READING Rockets (4-3) will be looking to make it four wins in a row this weekend when they travel to the south coast to take on Worthing Thunder (2-7) on Saturday evening (7.30pm).

Manuel Pena Garces’s side claimed another handsome victory last weekend as they defeated Lancashire Spinners (3-6) 96-73 to keep in touch with the pace setters in NBL Division One going into their final three games before the Christmas break.

Chris Hooper with 29 points and Craig Ponder (20), Elvisi Dusha and Ali Sbai (12) led the way for the hosts. Head Coach Peña Garcès was happy to see his team build on the performance against Leicester Warriors and keep the winning streak going.

Rockets controlled the game from the outset, and having established a 52-35 by the half-time interval, they were never in danger of losing what was ultimately a fairly one-sided contest.

However, Pena Garces again acknowledged the journey to find consistency and discipline is a long one and something he and his team are continually analysing and building upon.

The Spaniard said: “I am really pleased that we managed to record our third win a row against a team that recently beat the champions and is a talented side.

“We had another good first half performance but we are finding the third quarter challenging at the moment as we had another dip and let the Spinners back into the game.

“Having the help of Mark (Bennett, performance coach), Alan (Keane, assistant coach), and Pedro (Garcia Rosado, assistant coach) has been really valuable in this period and together we are analysing ways to help the team become consistent, disciplined, and playing an acceptable level of basketball and although it is tough sometimes, I believe the journey for us all will be so beneficial in the future.”

Speaking about the struggling Worthing team, Pena Garces warned: “Worthing is a very difficult place to go and a very difficult team to face despite their record.

“When we played them earlier in the season we found their speed and physicality difficult to match up against and they have arguably one of the best players in the league in Lyonell Gaines.

“We expect another tough test but one that has come at the right time for us and one that we will be preparing for thoroughly to keep our winning run going.”

It was Worthing who inflicted Rockets’ first defeat of the season, as the home team ran out 78-71 winners on the opening day of the season in the National Trophy.

The Berkshire outfit have found the ‘Thunderdome’ a tough place to visit in recent years, only recording one win in five outings and with a slight injury concern to captain Danny Carter (knee), it will not be a straightforward task for Reading.

Pena Garces’ side finish their pre-Christmas period with a trip to Loughborough Student Riders on Sunday, December 11, before hosting Team Solent Kestrels on Sunday, December 18.