CHELMSFORD Chieftains came through two tough fixtures at the weekend to keep on course for the double.

Already crowned the South East Cup winners in 2016, the NIHL Division 1 South league championships is the jewel in the crown.

With just seven games remaining the Chieftains are ten points clear of the chasing pack and the title is almost within touching distance.

The weekend started with a trip to Wales to face the Cardiff NIHL Devils, who are facing the prospect of winning the wooden spoon this season.

Chieftains got off to a great start and were 3-1 up in the first twelve minutes with goals from James Ayling, Matt Turner and Olegs Lascenko.

But the game began to get physical and following a melee three players from each team were sin-binned for roughing. Cardiff’s Lee Duance was given an early shower and a match penalty for his initial attack on Charlie Phillips that sparked the incident.

The game settled and Turner scored to make it 4-2 and secure the win, but the bad feeling continued between the sides and as the buzzer sounded to end the game Billy Phillips came from the bench and along with brother Charlie took the Devils’ bait.

Although the game had finished the handshakes were replaced by swinging fists and more penalties. Charlie Phillips was awarded a match penalty making him unavailable of the following day’s trip to Invicta.

A tired and bruised Chieftains team travelled to Kent on Sunday to play the only side that could stop them from retaining their league championships, Invicta Dynamos.

Dynamos opened the scoring with a powerplay goal from Arran Strawson and just 17 seconds after the restart Strawson scored again to make it 2-0.

The match became physical and at one point Chieftains were forced to successfully defend a 5v3 powerplay situation. Osman made it 3-0 with a deflected shot at the end of the first period. Coach Sean Easton’s locker room talk paid dividends when Oleg Lescenko made it 3-1 and the Chieftains started pressurising before Ross Brears made it 3-2 with one period left.

Brears equalised before Billy Phillips put Chelmsford ahead for the first time.

The Chieftains held out for a 4-3 win to leave them 10 points clear of the Dynamos with seven games remaining.

Chelmsford host Solent Devils at the Riverside on Saturday. The face-off is at 5.40pm.