Basketball: Gordon risks Giants' lead

TREVOR GORDON undermined Manchester Giants' lead in the Budweiser League on Saturday night with an outburst which set their opponents, Chester Jets, on a sequence of free throws and possession which threatened to upset the leaders.

Gordon, the England centre, was disqualified after collecting three technical fouls and the 10th-placed Chester scored from six free throws and a possession to cut the lead to 95-91. Alan Bannister led with 20 points for Chester, who were outscored 9-3 in the final minutes to lose 104-94.

Manchester's hopes of signing Pluto Vourliotis look unlikely to beat tonight's transfer deadline. The Cypriot club, Keravnos, who released the former England and Manchester junior international when they failed to reach their league play-offs, are now demanding compensation after learning he hopes to join the Giants.

Worthing Bears stay second after outlasting Oldham Celtics, the bottom club, to win 103-89, after leading just 73-69 at the end of the third quarter. Oldham's Steve Merrifield produced the weekend's leading performance with 37 points.