[23 OCT 09] CRUSADER NEWS

 Bristol Academy Flyers

Match Preview

Bristol Academy Flyers vs. Coventry Crusaders

Venue: Wise Campus - Filton College, New Rd, Stoke Gifford, Bristol, Avon, BS34 8LP

When: Saturday 24^th October 2009

Tip Off: 7.00pm

Competition: Mens National Trophy Pool 3

 By Adam Manning

Coventry Crusaders go into their final National Trophy pool game at Bristol looking to bounce back from their late loss to Taunton Tigers at the Sports Centre a fortnight ago.

Crusaders still have a chance of progressing to the quarter final knock out stages on point difference, despite losing their previous three Trophy games to take their record in the competition to just one win from nineteen.

Neely’s men have to beat Bristol on Saturday and hope that the Flyers then also lose to Taunton the following week to surrender a 29 points difference to allow the Crusaders past the pool stages.

Yet Neely thinks his side have benefited from past experiences so far this season, but has been frustrated by the two week break which has seen the players only being able to correct their errors as far as the training sessions.

“We don't see the Taunton loss as a set-back” Neely stated.

“The guys have moved forward and we're continuing to work on what we need to improve upon. I and the team would have preferred to be playing last weekend. I attempted to schedule in a friendly match but couldn't find a team available”.

He added: “The trophy record doesn't play on my mind at all. What I continue to focus on and try to get the team to focus on is improving and begin to play our best team basketball at mid-February to be at our best at playoff time”.

Bristol suffered a similar fate to the Crusaders in their last National Trophy game, also losing to Taunton by a single point, after the Tigers frustrated Bristol by keeping them at bay for three quarters of the game.

It is expected to be a carnival atmosphere at the Wise Campus as the Crusaders will be the first away team to get a taste of Bristol’s refurbished arena, which has been upgraded to a 1,000 capacity venue which is expected to attract a large crowd.

Another plus for Coventry is Bristol’s “Polish Wizard” Arek Makowski is unavailable for the match, having suffered a stress fracture to his leg. Crusaders’ defence will have to be on their toes though, as Bristol are expected to welcome home American 6’8 forward Doug McLaughlin Williams , who notched 30 in Bristol’s last game at Taunton three weeks ago.

The last meeting between the two sides saw a spirited fight back from Coventry, who with the assistance of some accurate three point shooting from Captain John Olinger, saw Crusaders overturn a 14 point half time deficit in the third.

“I expect them to be an improved team” said Neely, who isn’t underestimating a side that has just suffered it’s first defeat of the season with injuries to forwards Marek Makowski and Mike Gregory.

“They didn't have their experienced Polish player or the transfer from Cardiff who was their leading scorer from last season. So just on that basis I'd expect an even tougher opponent with some difficult match ups for us”.

The Crusaders have an injury free squad ahead of the game, with the same team that faced Taunton expected to be selected.

However the head coach had been hoping to add an extra face to his ten man squad during the competitive break, but so far nothing’s emerged.

In a post match interview with Crusaders news two weeks ago, Neely revealed how he the club would be taking a look at another unnamed player with view to a possible move. However the former Crusaders guard stressed that he won’t be rushed into adding to his squad.

He said: “At this time it is difficult to say when a player will be added”.

 “The player has not joined the club as of yet and we are still considering who we would like to build with. We do still plan to add another player or possibly two, but as stated before we will not make a rush decision in spite of the league matches quickly approaching”.

Tickets for Saturday’s away game are £4 for adults, £2 for under 16’s and concessions, and £8 for a family ticket.

For more information contact Danny James: 07747487914 or danny.james@filton.ac.uk

Crusaders team to face Bristol: 4 Joe Francombe (guard); 5 John Olinger (guard); 6 Tim Donaldson (point guard); 8 Will Bastin (guard); 9 Dan Taylor (guard); 10 Simon Payne (guard); 11 Stephen Danso (guard); 12 Dave Edden (forward); 13 Ryann Samuel (forward); 14 Kane Hudson (forward).

Recent Form:

Bristol have played just two competitive games this season compared to Coventry’s four, with the Flyers claiming their first and only win of the season against Coventry back at the Sports Centre a month ago in a 56-69 score line, before losing to local rivals Taunton 68-67 eight days later.

Coventry are playing their fifth game of 2009/10 and are yet to record their first win with just one week to go until the league campaign begins, which is against Bristol again at the Coventry Sports Centre a week on Saturday

Top 3 Scorers for 2009/10:

Coventry	Pts	Bristol	Pts
Olinger	103	Streete	40
Danso	46	McLaughlin-Williams	30
Edden	34	Berry	10

 

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