“Newcastle are of course a very experienced side and the fact that they play at home will make things even tougher.
“We really respect their programme. They have good size and terrific scoring ability. We know it’s going to be a very difficult game, however we want to play the best and see how we measure up. We definitely look forward to the challenge.”
FLYERS’ HEAD COACH
Friday 17th October 2014
CH 19:30 Esh Group Eagles Newcastle v Bristol Flyers //// Eagles Win 98 – 72
CH 19:30 Leeds Force v Plymouth University Raiders //// Raiders Win 79 – 83
CH 19:30 Sheffield Sharks v Manchester Giants //// Sharks Win 96 – 80
CH 19:30 Worcester Wolves v Surrey United // Wolves Win 82 – 68
Last season’s BBL Championship and Playoff winners, Esh Group Eagles Newcastle and Worcester Wolves, were victorious on Friday night, while Leeds Force were cruelly denied their first BBL Championship win.
Andrew Thomson, with 20 points, saw the Eagles overcome Bristol Flyers 98-72 and thereby leapfrog the BBL new boys – who have had a solid start up to this point – in the league table. Flyers had led early on, until the Eagles finished the first quarter with a 10-2 burst to establish a lead that they wouldn’t relinquish, to make it three wins in a row.
Elsewhere, Wolves made it three wins out of four with a strong fourth quarter seeing them beat Surrey United 82-68, behind 23 points from ex-United player Chavis Holmes.
In Yorkshire, Brent Benson’s 20 points, and dramatic late showing, saw Plymouth University Raiders snatch a 79-83 win over Leeds Force. It meant the Raiders bounce back from consecutive defeats, and denied Leeds a first league win of the season after last week’s BBL Cup success.
Finally, Sheffield Sharks powered by Manchester Giants 96-80 as Nick Lewis put on a three-point shooting display to lead the way with 20 points, and see the Sharks avenge last month’s defeat on the other side of the Pennines.
Saturday 18th October 2014
CH 19:30 Bristol Flyers v Durham Wildcats //// Wildcats Win 61 – 72
CH 19:30 Leicester Riders v Cheshire Phoenix //// Riders Win 88 – 87
Conner Washington’s buzzer-beating game-winner gave BBL Championship leaders Leicester Riders an 88-87 victory against Cheshire Phoenix in an extremely close game, which saw the lead change hands a total of 23 times.
Phoenix had taken the lead after Gareth Murray’s basket with 2.2 seconds remaining on the clock, but Riders had the last say and maintained an unbeaten record in the league.
Neil Watson was Riders’ top scorer with 21 points and 10 assists, but Washington, who finished the night with eight points, became the hero of the game for Leicester after scoring the team’s last four points.
Meanwhile, Durham Wildcats held on 72-61 on the road against Bristol Flyers at the WISE Arena, despite wasting a double-digit lead in the third quarter. Wildcats improved to a 2-2 record, while Bristol lost both games of their back-to-back this weekend and are now 3-3.
Sunday 19th October 2014
CH 17:30 Cheshire Phoenix v Esh Group Eagles Newcastle //// Eagles Win 81 – 88
CH 17:00 Glasgow Rocks v Leicester Riders //// Rocks Win 80 – 71
CH 18:00 Manchester Giants v Surrey United //// Giants Win 101 – 90
CH 16:00 Plymouth University Raiders v Durham Wildcats //// Wildcats Win 88 – 101
There was an exciting Sunday afternoon of action in the BBL Championship as Glasgow Rocks inflicted a first loss of the season on Leicester Riders.
Tommy Freeman was the Rocks’ leader as he fired 24 points in an 80-71 triumph at the Emirates Arena, which means Riders now have to share top spot with a 4-1 record with Esh Group Eagles Newcastle.
They came out on top 88-81 in an ill-tempered but absorbing clash at Cheshire Phoenix as Charles Smith rolled back the years with a 30-point display.
Also heading back to the north-east with contentment were Durham Wildcats whose 101-88 win at Plymouth University Raiders made it a weekend win double, having beaten Bristol on Saturday night.
Chris Jones was the hero with a magnificent double-double of 15 points and 11 assists.
Last but not least, the hands of Ingus Bankevics and Stefan Gill have probably still not cooled down after they dropped 11 triples on Surrey United to help Manchester Giants take a 101-90 home win.
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