Basketball: Riders switch focus

HAVING SEEN the door to the play-offs slammed in their faces on Saturday night, Leicester City Riders now have a keen interest in today's expected result from the commission of inquiry into the abandonment of Derby Storm's game at Chester Jets two weeks ago for fighting.

Greater London Leopards's 88-74 win at Leicester confirmed that the Budweiser League has now split in two, with eighth-placed Leopards and the teams above them certain of qualifying for the play-off quarter-finals.

Leicester can now focus on their League Trophy semi-final second leg match with Derby, who could have players suspended, on Thursday.

The League leaders, Sheffield Sharks, maintained their edge over Manchester Giants, with 26 points from Todd Cauthorn giving them a 98-89 win over Thames Valley Tigers.

Giants coasted to a 94-85 win at Worthing Bears, while London Towers replaced Birmingham in the top four with a 79-74 win over the Bullets at Crystal Palace.