Rhinos 2 80 Celtic Warriors 48

National League 2^nd Division North

In a re-arranged fixture, Rhinos’ 2^nd team looked to continue their six game unbeaten start to the season against the Celtic Warriors who had travelled from Rossett in Wrexham to try to avenge their loss to the Rhinos earlier in the season.

The Rhinos had long-term absentee Adam Crinage back but were without Piers Baynton.

The home team couldn’t have started better putting points on the board from inside and outside the key, as they ran both their fast break and half-court offence well.

The Warriors were having chances to score but the ball just didn’t fall for them.

The Rhinos had twenty one points on the board before The Warriors scored their first basket in the eighth minute.

The quarter ended with the score 25 – 2.

With The Rhinos well in control, Coach Mat Foden started to ring the changes with his line-up.

This slightly disrupted their play and The Warriors took the opportunity to cut into The Rhinos’ lead.

The quarter went basket for basket but with The Warriors scoring the first and last points of the period, they took the quarter 18 – 14.

Forwards Sally Wager and Tom Budd were the main scorers for the home team.

With the score at 39 – 20, Rhinos went back to their starting line-up and put on a three man press to put the game well beyond the opposition.

Although the press didn’t force many turnovers, and The Warriors got through it fairly comfortably, they didn’t get the shots off they wanted and this enabled The Rhinos to gain the upper hand once again.

Eleven points from Kyle Marsh and eight from Darren Peasley in the quarter helped give Rhinos a 66 – 30 lead going into the final period.

The fourth quarter was a fairly even affair with the teams trading basket for basket until a late 10 – 0 run from the away team including two 3 pointers from guard Hickey showed The Warriors’ fighting spirit.

Peasley scored for Rhinos on the buzzer, and although they lost the quarter 18 – 14, they ran out winners 80 – 48.

Scorers:

Rhinos: Budd 22, Marsh 20, Peasley 20, Docherty 10, Wager 8.

Warriors: Causton 12, Ballard-East 10, Hickey 8, Grime 8, Spencer 6, Flanagan 4.

Rhinos travel to Sheffield on Sunday for their next league game. With Rhinos unbeaten and Sheffield having lost only one so far this season, it will be a tough game for both teams.