Sharks 64 Rhinos 67

National League 1^st Division North

Having experienced their first loss of the season last weekend, the Rhinos had two games this weekend to get back on the winning trail.

Their first game was a trip to Newcastle to play the Sharks who had won three and lost three going into this game.

The game started evenly with the teams trading basket for basket until the seventh minute when Rhinos took a four point lead at 10 – 6.

Terry Bywater scored for Sharks to close the gap to two points before Rhinos finished the quarter with baskets from Tom Docherty and Fred Howley leaving the score at 14 – 8 with neither team really settling down.

The 2nd quarter saw both teams start to find their shooting boots. The lead changed hands twice before Rhinos opened up their biggest lead of the game at 26 – 21 thanks to baskets from Tom Budd and captain Matt Byrne.

Again the Sharks came back to level at 26 – 26 with a minute remaining to half-time. The scoring wasn’t finished though.

Rhinos scored twice more to move in front 30 – 26, but the advantage was soon wiped out with Bywater scoring from the line to make the score 30 – 30.

It was the Sharks who started the brighter in the 3^rd quarter as they went ahead 36 – 34. It seemed like neither team could make that break and put a run together to gain control of the game, but with the scores tied at 38 – 38, Rhinos made a number of defensive stops and went on a 11 – 2 run to lead 49 – 40. Both teams scored once more to leave the score at 51 – 42.

Rhinos now appeared to be in charge but the way this game had been going, they knew anything could still happen.

In the third minute of the final period, Rhinos had opened up a thirteen point lead at 57 – 44, and looked like they could be heading for the win, but right on cue, the Sharks put an 11 – 2 scoring spurt together and closed the gap to 59 – 54 with just over a minute remaining.

Sharks needed the ball in their possession and being on team fouls, they felt their best chance of winning was to foul, send Rhinos to the free throw line, then get the ball back.

This tactic appeared to be working as Rhinos missed six free throws on the trot but the problem for the Sharks was they couldn’t score at the other end.

Munn hit two free throws to make the score 61 – 55 before Terry Clark hit a three pointer for the Sharks to make it 61 – 58 with just under a minute to go.

Munn was fouled again and again he hit both from the line, for Rhinos to lead by five.

Bywater was then fouled as he attempted a three point shot and was sent to the line.

He hit all three free throws so Sharks now trailed by only two at 63 – 61.

Howley scored for Rhinos, but then with 20 seconds on the clock, Docherty was called for an unsporting foul as he tried to stop Bywater taking another three point shot, meaning Sharks had three free throws and possession.

Bywater hit all three from the line for Sharks to trail by one, and now had the chance to win the game and complete their comeback.

Sharks inbounded the ball to Bywater but he had to stretch forward for the ball and in doing so raised both his back wheels off the ground and got called for a technical foul.

Munn took the free throws and buried them both as Rhinos held on to win 67 – 64.

It was a fantastic game for the onlooker to watch and in the end could’ve gone either way.

Scorers:

Rhinos: Byrne 19, Munn 16, Howley 12, Budd 6, Docherty 4, Peasley 2, Wager 2, Marsh 2, Fosbrook 2, Foden 2.

Sharks: Bywater 33, Clark 17, Hollinshead 6, McGinty 3, Pimblett 3, Fawcett 2.

Rhinos now travel to Sheffield for the second of their two weekend games.