Cobras-1 match 12 of 12   –   5/4/09

Report by Anthony Quinn

Despite some superb performances, it looks like Leicester Cobras Wheelchair Basketball club’s first and second team will both be denied promotion this year, by the narrowest of margins. The first team look like finishing joint second on points with Lothian, only to be  denied a place in the play-off’s due to basket difference.

At their final home games of the season on Sunday, both teams achieved excellent victories. Student event organiser Carnage UK presented the club with a generous cheque, in between the two games, to show their support. The money will go towards purchasing a new club trailer and a sports wheelchair for a developing second team player.

Leicester Cobras-1 - 54 v Vikings-2 - 40

In second match of the day Cobras first team took on Vikings 2. Thomas on the nearside opens up the scoring for the Vikings. O'Connor on the farside scores. Vikings movement and passing is excellent. Taylor nip across the front of the basket and scores. Mistry holds off O'Connor. With Vikings defending their key well, Vaidya goes for a three pointer and scores, giving Cobras the lead for the first time in the match. Thomas scores and converts his penalty shot. Mistry scores. Vaidya converts twice from the penalty spot. O'Connor brings the scores level and then scores again as Vikings regain the lead. Taylor fails to convert from the penalty spot. Bolton scores. Mistry side pass reaches Bramley who neatly converts it. It is end to end chances, but both sides defend their key well. Both sides make substitutions. Vikings’ Captain Horsley misses as Cobras defend in numbers. Vaidya intercepts the ball and Mistry scores. Bolton links up well with O'Connor and Vikings retake the lead. On the nearside Clarke launches a great pass over a crowded key to Vaidya who scores. On the hooter O'Connor scores Vikings lead 15 to 17. Vikings’ look confident. Once they get used to Leicester’s basketball nets they could surge ahead. Cobras have lost possession at crucial times, but have worked well up front scoring some good quick baskets, they may need all their experience if they are to win this one.

Second quarter O'Connor in the key scores, Sharma scores on his second attempt. Following a foul Williams powers in his first penalty shot and is close with the second.   A great pass reaches Thomas, he scores and Vikings lead by five points. Cobras are creating chances but failing to convert. Clarke awarded penalties, misses the first, possibly distracted by a cry from their youngest fan ! However he converts the second straight in to loud cheers from the many home fans. With Mistry and Taylor back on, Cobras start to put more momentum and urgency into their play.  As Vikings miss chances to extend their lead further. Taylor to Davy-Cripwell, he turns and scores a superb basket. Good build up play from Cobras but Mistry hits the rim. O'Connor also hits the rim. Davy-Cripwell looks to pass, no one there, goes for the shot and brings the scores level at 22 all. Vikings panic a bit and start to rush their passing. Davy-Cripwell has the ball, Sharma is in a good position, but Davy-Cripwell waits and waits, Taylor comes into play and drops the ball neatly in over the rim as Cobras. Superb anticipation by Davy-Cripwell, which resulted in Cobras regaining the lead at last. Vikings call a time out and the Coach urges her players to wake up. Captain Horsley reponds immediately scoring with a fantastic long shot. Taylor defends well and then goes on to score, she is close with her single penalty shot. Thomas scores and it is level yet again. Vikings don’t give up, in an extremely tight game, both teams are applauded as they go off at half time 26 all. 

Third quarter. Thomas picks out Horsley who scores with a long shot. Cobras miss chances. O'Connor hits the rim and it’s in, Vikings lead by six points and look like they could run away with the match. Tolley links up well with Mistry and is close to scoring.  Gill picks out Mistry, who races clear and scores, but Williams shoots straight in from the nearside in reply. Vaidya misses, Mistry misses, Davy-Cripwell hits the rim, Cobras don’t seem to be able to score at the moment. Vaidya attacks the ball, before O'Connor can pick it up. Links up with Davy-Cripwell and Mistry scores. Vaidya initial aggression paying off. Under pressure Davy-Cripwell converts from the side. With Sharma back on,  Mistry converts two penalty shots straight in with ease. Vikings call a time out. Vikings lose possession and a fantastic shot from Gill goes straight in, to cheers from the home fans. Taylor scores again. O'Connor scores. Vaidya scores. Vikings fail to shoot as the 24 second clock runs out. Williams powerful shot is close. Davy-Cripwell tries for a three pointer. Cobras lead 40 to 36.  

