Posted on 29 June, 2009

Knox will enter the contest with the upper hand having beaten both the men and women back in Round 3 and sitting above the Cobras on the Ladder, but as current holders of the trophy, Kilsyth will be keen to ensure their piece of history remains at the Snakepit.

The Ashes Trophy was formed back in 2006 to commemorate the intense rivalry between the two great Clubs and as a symbol of the remains from Club Kilsyth which was burnt to the ground.  From the remains a Trophy was made and community basketballs biggest rivals play for the right to hold it annually.

Knox famously won the first two Ashes Trophies but Kilsyth were able to get the upper hand in 2008 with the men winning by 9 points while the women lost by 8, give the Cobras the trophy by one point.

Kilsyth Basketball General Manager Grant Wallace said “this is one of the most important games of the year for not just the Cobras but the entire Association and we know that all the men and women will represent Kilsyth Basketball with pride and retain the Ashes to its rightful home”.

“The Kilsyth-Knox rivalry is an event we all look forward to each year, its tradition is engrained in the people of each club, too win these games is more important than most during the year.  The Battle for the Ashes is sometimes referred to like the Collingwood-Essendon Anzac Day match.  As coach of the men’s team and General Manager of Kilsyth Basketball, I look forward to this game each and every year because of the passion it stirs up in not only the players but within the entire basketball community,” said Mr. Wallace.

With all four teams legitimate title contenders in 2009 positioning on the ladder will also be on the line for each team. Home court advantage for the finals is up for grabs in both games so don’t expect any team to take a backward step.

The third placed Cobras will need Joe Werner, Tim Lang, Gerard Leonard and Quincy Henderson to fire at the offensive end while containing the second placed Raiders roster which is loaded with stars CJ Massingale, Michael Hill, Lester Strong and Cam Rigby.

For the Women, Amy Denson, the League MVP favourite, is having a stellar year and will be keen for a big game after the Lady Cobras poor performance against the Raiders earlier in 2009.  Sarah Parsons has returned to her best and with Hayley Moffatt and Clare Papavs continuing to contribute, Kilsyth is a massive chance to upset the League leading Raiders. Knox will have Caitlin Cunningham, Emily Fryters and Ashley Dunlap looking to stop the in form Lady Cobras but will be missing Sarah Graham who is away with the Australian University Games team in Belgrade, Serbia.

Tip-off is scheduled for 6.15pm (Women) and 8.15pm (Men) at the Kilsyth Sports Centre – Liverpool Road Kilsyth.

For further information on the Swinburne Kilsyth Cobras visit www.cobras.net.au