Leeds won their first three group stage games and currently sits on top of Pool 2. A win this weekend against Northumbria would guarantee them a place in the competition’s knock out stages.
Team Northumbria is looking to keep their hopes of progression alive as they currently have a one win two loss record in the competition. Their solitary win came against Leicester Warriors in a defensive duel with the team from the North-East claiming a 47-54 away win. A loss to Leeds at the weekend would virtually make a quarter-final spot impossible for Team Northumbria.
Coach Mar Steutel has made Northumbria a defensively minded team and they will be looking to counter the offensive threat of Carnegie’s early season top scorers, small forward Branimir Mikulic and club captain Jack Stannard.
Leeds Carnegie Head Coach Matt Newby recognises the challenge that his side face saying “The Northumbria programme is a class act and one that continues to improve year in and year out. Coach Marc Steutel consistently delivers with his recruitment, staying domestically focused complimented by imports who he improves. We have played Northumbria between 5 and 6 times a season in competitive play for close to 5 seasons and the games remain some of the most challenging and entertaining in the year. I feel this is testimony to the programmes coaching staff and players who make this one of the healthiest rivalries in the nation.”
Leeds will then return home on Saturday 19th October to face the Westminster Warriors in their penultimate National Trophy group game. That game tips off at 7:30pm and tickets are available through the clubs website, www.leedscarnegiebasketball.co.uk
Story – Leeds Carnegie
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