It’s just Champion to be involved in Cup, says Young
IT’S second v fourth in tonight’s crucial BBL Championship game as the Eagles head down the M1 for a showdown with the in-form Sharks.
Sheffield have won seven straight cumulating in head coach Atiba Lyons picking up The BBL Kevin Cadle Coach of the Month award for November.
That run also includes a great road win at Leicester last weekend which took them to an 8-3 record and second place in the league table.
In explosive athletic small forward Dirk Williams, they have a player at the top of his game as his 33 points last week against Riders showed. His main scoring support comes from combo guard Chris Alexander, a very dangerous and heavy scorer.
Sharks opened the season with a 1-3 run and coach Lyons felt the need for change. He replaced his point guard, bringing in Anthony Collins, and boosted his front-court with ex-Bristol forward Leslee Smith.
Since those changes his LOCK-FORWARD Glen Young is intent on making the most of every moment in European rugby’s top-tier competition as Newcastle Falcons prepare to host Edinburgh on Sunday in the Heineken Champions Cup.
The Falcons are playing in the equivalent of rugby’s Champions League for the first time in 14 seasons following their best league finish in two decades, academy product Young one of their rising starts as the Scot looks to turn out against his countrymen.
“It’s great for me personally to be involved in Champions Cup games,” said the 24-year-old former Scotland Under-20s cap, who also qualifies for England.
“It doesn’t feel like there’s any pressure on us. We’re just going out there to enjoy the game, we’re enjoying this Champions Cup experience and hopefully there’ll be a good crowd in on Sunday to make it another great atmosphere. It’s a privilege to be a part of these big games and we’ve gone pretty well at home over the last couple of months.”
The Jedburgh native was side are unbeaten in the Championship which makes it a very tough prospect for Fab Flournoy and his wounded Eagles as they look to bounce back from the disappointment of going out of the BBL Cup against London Lions last Sunday.
The Eagles have a 7-4 part of the Newcastle side which lost 31-13 to Edinburgh at BT Murrayfield a week ago, but has more positive memories from his involvement in the Falcons’ Champions Cup wins over French giants Toulon and Montpellier during the opening two rounds of the group phase.
He said: “I came to the club the year we got promoted back to the Premiership in 2013, and it’s probably fair to say we were struggling a bit at the time. You look how far the club has come and it’s great to see, making three semi-finals last season for example, and we’ve now earned a chance to play in Europe’s top competition.
“We don’t want to let that just pass us by, and we’ve already had some great moments in it this season by beating Toulon and Montpellier. The 87th-minute winner here against Montpellier was one that will always stick in my memory because the South Stand in front of us was going absolutely crazy, and we want more of that.”
Last weekend’s loss in the Scottish capital moved the record in Championship play and can ill afford another loss, particularly against a side that also have title aspirations on their mind.
Five losses before Christmas would certainly give Newcastle a big hill to climb for the rest of the season.
Newcastle should be Falcons down to second in the pool five standings, but with five group winners and three best runners-up making it through to the quarter-finals Young and his men still possess a genuine chance of progressing to the last eight.
“We know this is a really important game in terms of how the group pans out, but not to the extent where we’re letting it affect our preparation,” he said.
“We treat all of our games exactly the same, we prepare properly, go in with a plan and look to execute it on the day. Sunday is no different in that sense, although clearly we’re not blind to the importance of it given how the group is shaping up.”
Newcastle should at least be buoyed by the fact they have specialist options available on Sunday at tighthead prop, unlike last weekend when loose-head Sam Lockwood was forced to switch over from loose-head due to tournament organisers EPCR refusing to allow the Falcons to register another player to mitigate their injury crisis.
■■ Tickets for Sunday’s game available on 0871 226 6060.