Match Report: Taunton Tigers Mens Team — 8 & 9 November 2008

Taunton Tigers vs Bristol Academy Flyers & Plymouth Raiders


It was the Men's team most painful weekend ever as they lost by just one point in both games of a double header weekend. The two close losses mean that the Tigers have now lost four games already this season by the margin of a single basket. Devastated, Head Coach Ronnie Heath still managed to put a positive slant on things.

“This time last year we had won just one game and had been blown out by 30 points on two occasions. We are just 4 baskets in total away from the National Trophy Semi-Final, National Cup Quarter Final and in the top half of Division 1. These things happen, it is just it has never happened to me in my 30 years of coaching and playing.”

Taunton was buoyant ahead of their eagerly awaited class with rivals Bristol on Saturday following their impressive win against London Leopards the previous weekend. They controlled the game for 39 minutes driven on by a large crowd and entered the final minute 5 points ahead. An inexplicable calamity of errors followed involving Taunton's most experienced players culminating in three quick scores from Bristol to win the game in the last 3 seconds.

Having to travel the next day was always going to be tough against Plymouth especially as illness and injury had deprived them of two of their most experienced players, Richard Anderson and Paul Yabsley. They lost a ding-dong battle finishing with a dubious travel call in the last 2 seconds when Adam Rickwood looked certain to score and win the game. Rickwood was the shining light of the weekend and is fast becoming one of Tigers most consistent players.

Tauntons woes continued with news that Heath will be without Captain Richard Anderson for at least a month it seems after treatment on a long standing knee injury. They travel to Coventry this weekend desperate to turn their fortunes around.

Final Score: Taunton Tigers 85 – 86 Bristol Academy Flyers

Final Score: Taunton Tigers 68 – 69 Plymouth Raiders