8/4/2018

Second Division South

Essex Outlaws 2: 65

Bears 2: 26

The Bears second team suffered a big defeat when they travelled to top of the table Essex Outlaws on Sunday.  The Bears faced a tough game from the off due to missing from their numbers two of their players, Andy Roberts and Rick Powell, who were at the Invictus games trials in Bath.

The Bears started strong and were able to match a well drilled Outlaws team at each end of the court but as the game progressed the Outlaws were able to take advantage of their experience and strength to build a lead at the end of the quarter with the scores Outlaws 2 20 – 10 Bears 2.

The second quarter saw the Outlaws ramping up their defense, putting Bears under more pressure around their basket whilst also being able make the most of their own offences opportunities to go into the half time break opening up a lead of  Outlaws 30  – 13 Bears 2.

After the break the Bears were still unable to make any leeway into the Outlaws lead and fell further behind with Outlaws playing a tight, stubborn and maintaining their offensive prowess.  The scores going into the last quarter were Outlaws 45 –  18 Bears 2. .

With the game virtually won, the last quarter saw the Outlaws adding to their score whilst again limiting the Bears to the odd success at their basket.  The final score at the buzzer was Outlaws 65  – 26 Bears 2..

After the game coach Masterson said “We knew we were in for a tough game today but to be without Andy (Roberts) and Rick (Powell) made it that much harder.  The positives today were both Harry Draper and Aaron Grant who have come in today and done a great job. The scores don’t reflect how well they both did today.”