[17 DEC 10] CRUSADER NEWS

Derby Trailblazers match preview

By Adam Manning, Crusaders Press Officer

Venue: Moorways Sports Complex, Moor Lane, Alington, Derby, DE24 9HY.

When: Saturday 18^th December 2010

Tip Off: 7:30pm

Competition: National League Division One

The Crusaders men’s team go into this Saturday’s game away at league champions Derby Trailblazers looking to avoid spending Christmas at the foot of the National League Division One table.

As a measure of how things tight are in Division One, a win for Coventry could propel them back into the play-off places – a defeat will see them bottom during a long three week Christmas break.

It won’t just be a battle to stay off bottom place though, it will also be a battle of the brothers as Crusaders captain and guard Michael Gayle comes up against sibling and Derby guard Martyn Gayle.

Coventry’s schedule of four consecutive away league games, yielding two points, saw them begin the season at home in dramatic style versus Reading as a missed free throw in the last second by Crusaders forward Siman Stewart proved the difference in the 79-80 defeat.

That sends Roger Payne’s side into Saturday’s game with Derby Trailblazers looking to stop the rot of three straight league defeats before the games come thick and fast in the new year, which is ultimately a time that will prove key to the head coach’s aim of finishing in the top five.

It hasn’t been all rosy for last season’s league champions either – Derby have just one win to their name in the league this season, and are coming into the game off the back of a 69-93 National Cup defeat to defending champions Bristol Academy Flyers.

 Click here to listen to assistant coach Marcus Garvey reflecting on the Crusaders’ season so far.

 

 Despite that latest setback Trailblazers won 98-107 at Leeds Carnegie in their last league outing, and while Crusaders assistant coach Marcus Garvey admitted it was a dangerous time to be playing Derby following their first league win, he pointed out that Crusaders will be looking to put the record straight after their recent poor run of form.

He said: “We’re hungry for a win as well. The guys have been focusing on making good decisions but also stepping up and playing the sort of basketball when we nearly surprised Bristol in our first league game. Bristol were lucky to win that game because we don’t know as a team what our strengths and weaknesses are.”

And Garvey empathised with the current situation that this weekend’s opponents are in as both sides search for the ultimate chemistry in their new-look squads.

Derby lost an important part of their make-up in the summer as club founder and head coach Clarence Wiggins stepped down on a high to concentrate on coaching the club's youth set-up at grass roots level. Wiggins' understudy since 2003, Jamie Maudsley, has now taken on the challenge of head coach.

“Teams re-jig their rosters and get different players in, and that’s the same with Derby. They’ve changed their coach and lost four or five players. So a bit like us when you have a team that has just been put together it’s about finding out what your strengths and weaknesses are.”

 “Derby are in a learning phase but they’ve just won against one of last year’s top four teams, so they’re getting to know each other and are on the right track.”

Question marks are hanging over the match fitness of Crusaders centre Rob Clarke and new signing Casey Crawford for Saturday’s game. Clarke has knee and ankle trouble, while power forward Cashmore is receiving physiotherapy but is expected to feature.

 You can follow the game live on Saturday evening via live stats by clicking here.

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