The Body and Mind Kent Crusaders take on Tees Valley Mohawks in National League Division 2 play this Saturday.

Tees Valley is a side with strong traditions, as they have won three Division 1 regular season championships and four playoff championships since 2000. At the turn of the century they were National Trophy winners for a record five consecutive seasons (1999-2003), won Division 1 three times, and the Championship on four occasions (including three in a row in 2002, 2003 and 2004).

From then, however, their fortunes declined. In 2006 they had a disastrous first half to the season, and despite a recovery from December onwards, when they strengthened the team, they finished next to last and were relegated to Division 2.

Crusaders head coach Mads Olesen expects a tough game against the Mohawks: “Their results this far has been very good, and they are certainly one of the favourites for promotion. We will have to go to our strengths, which are defence and strong team play, to win this game.”

The Crusaders are still without Robbie Parker and captain Pete Ayling who are in Australia for a wedding, and Sam Bets, who’s rehabbing his surgically reconstructed knee.

The game takes place at the Body and Mind Leisure centre at the Canterbury High campus Saturday 17 November with tip off at 7:30

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