THUNDER ROLLED OVER BY WOLVES

Worthing took their second successive hiding on Saturday when Wolves avenged their 112-83 belting at the Leisure Centre in November with this shock, a week after City of Sheffield Arrows tanned Thunder in a 120-93 exhibition on their own Worthing floor.

Mohawks are rivals for a top-four play-offs spot but until a fortnight ago, Thunder were on a roll of five straight wins and looking to push Sheffield to the title.

Sheffield's news, however, was that they are potentially untouchable from here on in. That has cut Thunder to the bone and Wolves gladly gobbled up the carrion on the same court where Thunder took the National Trophy last spring.

Plans for a banner to be raised this Saturday in honour of that occasion awaited confirmation when we went to press.

Thunder's bogeyman on Saturday was guard Matt Collins, who starred in Coventry's shock first win at Worthing in November. Now with Wolves, he scored 12 points in the opening quarter and 18 by half-time, including three three-pointers.

His team led 32-23 after a quarter and 57-41 at the half.

Josh Coopriders two threes late in the third made it 81-58, then in the final stanza Thunder's three-point man David Butterworth fouled out and two Thunder technical fouls helped Wolves win the final quarter 33-19.

Head coach Gary Smith faces a massive hoist-up task in Thunder's morale and fans may see a changed starting five.

Smith said: "Sheffield played a storm against us. We were simply taking part. We did that to Worcester here but they beat London United last week anddown there on Saturday we didn't show up at all. We weren't ready, and I don't know why.

"Our defensive intensity was zero, we lost our discipline and broke down. It's a mental thing. We were flat and we stayed flat. I'm talking about our experienced players, though I exclude Pat Bates and Jon Bailey.

"But Okolie Ugbana's playing tough and Sam Mead is a bright spark. They are our oldest and youngest main players.

"Teesside beat us last time (97-89 away in November]. We have to sort out our defence and our communications, play hard and hustle. If we don't we won't be winning any trophy '” or even retaining the one we've got."