BCB PREVIEW: DRAGONS LOOK TO BREATHE FIRE INTO SEASON IN A PACKED WEEKEND

October 16, 2026

Yorkshire Dragons have a double-header weekend ahead of the third week of BCB action as they aim to bounce back from an opening day loss.

Elsewhere, reigning League champions Reading travel to Birmingham in a battle of the Rockets.

Summary

Yorkshire Dragons face two-game weekend at home
Birmingham and Reading battle for Rockets bragging rights
Flyers II face Breakers looking for first win

Preview

The Yorkshire Dragons look to recover from their home loss to the City of Birmingham Rockets on opening night, when they host the Newcastle Knights (Saturday) and the Bristol Hurricanes (Sunday) in a double-header weekend.

The Dragons lost to the Knights in the BCB Trophy earlier in the season, so it’ll be a chance for revenge for Yorkshire, with the visit of the Hurricanes a shot for Yorkshire to add to Bristol’s stumbling form, as they have lost their opening two League games after going unbeaten in the Trophy group stage.

City of Birmingham Rockets host the Aldermore Reading Rockets on Sunday, with naming rights on the line early in the Midlands.

Both sides are unbeaten to start the League campaign, with Birmingham 2-0 and Ronald Blain in exceptional form for Birmingham to start, averaging 24 points, 10 rebounds and 4.5 steals in the first two games. Reading enjoyed a week off last week after winning their season opener against the Hurricanes.

The Bristol Flyers II will be aiming to get off the mark after losing their first three games but showing a lot of potential. They host the Milton Keynes Breakers on Saturday, having beaten the Derby Trailblazers last weekend to bag their first win of the League season, following an opening day loss to Hemel Storm.

Speaking of the Storm, they are in action on Sunday as they travel to the Essex Rebels, looking to stay unbeaten, while Essex aim to get back to winning ways after a double-header heartbreak last week that saw them drop to 1-2.

The League’s points pace-setter, Kurtis Henderson (31ppg), and the Loughborough Riders travel to the London Cavaliers on Saturday. However, the Cavs have their own scoring machine in Juan Manning, who averages 25 points so far in the early stages of the League season.

London’s home game to Loughborough forms part of a double-header, as the Cavaliers are away to the League-leading Derby Trailblazers on Sunday. The Trailblazers have started the campaign 2-1 so far. Malcolm Smith has been leading the Derby offence, putting up 20.3 points per game so far.

And on the south coast, Worthing Thunder return home as they host the Nottingham Hoods on Saturday night. Worthing are currently 1-1, with a fourth-quarter slump dropping them to a defeat to Birmingham, whereas the Hoods are 2-1 and looking to keep their good form going.