Royals flush with lottery cash

Basketball

Hemel Hempstead Royals could afford to forget they are bottom of the Budweiser League this week, with the news that a pounds 3.25m National Lottery windfall is to be spent on their home at the Decorum Leisure Centre, writes Duncan Hooper.

Work begins at the end of the year on refurbishing the facility, and will include modernisation of the sports hall where the Royals continue their fight to climb off the bottom against fellow strugglers Chester Jets tonight.

Dunning said: "We've got to win because there's now daylight between us and the teams in 11th and 12th."

Twelve places above the Royals, defending champions Sheffield Sharks must beat Derby Storm to keep the pressure on the leaders, London Towers. Sheffield, also National Cup holders, have a seven-point lead over Crystal Palace for Wednesday's home leg in the semi finals.