Rossendale Raptors returned to action on Tuesday night by hosting Manchester Giants, one of the biggest names in British basketball.

The club recently reformed after a 10-year absence and will return to the British Basketball League this season.

The original franchise won the British championship in 2000, regularly attracting crowds of over 10,000, and the new set-up chose Rossendale for the first game of what’s been billed as the Giants’ ‘second coming’.

The Raptors are preparing for their inaugural season in Division 3 North after winning the Division 4 title and play-offs last season, and Tuesday’s game was the first pre-season friendly for each side.

More than 400 fans packed into Haslingden Sports Centre, which was easily the biggest crowd to watch a basketball game in Rossendale – and, most likely, in Lancashire.

And although the Giants ran out 107-64 winners, the Raptors put in a positive performance.

Steven Gayle, last season’s league MVP, started out with the Giants and was facing some of his former team-mates after the Raptors announced last Friday that the former BBL star had re-joined for a second year.

The Giants, meanwhile, featured the likes of British stars Mike Bernard, Stefan Gill, David Aliu and David Watts, along with Callum and James Jones, who have all been playing professionally at the top level in recent years.

Giants started the game strong and led throughout but the Raptors gave them a stiff challenge for much of the game.

There were good performances from Aitor Estrada and Angelo Kornecki, as well as new signings Tom Sutton and youngster Jalees Saddiq, and while Gayle didn’t have his best game, the guard set high standards last term and is sure to bounce back next time out.

The extra entertainment laid on by the Raptors created an electric atmosphere and made for what was undoubtedly one of the best nights in the club’s history. The dancers from Dance Like No-ones Watching led by Joanne Entwistle did an amazing job and put on a great show in tandem with the Raptors mascot Rozzy the Raptor.

The Raptors sponsors, in particular ASK Solicitors, ISSL and CSG are due a massive thank you for helping to host such a wonderful night.

The Raptors now dive straight into their competitive games with a double-header on the weekend of September 22 and 23.

Stockport Falcons visit Haslingden Sports Centre on Saturday and the Raptors are again at home on the Sunday, against Newcastle College Knights.