Blog Archives

Dragons defeat Derby to sign off in style

26/3/2018

Bradford Dragons made it five wins from their last six fixtures, as they beat Derby Trailblazers 96-81 in their final league fixture of the season, on Saturday.

Derby, who have finished in the top four in each of the last three seasons, have found the going tough this time around and arrived in the Dragons’ Den with a record of only six wins from their 22 league fixtures.

Had it not have been for London Lituanica’s untimely exit from the league last September. meaning that only one side will face the drop this season, the Trailblazers would have still been in the midst of a relegation battle.

Bradford, meanwhile, had already secured their berth in the end of season playoff championship, but were playing for league position, in order to ensure the best possible fixture in the quarter finals.

It’s a White Weekend for Bradford Dragons.

21/3/2018

Bradford Dragons faced a double header last weekend, both matches against teams from the red side of the Pennines, but the white rose prevailed undefeated.

The Dragons travelled to Manchester Magic on Saturday, a team that they haven’t beaten in the previous eleven meetings between the two sides. However, on this occasion Bradford were comfortable winners, returning home on the right side of a 66-88 score line. Returning to their home court, the Dragons then welcomed the divisions bottom club, Lancashire Spinners, on Sunday, once again enjoying a convincing victory, 111-74.

Manchester have been a real thorn in Bradford’s side over the last four seasons, with Bradford failing to record a single victory against them in all that time. However, despite Magic’s win in the Dragons’ Den last month, there were clear signs that the gulf between the two sides had been closed.

Dragons Take Thunderous Applause Following OT Victory.

12/3/2018

Latvian, Rihards Šulcs (Sponsored by Templewood Photography) almost went from hero to villain on Saturday evening, as the Bradford Dragons took a thrilling overtime win against Worthing Thunder (127-126), in the Dragons’ Den.

Sulcs had played a solid game throughout and, along with American point guard Marcus Gooding (Sponsored by Gooding Funeral Services), headed the Bradford scorers on 34 points. But a needless foul in the dying moment of normal time gave Worthing the opportunity to steal the game.

With the Dragons leading by a single point (114-113) Eisley Swaine was sent to the line for two shots. With only a fraction of a second remaining on the clock Swaine had the opportunity to seal the game but fell short with both shots.

However, it should still have been enough to see the game out as Worthing were forced to take one final speculative shot from well within their own half of the court. But just as Zaire Taylor released the ball, Šulcs charged in, making an ill=timed foul and sending the league’s best free throw shooter (average 93%) to the line for three shots.

With the home crowd making as much noise as they could, in an attempt to throw Taylor off balance, he missed the first of his three attempts. He made no mistake with the second, levelling the score and leaving him one more shot to take the win. To the relief of the home crowd, the shot bounced out, off the rim, sending the game into a five-minute period of overtime.

Disappointing Dragons Defeated by last season’s Double Winners

7/3/2018

Head coach, Chris Mellor was left disappointed on Saturday, when he watched his Bradford Dragons team go down (80-68) at Northumbria University's Sport Central Arena, against last season's champions, Team Northumbria.

Whilst the North Easterners may not have been quite as prolific this season around, they are still sat comfortably in fourth position in the league table and had already beaten the Dragons in their two previous encounters this season.

However, on the back of their magnificent double victory, the previous weekend, the Dragons were high in confidence going into this fixture.

It was Bradford who put the first points on the scoreboard, when American Power-Forward, Ricky Fetske (sponsored by ALW Guitars), sank his lay-up for two.

Northumbria hit straight back through Malcolm Smith, but Jermayne Laing quickly restored the Dragons’ advantage, with another lay-up.

Glorious Weekend for Bradford Dragons

1/3/2018

Bradford Dragons came away from their double-header weekend with two wins under their belt, beating Team Newcastle University Knights (64-69) in the North East on Saturday, before returning to their home court to take complete their brace of victories, against Hemel Storm (72-64).

Saturday’s game was the Dragons’ third meeting of the season against the Knights, with Newcastle having come out on top in both tightly fought games in the Dragons’ Den.

However, the Geordie side have found the going tough, in their first season in Division One, with a tally of just seven wins leaving them teetering just above the relegation spots.

Bradford were caught sleeping at the start of the game, finding themselves twelve points down within the first two minutes (12-0). Ricky Fetske (sponsored by ALW Guitars) restored some parity, sinking the Dragons’ first three baskets, however at the halfway point of the opening period Newcastle were still nine points to the good (16-7).

The hosts increased their lead to eleven points, before Bradford then went on an unanswered eleven point run of their own to level the game at eighteen a-piece. Despite such a poor start to the game, the Dragons were ahead at the first buzzer (22-23).