WORCESTER Wolves second team picked up where they left off before Christmas with a hard-fought 82-80 English Basketball League Division Three win on the road at Plymouth Marjon.

It was the Devon club’s first home defeat of the season and was especially pleasing as the Worcester team had already lost on two occasions to Plymouth this season.

The impressive victory places Wolves in fourth position in the division and still very much in contention for one of the play-off spots available.

Marjon had played the night before beating Solent 71-67 but Wolves were quick to establish a 23–18 lead at the end of the first quarter by utilising a high tempo running game which did not allow Plymouth to settle into their defensive set.

It was the Worcester players with first team BBL experience who were leading the charge with Dan Belgrave (18 points), Harry Turner (17) and Courtney Van Beest (14) ensuring the lead had stretched to 19 points by half-time.

Wolves were cruising but, not for the first time this season, they lost concentration in the third quarter.

This enabled the athletic Plymouth squad to take the 10-minute quarter 28-19 and, although Wolves were still in front by 10 at the end of the period, it was now a close contest.

In the early part of the fourth quarter things became worse for coach Chris Lowe’s side as they failed to score on eight successive possessions but point-guard Eoghann Dover scored two free throws to restore Wolves’ lead.

Plymouth failed to score from the subsequent inbound pass which left the visitors with maximum points from their trip to Devon.