The Medway Park Crusaders fell to 0-2 in the National Trophy after losing 74-67 against the Bradford Dragons.

The Crusaders had the early advantage as Bradford struggled to score. Crusaders took an early 14-7 lead and were still leading 17-11 after the first.

The second quarter was a very different story, as Bradford went on an early 12-3 run behind a series of aggressive moves by Richard Sulcs. The teams then began to trade baskets with Luke Baker and Gareth Laws scoring from mid range for Crusaders while Chris McGrew was scoring from the post for Bradford. Another mini-run by the Dragons gave them a 38-31 lead at the half.

After Bradford scored the first basket of the half, Crusaders usual defensive intensity returned. They forced Bradford into a series of turnovers and tough shots and Adrian Fenyn began to take over offensively. A 13-4 run resulted in Crusaders retaking the lead 44-42. Once again Sulcs asserted himself and Bradford clawed their way back to a 53-50 lead entering the final quarter.

In the 4th Crusaders continued to rely heavily on Fenyn on offence, while Sulcs and McGrew continued to cause problems for them defensively. After Crusaders tied the game at 57, Bradford took control moving out to an 8 point lead that Crusaders never were able to close.

Fenyn led Medway park with 28, no one else was in double figures. Sulcs had 23 for Bradford with McGrew adding 15.

Coach James Vear was very frustrated, ““I’m very disappointed in the way we played tonight, I can take a defeat if I feel like the guys left everything on the floor but they didn’t do that tonight. At times we just didn’t compete and against a team like Bradford you have to do that for 40 minutes. This is not meant to take anything away from Bradford, they are a well coached team who know how to win.”

Fenyn also complimented the Dragons, “Bradford did a good job coming in and playing to their strengths. They are a unit that has played together for multiple seasons and that was reflected in the last 5 minutes of the game.”

Medway now has a weekend off before facing a double header weekend when they host London Leopards on 8 October at 5:00 at Medway Park before travelling to NASSA on the 9 October in the 2nd round of the National Cup.