Telford Tigers gearing up for the play-offs

Tigers head to Whitley Bay this evening (5pm) in the quarter-finals, before hosting them tomorrow night (6pm).

Watkins’ charges are in buoyant mood after thrashing Nottingham Lions 11-2 last Sunday.

“We’re feeling good, but we’re going to Whitley Bay which is always a tough place to go,” said Watkins

“It is an old building, the corners aren’t the most round and the ice is not the best – the crowd is right on top of you too.

“It’ll be tough. We’ll be in for a very difficult game and it will set the tone for the rest of the weekend.

“The last game we played up there, we scored in the last minute to win 3-2 after it was 2-2 for most of the game.

“It’ll be a close one, a very physical battle. We have to be smart defensively and manage the puck well.”

The play-off teams are competing to be crowned North Champions. There is no promotion.

Following a difficult summer, Tigers have done well this campaign – finishing third in the regular season.

They will be confident ahead of meeting the Warriors again, having won four times against them in the league.

Watkins is always striving for more, though, and added: “I was always confident we could do well.

“As coach, you always want to finish (the regular season) first. We fell a bit short in terms of that.

“A year ago, though, the club was not in a great place and we’ve had to start a lot things from the ground up again.

“We’ve done well but as a coach, you’re always striving for more and want to do better. I don’t think you’ll ever meet a happy coach.”

Watkins played in the win against the Lions last Sunday, and opened the scoring – firing home with a wrist shot that went in off the bar.