It's the Valley of Farce

Capitals had a roster to be feared but missing, unavailable, on Saturday night were 6ft 9in American forward Damian Reid and 6ft 3in Ryan Cadogan. Thunder were able to win comfortably, but at the cost of a cut eyelid and severe bruising to captain and point-guard Steve Vear. A contact lens wearer, he was accidentally speared in the eye by Whalid Mumuni and was hurried to hospital.

After a 7.30am departure next day, Thunder, without Vear and also the unavailable Ciaran Burns, and Rani Malik, whose illness is reportedly serious, toiled up the M1 to Teesside, only to find they need not have bothered.

Tees Valley could not produce their player registration cards so had to forfeit the match 20-0 unless Thunder chose to play it. Thunder owner Rosemary Dawes and the coaching staff chose to claim the match instead of risking a game against an unfamiliar-looking team about whom they had no proof of exact identity.

For full report, see this week's Worthing Herald.