Leopards have announced that they will compete in an additional competition this season – the Braintree Sports Trophy.

With Solent Stars withdrawing from EBL Division One, the Big Cats have taken the opportunity to arrange an additional tournament against sides in their area.

College of West Anglia Fury and Leopards will be joined by American airbase side Mildenhall Marauders in the new competition. The three sides will play each other on a home and away basis to determine who lifts the trophy. The competition will tip off on Saturday October 20 when Fury host Mildenhall at Lynnsport, with Leopards hosting the Americans the following Saturday. The Big Cats will travel to Suffolk on Saturday November 17, with Fury make the trip Saturday December 8. The games between Fury and Leopards are yet to be arranged.

“We’re delighted that Mildenhall have agreed to play us” said Leopards general manager Dave Ryan. “Neither club could afford to lose two home games, and we certainly didn’t want two blank weekends in the space of four weeks, so the games against Mildenhall will be a good break from league action. The Trophy game between Leopards and Fury on Saturday showed that we are two evenly matched teams, so those two games should be entertaining as well.”