England secure historic win

Student Games

ROB DORSETT

reports from Fukuoka, Japan

The Cold War has been officially over for some years now, but events in which Britain play Russia always have a bit of extra spice. As the final match of Group B in the basketball competition was to decide which of the two European rivals would go through to the second pool, the contest was always likely to be a tight, explosive affair.

The teams were tied at half-time on 38 points, and the game was eventually shaded by Britain 78-74 after a foul on Steve Hansell. Vic Ambler, the British team manager and former Olympic team coach, said: "The result may have been very different but for the intentional foul right at the end. Nevertheless, we deserved the win and the team are delighted."

Hansell was fouled to the neck and knocked to the floor. With 30 seconds remaining and Britain holding a two-point lead, he was awarded two free throws. Britain were able to run the clock down for a hard-earned win, which was the first victory against a Russian side at any level of basketball.

In the tennis events, Nick Adams and Richard Holden went through to the men's doubles final after beating Igor Tchelichev and Andrei Stolyarov 6-2, 6-1. Sam Smith and Paul Robinson won their quarter-final of the mixed doubles with a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Sabine Gerke and Holger Rebholz.