CHELMSFORD Chieftains are the NIHL Division 1 South Champions for the third successive season.

They secured the title after a 5-1 win against Cardiff NIHL Devils on Saturday.

A full squad made the 400-mile round trip to the Welsh capital knowing they needed just two points from the remaining four games to keep their champions status.

And it was just as well they had the title sewn up on Saturday as Chieftains looked tired on Sunday, and the Bracknell Hornets took full advantage by defeating the newly-crowned league champs 2-1 at Riverside.

On Saturday they made a great start and Danny Hammond opened the scoring at 7:38, assisted by Ross Brears and Martin Piecha.

Cardiff’s tactic of upping their physical game to upset Chieftains’ fast-flowing game had little effect as Chelmsford were 3-0 up after the first two periods with a brace from Darren Brown to add to Hammond’s early strike.

Chelmsford Weekly News:

Darren Brown scored a brace against Cardiff Devils in the Chieftains' 5-1 win. Picture: IAN SNODIN

Piecha and Bailey Chittock, who is in his debut season in senior ice hockey, completed the scoring. The only downside on the evening was the Devils spoiling Euan King’s shut-out with a powerplay goal just 37 seconds from the final buzzer.

With the loss of coach Gary Clarke at the end of the season and the league becoming stronger in depth once again, defending their title was always going to be a tough ask.

But new coach Dwayne Newman and his squad can be very proud of their achievements as they look forward to a visit from league officials this weekend.

On Saturday the Chieftains travel to the Isle of Wight for maybe the last time as the Ryde rink is due to close next week.

It is presentation time at Riverside this Sunday after the game against Oxford City Stars. Face-off is at 6.30pm and the doors are open from 5.30pm.

Chieftains will then focus on the NIHL Cup Final and exciting end of season play-offs. The final takes place on March 28 and 29 with a two-legged affair against league runners-up Invicta Dynamos. The first leg is at Riverside on Saturday. March 28, with the deciding leg the following day in Kent.

The weekend after that the play-offs begin, featuring three weeks of knockout ice hockey.

Chieftains’ opponents for the first round will be announced after the final league game as it decided on league positions.