Tigers kept alive their National Trophy hopes on Sunday, finishing on the positive side of a thrilling 53 – 52 score-line. With the top 2 to qualify from each of the Division 1 exclusive groups, Taunton maintained their chances of playing in the National Trophy semi-final for the first time in their history.
Taunton had struggled to gain a foothold the previous day against Sheffield Arrows in Division 1 of the National League. Sheffield's overseas pair of Douglas McLaughlin–Williams (30 Points) and Tyler Ousley (20 Points) scored 50 points between them as the Yorkshire club improved to a 2 – 2 league record.
The game started slowly with the Tigers taking an early advantage at 6 – 4, however with the Tigers' defence inexplicably lacking energy, Arrows hit form in a 21 – 7 run which put them in control at 25 – 13 at the end of the first quarter. McLaughlin-Williams hit two treys to help spread the Tigers defence while Ousley was effective close to the basket.
In the second quarter Arrows continued to punish the Tigers from long range with four three-pointers, one from James Kelly and three from the laser–like McLaughlin–Williams as the Arrows reached the interval ahead 47 – 26.
Tigers re-grouped at the interval as they came roaring back in a strangely one-sided third quarter in which the sheer work-rate and tenacity of the Tigers troubled the home side who lost the quarter 29 – 14. No less than ten Taunton players scored in the third quarter to get them right back in the game. Sheffield weathered the storm though to ease to a 12 point win.
The omens were not looking good for the journey back down to Cardiff – who had recently beaten Sheffield in the league. With Kevin Anderson joining brother Richard on the injury list and illness depriving coach Ronnie Heath of the services of centre Lee Riviello, it was always going to be a battle.
Heath recalled Damian Puncewicz back into the squad and appeared to take a gamble when he pushed him straight into the starting 5 in an attempt to raise defensive intensity. His confidence in Puncewicz was immediately repaid as Taunton jumped to an early 12 – 2 lead.
With defence dominating at both ends Heath would rely on a real team effort to see the game out. Paul Yabsley (11 Points), who now leaves for France was the only player in double figures, but all 12 Tigers players scored in a nip and tuck battle right to the end. When Joe Andrews and Yabsley fouled out early in the fourth it looked as if the game was shifting towards Cardiff. However Jones, Gray, and Nolan in particular would not lie down fighting for every scrap and allowing Tigers to finish the right side of close encounter for some time.
Heath was delighted with the effort and heart of his players,
“They really demonstrated their incredible character out there today. We were desperate for a break following so many close losses and it seems as if everything was going against us. The players' relentless intensity throughout adversity has paid them back.”