Leicester Riders return to Super League Basketball Championship action on Friday as they take on long-time rivals Newcastle Eagles on the road, with another chapter set to be written in one of the league’s fiercest rivalries.
Two of the most successful clubs in British basketball, meetings between the Riders and Eagles are rarely short of intensity. Pride, history and Championship points are always on the line when these sides collide, and this encounter promises no different.
Recent Meetings
The last time the two sides met was back in October at the Mattioli Arena, where Leicester produced a statement performance to edge past the Eagles 91–77. On that night, the Riders controlled the tempo and imposed their physicality to claim an important home victory—one that Newcastle will be eager to respond to this time around.
Credit: Leicester Riders Media | Nathan Green
Riders Building Momentum
Leicester enter the game in confident form, showing resilience and composure in recent outings. Led by RaeQuan Battle, whose scoring ability continues to trouble defences, and orchestrated by Donald Carey Jr, the Riders have found rhythm at both ends of the floor. Captain Spencer Johnson remains the heartbeat of the side in recent games, setting the tone with leadership and timely plays in big moments after some clutch shots made by Captain Johnson, which secured dramatics late minute wins against Cheshire Phoenix and Manchester basketball.
Credit: Leicester Riders Media
The Eagles’ Threat
Newcastle arrive with plenty of quality and experience, capable of punishing any lapse in concentration. Known for their physical defence and ability to control games in transition, the Eagles will look to slow Leicester’s offence and turn the contest into a grind—an approach that has defined this rivalry over the years.
A Classic in the Making
With Championship points on the line and bragging rights at stake, expect a physical, high-intensity battle from tip-off. When Riders and Eagles meet, form often counts for little—and this latest renewal has all the ingredients of another classic encounter.
