THIS week, Martyn looks back on a successful double header weekend that has set Rockets up for a memorable second half of the season. Victories over Bristol Flyers and Milton Keynes Breakers put them into the play-off spots. Rockets head to Hemel on Saturday but are back at home next weekend – you can buy tickets HERE.
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IT’S been a promising start to 2026 for the Rockets – and we have our end of season targets in sight.
A successful double header last weekend has left us well placed in the league.
We want to make the play-offs this season after missing out a year ago.
And it looks like things are coming together at just the right time – it’s a great thing to be a part of.
Saturday’s game against Hemel Storm is going to be a big test for us.
But we have been confident in our ability to win games this season.
Last week’s results put us up to sixth and into the play-off places.
2 games & 2 wins for your Rockets last weekend ✅
Rockets have shot up the standings to sixth and into the playoff places!
Coach Smith’s team have a record of 8-4, and with two games in hand on the sides above them the team could move as high as third in @BritChampBball! pic.twitter.com/VS2FGfB3Gd
— City of Birmingham Rockets (@cobrockets) January 21, 2026
We had a record of 8-4 before the Hemel fixture, with two games in hand on the sides above us. But we went in to last weekend with the expectation of trying to win those games.
As players, we never step on the floor to lose or think about losing. And we found two game plans that worked for us on both days against two very different squads. It was an amazing weekend for us in front of our home fans.
First, we beat Bristol Flyers, but the game against Milton Keynes Breakers was probably more of a test.
That went into overtime, but I think the recent game against Newcastle helped us in that respect.
We were able to manage the overtime well – how we managed the clock and how we managed ourselves.
This time, it produced with a different outcome, which is exactly what we wanted.
We need to learn from our mistakes and make sure that we don’t make them again.
It’s not many sports that would see teams playing two days in a row, but our conditioning team made sure that we were all fit and healthy, and able to play these games.
A massive home double-header winning weekend for the Birmingham Rockets 🙌
Big performances throughout, with excellent returns from Lucas and Orlan 🚀 pic.twitter.com/vR6FxwhYtV
— City of Birmingham Rockets (@cobrockets) January 20, 2026
We know how much impact it has on our bodies. Some of us have full time jobs away from this, so it’s about finding that the balance between working hard and getting enough rest.
So, we’re in a strong position right now in terms of our win-loss record. We’ve got to just continue with the plan and journey that we’re doing, and make sure that, you know, at the end of the campaign, we are in the post-season and we have a chance to make some noise in the play-offs.
Beating a team like Breakers is how we can measure our growth as a team like last season, we didn’t beat them at all last season, we beat them two or three times.
But Hemel will be tough, they’re a great team. They’ve got some really good players there and changed their head coach, so I’m sure their tactics will be a little different.
This game will be another sign of where we are as a team. Hemel have records and things in place where people know they’re a good club.
