National Cup Quarter Finals

Birmingham Bullets 94 (31,46,66) (Jackson 29, Rolston 23, Henlan 19)
Chester Jets 98 (33,59,79) (Gregory 24, Thomas 23, Davis 22)
 

National Cup holders Chester Jets were the first team into the hat for the semi final round after a 98-94 success over the Birmimgham Bullets on Saturday night.

However the Midlands outfit were short-handed after international clearance failed to arrive for Steve Hansell, signed earlier in the day. The hold-up could jeopardise the England international's move to his hometown club.

"All arrangements were made to Steve play in our crucial cup quarter final v Chester, red tape and bureaucracy is being cited as the reason this 'cant happen'," said Bullets owner Craig Bown. 

"This is no way to treat someone who has represented England in the national squad. If he can play for England, what can it possibly be that stops him being able to play for the Bullets and with immediate effect? In any other sector of employment this might be seen as prejudicial to the basic human right to take up an offer of work and feed your family."

In Hansell's absence, Jets took control of the game scoring the final seven points of the first half to lead 59-46 at the interval. The Bullets however fought back strongly in the final quarter and a Michael Jackson three pointer, on his way to game high 29 points, cut the lead to just a single digit at 95-94 with 30s remaining. 

Chester, thanks to a John McCord basket, just held on to book the semi final berth.