English National Rock-it-Ball League (Yorkshire Division) Kicks off in Easingwold

As defending League Champions the Easi-RockIts HellCats kicked off their 2009 campaign in style at the weekend as the first matches of the new Rock-It-Ball season got underway.

The 2008 season was based around just one league, however such has been the growth of the sport that the English National Rock-It-Ball League is now being contested in three regions – North East, North West and Yorkshire and the Humber with the top two from each region going through to fight for the title of National Champions in July.

HellCats, unchanged from last year when they had a 100% record gave notice of their intention to remain champions by producing a performance of shock and awe as they disposed of three sets of opponents.

English National Rock-It-BallThe first match of the new season was between HellCats and their close rivals the Raptors, a much improved side who ran the HellCats as close as anyone has done, losing by a mere ten points. Immediately after this match the Raptors were up against the Typhoons who have proven to be a bit of a ‘bogey tea’ for them in the past. Today, however, was different. Raptors were determined not to underestimate the opposition and from a four-point lead after the first quarter gradually pulled ahead to win the match by 131-92.

HellCats were then court again to face newcomers York, a young side who unfortunately found themselves under strength on the day. Facing the reigning league champions proved to be something of a baptism of fire as the HellCats strolled to a 115-51 victory.

The final game of the session again featured the HellCats who now had to face the Typhoons, smarting from the defeat against their arch-rivals the Raptors. The HellCats, however, were now well into their stride and produced a performance of total professionalism to storm to a 63-9 first quarter lead. Typhoons fought back hard and managed to reduce the deficit, actually outscoring the HellCats in the second quarter and running them very close in the third quarter however HellCats then stepped up a gear in the final quarter to run out winners 163-83 and maintain their 100% record.

Carl Alsop, one of the league co-ordinators and senior coach of the York team said: “My York team should be very proud of themselves. That was a real baptism of fire and will probably be the hardest game they have ever played. Not only is York a new club, we were under strength today and our first game was against one of the country’s top teams. My guys did very very well to do what they did – they actually got closer to HellCats than the Typhoons did! They will learn from that and will be a better team for the experience.”