Double man of the match winner Joe Henry set the tone for a fabulous four-point weekend by opening the scoring after just seven seconds as Telford Tigers stormed to wins over Basingstoke and Bracknell.

"I just went straight from the face-off, skated over the blue line, shot it and it went in," said Henry. "That's got to be one of the fastest goals I've scored in pro hockey."

Henry's quick-fire opener signalled a continuation of the good form Tigers showed last weekend against Manchester. But while they failed to take a point from Phoenix, Bison proved less of a challenge.

Scott McKenzie and Luke Brittle joined Henry on the score sheet, the first period ending 3-2 to Tigers. Henry extended the lead at 26:15, although Basingstoke narrowed the gap with a shorthanded goal.

Jack Watkins added one at 42:48 but Bison struck straight back before Andrejs Maslovskis scored on the powerplay to make it 6-4. A couple of clashes, between Telford's Mike Jones and Chris Wiggins, and Maslovskis and Carl Graham, preceded Tigers' final goal of the night as Joe Henry wrapped up his hat trick at 56:20 to record the Shropshire lads' first win over Basingstoke.

The unexpected victory was followed up by a 5-4 domination of Bracknell.

Luke Brittle was first to net for Tigers, on the powerplay at 15:48, with Josh Bruce doubling the score just 17 seconds later. However Bees stung back, equalising by the 18th minute.  
 
A niggly second period saw just one goal, for Tigers, as Joe Henry made it 3-2. Andrejs Maslovskis added a solo strike at 42:16, before the referee awarded a disputed goal to Bracknell. Scott McKenzie made it 5-3, following his puck into the goal face first, and although Bees added a consolation goal they were incapable of pushing the game into overtime.

The double win was a welcome birthday gift for player-coach Tom Watkins, who said: "We carried the good performance from last weekend over into this, so we've had four really good games in a row. And I don't think we had to play out of our skins tonight, we just got the job done.

"At this point in the season I'm pleased to see how the players are sticking together and stepping up.

"We played very well in Basingstoke, applied 60 minutes of concentration and took the points.

"Joe Henry stole the show this weekend, but also Declan Ryan has been superb in nets, just like Martin Clarkson was last week.

"Our solid goaltending gives us the platform that everything else can build on. This weekend we've had solid defence too, and the forwards have been able to enjoy their games.

"Our first line is playing really well - it is hard to contain them - but everyone is contributing, and when you are doing well your confidence grows."

Man of the match Henry, also voted February's Player of the Month by the supporters, added: "It's working out really well with Scott (McKenzie) and Luke (Brittle). We just know where we all are on the ice."

Henry missed several weeks with a broken knee, but has now recovered his form of earlier in the season.

"My knee is better and I'm skating better again. I am really happy with a four-point weekend. It's great to be back into it."

Next weekend sees Tigers at home to Peterborough on Saturday (5.30pm) and on the road to Bracknell on Sunday.