11:24am Tuesday 2nd February 2010
By Chris Phillips
AN injury to the influential Randy George played a major part in Essex Pirates’ 82-63 defeat at Leicester Riders on Saturday.
Pirates more than matched their hosts during the first two quarters.
But George suffered a cut lip during the third stanza and Riders took full advantage of his absence as they raced into an unassailable lead.
“We were leading for most of the first half and were playing really well at that point,” said Pirates head coach Tim Lewis.
“We then lost Randy for a while midway through the third quarter when he cut open his lip and, although we did OK defensively in that time, we struggled going forward a bit without him.
“Riders went ahead during that time and we just couldn’t get it back. But we stuck to the job well and from looking at the box stats at some key contests you would have thought we were the winning team.
“But it wasn’t to be and now we’re heading back to the drawing board for the games we have coming up in quick succession against Everton Tigers and Plymouth Raiders.”
Pirates again enjoyed the better of the first quarter and held a 22-12 lead before Riders trimmed it to 24-18 at the end of the first 10 minutes.
Pirates remained 26-19 in front before a 15-5 run by Riders, with eight points from Jason Johnson and six from Bradd Wierzbicki, put the hosts ahead.
Leading 41-38 at half time, Riders were pegged back to 51-51 before Barry Lamble and Isaac Westbrooks inspired a 13-2 run to end the third quarter when George was off receiving treatment.
Riders’ lead peaked at 82-61 after a 14-3 run put the match safe as Pirates were unable to gain revenge for the heart-breaking defeat they suffered against the same opposition at the start of December.
George top scored for Pirates with 17 points while Taner Adu added 11 and Haggai Hundert 10.
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