Blazers get a rest before Riders test
THE impending arrival of Storm Dennis has led Derby Trailblazers to postpone tonight’s NBL Division One fixture at the Clarence Wiggins Sports Centre.
Team Solent Kestrels requested the postponement due to concerns over travelling conditions, with winds expected to be at their strongest in the south.
Since Solent’s request is in accordance with Basketball England’s regulations concerning travel during extreme weather conditions, there was nothing Trailblazers could do other than accept it.
But Derby will still have a game this weekend, as tomorrow’s trip to face Loughborough Riders (4.30pm) looks set to go ahead.
Loughborough are a side Matt Shaw’s side are yet to beat this season, having lost 93-88 in the reverse league fixture and 83-77 in the National Cup.
Both games were matches Derby could and probably should have won, with the Riders coming from behind both times.
Malcolm Smith led the Blazers in both games, netting 28 in the league and 26 in the cup.
Loughborough’s Alex Roberts shot 27 points in the league, Harrison Gamble hitting 17 in the cup, matching the figure he has also averaged since joining the Riders in mid-season.
With the unexpected extra day off to go into the game fresh, while
Loughborough are in action at home to Hemel today, there may be an opportunity to overcome a side they have only beaten once in the last eight meetings.
“Loughborough have been up and down this season and have changed their roster slightly since the last time we played them in the National Cup quarter-finals,” said head coach Shaw.
“The postponement of the Solent match will give us an opportunity to spend a little more time focusing on how to get a win against them for the first time this season.”
■ Coverage of the match at the Loughborough University Netball and Badminton Centre can be watched live via Basketball England’s YouTube channel.