Basketball: Revenge for Manchester

WHEN MANCHESTER Giants lost to Sheffield Sharks off the final play of the final game last season, Terrell Myers's jump shot cost them the League Championship and took the trophy to Yorkshire.

Saturday's 86-79 win at the MEN Arena, in front of 5,967, leaves the Giants a long way short of fulfilling revenge, particularly as the clubs will meet three more times in the Northern Conference of the re-shaped championship. But inflicting Sheffield's first opening day defeat in six years was a step in the right direction.

Derby Storm have postponed weekend games against Sheffield and Leicester at the newly-built Thunderdome as the city council has refused to issue an entertainment licence.

Birmingham opened their Southern Conference campaign with an 80-70 win over London Leopards, while London Towers beat Milton Keynes 91-71.