Only two weeks from their first meeting this season Newry Fliers faced Downpatrick Vikings again. This time with home court advantage coach Paul Crawley hoped that his young side would play the game to their strengths using their speed and run the Vikings off the bigger home court.
However from the tipoff the game was clearly going to be a defensive one with only 6 points scored in the first quarter of the game.
With a strong zone defensive being played at both ends of the floor the game was hard hitting and physical. The Vikings used their size and strength to penetrate the Newry Zone and put points on the board, while Newry’s Aled Jenkins replied with some physical counteratacks which allowed Newry to end the first half within 5 points of the Down team.
It appeared from the side line that the Newry squad were fearful of the Vikings physical game and when chances to run a fast break presented themselves Newry did not take them.
While offensively the Newry side did not flourish they worked hard under the basket and pulled down a high percentage of both offensive and defensive rebounds. Lead by Nial Mc Ardle the whole Newry squad put themselves in the physical game and fought hard to show the Vikings that they would demand respect on their home court.
A number of final drives from Newry’s Nial Byrne and David Ruddy gave Newry the impetus they needed early in the game but despite a strong 3rd quarter for the Fliers the Vikings took the lead in the final quarter with a run of points scored on the foul line.
With the final score Newry Fliers 24 Down Vikings 36 it seemed like a second disappointing result for the young Newry side; however with the Down team also competing in the Senior Mens NI league the Newry boys can be satisfied that they held their own against a team from a much stronger league.
Newry’s MVP was Captain Nial Byrne.
Newry’s scorers were: Aled Jenkins (9 pts), Nial Byrne (C) 4 pts), Sean Bannon (3pts), David Ruddy(2 pts), Terry Guo (2 pts) , Conor Campbell (2pts) , Nial Mc Ardle (2pts), P. Kavanagh, M. Hannratty, C. Cull, H. Lui,
