Basketball

Specsavers Wear Valley Wolverines v Hartlepool CJ Hydraulics

Hydraulics started the better of the two teams in the season's opening county cup game, Macklam and Keith combining well. The Wolverines were able to find a way through eventually, Hirst and Shovlin allowed Wolves to claw their way back into the fold. However, it was the Hartlepool team ahead at the break. The home side started brightly in the second quarter with a double whammy of great play from Hirst and stifling Wolverine defence tying the game. But not before a 16-2 Hydraulic run gave Hartlepool a 39-23 half time lead. The second half saw the Hydraulics continue to score freely through Osbourne, and with the young Wolverines finding it a struggle inside it was always going to be an uphill battle. The Hydraulic lead had increased to 27 points by the final quarter with Macklam raking up big numbers. The final furlong was a trade off with both teams matching each other, basket for basket, with young Wear Valley players Boam and Costello troubling the scorekeeper. The Hydraulics will continue onto the second round however with a 76-51 win.

H'pool CJ Hydraulics top scorers: Keith 20, Macklam 19, Osbourne 17, Hetherington 14.

Specsavers Wear Valley Wolves top scorer: Hirst 25.

A1 Division One HQ Engineering Hornets A v Belmont Panthers

In the opening game of Division 1 the Hornets had the sharper start. After stretching a slight lead did they allowed Belmont back in the game as their defence struggled with the Belmont fast breaks, Graham finalising the damage giving Belmont a 1 point lead by the end of the first. The second quarter started basket for basket with both teams looking for an edge.

The edge came halfway through with an 8 point Belmont run led by A. Knox put Belmont onto a winning run. The Hornets finished the quarter trying to keep in the contest, chasing the game 39-28 down. The third quarter started and ended with Luke Thompson attempting to get the Hornets back into the game with 16 points total, for the quarter. Graham was able to counter with 15 point of his own however and the third period ended up a stalemate with Belmont keeping their 16-point lead. Both defences came out pumped up for the fourth quarter as neither team could make a big difference to the score sheet. The visiting Belmont team kept their nerve to win 77-59.

HQ Engineering Hornets A top scorer: Luke Thompson 31.

Belmont Pumas top scorers: Graham 30, Knox 20, Huntley 18.

B6 Division Two Belmont Pumas v Durham Saints

The first half provided a close contest with Belmont just edging the lead 15-10, with missed free throws allowing Durham to stay in the game. Durham's big guns, in the form of Lishman and Bailey misfired in the second quarter as few other players were able to back them up. All nine Belmont players were able to trouble the scorekeepers and the third was an excellent example although the Saints big two were once again left alone to score most of Durham's points. The 36-61 lead that Belmont held going into the final period was just too mush for Durham to catch up, Elderkin adding 12 points of his own for the much more versatile Pumas. Belmont wins their first of the season with a comfortable 72-39 point win.

Belmont Pumas top scorers: Elderkin 19, Wedlock 12, Hewitt 10.

D. Saints top scorers: Lishman 21, Bailey 12.

B8 Division Two Old Houghtonians v Teesside Huskies

The game was won by the Old Houghtonians in the first quarter when their fast break forced through the Teesside defence in the form of Taylor allowing the Houghtonians to take a 22-8 lead heading into the second period. Burlinson was then able to use his talents inside to extend the lead to 42-18 at the end of the first half. Houghtonians continued their acceleration in the second half with Carr and Lloyd continuing to break down the Teesside defence. Coad was the only player of the Huskies to make a dent into the strong Houghtonian set-up.

Old Houghtonians top scorers: Taylor 16, Burlinson 15, Carr 14, Burdis 13, Lloyd 10.

Teesside Huskies top scorer: Coad 14