Bolton Bulls 29 Chester Jets 45

Chester were on the road again and after their last 3 away defeats were hoping have a change in fortune. They played the Bolton Bulls who were relegated from Division 2 last season and were an extremely big side. Chester were still missing their 2 of the starting 5, Billy Flanagan and Christine Doyle and so had to reorganize their tactics and structure.

The 1st. quarter tipped off and the Jets scored the 1st Basket with Dave Robertson and then the Bulls came back in quick reply with G. Snedon scoring a good basket. Then he was put to the line for 2 free throws and missed them both. The quarter was well balanced with more Baskets from Robertson, Jackson and Ballard East and so the quarter finished. Bolton Bulls 8 Chester Jets 12.  

 In the 2nd Quarter the Jets coach knowing he could not match Bolton for height stuck on a Full Court press and this made a huge difference as Chester went on a scoring spree with Baskets from Robertson and Ballard East while J. Willis scored the only Bulls basket in reply. The quarter finished  Bolton Bulls 10 Chester Jets 27

  After a long half time and some stern words from the Chester Coach they started the quarter again in the press and this paid dividends with scoring again from Jackson and Robertson while D. Birch and Snedon were the only scorers for the Bulls and the quarter finished Bolton Bulls 14 Chester Jets 39

The last quarter where Chester introduced all their bench at some stage was a very interesting quarter when the referee’s made some of the strangest calls against the Jets and decided the Jets were not going to run away with the game. They decided to have an influence on the score and the game with their ridiculous calls against the Jets players and forgot there was 2 teams on the court and so the personal fouls against the jets players were mounting up and it got to the stage that the Jets players could not play any defence without picking up a foul and in fact Dave Robertson was fouled out of the game with the most "Biased" decision this coach has ever seen in the game.

The player who fouled Robertson apologised and said it was not intentional and so the referee gave the decision against Dave Robertson while he was in the act of shooting and so he was fouled out of the game and this to me was the most disgraceful decision I have ever witnessed. With Robertson out of the game and the Jets in foul trouble the Bulls took advantage of this and pressed the Jets who attracted 9 fouls trying to get out of the Press which is very unusual as the team pressing usually draw the fouls and the Jets hung on with the grit and Determination and Caroline Ballard East was exceptional in her play and scored some great baskets from play and free throws while the Bulls scored at leisure with the protection of the "biased" referees and so the Quarter ended  Bolton Bulls  29 Chester Jets 45  

Scorers: D.Robertson 33   Caroline Ballard East 8    Anna Jackson  4   The Team: A. Jackson, D.Robertson, C.Ballard East, A.Hickey, R.Allerston, D.Spencer P.Grimes, P.Barron  

Coach Peter Barron said afterwards "This was a crucial game for the Jets as we needed to get back to winning ways with our next few games at home and picking up points on the road is vital" On the Referee’s he slammed them saying

"They came with a gameplan to upset the Jets and try and keep the game even and were a total disgrace and so biased, even the Bolton Players were stunned and laughing.

Chester Jets players had to play against 7 people on the court, the Bulls team and the 2 referee’s and I will be making a formal complaint to their boss and will also be sending him a DVD of the game as these 2 people cannot be allowed to destroy a team that is playing well and also a player who is playing for his team and it appears to be that the referee’s have a "vendetta" against him and I will not tolerate it from people who are meant to let the game flow and be unbiased.

I am sorry to say this was not the case today and I know when I speak to their boss he will be also disappointed in their efforts today to destroy a team who are trying to do things right and be respectful to match officials, who didn’t in my opinion, earn or deserve anyone’s respect today."

Match report on Sunday's game - written by Head Coach - Peter Barron   Attached Photograph - Dave Robertson, No 15.   Our next home game is Saturday December 2nd 2006 against top of the table Sheffield Steelers.   

The Wheelchair Jets are now second in the table!

Pictured above is top scorer Dave Robertson