Erks eased through to the quarter finals of the London Met Cup with a victory over Division 1 side NW Middlesex. The Falcons were predominantly an under 16 side competing for the first season in a senior league and although they achieved their best result of the season to reach this stage, beating City Stags 53-52 in the first round, they were no match for the much bigger & more experienced Erks. The Falcons never stopped hustling and performed creditably, their press forcing Erks coach Declan McCusker into 2 straight turnovers at the start of the 2nd half. But their inability to score, combined with the Erks size advantage on the offensive glass, meant that the Erks had cleared their bench by the end of the first half after starting the game with a 17-0 run.

Juniors Robin and Andrew French and Tobi Kallar all featured for the Erks, Robin French's 6 point performance in the senior team from last week, being overhauled not only by brother Andrew who hit a trey on his way to 7 points, but also by Tobi who came out firing in the 2nd quarter with 4 quick points, followed up with a late trey and a jumper from the corner to hit 9 in total. Robin could only manage a lay-up on this occasion.

Another Erk to enjoy the run-out was Martin Overare, who top scored with 30 points and at least 15 offensive rebounds, mostly off his own misses. At one point in the 3rd quarter Martin scored 15 straight points for the Erks as he looked to involve his teammates in the game.

Centre Dave Churches, fresh from half a season in EBL Division 1 with Sutton Pumas, participated enthusiastically in the game, bricking a succession of 3 point attempts and closing his participation with a thunderous jam after a Falcons turnover on offense found him still on the edge of their key. Unfortunately despite a run-up conservatively estimated at 3 steps and with no Falcons player within 10 yards of him, the jam in question was the ball against the front of the rim, as the big man's elevation was less than impressive. Churches left the game immediately after his miss, rubbing his shoulder whilst trying to ignore the trash talking from the Falcons' 15 year old reserves on the bench.

The Quarter-Final draw will be held after the remainder of the last 16 ties have been played and with the draw likely to include the likes of White Heat, Hackney Academy, Camden, Wandle and Westminster, the Erks will be hoping for a home draw, which should at least ensure that a full strength team can be fielded.

Erks scorers:
Overare 30, Churches 10, Kallar 9, McCusker 8, Kimani 8, A French 7, Herd 7, Atkinson 4, R French 2