tally just over six minutes into the third to restore the four-goal cushion, one they nearly relinquished.