Sheffield Sharks left to lament slow start as Worcester Wolves prevail

Matt Newby’s side went out to a double digit lead early in the first quarter which the Sharks struggled to recover from.

The Sharks now move to a 7-6 record with seven regular season games remaining.

Sharks coach Atiba Lyons called for time as early as the second minute on Van Sauers’ score at 8-0 but things didn’t really improve out of the break as Mark Hughes’ triple soon turned that into 16-2.

It took six points from Bouna Ndiaye in the final two minutes to give the Sharks a glimmer of respectability as the quarter ended at 26-11.

There was a distinct improvement in the second period but the Sharks still faced an uphill task.

Amir Williams, a thorn in the side all night, gave Worcester a 34-17 lead on the alleyoop but treys from Connor Cashaw and Nick Lewis just about kept the Sharks in contention at 42-27.

Ndiaye drained another out of the corner but it was Cortez Edwards for the home side who saw them in at half-time by 48-32.

An 8-0 start to the third quarter continued to emphasise the Wolves dominance and it took four and a half minutes until Cashaw finally got the scoreboard moving.

Edwards and Raheem May-Thompson came up with and one plays as Worcester forged into a 67-42 lead but Connor Cashaw’s three plus one play saw the quarter end at 69-48.

Williams’ alleyoop sent the Sharks into another timeout at 78-53. Kofi Joseph’s huge three made that 82-55 and it took five points from Cashaw as the Sharks pulled back to 82-62.

Nick Lewis hit a three and the ever-involved Cashaw rounded off events but it was Worcester who came away more satisfied with an 89-70 success.

The Sharks have a chance to make amends with a home double header against Cheshire Phoenix next Friday and leaders Glasgow Rocks next Sunday at their Ponds Forge International Sports Centre venue as the season moves into it’s latter stages.