Rockets to take on EBL Division 1 leaders

 

Reading Rockets face another tough double-header weekend as they visit EBL Division 1 leaders, Derby Trailblazers on Saturday (7.30pm tip-off) before hosting basement club Tees Valley Mohawks on Sunday at Rivermead (3pm tip-off). Rockets have played both teams already this season in the reverse fixture, most recently against the Mohawks where they recorded their first victory under new Head Coach Matt Johnson, winning by 101 points to 60 in their biggest win of the season. Rockets home game against Derby was however a different story as the East Midlands side handed Reading an 81-60 loss - the Berkshire club's first home defeat of the league season.

 

Rockets go into another big weekend still sweating on the services of Belgian Fenny Falmagne who is struggling with a knee injury he picked up some weeks ago. The 5'10 point guard has only played in one of Rockets last three games and most recently was rested in Rockets BBL Trophy game against BBL Champions, Newcastle Eagles in the hope he would be fit for this weekend's action. Rockets Chairman Gary Johnson is hopeful that Falmagne will be back for what he sees as a crucial weekend. He said, 'We have really missed Fenny's presence over the last few games and we will almost certainly need to be a full strength for the trip to Derby as this is always a tough place to go.'

 

Rockets Head Coach Matt Johnson used Wednesday's BBL Trophy game to Newcastle as preparation for his side's two upcoming games and knows after last week's losses at the hands of Bristol (league) and Manchester (trophy) a win this weekend is vital. He said, 'We face another tough double-header weekend in the league when we travel to Derby on Saturday and host a new-look Tees Valley on Sunday. We had two tough losses last weekend at the hands of Bristol  and Manchester where we did not play how we should and how we expected to. We have spent time this week watching tape and seeing what areas we must put right and the players know what we need to do as a group to perform better and start winning again'.

 

Rockets Team Analyst Ben Fisher knows how much of a test both teams will prove to be this weekend. He said, 'Derby will be a real test for us this weekend. They have come a long way since they were promoted and have slowly but surely climbed up the Division 1 table and are now a force to be reckoned with. They have a nice balance to their team and arguably the best legimate 'big man' in the league in Dave Attwell. But to be honest, for us, this weekend is about what we can do and we know that on the back of the 'right' performance we can win and play with a lot of confidence.

Tees Valley is now a bit of an unknown quantity for us due to their three additions since we played them only two weeks ago and despite recording a comfortable victory up there, we cannot take them lightly. I know Lijah Perkins will have been an important addition to their roster as I'm sure the two other new players signed will be. So it will definitely be a battle on Sunday but one we feel we must rise to and come out on top'.