Rhinos 62 Vikings 49

National League 1^st Division North

In their first game back after the Christmas and New Year break, Rhinos’ 1^st team entertained Vikings from St Helens. Missing through illness for Rhinos was Sally Wager.

This was a double header weekend between the two teams as they were to play each other on the Saturday with the return fixture on the Sunday.

Vikings scored the first two baskets of the game through GB players Jon Pollock and Dan Highcock. Rhinos struggled at the offensive end for the opening six minutes while Pollock and Highcock scored regularly to give the away side a lead of 13 – 4.

Vikings were pushing out on defence so Coach Sinclair Thomas substituted Mat Foden into the game as a guard to give them another outlet, and straight away the change worked.

Rhinos scored six unanswered points before a couple of defensive lapses allowed Pollock to score twice leaving the score at 17 – 10.

Again Rhinos went on another scoring burst to take the lead at 18 – 17 with only seconds left at the end of the first quarter.

Lack of communication though, enabled Pollock to come down the court unchallenged and score a three pointer on the buzzer to put the Vikings back in front at 20 – 18.

Rhinos scored twice at the start of the second period and regained the lead.

They continued to score consistently throughout the quarter with Vikings unable to stop GB forward Simon Munn.

He scored sixteen points personal as the Rhinos won the quarter 24 – 12 to open up an advantage of 42 – 32 at the half-time interval.

The third quarter saw Vikings close the gap as Rhinos could only manage eight points, with Mark ‘Fozzy’ Fosbrook scoring six of those. Vikings won the quarter 12 – 8 and went into the final period trailing 50 – 44.

The fourth quarter saw Vikings close the gap to five points with five minutes left but even with the score line looking close, Rhinos felt and looked in control and closed out the game with an 8 – 0 run, to claim the victory 62 – 49.

Scorers:

Rhinos: Munn 37, Fosbrook 11, Byrne 10, Foden 2, Docherty 2.

Vikings: Highcock 16, Pollock 11, Greenhalgh 10, Roberts 8, Conroy 4.

Rhinos’ next game is the return fixture against the Vikings being played in St Helens.