Third Quarter Push Helps Hawks Best Swarm

The West Yorkshire Hawks delivered a commanding performance on Saturday night, securing an 85-62 victory over Manchester Swarm in their first league home game of the season. From the opening tip, the Hawks were locked in, showcasing an efficient team offense that created good scoring opportunities. Their quick ball movement and smart decision-making allowed them to establish an early rhythm, ending the first quarter with a solid 11-point lead.

Despite Swarm’s increased intensity in the second quarter, where they turned up the heat defensively and forced the Hawks into a few uncharacteristic errors, the home team held firm. Behind key contributions on both ends of the floor, the Hawks extended their lead slightly, heading into halftime with a comfortable 46-33 advantage.

The third quarter saw the Hawks deliver their most dominant stretch of the season thus far. Re-entering the court with renewed energy and focus, Hawks put on a clinic, executing flawlessly on both ends. Their defense locked down Swarm’s offensive threats, while offensively, they were relentless—capitalising on turnovers, executing crisp passing, and finding the open man. By the end of the quarter, the Hawks had blown the game wide open with a 29-point lead, effectively putting the contest out of reach.

With the game all but decided, Hawks head coach Danny Byrne took the opportunity to rotate his bench in the final period, giving valuable minutes to every player on the roster. This allowed Manchester Swarm to chip away at the lead, but the damage had been done. The final score, 85-62, reflected a complete performance from the home side.

Chris Jackman led the scoring for the Hawks, putting up an impressive 23 points while continuing to provide a strong presence in the paint. Jacques Misambu added 16 points, while Dave Walsh chipped in with 11 points, complementing a balanced team effort.

After the game, coach Danny Byrne was pleased but made it clear the team still has room for growth. “That was a great performance by the guys,” Byrne said. “However, there is still plenty more to come. That really sets the benchmark for us to grow from, and the expectation is that we will continue to improve week on week.”

The Hawks will now shift their focus to a road trip next Sunday, where they will face the Tameside Vikings as they look to build on their strong start to the season.