[19 MAR 10] CRUSADER NEWS

 Leeds Carnegie Match Preview

Coventry Crusaders vs. Leeds Carnegie

Where: Coventry Sports Centre , Fairfax Street, Coventry, CV1 5RY.

When: Sunday 21^st March 2010

Tip Off: 4:00pm

Competition: EBL Division One

By Adam Manning

CRUSADERS know that only a win will do this Sunday afternoon to keep their faint play-off hopes alive as they go in to battle without influential captain John Olinger for this first time this season.

Crusaders were brought back down to earth form their first away win of the season at Sheffield Arrows two weeks ago with a heart breaking 86-78 defeat at London Leopards last Sunday when their 16 point advantage was undone by a 25 point rally by the home side mid way through the second half.

Coventry have eight points left to play for and are currently six points behind eighth place London Mets, who also have a game in hand, and coach Neely conceded that it would be “very difficult” for his side to go on and claim that final play-off berth.

Commenting upon the fight for eighth spot ahead of today’s game, Neely said: “At this point it is very difficult and we would need to win the remainder of the matches to have a chance.”

Despite the pressure being on to maintain their season long aim, which has seen them go joint eighth twice this season with an inferior points difference, the head coach insisted his side “will continue to drill the same way we have all year in preparation for Leeds.”

The play-off fight will be made more difficult with second placed EBL Division One new boys Leeds Carnegie posing the latest opposition after the collapse at London Leopards last weekend, which saw Crusaders lose a 15 point advantage in the third as Leopards went on a 25 point run.

Neely said on today’s opposition, who have a 13-5 win-loss record: “As far as I know Leeds get more training time than all other Division One teams and they put it to good use. They are well drilled and can hurt you in a variety of ways both offensively and defensively, and I think they have put a good mix of players together who fill their roles within the team.”

And today the American is hoping to grab a fifth home win and give this season’s fans a good send off to thank them for their support, which has seen crowds more than double this season courtesy of marketing initiatives such as the Christmas Cracker half-season-ticket competition.

“I think we've had some exciting matches at home for the fans this season. Unfortunately we came out on the losing side of many” said Neely of this season’s home form, which has seen a 4-9 win-loss record, scoring a gamely average of 74.8 points, conceding 80.3 points.

“We've really appreciated those that have supported us for many years as well as those that have come on board during this season and stuck with us. Unfortunately we couldn't keep the ‘5th Quarter’ running throughout this season as financially it was a burden and the turnout was not as it had been in past years. Hopefully this can make a come back as it’s always great getting an opportunity to know those that come and support the team.”

Stephen Danso and Dan Taylor are expected to return to the starting line up on Sunday afternoon after missing last week’s defeat down in London. However the head coach revealed that Kane Hudson isn’t expected to play due to his troublesome ankle injury, whilst Olinger, who has averaged 21 points at the Coventry Sports Centre this term, is attending a wedding back in the United States.

Crusaders team expected to face Leeds: 4 Joe Francombe (guard);

7 Matt Smith (power forward), 9 Dan Taylor (guard/forward); 10 Simon Payne (guard/forward);

11 Stephen Danso (guard); 12 Dave Edden (forward); 13 Ryann Samuel (forward);

15 Ben Timms (centre/forward).

 

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