WORCESTER Wolves showed distinct signs of rustiness after a two-week break as they slipped to a 78-73 defeat at in-form Sheffield Sharks.

Sheffield’s confidence was soon on display as they raced to a 31-17 first quarter lead and increased their advantage to 50-27 by half-time.

Although Wolves regained their composure to storm back into the contest in the closing stages, the hole they had already found themselves in was too big to climb out of.

Worcester could only muster three field baskets in the opening quarter, a couple from Alex Owumi and one from Arnas Kazlauskas.

If the first ten minutes had not been tortuous enough for the visitors, their ordeal continued until the interval. Numerous shots went astray, while they struggled to contain Tom Holmes and Mike Tuck.

Coach Paul James shuffled his Wolves line-up for the second-half with Sherrad Prezzie-Blue and Kazlauskas replacing Carlos Fernandez and Arturas Masiulis as starters.

There was an immediate effect on the scoreboard. Although Demitrius Jemison initially extended the Sheffield advantage to 25 points, his side would find themselves forced to take their turn to be ineffective on offence as they spluttered in adding only seven further points.

Prezzie-Blue opened his scoring account with a triple, and forward Stan Ocitti was also off the mark shortly afterwards. Three points from Kai Williams reduced the Sheffield lead to 59-50.

Two points for Ocitti was followed by another long-distance shot for Prezzie-Blue to bring matters to 59-55.

However, Tuck was finally able to add to his first-half points tally and then watched his forward partner Jemison hit a trio of successive scores to quickly re-establish a double digit advantage, at 66-55 with six minutes remaining.

Wolves refused to be bowed and once more clawed their way back and with two minutes to go the score stood at 70-65.

Owumi floated home a three-pointer to close the gap to a single point at 74-73 with twelve seconds remaining, but in a vain attempt to regain the ball, Worcester allowed Sheffield to secure victory from the free-throw line.