Match Report: Taunton Tigers Mens Team — 22 March 2008

Taunton Tigers vs Coventry Crusaders


Taunton Tigers and Coventry Crusaders fought an incredible battle in the knowledge that the winners would be projected into the National Division 1 Championship Play-offs and the losers would effectively end their season. The importance of the game was reflected in the season's best crowd of 429 at Wellsprings, the second highest home attendance in Tigers' history. If they were expecting a hard-fought nail biter they were not disappointed.

Tigers' Captain Joe Andrews started the fire-works with 2 long range three-pointers in the early minutes confirming him now as one the leagues best shooters as Taunton opened up a 10 - 6 lead. An 8 - 0 run sparked by Crusader's Hudson quickly reversed the score line and set the tone for a game of runs that would see the lead change no fewer than seventeen times!

The hungry teams traded blows and counter blows as the first quarter ended with a 21-20 slender advantage to the home side. The coaching staff once again gave significant minutes to Taunton's youngest player Adam Rickwood in the small forward spot and he repaid their confidence again with a gutsy performance. He sparked off an 8-0 run for Tigers in the 2nd quarter on his way to a personal 13 game points.

Coventry's American import Ryan Leuthy replied with a 3-pointer to keep the visitors in touch and whilst Tigers set a defence specifically for his offensive talents, he typically managed to work his way to a game high 24 points. Another Leuthy ‘down-town’ three closed the gap at the end of the half with Taunton leading 43 - 39 at the break.

The 3rd quarter belonged to Coventry though, with big Baynes-Clark and the dunking Hall making use of the Crusaders size advantage as they established a 60 - 54 lead going in the final period. The physical battle was really hotting up with Coventry's captain Sam Spare receiving an ‘unsportsmanlike’ foul in the sixth minute and veteran Graham Jones receiving the same punishment for Taunton as he aggressively cleared the space around his injured team-mate Mike Sebire.

The famed Tigers support came into there own in the fourth quarter though. Coach Ronnie Heath had promised the team before the period started that if they stayed in the battle, the crowd would bring them home. Heath has regularly described the knowledgeable Taunton support as their 6th man in Tigers unprecedented rise to the top. They once again inspired an incredible 4th quarter performance.

Richard and Kevin Anderson both made 3-pointers down the stretch to highlight how difficult it is to match up against the Tigers with the depth of shooters they possess. A clash between Baynes-Clark, Jones and Rickwood in the fourth minute resulted in the disqualification of Coventry's Big Man and facial injuries to Rickwood which meant he couldn't play any further part in the game. For the record, the two Taunton players both confirmed afterwards that they felt Baynes-Clark was clumsy rather than malicious in the movements that lead to the collision.

The injury preceded an amazing 2 minute cameo performance from Alistair Bird where he scored 7 points in a 12 - 0 run that turned a 7 point deficit into a 5 point lead for Tigers. That lead was never relinquished with the experience of guard Matthew Nolan enough to steer Taunton home 83 - 74 in their final home game of the regular season.

Heath was full of praise for the role of Bird in the post-game celebrations,

“I have been critical of Birdy's defensive qualities over the years and he has had to remain positive — like many of the players who have been left out of the team and/or rotations from time to time. But nobody has doubted his commitment to the club and the crowd sat up when we put him on to chase the game for us. He is an incredible offensive threat and we hoped he might get some good looks at the basket before Coventry reacted. He really delivered and I believe turned the game.”

Veteran Graham Jones (MVP) refused to see the likely game away to top-seeded Manchester in the championship play-offs a fore-gone conclusion. In Esporta — Tigers conditioning venue, lifting weights the next day he encouraged the team to stay focussed,

“It is so easy for some of the younger players who have grown used to success over the last few years to forget how rare these sorts of opportunities are. We must not see the game as a bonus, the season is not over and anything can happen if we prepare well. The away game to Derby this week won't make any difference to league positions, but it should be seen as part of the essential build up.”

Final Score: Taunton Tigers 83 – 74 Coventry Crusaders