England Basketball League Division 2: Taunton Tigers 95, Team Northumbria 84.

TAUNTON Tigers go into the Christmas break with a 4-4 record in National Division Two after this win at Wellsprings on Sunday.

The victory lifts them to joint fifth in the table and, coupled with their continued participation in the Patron's Cup - for teams below Division 1 - represents a fine return to the upper echelons of British basketball.

Away losses to Bristol and then Birmingham Athletics last Saturday threatened to dent early season confidence.

But as coach Ronnie Heath returned from a family wedding abroad he was philosophical about the blip in form while he was away.

"Bristol and Birmingham are now one-team big cities and we have to accept for now that we are not yet mentally ready for them," he said.

"In terms of skill and fitness we are a match for every team in this league, and now our players have to begin to believe that."

British basketball legend Jason Gordon is way past his best for Birmingham, but with a frame of 6ft 9in and 22 stone, and all his experience, he was the difference between the two teams.

Tigers rallied in the second half but were never going to chase down the 20-point lead Birmingham developed in the first half, and they went down 99-84.

It was imperative that the next day against Team Northumbria, in front of their home fans, that Tigers bounced back.

The Taunton players did not lack intensity in the first half but a collection of turnovers and quality shooting from the visitors meant Tigers had to be happy to go in 45-44 at the break.

The game had an unusual flow with Northumbria regularly troubling Tigers with full-court pressure where they made easy baskets from front court steals.

But Taunton had their half-court passing game going well and were able to score with ease once they had beaten the traps.

Richard Anderson (MVP 18pts) benefited from the slick offence, as did Joe Andrews (22pts).

Jones, Nolan and Anderson tightened up the defence in the third quarter for Tigers, which gave them the platform for cameo offensive performances from Jordan Seeley and Joe Saunders, who revelled in the extra possession.

By the end of the third the game was effectively killed on the buzzer with Bird brought in for a special play to nail a three-pointer and give Taunton a 74-60 lead.

But Northumbria never gave the game up and pushed Tigers right to the end.

TAUNTON Tigers Under-16s beat Solent Kestrels, from the Premier Division South - a league above the Tigers - 95-91 in the third round of the Sureshot Cup on Saturday.

The following daym the Tigers U-16s came home with an 88-52 victory when they visited Dorset Storm - and the whole team scored for the first time this season.