Rockets emerge runners-up in Croatia tournament

The Rochdale Rockets basketball team travelled to Croatia to play in the seventh 'Rovinj International' veterans tournament.

Competing alongside the Rochdale and Rovinj sides were last year's winners Puljanka Pula and Italian outfit Benetton Treviso.

Rochdale, who had never beaten Rovinj in their three previous matches against the Croatian side, played the hosts in their first game. They did not look like reversing that trend as they trailed 18-14 at half time but some fast breaks in the second half saw them overcome the deficit and emerge victorious 43-27.

This put Rochdale through the final to play Pula, who beat Benetton 54-47 in the other semi-final.

Rochdale trailed narrowly at half time 26-20 as both sides traded baskets throughout the first half.

Pula pushed on in the second half and some excellent three point shooting condemned the Rochdale outfit to a 49-34 defeat.

At the reception after the tournament Rochdale presented KK Rovinj with a specially commissioned friendship cake designed and created by local celebrity chef Andrew Nutter.