Ahead of a busy weekend for the club, we spoke to the club coaches about the challenges ahead...
Saturday 2nd November
U16's @ Maidstone (14:30) vs. Maidstone & Barking
Coach Seb Benford's side travel to Maidstone without injured captain Woody Jackson and Joseph Franks due to illness, and following the transfer of Gabriel Stephenson to Harrow Falcons, but having added William Witham from the development squad to bolster the depth at the guard spots, and making his NBL debut this weekend.
"We learned a lot away at Bucks Hornets in the cup" said Coach Seb Benford "Playing against a significantly more experienced team was an invaluable experience. The guys have worked really hard in the time since then, and we're looking forward to the challenges that come with getting our league campaign started, against Maidstone and Barking."
Senior Men @ Skyliner Sports Centre (15:00) vs. Hemel Storm II
Following a pair of tough losses to open the season, things don't get any easier for the Men, who welcome a deep and experienced Hemel side on the back of their close win over Anglia Ruskin this past weekend.
However, with the departure of David Wood adding to a growing list of unavailable players, the Bulldogs have their work cut out for them, as Captain Billy Smith and Tom Guerrero are a doubt due to injury while youngster Oli Cowling is due for a spell on the sidelines, too. Factoring in that Deividas Gorodeckis, Lloyd Aldis and Jacob Swift remain unavailable, and Jimmy Steedman has recently celebrated the birth of his daughter, and it potentially leaves the home side a little short-handed.
"Dave's decision to leave the club really has come at a bad time for us" said Coach Arron MacDonald, "But I'm a big believer in 'next man up' and in Brandon and Denby we have two other guys at that spot who've grown so much over the summer, I'm sure they'll take it as a challenge. We'll give Billy, Tom and Jimmy every opportunity to play in this game, and I believe in every player that pulls on our jersey that they'll work hard for one another and execute - and that's all I can ask of them."
On his opponents, Coach MacDonald said "Hemel are going to be buoyed by their close win over ARU - who we lost to only a couple of weeks ago - and they're a team with a lot of skill at the guard positions and size in the paint. They'll be a tough test for our team, and should be a good marker for how we've progressed to-date as a team."
Sunday 3rd November Senior Reserves @ Skyliner Sports Centre (18:00) vs. Cambridge Cats II Fresh from a pair of wins to open their Suffolk Senior League Campaign, the Reserve Team welcomes an experienced Cambridge Cats II side to Skyliner on Sunday.
"We dropped a three-point game to Cats II in the Cambridge League a couple of weeks ago" said Coach Glenn Collins, "but since then, we've built some momentum in back-to-back league wins in Suffolk."
"We're looking to maintain our 100% home record this season, first and foremost, but in doing so we give ourselves the opportunity to both progress in the Cambridge Cup and avenge a close loss."
If you'd like to support the Bulldogs, admission is free for both home games, and there will be a fundraising half-time raffle on Saturday.
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