IMPRESSIVE Bradford Dragons dented Derby Trailblazers' title credentials in Division One of the National Basketball League as they beat the visitors 103-93.

The two teams last met on the opening day of the league season, with Derby holding off the Dragons by a point, and their record going into the clash at the Dragons' Den was ten wins and two defeats, with the latest victory being over leaders Team Northumbria.

With a number of teams queuing up to take the Dragons' fifth spot, it was a must-win game for them – particularly after their defeat at London Lituanica.

Derby soon opened-up an eight-point lead but by the end of the first quarter, buoyed by an incredible shooting performance from Rafi Saipe, the hosts were 31-29 in front.

Throughout the second quarter, the two teams matched each other shot for shot.

With the scores at level, evergreen Jason Swaine – who had celebrated his 42nd birthday earlier in the week – stepped up to the free-throw line, sinking both shots to send the hosts back to the locker rooms 54-52 ahead.

The game followed a similar pattern throughout the penultimate quarter and with a little over four minutes of the period remaining Derby led 69-67.

Jermayne Laing, who had brought his own fan club to the game in the form of 25 children from Cliffe Hill Community Primary School, then levelled the game with a two-point drop shot.

With the game again tied at 77 apiece, Saipe bagged a three-pointer to restore home advantage, with Laing's dunk at the death being adjudged to be after the buzzer sounded.

It looked as if the match would go down to the wire but, with less than a minute played, the gap had been opened right up to 88-77.

Derby called a time-out when trailing 95-81 with 3min 38sec left but there was nothing they could do to stop Bradford from registering an important victory.

Saipe and American power forward Ricky Fetske scored 21 points each, while Rihards Sulcs and Jermayne Laing both bagged 18.

Dragons coach Chris Mellor said: "It was a tight game throughout and both teams played some good basketball.

"The run we got in the fourth quarter to open up a double-figure lead was the difference really, where we managed to get some stops and convert at the other end.

"I was happy with the way we moved the ball and rebounded down the stretch."

The Dragons travel to Lancashire Spinners this weekend in the first of a string of away fixtures, with the action not returning to Bradford until Saturday, February 18 against Team Northumbria.

Meanwhile, the Dragons under-16s beat Durham Wildcats 85-23 to reinforce their position at the top of their table. The next day saw the under-18s lose 89-66 to Sheffield Junior Sharks II, while the under-14s won 68-51 at Manchester Giants Green.