Thunder captain Brame expects EBL to be tough again

Thunder’s fixtures for the season were released earlier this week and Hemel Storm, coached by former Thunder coach Dave Titmuss, are new to the division after successive promotions.

Team Northumbria are also new to the division, while London Leopards, who won the title last season, have renamed themselves Essex Leopards.

Thunder begin their season with a National Trophy game at Leicester Warriors on September 15. Their first home match is on September 22, also in the Trophy, at home to Medway Park.

Brame said: “It’s going to be a similar league to last year and every game is going to be a tough one. That’s the good thing about EBL Division 1, though, there’s no easy games.”

Brame is hoping that the majority of last season’s junior players will remain with the squad, while the club will also look to add some American players closer to the start of the season.

Cup fixtures (National Trophy unless noted) – September 15, Leicester Warriors (a, 3); 22, Medway Park (H, 7.30); 23, Solent Kestrels (a, National Cup); 30, Hemel Storm (H, 5); Oct 6, Tees Valley (a, 5); 14, Essex Leopards (a, 4); 20, Brixton Topcats (H, 7.30).

EBL Div 1 fixtures – Oct 27, Essex Leopards (H, 7.30); Nov 3, Tees Valley (a, 5); 10, Bradford Dragons (a, 6.15); 11, Leeds Carnegie (H, 5); Leicester (a, 3); 24, Medway Park (H, 7.30); Dec 1, Hemel (a, 7); 2, Derby (H, 5); 8, Reading (a, 6.30); 15, Bristol Academy (H, 7.30); 16, Westminster (H, 5);

Jan 5, Bristol (a, 7); 12, Team Northumbria (a, 6); 19, Brixton (H, 7.30); Feb 2, Tees Valley (H, 7.30); 9, Bradford (H, 7.30); 10, Essex (a, 4); 16, Leeds (a, 6); 23, Leicester (H, 7.30); Mar 2, Medway Park (a, 5.15); 3, Hemel (H, 5); 9, Derby (a, 7.30); 16, Reading (H, 7.30); 23, Westminster (a, 4.30); 30, Northumbria (H, 7.30); Apr 7, Brixton (a, 4).