[07 JAN 10] CRUSADER NEWS

 Leeds Carnegie Match Preview

Leeds Carnegie vs. Coventry Crusaders

Where: Leeds Metropolitan Carnegie University, Civic Quarter, Leeds, United Kingdom, LS1 3HE

When: Saturday 9^th January 2010

Tip Off: 4:00pm

Competition: EBL Division One

By Adam Manning

COVENTRY CRUSADERS will try to begin the New Year as they ended the last one when they travel up to high flying new boys Leeds Carnegie this Saturday afternoon.

Crusaders beat London Leopards last time out at the Sports Centre in a thrilling 101-92 over time score line, leaving the side poised to catch up with the play off pack with Crusaders just two points off the pace.

It is the first time these two sides have met, and Crusaders go in search of that first away win of the season at the seventh attempt against a joint second Leeds side who have won their last five home games, with their last home defeat coming in the National Trophy on 10^th October to current league leaders Manchester Magic.

Coventry will also pit their wits against the division’s current top scorer Adrian Fenyn, who has 25.88 points per game for Leeds to date, averaging nine rebounds per game.

However Leeds Head Coach Matthew Newby will have plenty of food for thought ahead of the game, as his side take to the court at Derby Trailblazers the next day for their National Trophy Quarter Final showdown.

“It will be a great test for us early in the new year” said Crusaders Head Coach Scott Neely, who revealed that his side’s preparations for the game had been hampered after Tuesday’s training session, their first after the Christmas break, had to be cancelled due to bad weather.

Although the Crusaders boss admitted he wasn’t very knowledgeable about the newcomers, he was wary of where their success has originated from, with Head Coach Newby achieving three promotions in three years with Leeds.

“As they are new to Division One I do not know much about them, but their Head Coach Newby is well respected and has brought them through the lower divisions very quickly. They also have a strong foreign influence with the league's leading scorer and top five rebounder in Adrian Fenyn”.

But it’s all about more of the same according to Crusaders forward Dave Edden, who says that the side needs to show a repeat of the winning performance against London Leopards if they’re to stand any chance of returning to Coventry with the points.

“The big thing against Leopards was rebounds. They had big players and we’re smaller, but we got more balls, and I think that’s going to be very important against Leeds because I know they’ve got big players. And also not allowing them to get second opportunities” explained Edden, who along with Stephen Danso undertook trials for the Great Britain Under 20s just before Christmas.

Crusaders are expected to travel to Yorkshire with a clean bill of health, and although point guard Tim Donaldson has been cleared by the doctor to resume his basketball, Neely stated that “it has been decided he will not be participating with the team at this time”.

Coventry Crusaders team to face Leeds Carnegie:  4 Joe Francombe (guard); 5 John Olinger (c) (guard);                8 Will Bastin (guard); 9 Dan Taylor (guard/forward); 10 Simon Payne (guard/forward); 11 Stephen Danso (guard);   12 Dave Edden (forward); 13 Ryann Samuel (forward); 14 Kane Hudson (guard); 15 Ben Timms (centre/forward).

*Coventry Crusaders Under 16’s will be looking to make it three league home wins on the bounce this Saturday when they entertain third placed Team Spirit Shropshire Warriors at the Sports Centre, tip off 12:15pm. Crusaders Under 18’s face the same side in their age group, and will travel to try to put and end to a four game winless streak by winning their first away game of the season against the Midlands Conference’s bottom club.

 

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