WORCESTER Wolves made it six wins in seven attempts in the National Basketball League Division Three - but they were made to work hard for the privilege.

They defeated Birm-ingham University 67-57 at University Coll-ege Worcester yesterday, but there's little doubt they made life far more difficult than it should have been.

Three-pointers from player-coach Rick Solvason and the livewire Ben Livingstone in the opening two minutes set up the Wolves to take a convincing 29-12 lead at the end of the first quarter.

But they seemed to relax after that, with the visitors - the last team to beat Wolves in a National Shield match last month - reducing the arrears to 41-26 at the interval and 51-44 at the end of the third quarter.

The gap was briefly down to five points and it was only thanks to four crucial baskets from Tony Forde and the non-stop running of Livingstone that Wolves stretched their advantage in the closing stages.

Solvason said afterwards: "I don't think it was as comfortable as it could have been. We had 29 points on the board at the end of the first quarter, but 38 points in the next three quarters is not good.

"Offensively we have been good this season but we had an off-night. But at the end it is job done - whether we win by one point or 100 it is nice to get a victory and to put the last loss behind us."

Solvason was again impressed by the turnout from Worcester fans. "If we hadn't had the weather we have had it would have been a few more, but we are still very pleased - it has been growing every week."

Wolves face another important game at second-placed Barking next Sunday. Their next home game is against Northumbria on Sunday, November 26.

Scorers: Livingstone 17, Forde 14, Solvason 13, Vinsonneau 10, Chiverton 9, France 2, Riordan 2.