Final quarter Vaidya tries for a 3 pointer, his next shot creeps over for two. Vikings miss chances and seem to have lost their way, with the 24 second clock running out several times.  With Bramley back on Mistry scores. Gill attacks the ball off O'Connor. Finally Vikings score with a great shot from Williams. Vaidya scores, but misses from the penalty spot. Horsley falls from his chair and looks in pain. Cobras Vaidya checks he is okay when he comes back on. A foul from O'Connor, but Clarke fails to convert from the penalty shot. Cobras mark Vikings players well, as they look to close down the game. Vikings loose possession and  Clarke picks out Davy-Cripwell, who rolls up and scores easily. With one second left on the shot clock, Vikings get the ball stuck behind the ring. In desperation their coach asks if this counts as half a basket ! They are given possession, but to no avail. Tolley is back on and Gill scores straight down the centre as Cobras reach 50 points. Vikings have by now run out of steam, despite a fantastic effort throughout the match. Thomas gets their final basket. Cobras strength in depth and experience in dominating the final quarter, pays off again when Gill scores and Vaidya racing ahead of  Horsley converts the winner 54 to 40.

Cobras first team has been very professional and impressive all season. They have dominated matches, the players have all got superb shooting abilities. Their inventive play has been fantastic to watch. Cobras nearly achieved two successive promotions, but just miss out by the narrowest of margins. With the Coaches already bringing on new players, the future looks bright, with good financial support and loud vocal support from the fans, this club really can go far.

Vikings Coach Sue Conroy said “This performance was our strongest all season. With such a small squad and players who would normally be on the bench, I am made up. The players really stepped up to the challenge. If you had said before the match we would lose by just 14 points, against a full Leicester Cobras side, I would have taken that. With no subs, it was mentally hard for the players but I am really pleased with their performance. With one game left, we can take a lot away from this game – a lot more positives than negatives. With the press on, our inexperience showed in our indecision and at times our offense was a bit static. Ben stepped up and the players worked really hard. We didn’t panic and didn’t want to give away too many turnovers. It was a game of two halves, we did fantastically well in the first half. We tired in the final quarter, but you can’t take anything away from them.”

Cobras’ Robbie Davy-Cripwell said “We played well, players on the fringes of getting in the first team were given a chance and we still won. When they led, I was not worried as we could always bring on our strongest team to bring the game back, but I did not have to play our strongest side at any point. You have to have confidence in the players around you and not show nerves, which could affect the newer players. I felt calm and confident that we would win and it paid off. They played fantastic and used what they had to great effect. We knew they would tire, we are a fast team and we knew we could bring on stronger players at the end to kill them off. It looks like we will finish third, joint second, but Lothian have got a better basket difference. If you had told me we would finish third before the start of the season, I would have bitten your hand off. It has been an excellent first season for us in this higher division. We now have the opportunity to build and get in the first division next time and be in a much stronger position to stay up there. It is great when local businesses show their support for the squad and we would like to keep them involved as the club develops and grows.”

Quarter Scores         Cobras-1       Vikings-2

1                                      15                     17

2                                      11                       9

3                                      14                     10

4                                      14                       4

Totals                              54                     40

Cobras-1 scorers were:

Jignesh Vaidya                 15

Jayant Mistry                    12

Robby Davy-Cripwell          8

Sam Taylor                         8

Steve Gill                            6

Sean Bramley                     2

Dipen Sharma                     2

Bryan Clarke                       1

Total                                 54

Cobras-1 team were:

Dipen Sharma, Bryan Clarke, Sean Bramley, Jignesh Vaidya, Helen Tolley, Steve Gill, Sam Taylor, Robby Davy-Cripwell (Coach) and Jayant Mistry (Captain).

Return to: Match Reports 2008/09