basketball: Sharks' lead cut

The Budweiser League title is hardly up for grabs, but Doncaster Panthers and Manchester Giants gave hope to the chasing pack last night with victories which cut Sheffield Sharks' lead to 10 points. The Giants were 68-58 victors at Ponds Forge while the second-placed Panthers won 83-81 at London Towers.

The Panthers, 10 points behind their Yorkshire rivals but with three games in hand, trailed London for 35 minutes at Wembley Court. Their late comeback was built on a 31-point haul for the American Chris Fite, who lead them into a six-point advantage with two minutes left.

An intentional foul by London's American, Tony Windless, gave Anthony Joseph the chance to take an 83-78 lead from the free-throw line before Windless scored a three-pointer from the game's final shot.

While Sheffield still hold a healthy lead in the table, this was a worrying second defeat in five days for their coach, Jim Brandon.