BBL: Sheffield Sharks arrive to give Leeds Force an early test

The Force will welcome their Yorkshire rivals to the court in week one with the fixture list throwing in a tasty opener.

With plenty of ins and out during the close season, it is a new-look Force that will welcome Sheffield to West Yorkshire.

Five new faces have been brought into the side, three of them Americans in the form of Rob Sandoval, Jack Isenbarger and Jermaine Sanders.

Fans will also recognise Oliver Hylands, who returns to the roster and Disraeli Lufadeju, the former Worcester Wolves guard.

Some big players have also left the roster with the likes of Kwan Waller, Louis Sayers, Zak Wells and Marek Klassen all going on to pastures new. The mixture of youth and experience will bring a new edge to the Force who will be looking to improve on last season’s eighth-placed finish.

However, Force will have to be without influential captain Armand Anebo for the opener as he recovers from knee surgery in the summer, although he is confident Force can get the season off to a winning start.

“The boys have been training well, getting used to each other’s games,” he said. “The more we play the more that will come.”

The Sharks have also improved their roster by bringing in Tony Wroblicky, Jordan Davis and Shaheed Davis, with Cardell McFarland and Rob Poole being announced yesterday ahead of last night’s season-opener against defending champions Leicester Riders.

Sheffield were crushed 85-54, Shaheed Davis top-scoring with 16 points for the hosts, Tony Wroblicky adding a further 12.