Game reviews - 2007/8 Season - PAGE 2

Essex League Play-Off Final...May 5th 2008

Saffron Stealers 72, Baddow Eagles 62.

   Period 1 18 - 13

   Period 2 15 - 11

   Period 3 14 - 14

   Period 4 25 - 24

The Scorers;

No. 4 Di Lieto 6 pts

No. 5 Clay N. 3 pts

No. 6 Charlwood 5 pts

No. 7 Predzius 6 pts

No. 8 Pearce 0 pts

No. 9 Clay M. 3 pts

No. 10 Cook P. 6 pts

No. 11 Purcell 16 pts

No. 12 Dexter 12 pts

No. 13 Cook B. 0 pts

No. 14 Weston 15 pts

Stealers finish their Essex League season on a high grinding out a win over Baddow Eagles 2 by 76 points to 62.

This result finalises a most impresive record never before achieved by the club. 15 wins out of 15 in the League to be crowned League Champions and guarantee promotion, followed by two more successive victories in the play-off competition - Stealers go home with all the Division 2 prizes.

Match Report - to follow

Their impressive record continued against first division opposition, beating Southend Scorpions 1 in a friendly, and Baddow Eagles 1 in the first round of the League Cup, only to be knocked out by a meager 3 points to Division 1 Champions Brightlingsea - their only loss of the season.

No. 14 Grant Weston collects the 'Most valuable Player' award from Hon League Treasurer, Mr Ian Stewart

Cambs League Play-Off semi-Final v CATS 20.4.08 76-55 WIN

Period 1- 14-10 Period 2 - 21-8 Period 3 - 22-16 Period 4- 19-21

Stealers cruise through to the Cambs League final with thoughts of the double in mind following this emphatic victory verses Cambridge CATS.

Key to the win was containment of the CATS two scoring guards Wright and Janus, a task exicuted admirably by the Clays and fellow guards Di Lieto, Charlwood and Bazza. This job done Stealers knew that their dominent big guys would take control of the boards at each end to secure the game - again accomplished systematically by Dexter, Cook, Weston, & Purcell.

Great to see Weersing back in force, with his best performance since his return from injury - he really is a defensive mountain, and young Pearse too realishing his opportunity to make mincemeet of his college buddies.

Dexter displayed delight in trouncing his old mate Sullivan one-on-one time and time again - it really was a no-contest, the only method Sullivan could employ to stop the giant was the foul resulting once again in his early departure to return to his knitting.

One of the best displays of team cover / help this season with the big guys playing loose behind the tight de of the guards resulting in some fantastic blocks from Pete and Mark. good to see this defencive team work that has sometimes been lacking in League fixtures.

Still, not a massive scoring game for Stealers, with plenty of opportunities going astray - they will need to tighten up their finishing skills if they are to remain dominent in the forthcoming finals against much sharper opposition.

Man of the match goes to Captain Clay for cutting the Cats breaking deamon out of the game completely. No. 8 Wright scored zero, zilch, nil, nowt, absolutely nothin' through the whole of the first half - mind you CC can't take all the credit for this for himself - the support from behind was impregnable. Well done guys - heres to a couple of great finals - enjoy.