Will life be a breeze with no Gayle?
HOW ARE Worthing Thunder going to be playing, now that high-scoring, high-velocity guard Steven Gayle has blown back to Manchester? Fans will get a glimpse on Saturday at the Leisure Centre (8pm) when the season opens.
In a testing friendly last Saturday against BBL Trophy group rivals Guildford Heat, the look was new. Extra height is on board with 6ft 8in forwards Hank Rivers from the USA, the left-handed Janis (say it "Yar-nee") Ivanovskis from Latvia, both mobile, plus Worthing's own 6ft 9in centre Pat Bates.
And more is to come with 6ft 5in Canadian, Ryan Marrast due in this week on a British passport intending to teach here; plus Daniel Midgley, again 6ft 5in but unavailable on Saturday '” like Ciaran Burns, who is due back this week for a third season. Add in, too, is also Dan Shotton, the less experienced new 6ft 9in centre from Bognor Pirates.
For full report, see this week's Worthing Herald.