THE BASINGSTOKE Bison got their Autumn Cup campaign off to a great start as they beat the visiting Peterborough Phantoms 6-0 and then won in Telford 6-3.
The double victory in the opening weekend of the season means the currently sit top of the standings - the only of the nine sides to win both their games.
After a goalless first 20 minutes against the Phantoms, the Herd scored three super goals in a five minute spell in the second session.
Adam Harding netted the opener at 23:18 with an excellent right wing wrist shot assisted by Brendan Baird and Hallam Wilson.
A lovely move involving Harding and Alex Sampford saw them set-up George Norcliffe for the second.
Then a great feed from Paul Petts allowed Alex Roberts to score his debut goal, which came on the back hand, as he held off Peterborough defenceman Callum Buglass.
The final period saw the Bison add three more to their tally with Sampford getting the first from Brendan Baird and Adam Jones.
A great lay back from man of the match Zack Milton saw Ashley Tait hit the top corner for a powerplay strike to make it 5-0.
The scoring was then completed by a well worked powerplay goal from Milton, with Jones and Tait picking up the helpers.
Bison netminder Alex Mettam recorded his first shut-out of the season, as he turned away all 25 shots he faced.
On Sunday night, the Bison tamed the Telford Tigers, as they never looked back after a Sampford double gave them a 2-0 lead at the first break.
Roberts netted the only goal of the middle session to extend the advantage to three.
Telford’s Jason Silverthorn scored just 33 seconds into the final period, as Mettam was beaten for the first time in 102 minutes.
The Herd hit back to make the game safe with goals from Aidan Doughty and Jones, which took the score to 5-1.
The Tigers roared back with Austin Mitchell-King and Silverthorn reducing the lead to two.
The home side then pulled their goalie, but the move backfired as Harding hit the empty net to seal a great road win for the Herd.
Also on Sunday, the under-18 Bison lost 10-4 at home to Peterborough.
Harry Brooks (2), Roman Cathcart and Oliver Hemming-Maher all scored, while Amy Kingsbury and James Bryan picked up assists.
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