The action in Division One starts early this week when Reading Rockets host Leopards in a third versus fourth clash at Rivermead. The two sides have yet to meet this season, with this game moved from the beginning of January when Leopards were without their academy players due to a trip to Bosnia. Last season’s league meetings were both won by the Rockets
Leopards coach Jon Burnell expects a tough test when his side travel down the M4: “They are playing well at the moment, they get points from lots of angles, the defend well, and they scout properly. They watched us lst week an they’ll know or strengths and weaknesses and look to prowl on that.”

Both sides have met College of West Anglia Fury and Bristol Academy Flyers in their last two games, and Burnell is aware in the different in scoring in the games: “We’ve played the same two teams in our last two games and they’ve won by a combined score of 96, we’ve won by a total of five. That shows why they are in the top three. They’ve always been a tough team to play against, even when we’ve played against them when they had injuries they’ve still run their style. Their well coached, and well drilled, so we’re trying to get to that level and we’ll want to go down there and produce a good performance.”

The game will see Leopards’ recent signing Errol Seaman and assistant coach Lloyd Gardener return to their former club. Seaman was part of the Leopards team that defeated Rockets in the 2005/6 National Cup final, while Gardner was on the Reading squad that season. The Big Cats’ captain Sam Salter also spent a brief spell at the Berkshire club earlier in the campaign before returning to Leopards.

Dave Titmuss’ Rockets go into the game in third spot having won seven of their nine games, and have a game in hand over second placed Worthing Thunder. Leopards are one place lower with a 7-3 record, and have specialised in tight finishes this season with four of their league wins coming by seven or less points and two of their losses being in single figures.

The teams met on three occasions last season, with Leopards winning their home game in the National Trophy pool stage – the only loss Reading have suffered in their last 11 games in the competition – but Rockets gained revenge with a pair of league victories.

A Sam Salter three-pointer with 17 seconds remaining gave the home side a thrilling 83-82 win in October 206,. Salter's shot set up a tense finale and with the tension tangible, Mike Williamson saw his shot with four seconds remaining rim out, and Leopards scrambled the ball out to seal a thrilling victory. Calvin Fowler led the Big Cats scoring for the fifth straight game, but he had to share the honours with new signing Duncan Ogilvie as the pair each hit 18 points. Ogilvie has proved to be a key player for the Big Cats since joining them, but his season appears to be over following a knee injury. He has missed their last two games, and is a major doubt to even appear in the play-offs.

Rockets gained revenge for that Leopards victory in another exciting encounter in December, with a tight 93-85 victory. Rockets were led by a 31 point haul from Ryan Williams against the Leopards with David Watts and Steve Vear each scoring 17 - but it was the home side who led for long spells of the game. Seven points from James Nicholson helped Leopards lead 29-22 at the first break, and a low scoring second period saw the Big Cats go into the locker room with a 43-39 advantage. The home side were still seven up with two minutes of the third period remaining, only to see Reading score eight without reply to go into the final break with a 64-63 lead. With 100 seconds remaining Leopards led 83-81, but it was Reading who finished the stronger, scoring the majority of their points in a 9-2 run from the charity stripe to wrap up the win.

Rockets completed the league double on St Patrick’s Day with a 99-87 home win – although it took until the final period before they completed the win. The visitors went into the final break with a 69-68 lead before scores from Steve Humphries and Ryan Williams saw the home side open the fourth period strongly. Scores from Errol Seaman and Joe Ikhinmwin kept the Big Cats in touch before five straight Williams points saw Reading open an 84-75 lead with just over four minutes remaining and they never looked back.