READING Rockets will look to maintain their good form as they prepare for an exciting early season double-header.

Manuel Pena Garces’ men won a pair of games last weekend, comfortably defeating Kent Crusaders 96-66 in their first National Trophy game before opening up their NBL Division One account with a hard-fought overtime victory at home to Lancashire Spinners, winning 99-95 to keep their unbeaten record to the start of the season.

The victory against the Spinners came after the side’s had ended normal time 85-85, but Rockets pulled clear later on.

Top scorers for the Rockets were D’Montre Edwards with 31 points, captain Danny Carter with 27, Wayne Yeboah with 11 points and David Ajumobi with 10.

The Kent victory saw Carter hit a staggering, career-high 42 points including four trebles, debutant Edwards contributed 26 points and 12 rebounds and Yeboah took downed 14 rebounds as Rockets rattled up a huge win against last season’s play-off champions.

They now face Essex Leopards in the National Trophy at the Brentwood Centre on Friday (8pm) before returning to Reading to host Greenwich Titans in the second round of the National Cup on Sunday at the Rivermead Leisure Complex (5pm).

Pena Garces was a relieved man after Sunday’s incredible win but is expecting two more difficult encounters.

The Spaniard said: “It was a really good weekend for us and we won two very different games but they were both really important in their different respects and there were lots of lessons for us to learn going into this week too.

“We played some good basketball at times and showed some real resolve, especially on Sunday, so there are some really positive things to build on as well.

"With the games coming thick and fast it isn’t giving us too much practice time but the time we do have together we must utilise to its full to improve in the areas we are not there with yet.”

He continued: “Friday’s game against Essex will be a really tough one especially as they are the reigning champions of Division One and I think having just lost to Kent, they will want to put that right very quickly so we will have to be well prepared against their new-look team to try to counter this.

“Sunday’s game will be an unknown for us against Greenwich but having had a whole week of practice and played what will be a difficult game on Friday, we will have to make sure we are ready for this team who haves nothing to lose.

“It is another exciting week ahead for our team and our club as we look to keep building.”

Despite their highly encouraging start to the season, the Rockets go into Friday’s match up with Essex Leopards with a number of injury concerns.

Bulgarian guard Dian Ivanov is suffering with a groin injury, while American point guard Antonio Robinson and English forward David Ajumobi only managed one game last weekend.

They are, however, expected to be fit for action as the Rockets aim to make it five wins out of five this season.