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Summer News
Leopards will not have to travel far when they open their National Trophy campaign in the group stage in September and October.
The Big Cats have been drawn in a three-team with PAWS London Capital and Brixton Topcats, and will face the pair in home and away games. The top two in each group qualify for the last eight, with the group winner getting home court advantage in the quarter-finals.
It is a direct contrast to the 2008/9 season when Leopards faced trips to Taunton, Bristol, Cardiff, Reading and Manchester as they reached the semi-finals of the competition.
One noticeable absence from this season’s competition are holders London Mets, who split their games against the Leopards on the way to lifting the Trophy. They have not entered for financial reasons, but they do, however, remain in the newly enlarged Division One.
Capital drop down from the BBL after three seasons in the competition, and the last time they competed in the Trophy they reached the semi-final. They will provide Leopards’ opponents for our first home game of the season on Sunday September 26 at the Brentwood Centre. (4/6)
LEOPARDS will face new opponents Durham Wildcats when the EBL Division One season starts in late September. Coached by Dave Elderkin, who had a spell as general manager of the original Leopards, the north-east side completed a Division Two treble by winning the league, play-offs and Patron’s Cup.
Joining them in Division One will be Brixton Topcats who finished runners-up in the final table. It’s been a long journey back to the top flight for the London club who were relegated in 1999 after back-to-back finishes at the bottom of the table. After four years in the second division, Topcats fell into the third tier in 2003, and were fortunate not to be relegated again in 2008.
However, with Andy Powsland at the helm, Topcats have now won back-to-back promotions, and also reached the quarter-finals of the National Cup last season before losing at cross-town rivals Leopards, 95-73.
The two sides also held several joint practices last season, and Brixton will provide the Big Cats with another London derby.
Although the line-up for the National Trophy has yet to be announced, it’s likely that Topcats and London Mets will join the Leopards in a three-team London group. Leopards’ fixtures are expected to be announced by the end of May. | 
