Rockets face champions in league opener

Published 28 Oct 2011 11:30 0 Comments

See also:

Reading Rockets face a tough opening league game as they travel to reigning champions Bristol Academy Flyers tomorrow (Saturday 7pm tip-off).

Rockets suffered their first defeat of the season last weekend at the hands of Derby Trailblazers in the National Trophy.

This is the first meeting between the two teams this season with the Flyers winning two of the three encounters with the Berkshire club last term as they went on to claim the EBL Division One title - the first in their history.

Despite losing their 100 per cent record, Rockets Head Coach Samit Nuruzade remained upbeat as his side enters the start of their league campaign.

He said: "We didn't play very well in the first half against Derby but we showed tremendous spirit and determination in the second half to snatch what would have been an unlikely win.

"It has been important for us to address where we went wrong last weekend and then immediately build on that this week as we prepare to play Bristol. The game this weekend will be another tough one and it will be interesting to see where we are at against last season's champions but these are the kind of tests we want at this stage of the season as improving throughout the season is paramount to our program and something we strive to do week in week out."

Saturday's opponents topped their trophy pool winning five games out of six and advanced to the knockout stages of the National Trophy.

Having kept the core of their squad from last season as well as adding some youth to their ranks, Rockets Performance Analyst Ben Fisher expects a tough test from last seasons table-toppers. He said, "Bristol were worthy champions last season and will be just as competitive this year so it's a real tough opening league fixture for us but one we are definitely relishing.

Rockets will be boosted by the signing of German forward Michael Matzeder who has joined the Berkshire club after playing in his home country previously, including being selected for Bavaria state Under 20s.

The 6'7 24-year-old is attending the University of Reading where he is studying as part of his M.Sc. studies in Munich and Director of Coaching Matt Johnson liked what he saw when the German arrived.

He said: "Michael is the type of player we like in that he is smart, wants to learn, and will definitely help the team and when I first saw him play I felt this was the case straight away. He is a good addition to our Division One roster and I hope his contribution will help the team as well as be beneficial to him during his time with us."

Rockets head into Saturday's crunch game with better injury news. Robbie Parker's hip flexor injury which kept him out of training last week seems to have heeled as he came through last weekend's defeat to Derby unscathed. 6'9 Forward Harrison Gamble would appear to be over the worst of his achillies injury which sidelined him for three weeks and Lithuanian Lukas Aleksandravicius has overcome a shoulder injury and is now back to full fitness leaving Head Coach Samit Nuruzade a full team to select from as the Rockets look to knock the Flyers off their perch when the EBL Division One campaign tips-off this Saturday.

This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 27 Oct 11

Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our Sport archives.

Follow @rdgchronicle