Durham ready for new-look Tigers

Durham guard/forward Chris Pearce says Sunday’s televised encounter against Mersey Tigers is a big game for both clubs as they hunt a play-off place.

The Tigers have picked up some away form of late, winning at Glasgow and Guildford, and they sit two wins ahead of the Wildcats in the table.

In the previous league meeting between the sides, the Liverpool club came away 85-81 winners.

Pearce said: “Mersey have brought in some new faces, and it seems to have worked as they picked up a big win last week. It’s a big game for both clubs in the chase for play-off positions this year.

“We had chances to win our first meeting at Knowsley, but didn’t convert when it mattered. We need to start better, and play with the same defensive intensity for 40 minutes with no lapses.”

Durham coach Dave Elderkin admits to having only limited knowledge of the new-look Mersey team.

He added: “It seems they’ve had a turn around personnel wise since the last meeting and I know very little about their new players other than the Spanish kid who we exchanged emails with about the possibility of studying and playing at Durham.

“We are looking forward to another shot at a good performance on TV- everything but the second half slump was a positive from our debut two weeks ago.”