READING Rockets (10-3) will be looking to record their 10th straight league victory this Sunday when they take on Essex Leopards (5-9) at Rivermead Leisure Complex (5pm).

Manuel Pena Garces’ men recorded win number nine in succession on Saturday when they won on the road against the then third-placed team Derby Trailblazers. They came away from the East Midlands with a 93-75 victory to leapfrog their opponents and stay hot on the heels of Manchester Magic and Team Northumbria at the top of the NBL Division One table.

American Craig Ponder was the star man with 30 points, five assists, three steals and five rebounds, while Chris Hooper returned from injury to contribute an impressive 22 points, 16 rebounds, three assists and four blocks.

Ali Sbai had 18 points, and captain Danny Carter had 11 points, seven rebounds, six assists and two blocks in a comprehensive display.

The Rivermead outfit could make it 10 wins in a row on Sunday against a team they have already beaten this season 90-73 back in November. But they will be mindful of the Leopards’ recent success in the BBL Trophy as they knocked Manchester Giants out of the competition in the first round with a huge upset, defeating the BBL Championship side 86-84 before eventually losing to Plymouth Raiders last weekend.

A proud Peña Garcés is delighted with his side’s form – especially with a slightly depleted squad – but knows adding to this as well as working to improve areas of the game needed to maintain a championship run are crucial at this time of the season.

Reflecting on the Trailblazers victory, he said: “Derby is a very difficult place to go and win, so I think this victory was a really good one for us, not only to be able to do so against a rival away from home, but also to take the head-to-head over a team that I’m sure will be in and around the top four at the end of the season – that is of course the place we are hoping to be too.

“Our behaviours and in turn our performances have been improving week by week and this has helped the results to be positive for us.”

He continued: “We are still a little thin on the ground and this is something we are looking to rectify before next week’s deadline as well as work on improving the areas that are key to make us even better and very difficult to beat.

“It is a good moment for us, but we know so much more hard work is needed for us to achieve anything and this is our focus right now.”

Turning his attentions to this Sunday’s clash, Pena Garces admitted: “The visit of Essex is always a really tough game.

“The last couple of years have been really competitive with them and they have won some critical games against us so we will be looking at this game as a crucial one and preparing accordingly in order to keep our run going and negate what they throw at us. I know (coach) Steve Ogunjimi will have them ready to battle.”

Rockets have no new injury concerns, but English shooting guard Joel Keeble is still two weeks or so from a return to action.

Under 18 Fidel Gomez de Enterria Lopez was the only casualty on Saturday as an ankle injury ruled him out, but he should return to action for both the senior and Under 18s teams this weekend.