It’s Two close to call as title goes down to wire
THE race for promotion from Division Two is going down to the wire as both Warwick Grizzles and Cracovia Stratford battle it out at the top.
Both came through the latest round of fixtures unscathed, but for Stratford, it was by the skin of their teeth as they scraped home 86-85 over third-placed Tile Hill Trojans 2 at the Stratford Leisure Centre.
It was a titanic scrap, and Stratford broke first to lead 18-14 at the end of the first quarter, but four triples from Wayne Jones and Bhuwan Limbu pushed their visitors ahead, before Jamie Coulson responded, but there was enough to see Trojans take a slender half-time lead at 41-39.
From the resumption it was all Trojans and they looked to be on the way to taking all three points at 58-42, but up-stepped Coulson again to lift Cracovia as the gap closed to 65-57.
By then the tide had turned completely and Stratford powered on with wave after wave of attacks hitting home as the final buzzer beckoned.
Coulson dropped in his eighth three-pointer of the night to put his side within one at 76-75 then they went ahead as Trojans floundered.
Frantic defending from both sides saw a cluster of free-shooting opportunities either squandered or cashed, and it was Stratford who banked the points to claim victory by the narrowest of margins and keep up their challenge at the top.
Warwick Grizzles, in comparison, had an easier time at Warwick china Red, after another exciting game ebbed and flowed before Grizzles hit a match-winning run in the third period.
From four down to eight up in three minutes told the story of their final push, and, despite China Red getting back to within one, Grizzlies held on to clinch the victory which keeps them at the head of the table.
Tamworth Tigers sewed up the title in Division Three with a comfortable 63-49 win at Team Rebels and they should finish the season undefeated – unless second-placed Rugby Rage can upset them in their last game – postponed earlier and which is still to be rearranged. Westwood Rhinos proved too good for Trojans 3 as Jack Ford’s 26 inspired them to victory, despite 21 from the home side’s Trevor Robinson, and Rugby hammered Nuneaton Predators 92-48 at The Jubilee Centre to ensure the plucky Nuneaton side ended without a single league win.
There was only one game in Division One and it brought success for Warwick University over Aylesford Hawks.
The opening exchanges went the way of Hawks who led 43-34 at halftime, and University had to wait until the final quarter before they got their act in order. Hawks were 60-48 ahead when the period began, but they imploded leaving the students to capitalise from the free-throw line and edge it 78-72.