Coronavirus cases in Bradford team put paid to Derby clash

They had played their first two L Lynch Trophy games against Team Newcastle and Myerscough Academy, winning them both, but were unable to face Derby Trailblazers last weekend due to a positive Covid test.

Things have worsened since then, with more players testing positive, causing the postponement of the Dragons' opening NBL Division One game with Hemel Storm this weekend too.

As it is the only the early stages of the season, the hope will be that the league campaign is not too badly affected.

Whether the L Lynch Trophy can be played to completion is a different matter though.

No games were played in Bradford's group last weekend due to coronavirus, while Derby had been in isolation before then anyway, meaning they have not played a single game yet.

Explaining the situation at Bradford, the team's Senior Media and Communications Executive Simon Carter said: "Unfortunately the Covid case (ahead of the game with Derby) was within our team, in fact we have since had two further players test positive.

"Our roster is therefore in isolation until November 5. Therefore, this means that our opening league game against Hemel Storm, this coming weekend, will also be postponed.

"Of the four teams in our group of the L Lynch trophy, three teams reported Covid cases prior to the weekend, hence why there were no games at all in our group last weekend.

"These games will need to be caught up at some time - as yet Derby have not played a single Trophy fixture as they had just come out of an isolation period.

"As things stand, it seems most unlikely that the group stages will be completed before the scheduled date for the quarter final round and therefore this fixture (and most likely the semi final) will also need to be rearranged."

Bradford's group with Newcastle, Derby and Myerscough was being played in the "bubble" of the latter, but sadly that has failed to prevent coronavirus cases.