READING Rockets (17-5) made it nine wins in a row in NBL Division One last weekend after claiming a pair of victories to climb to third place in the table.

Manuel Pena Garces’s men edged out Team Northumbria 67-66 in a thriller before defeating London Lituanica 81-74, despite being without injured captain Danny Carter for both matches.

Rockets will look to continue their hot streak when they entertain Essex Leopards at the John Madejski Academy tonight (8pm), before welcoming Hemel Storm to the Rivermead Leisure Complex on Saturday evening (6pm).

With only four regular season games remaining in the campaign, Pena Garces is urging his side to continue building momentum.

He said: “To win both games last weekend was a great achievement for us. They were two really hard games and without Danny we knew it was going to be tough but what we saw was a never-say-die attitude in both games and some really good basketball played.

“But we also saw some key mistakes and lapses that we will be working to put right this week.

“The team continues to work hard and learn week by week and our better discipline is really helping us become a better group so this is pleasing.”

He continued: “Essex will be a real handful for us but the away game against them in which we were 15 up at half time and ended up losing by two was a really big learning experience.

“Having not lost in the league since then but having been beaten by them will give us confidence but also keep us very focused on what we need to do in order to beat them this time.

“When Hemel visit, it will be our fourth game in eight days and they are a really dangerous opponent with arguably one of the best back courts in the league so it will again be really hard – but I am confident in our resilience and how we can play to give us a chance in both of these games.”

Rockets have played both Essex and Hemel twice this season, sharing the spoils with a victory and defeat against them.

They are likely to be without Carter – who remains sidelined with a back injury – but are expected to have a fully fit squad otherwise.