CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS 2008

Saturday and Sunday saw the leading teams in the United Kingdom come together in the culmination of the wheelchair basketball league, a league dominated this season by Wolverhampton Rhinos.

Wolverhampton got off to a great start with a 77 – 39 victory in the National Cup (Wheelchair basketball’s equivalent to the FA Cup) over London rivals Raiders.  After the game Sinclair Thomas, the club coach attributed the victory to the young players in the squad. ‘We have a good mix of youth and experience in the team’, commented Sinclair, ‘Rhinos have always had a great junior programme and we are now realising the fruits of the development the club has put on, and this coupled with the leadership of GB players such as Simon Munn and Matt Byrne has been a great recipe.’ 

Rhinos went on to win the League Cup, Division 2 and in an epic final against Tameside Owls they overcame the title holders to win Division 1.

The Women’s league title was retained by London based ASPIRE Force who beat off the challenge from the Vixens to retain the title they have held since the Women’s League inception in 2003.  This game featured many of the stars who will be representing the Great Britain women’s team in Beijing later this year.

The third division was won by another London team, Raiders.  Raiders were runners up this season in both League cup finals, but their form eventually came true with victories over Leicester Cobras and Tameside Owls to lift the third division title.

The Championship Finals also saw Sheffield Steelers presented the title of Super League Champions and Bury Blue Devils won the development division.

For further information on the event please contact the Great Britain Wheelchair Basketball Association on Tel. 01509 279900

The Great Britain Wheelchair Basketball Association is the national governing body of wheelchair basketball in the United Kingdom and works to promote and encourage the development of the sport for men, women and juniors of all levels.

Results

3^rd Division – play-off to determine 4^th promoted spot to 2^nd division

Lothian 68 – Tornadoes 48
Stratford Players 39 – Lothian 52
Tornadoes 50 – Stratford Players 40

 3^rd Division – top three teams round robin

Raiders 47 – Tameside Owls 47
Leicester Cobras 37 – Tameside Owls 51
Raiders 56 – Leicester Cobras 38

 2^nd Division

Semi Final     Sheffield Steelers 45 – Birmingham Black Cats 37
Semi Final                           Rhinos 60 – Force 54                       
Bronze Game                  Force 52 – Black Cats 56                     
Final Game               Sheffield Steelers 38 – Rhinos 58              

 1^st Division
Semi Final                Tameside Owls 66 – Raiders 35
Semi Final                Aylesbury Aces 65 – Rhinos 89
Bronze Game          Aylesbury Aces 63 – Raiders 51
Final Game               Tameside Owls 45 – Rhinos 64

 League Cup
Rhinos 52 – Raiders 32

 National Cup
Rhinos 77 – Raiders 39

 Womens League
Semi Final                Force 63 – Owls 22      
Semi Final                Vixens 50 – Rhinos 38
Bronze Game          Rhinos 26 – Owls 49     
Final Game               Force 53 – Vixens 36