A very busy weekend in the Patrons Cup may give teams and fans a clear idea of who will be bound for the semi finals when all 11 results are complete by Sunday.

 

POOL 1

 

Team Solent v Glamorgan Gladiators
Saturday 13 October, 6pm, St Marys LC

 

Team Solent find themselves on the ropes in the Patrons Cup as they hope to find their first win with two games left in the competition, starting with Glamorgan Gladiators on Saturday.

 

Solent are 0-3 and Gladiators are 2-1 with the latter club having arguably more to lose, as the southerners are unlikely to gain a semi final spot.

 

London Westside v Mansfield Giants
Saturday 13 October, TBC, Kensington LC

 

In their first game of weekend double-headers, London Westside and Mansfield Giants battle it out in the capital to try and gain some ground on leaders Loughborough and second place Glamorgan.

 

Westside (1-1) have a game in hand over Mansfield (1-2) with their final pool game being rescheduled for 18 November against NASSA.

 

Giants, who have recently released American Chris Gandy and awaiting their new import, need to win both their games this weekend if they have any hope of advancing.

 

Loughborough Students Riders v Newham (NASSA) Neptunes
Saturday 13 October, 1pm, Sir David Wallace SH

 

Loughborough will look for revenge against the team who eliminated them from the 2011/12 Division 3 playoffs as they face fellow promoted team, NASSA Neptunes.

 

Riders have cruised through their Patrons Cup games so far this season, with their perfect 3-0 record seeing them win games by an average of nearly 23 points.

 

They have a good grip on a semi final spot but will have to defeat the 1-1 Neptunes to seal that position.

 

London Westside v Team Solent

Sunday 14 October, TBC, Kensington LC

 

Westside are home again on Sunday, this time to Team Solent, who are on the road after hosting Glamorgan on Saturday.

Depending on Saturday's results, this could be a big game for Westside's chances of advancing while it would take a miracle for the 0-3 Solent to make a semi final place.

 

Newham (NASSA) Neptunes v Mansfield Giants
Sunday 14 October, 2:15pm, Sports Dock UEL

 

Mansfield Giants will make it a weekend in London as they travel across town to face NASSA on Sunday.

 

The games on Saturday could also make this an important match-up for both sides, especially as NASSA have a game in hand, playing Westside in mid-November to complete their pool play.

 

Glamorgan Gladiators v Loughborough Students Riders
Sunday 14 October, 4:30pm, Rhondda Fach SC

 

The top two in Pool 1 clash in south Wales on Sunday as Glamorgan Gladiators and Loughborough Students Riders look to keep their semi final positions.

 

This will be final pool game for both teams.

 

POOL 2

 

Birmingham Mets v London United-Harefield Academy
Thursday 11 October, 7:30pm, Birmingham Met College

 

The Patrons Cup gets started on Thursday this week in Birmingham when London United visit the Mets.

 

Pool 2 is very tight so far this season, with four teams currently tied on 2-1 records, and two of those are Mets and United. A win for either team will put them temporarily in the lead as the weekend games await.

 

Manchester Magic v London United
Saturday 13 October, 6:30pm, Amaechi Basketball Centre

 

Another big game in Pool 2 sees London United on the road again, this to the Amaechi Basketball Centre to face Manchester Magic.

 

Magic also currently hold a 2-1 record and despite what happens between United and Mets on Thursday evening, a win will be crucial for them if they want to stay joint top of the table.

 

Eastside Eagles v Killamarsh Derbyshire Arrows
Saturday 13 October, 6:30pm, Walthamstow Academy

 

Eastside Eagles are basically eliminated from the Patrons Cup, but it won't stop them trying to keep Derbyshire Arrows from advancing as well.

 

The 0-3 Eagles have struggled so far this season and in Arrows, face a side who must win their final two games if they have any hope of a semi final spot. Arrows' final game of the pool is on 11 November against PAWS London Capital.

 

Birmingham Mets v PAWS London Capital
Saturday 13 October, TBC, Birmingham Met College

 

Another intriguing Patrons Cup Pool 2 match-up sees Birmingham Mets take on PAWS London Capital, and like the game between United and Magic, the result of this could see a new table leader.

 

This will be Mets' final game of the Patrons Pool play whereas PAWS' game against Arrows in November could be prove to be a major result for the London clubs’ semi final chances.

 

Eastside Eagles v Manchester Magic
Sunday 14 October, 4pm, Walthamstow Academy

 

The final game in Pool 2 this coming weekend sees Eastside Eagles and Manchester Magic rounding out their qualifying round.

 

Magic are really the only team with a semi final berth on the line in this game so a win for coach Paul Middleton's team will be more crucial from his point of view.