Basketball: McCord helps Tigers to hold out

Thames Valley Tigers edged out Peugeot Birmingham Bullets 63-55 in the first leg of a Sainsbury's Classic Cola National Cup semi-final at Bracknell last night, which was affected by the absence of three high scorers.

The Tigers, beaten finalists in 1994 and 1995, were without their key playmaker Casey Arena, who was suffering from a leg injury, and Bullets were missing two of their five foreigners.

American Tony Dorsey has a bruised retina and Barbadian guard Nigel Lloyd sat out the game with a hand injury, leaving Reggie Kirk to lead their scorers with 22 points ahead of H L Coleman on 15.

Thames Valley opened their biggest lead at 58-43 following two three- pointers from former England international Michael Hayles and were still holding an 11-point lead with a few seconds remaining.

But Coleman was impeded attempting a long-range shot and he calmly scored all three free throws to give the Bullets just eight points to make up in next Wednesday's second leg. John McCord led Tigers' scorers on 16 points, with Jason Siemon on 12.

Leicester City Riders' status as underdogs in the semi finals is diminished by the punishing schedule being endured by opponents London Towers.

Budweiser League leaders Towers remain favourites to eliminate Riders, who are 10th. But both tonight's first leg at Wembley and next week's second leg will be played within 24 hours of London's return from tiring away trips in the European Cup.