Game Day 2 - Sheffield Sharks at Leeds Force

It's a sunny Sunday in September in Yorkshire and Sheffield Sharks have made the short trip up the M1 to Leeds Beckett University for the first away game of the season against Leeds Force.

The focus is for a quick return to winning ways.  Jordan Davis is still side-lined with a swollen ankle he went over on last weekend, so it's the same lineup as against Leicester Riders.

 Shaheed Davis makes a steal and runs away for the dunk

Tony Wroblicky muscles his way in

Half-time in a tight game, it's 38-33 to the Force

Sheffield Sharks vs Leicester Riders - photos from the opening game of the season

A tough night for the Sheffield Sharks sees them lose out 54-85 against a Leicester Riders side looking for a degree of revenge after the BBL playoff loss in May.

 Shaheed Davis wins the tip

 Tony Wroblicky shoots a 2 for the first points of the new season

 Mike Tuck in a familiar position under the basket

 Tony Wroblicky muscles his way through the Riders close defence

 Shaheed Davis runs the play

 Zach Gachette shoots

 And then pops one in

 Cardell McFarland brings the ball down the court

 Colin Sing looks to open up the Riders defence

 And then looks to shoot

  Cardell McFarland brings the ball down the court

Cardell McFarland runs past the Riders defence

 Shaheed Davis runs in to the D

 Kyle Odister looks for a way past the Riders defence

 Marko Backovic shoots a 2

 Tony Wroblicky gets some close attention

 Cardell McFarland looking for a way past the Riders defence

 Shaheed Davis with a dunk near the end of the game

Eddy Brownell looks to clear the defence

It's Friday night at the EIS, Sheffield and at half-time the score is.....

21-34 to the Sheffield Sharks against Leicester Riders.  It's been a tight game so far, a few nervous mistakes on both sides as the teams reprise their BBL playoff final match in slightly smaller circumstances.

 Tony Wroblicky gets the first points of the season, 2-0

Shaheed Davis goes for a basket

It's the start of the 2016-17 British Basketball League and in an experiment I've decided to try editing and posting some photos during the game.

This has involved hooking up the laptop to my mobile phone as the wifi (which isn't great in the first place) tends to get swamped during a game.  The process then runs something like this.  Shoot to first XQD card in the camera.  During the game tag (protect) any potential usable shots.  As half-time approaches, copy the protected files to the second XQD card.  Then use this card (with a greatly reduced number of photos) to pass them to the laptop for processing and then loading up to social media etc.

It's BBL 2016-17 and the season opener for Sheffield Sharks against Leicester Riders

Just over 4 months ago, Sheffield Sharks unexpectedly(?) beat Leicester Riders in the BBL playoff final at the O2 in London.

Tomorrow a much-changed Sharks line-up faces the first game of the season against the same opponent whose coach, Rob Paternostro, will not have wasted a moment in telling his squad how important this game is.

Captain Mike Tuck scoring against Leicester Riders at the EIS, Sheffield, October 2015

In the intervening period the Sharks have said adieu to players such as Jerrold Brooks, TJ Robinson and John Barber and recruited some height - probably some of the tallest players to play together at the EIS.  It's also the last season for the Sharks at the EIS before they move into their new home on the old Don Valley site.

Sharks dug very deep in May, showing lots of team spirit.  Come along to the EIS tomorrow night to see how the new season starts off.

For more information and ticket details, go to: http://sharksbasketball.org/

The joy of photography

One of the benefits of covering an event where there are lots of celebrities who are being photographed and who are passing you every 10-12 minutes in no particular rush, is the chance to get a few autographs.

The latest addition to the 'wall of fame' at home is a print of the celebrities at last week's Dan Walker (not that one) Cup, framed with a mount that has all their signatures on it.

From left to right:  Nick Matthew, Jimmy Anderson, Mark Lawrenson, Dean Andrews, Tom Lister, Michael Vaughan, AP McCoy, Michael Gray, Jon Newsome, Alan Shearer, Dan Walker, David May, Kelly Tidy, Stuart Broad, Mark Chapman, Sophie Bray, Laura Unsworth, James Gregg, Rory Lawson.  Also signed by Danny Willett, Matt Fitzpatrick & Harry Gration.

Sheffield Sharks - 2016/2017 Season Launch

It's September and the Sheffield Sharks came together tonight at B|Braun to launch their new season with plenty of new faces.

 The squad with the BBL Playoff trophy

Coach Atiba Lyons

 

 Assistant Coach Ariel Parrucci

 Captain Mike Tuck

 Kyle Odister

 Colin Sing 

 Eddie Brownell

 George Brownell

 

Marko Backovic

 Zach Gachette, Guard, 6'3" - returning for another spell with the Sharks

 Jordan Davis, Guard, 5'10" College: University of Tampa

 Marquis Mathis, Forward, 6'8"  College: University of West Florida

 Shaheed Davis, Forward, 6'9"  College: University of Central Florida

 

Tony Wroblicky, Centre, 6'10"  College: The American University

The Walker Cup (not that one)

Today saw the third annual Walker Cup (not that one) as TV presenter, patron of Sheffield Children's Hospital and all round Mr Nice Guy, Dan Walker, hosted a big charity golf day at Hallamshire Golf Club in Sheffield.

Stars of sport and screen turned up to support the day which raised over £60,000 in aid of the work of the Children's Hospital.

A few quick photos from the day:

 Sophie Bray and Laura Unsworth - GB Women's Hockey team (playing their first ever golf event!)

 Laura Unsworth, Dan Walker, Sophie Bray, Alan Shearer

The celebrity photo - not quite comprehensive as a few turned up a bit later.  From left to right: 

Nick Matthew, Jimmy Anderson, Mark Lawrenson, Dean Andrew, Tom Lister, Michael Vaughan, AP McCoy, Michael Gray, Jon Newsome, Alan Shearer, Dan Walker, David May, Kelly Tidy, Stuart Broad, Mark Chapman, Sophie Bray, Laura Unsworth, James Gregg, Rory Lawson

 Michael Vaughan, AP McCoy, Alan Shearer, Dan Walker, Nick Matthew

 Sheffield Children's Hospital patrons: Nick Matthew, Dan Walker, Michael Vaughan

 Danny Willett, Dan Walker, Matt Fitzpatrick

 Matt Fitzpatrick tees off

  Danny Willett tees off

 Alan Shearer tees off

 Dan Walker tees off