Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
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Leeds Met Basketball hoping for National Final success
Our University's Men's National League Basketball Programme, Leeds Carnegie, will compete for the National Cup Title this Sunday (27 January) against Bristol Academy Flyers at Ponds Forge, Sheffield.
It is the first time in the club's short history that they have reached the final of this competition.
Coach Matthew Newby, said: "I'm really looking forward to Sunday, it's obviously a huge day, not only for me and the players, but also for the club. Traditionally the National Cup Final is one of the most attended events on the domestic calendar."
Previous encounters between the two teams have always proved to be competitive and compelling. Coach Newby commented: "A match up against Bristol will be an awesome spectacle, traditionally our match-ups against Bristol have been close encounters. Last time we met them on the big stage was in the 2010/11 Playoff Semi-Final, which was a fantastic battle that resulted in an overtime victory for us."
He said he believes that his side are in great contention after several years of development, adding: "The Leeds Met basketball programme has gone from strength-to-strength in the last seven years. The student programme, which includes a compliment of undergraduate and postgraduate, domestic and international students, have been impressive this year on their way to the final.
"We have twelve student athletes that train every day, who are very proud to be wearing the rose of Leeds Metropolitan University and the city of Leeds into Sunday's Final."
The team won England Basketball's Division Four, Three and Two on the way to the top flight, while also winning the University Championships in 2011.
The National Cup Finals is one of the only trophies that this Leeds Carnegie side has failed to win. On Sunday they look to change that and will leave everything in Sheffield to make sure they return to Leeds with the Trophy.