Rock-it-Ball League Heats Up

The latest fixtures of the Yorkshire and Humber Division of the English National Rock-It-Ball League saw some fast and furious action in Easingwold at the weekend with reigning champions HellCats establishing themselves firmly at the top of the table and justifying their status as pre-tournament favourites.

The first match saw HellCats facing the HellFighters who were league runners up last year but who are a ‘work in progress’ this season. Both teams were depleted due to the unavailability but both teams were determined to give a good account of themselves and tore into each other from the off. With HellFighters still unused to playing together they did well to go into the first interval only 9 points adrift of HellCats. In the second quarter the HellFighters started to gel as a team with Alistair Jackson (a new signing from the Typhoons) working particularly hard and, to the delight of all the spectators, they had turned it round and went into half time with a three-point lead over the HellCats.

Being behind was a new experience for the HellCats and they came out after half time fired up and playing more like their old selves. This combined with some unfortunate penalty points conceded by the HellFighters meant HellCats built an 88-61 lead which they consolidated in the final quarter to win 199-88. HellFighters player-coach Paul Hildreth said: “taking the lead against the HellCats is like tweaking the tiger’s tail – but we were delighted to give them such a tough match and I am delighted with the way HellFighters are starting to come together. We knew this season was a rebuilding period and having seen that performance I am confident in the future for HellFighters.”

The second match saw the Raptors face the newest club, York Pumas. Raptors are improving constantly however York have also made massive strides in a short time and they took the game to the Raptors from the start. However Raptors greater experience was telling and from 7 point lead at the first quarter they built on this to enjoy a 69-42 lead at half time. York continued to fight hard but Raptors gradually extended their lead to 110-67 at the next interval and 143-93 at full time.

HellFighters then faced Typhoons in what turned out to be the most exciting fixture of the day. HellFighters were still tired from their exertions against HellCats and struggled against a competent and eager Typhoons side marshalled by captain Lindsay Kidd. After a real battle the first quarter ended all square. Gradually, however HellFighters managed to build a slight lead going into half time leading by 68-58. A real see-saw battle ended with both teams scoring the same number of points in the third quarter leaving HellFighters clinging on to their 10-point lead. The Typhoons have made massive progress recently and came out for the final period determined to turn things round and ripped into a tired HellFighters side in a period that saw the lead change hands several times with no team able to get more than a couple of points margin until the final 30 seconds when HellFighters made a desperate final push to run out 135-122 winners and lift themselves off the bottom of the league.

Following their epic match against the HellFighters, Typhoons then just had a few minutes recovery time before facing York Pumas. York fought very hard but the superior experience of the Typhoons told and they went into the first interval leading by 10 points. York, however, are learning quickly and outscored Typhoons in the second quarter to reduce the deficit to 4 points. A real battled followed with both teams demonstrating great skill in blocking and shooting and scoring the same in the third quarter meaning York went into the final quarter just 4 points adrift. Typhoons were in no mood to succumb to the York pressure, however, found a reserve of energy from somewhere and took control to run out winners, 103-84.

Carl Alsop, York coach, was delighted with the progress of his team: “These guys have made massive progress – did you see Aaron Perry’s blocking? Unbelievable. In fact all of them get better and better. They really are a team for the future.”