Bradford Dragons bounced back from their shock home loss to City of Sheffield Saints with an emphatic 84-45 win at Stockport Falcons to stay top of EBL Division Three North.

The Dragons went back to basics on defence after surrendering their unbeaten record the previous week and restricted the home side to eight points to lead by seven at the first break.

With Craig ‘Big Bird’ Wilson in dominant form at both ends of the court, the Bradford defence also pinned down Stockport to just eight points in the second stanza as they pulled away to a 36-16 lead at half-time.

The Dragons’ defensive effort remained focused in the third quarter to lock down Stockport to seven points and earn a 58-23 lead going into the final period.

They eased off the gas to allow the Falcons their biggest quarter score of the game but still won it 26-22 to remain well clear at the final buzzer.

Daumants Pabrieza top-scored for Bradford with 22 points, while Wilson had a season-high haul of 19 and the ever-dependable Vance Silcott netted 17.

Dragons coach Chris Mellor said: “We needed a good performance to get us back on track and the team delivered it.

“We got a good kick up the backside losing to Saints and I told the team all week that defence got us here and defence will keep us here.”

The Dragons’ next league game is at home to Sefton Stars on Saturday at Trinity Green sports hall (6.15pm).

They then play the following day in the semi-finals of the National Shield against Loughborough Cardinals at Bradford College (5pm).

The prize on offer is a place in the National Shield final on Sunday, February 21 in Manchester, which would be the first appearance in a national final for any team in the club’s history.

l The Dragons second team pulled off a surprise 67-65 overtime win at Halifax Cobras. But the under-16s lost 82-70 to leaders Durham Wildcats to end a run of four successive wins, while the under-14s slumped 126-66 at home to a powerful Cheshire Jets side.