Match Report: Taunton Tigers Mens Team — 26 January 2007

Taunton Tigers vs Derby Trailblazers


Taunton Tigers continued with their increasing mid-season intensity to record yet another fine victory in the top flight of England Basketball, by leaving visitors Derby trailing in their wake at Wellsprings last Saturday to run out convincing 90 – 73 winners. “Our best performance yet!” was Coach Ronnie Heath's simple post-match appraisal of the Tigers' win. History repeated itself with a high flying Derby succumbing at the Wellsprings' Tigers liar.

Taunton's defence stepped-up when it mattered, restricting Derby's leading shooters Allaway and Spencer to rushed attempts from distance resulting in poor percentage outcomes. However, the mix of strength, height and guile one of the Trailblazer's two American imports Barber (29 points) proved too much for Taunton's smaller inside wall.

At the other end, the Tigers' patient build-up resulted in good shot options being developed, with Joe Andrews (MVP) having his best game so far this season and Rich Anderson (jointly topping the Tigers' scorers on 24 points a piece) both capitalising on the good ball movement by the rotating Tigers team.

A 15 points lead at the half was quickly reduced to a handful mid-way through the 3rd following a brief period when the visitors had the upper hand, but Taunton demonstrated their increasing experience by weathering the storm and again stepping-up the intensity and with good decision making re-established their earlier lead. With their noses in front, the Tigers never relented and continued to control the game all the way to the end with youngsters Joe Saunders and Adam Rickwood making valuable contributions.

With the Tigers' young home grown players developing in stature with every game and by recording their third League win at this top level (as well as one in the National Trophy), the pre-season sceptics are likely to be silenced.

Long after the game and obviously smarting from their defeat, Derby were still complaining about the referees. But an equal team foul count of 21 and an independent assessment that no calls affected the outcome together vindicated a well deserved victory for Tigers in front of the largest home crowd so far this season.

The near capacity crowd at Wellsprings was swelled by 80 invited guests from Clydesdale Bank and Pardoes Solicitors who enjoyed an adult pre-match buffet and a disco party for the children of their clients and staff, before settling down to watch the action. Clydesdale are in their second year of sponsorship, and it is Pardoes' third year, demonstrating that prominent businesses in the area have shown their support for teams of locally developed talent playing at the highest levels on the National stage. A contingent of pupils from Staplegrove School were also invited to the game — another instance of ‘Spreading the Tigers Experience’ in the local community.

Final Score: Taunton Tigers 90 – 73 Derby Trailblazers