New coach faces tough test on first day of season

NEW Manchester Giants coach Danny Byrne will go in at the deep end in the new BBL season.

The league has released the fixtures for the 2017/18 season – and the Giants start against treble-winning Leicester Riders with a home clash on Friday, September 29.

It will be the first game in charge for Byrne, who has been promoted to the top job after assisting player/coach Yorick Williams last season.

The Giants face a USA Select side in a warm-up game at the Trafford Sportsdome on Sunday, September 3, at 5pm. It will act as a fundraiser for the We Love Manchester emergency fund, set up following the Manchester Arena bombing in May. Tickets are on sale now . SEPTEMBER Fri 29 – Leicester Riders (H) OCTOBER Fri 6 – London Lions (A) Sun 8 – Newcastle Eagles (H) Fri 13 – Worcester Wolves (A) CUP Sun 22 – Glasgow Rocks (A) Sun 29 – Plymouth Raiders (H) NOVEMBER Fri 3 – Leeds Force (A) Sun 12 – Surrey Scorchers (A) Sun 19 – Worcester Wolves (H) Sun 26 – Bristol Flyers (H) DECEMBER Sun 3 – Sheffield Sharks (H) Fri 8 – Leeds Force (A) Sun 17 – Glasgow Rocks (H) Fri 29 – Cheshire Phoenix (H) JANUARY Sun 7 – Glasgow Rocks (A) Fri 19 – Worcester Wolves (A) FEBRUARY Sat 3 – Leicester Riders (A) Sun 4 – Newcastle Eagles (H) Fri 9 – Leeds Force (H) Fri 16 – Surrey Scorchers (A) Fri 23 – Cheshire Phoenix (A) MARCH Fri 9 – Sheffield Sharks (A) Fri 16 – Plymouth Raiders (A) Sun 18 – Worcester Wolves (H) Sun 25 – London Lions (H) Fri 30 – Surrey Scorchers (H) APRIL Fri 6 – Bristol Flyers (A) Sat 7 – Leicester Riders (A) Fri 13 – Plymouth Raiders (H) Fri 20 – Newcastle Eagles (A) Sun 22 – Sheffield Sharks (H) Sat 28 – London Lions (A) Sun 29 – Bristol Flyers (H)