Teesside Lions face a challenging double-header this weekend as they hit the road to take on Sheffield Sharks II in NBL Division One action on Saturday 4th October, before travelling to Merseyside for a Sunday showdown with Liverpool in the National Cup.

The weekend marks an early test of squad depth and resilience for Teesside, who are a talented but young side. Saturday’s game in Sheffield pits the Lions against a well-organised Sharks outfit – the second team of the SLB franchise – who combine sharp ball movement with disciplined team defence and home-court confidence. The Sharks side, filled with academy-linked prospects, are known for their tempo and have earned a reputation for being particularly dangerous on their home floor.

Teesside, however, will travel with away this weekend, with a point to prove following a 30 point defeat in the season opener against Leicester Warriors. 

The Warriors showed title credentials with a big, strong and clinical performance. For Teesside, it was a game too soon, as the youthful side are still finding their feet. The determination was there, as was flashes of good play, but for all the good ball movement, the shots did not drop and the gap grew bigger as Leicester gained momentum and confidence. 

It was particularly pleasing to see the younger and smaller Lions stand their ground and not be intimidated by the size and maturity advantage of the opposition. After the first quarter, the result was not in doubt, but the Lions kept fighting until the end. It will no doubt be a game comparable to the middle and end of the season in which a very different and much improved Lions will emerge.

19 year old Lithuanian Benas Maldutis, a new recruit via Teesside University was a stand-out performer showing the fans his desire, mature presence and ability at both ends of the court. Maldutis finished with a respectable 10pts. The young guard galvanised Lions after a poor start and helped inspire productive quarters in the second (16-16) and the fourth which Lions won 15-11. It was the damage done in first and second quarters that was hard to recover from, and Coach Bojev is looking for more focus on defence in future games.

“We were not afraid, but we have to play harder and smarter defence. If we struggle to score like against Leicester, then we want to rely on solid defence to keep us in the game. We are working on this.” Said Coach Bojev.

Just 16 hours later, the Lions will face a strong Liverpool for a National Cup clash that promises fireworks. Liverpool, riding a wave of confidence following a big overtime win against local rivals St Helens, will look to capitalise on home advantage and Lions' tight turnaround.

The Cup fixture presents a different kind of pressure, with the knock-out format allowing no room for off-days. Teesside will need to manage their rotations wisely, keep players fresh, and remain mentally sharp across both contests.

While it’s unclear whether Luca Gaillet or Roma Radchenko will return in time to feature, it is clear Teesside are a team in development, have shown potential and will be looking to prove progression over the weekend.

Supporters can follow live updates across Teesside Lions’ social media platforms throughout the weekend as the team continues its exciting new journey in Division One and the National Cup.

Teesside will be back on home court the weekend after when they entertain Sheffield Arrows at Olympia Arena. Tickets are available to purchase now via the website.