BRADFORD Dragons' run of great results ground to halt with two home defeats over a disappointing double-header weekend.

They slipped to a 108-96 loss against Team Solent Kestrels in Division One of the National Basketball League and then 92-82 to Team Northumbria in the National Cup quarter-finals.

The promoted Kestrels have made a steady start to their first year in the upper tier and initially struggled at the Dragons' Den as the hosts finished the opening quarter 11 points ahead at 29-18.

But that was about as good as it got for Bradford as gradually the visitors fought their way back and reduced their deficit to just 51-47 at half-time.

After the interval, Team Solent continued to pile on the pressure and home coach Chris Mellor called for a time-out at the halfway stage of the third quarter with his side now trailing 69-64.

As the quarter continued, the visitors continued to carve through the Dragons defence and at the end of the period it was they who held an 11-point advantage at 84-73.

The Kestrels handled whatever was thrown at them and emerged victorious despite the best efforts of Rihards Sulcs, who put in a stand-out performance with a double-double of 27 points and 11 rebounds.

Ricky Fetske also contributed well with 26 points but it was Mathis Marquis who put in the key performance for Solent by shooting an incredible 93.33 per cent in bagging 35 points and 12 rebounds.

The next day, Division One leaders Team Northumbria rolled up a week after they had claimed a home league victory against Bradford in a tight game which Mellor's team felt they should have won.

This time a place in the National Cup semi-finals was at stake but it was not to be for Bradford, although they led 16-14 at the end of the first quarter.

The north-easterners took control in the second period, building up a ten-point lead to close the half out at 34-44.

Things did not improve for the Dragons after the break and at one point Northumbria had increased their advantage to 22 points.

To their credit, Bradford never gave in, but as the game finished they were still ten points adrift.

Marcus Gooding shot 22 points for the hosts, with Sulcs close behind on 21, while Eisley Swaine capped an impressive performance with 19 to close out a week in which he was awarded the ABL player of the week award.

Mellor said: "It was a disappointing weekend. We didn't do enough in either game to put ourselves in a good position when it mattered."

The Dragons are at home again this Saturday (6.15pm) with another tough encounter against third-placed Loughborough Students Riders.