WIDNES Wild's second season ended with defeat in the National Ice Hockey League North Promotion Play Off.

Wild lost the home leg against Whitley Warriors 9-3 on Saturday and the return 11-2 on Sunday.

Despite a huge team effort, the games illustrated the major differences in speed and skill between the two Northern conferences.

In Saturday's home leg, the game began at a furious pace but early goals from a skilled and physical Whitley Warriors put the home side on the back foot.

Despite a number of great stops from Great Britain Ladies netminder, Nicole Jackson, the power and accuracy of the visitors' shots, took the game away from Widnes.

A key figure for Whitley was outstanding Jamie Tinsley, with four of the first five goals.

Territorially, Wild were well in the game with the home forwards coming close on a number of occasions.

The great experience of veteran defenceman, Paul Matthews, was vital as Widnes applied the pressure.

Bobby Caunce, confident and inventive, tried everything to open up the Warriors defence, well supported by Dipnall, Supa, Pollitt and Hughes.

However, it was Whitley's ability to quickly change defence into attack, which was the home side's undoing.

A disappointingly small crowd, including a noisy visiting contingent, were shocked by a 4- 0 first interval lead.

Two goals inside the opening three minutes of the second period, appeared to prompt a netminding change for Wild, with Greg Ruxton taking his place between the pipes.

Wild opened their scoring on 23 minutes, with the influential Bobby Caunce finding the net assisted by Filip Supa and Shaun Dipnall.

However Ruxton couldn't prevent a remarkable goal from Adam Reynolds at 24.07. The giant Warriors forward, capitalised on some good work from Dean Holland, to fire home a blistering angled shot into the left corner of the net.

From there on in, a rejuvenated Wild took the game to their renowned opponents.

In the 26th minute Shaun Dipnall added a second for Wild on the powerplay. He fired an angled shot into the bottom right corner.

Wild hit the post at 30.20 but it was the visitors who added an eighth goal in the 39th minute - Greg Ruxton making a brilliant reaction save but the resulting rebound being fired high into the net by Martin Crammond The final period saw two tiring sides, matching one another in goals with Ben Richards scoring from close in for the Warriors and Bez Hughes adding a final goal for the Wild. The dominance of the visitors was emphasised in the period shots on goal totals - 26 to 11 in favour of the Warriors.

Sunday's return leg saw a determined Widnes team open well.

Greg Ruxton was selected in goal and despite confusion in the Wild defence leading to a Dean Holland opener for Whitley in the 2nd minute, the visitors grew in confidence.

Daniel Bullock was put clear by Sam Dunford in the eighth minute and he rounded netminder Mark Turnbull to equalise.

A big and noisy Wild visiting support nearly lifted the roof.

Within three minutes Wild took a sensational lead when some fine interpassing from Dipnall and Caunce led to Filip Supa finding the net.

Widnes held the lead until the last seconds of the first period when a low shot beat a screened Greg Ruxton.

Missing the influential defenceman Pavel Vales and the physical presence of Tom Revesz, Wild tired against a Warriors team able to keep the pressure on and the visitors penned in their own end.

The visitors continued to break out effectively with Dipnall, Caunce, Bullock and young George Crawshaw all giving the home team problems.

Netminder Ruxton produced real heroics, foiling dozens of Warriors raids but he was beaten by several shots coming through a crowd of players.

With the end of second period score at 6-2, Wild battled hard on tiring legs to shut down a home team keen to add to their goals total.

Skipper Matt Wainwright battled hard, rallying his co defencemen.

After taking an incredible 64 shots, Greg Ruxton gave way to Nicole Jackson to see out the last ten minutes.

Although heavily outshot, Widnes battled through to the end with Bez Hughes and George Crawshaw close to scoring in the last three minutes.

Greg Ruxton took the Wild MVP for an outstanding brave performance in net but the whole squad can feel proud of their efforts over two memorable games.

Players, fans, coaches and officials have worked together over a long 42-game season to enhance the growing reputation of a new club.