Thunder beat Dragons to clinch play-off spot
Manchester Thunder edged past Cardiff Dragons 59-54 to secure a top-four finish in the Netball Super League.Elmere van der Berg top-scored with 37 goals at Belle Vue Arena on Friday as the hosts joined London Pulse and Loughborough Lightning in reaching the play-offs.Victory for Thunder moved them up to second in the standings on 28 points, but they trail leaders Pulse on goal difference.Goal shooter Georgia Rowe scored 26 for Dragons, who remain bottom after losing all but one of their 12 matches so far. Defending champions Lightning host fifth-placed Nottingham Forest on Saturday, while Pulse face Leeds Rhinos and Birmingham Panthers take on fourth-placed London Mavericks on Sunday.
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The Sun
10 minutes ago
- The Sun
Olympic bronze medallist Lewis Richardson wins pro debut… and can now enjoy his postponed birthday curry
LEWIS RICHARDSON secured a debut windaloo weekend. The Colchester lad turned 28 on Wednesday but could not celebrate with his professional boxing bow slated for last night in Ipswich. 3 Instead the southpaw booked a local curry restaurant for 15 loved ones and just had to deliver the goods in the ring. And the 2024 Olympic bronze winner did the job, beating tough Estonian Dmitri Protkunas 60-54 on points. The Brit ace had a loud crowd make the 29-minute drive over from his doorstep. And they cheered his slick southpaw work, rapid fists and the willingness to drop his hands to his waist, in an effort to get the cautious journeyman to engage. The Essex ace used to sell Pukka Pies at the Portman Road stadium a decade ago, while doing his school exams. And he returned to his old stomping ground for six one-sided rounds where he showed plenty of his amateur skill and future potential. Richardson had to bin his birthday plans to make the middleweight limit for this weekend. The spicy celebrations have been pushed back but the silky southpaw plans to put in a curry order worthy of a Gavin and Stacey special, to make up for the diet. CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS 3 LIVE - FOLLOW ALL THE ACTION FROM FABIO WARDLEY VS JUSTIS HUNI AS IT HAPPENS AT PORTMAN ROAD 'The birthday is postponed for four days,' he revealed to us. 'The party is pushed back to Sunday. 'I have a curry house booked in Colchester for 15 of us and my mouth is watering just talking to you about it now. 'I can't even think about my order now. "But I can say for sure that I will sound like Smithy with the number of bhunas and naans and rice types I am going to order.' 3
BBC News
13 minutes ago
- BBC News
Seeing is believing: How Deignan made women's cycling cool
To have the Lloyd's Tour of Britain Women back on the road after some troubled times is a blessing for women's two 19-year-old British riders competing in the event and making a significant impact on road cycling globally are explaining who inspired them to take up the a luxury hotel on the outskirts of Darlington, Imogen Wolff looks across at two-time Tour of Britain winner Lizzie Deignan, a little uncomfortably, to tell her that the speech she delivered following her momentous 2021 Paris-Roubaix win is the reason she is at a bike race at all. Alongside her is housemate Cat Ferguson – who leads the Tour of Britain after victory on the third stage and is the current junior road race world champion and rider for the World Tour Movistar team."You're gonna think I'm just saying it because she's sat next to me but it was genuinely Lizzie's speech after Roubaix," says Wolff, who competes for the Visma Lease a Bike team."There was like a tagline, 'the women have a space now and we're here to stay,' and it stuck with me."I was riding a bike but it didn't seem very cool, just loads of old blokes doing it. Then after Roubaix I thought 'this is the coolest thing ever.' I remember everything about the race… [you] sliding out on that corner; blood on the bar tape. It's still a running joke with my team-mates when we're reconning Roubaix, with me telling them 'this is the moment I fell in love with cycling'."Ferguson's first cycling memory recalls perhaps the other most significant moment in 36-year-old Deignan's career."It was the first [Olympic] medal, at the time I was six," says Ferguson. "That was my first memory of a big sporting event and I've always loved cycling and the Olympics since. I was watching it on telly on holiday.""Well, this is great for my ego!" retorts the soon-to-retire Deignan. "I didn't realise I made cycling cool."There's so many moments in my career girls wouldn't have been able to watch," she adds. "It's difficult to inspire people if they can't even get to see you. The [silver medal at the] Olympics was one of my first performances people could see [live] [as was] Roubaix."Most people talk to me now about winning Roubaix - it's famous for being tough and relentless. I was sliding all over place, but proved I was able to handle the bike, which blew out any underestimation of us." Perceptions and pressure Just as when she delivered that podium speech in Roubaix, of which she says "there was pressure on that interview", Deignan chooses her words carefully but effectively "underestimation" she refers to is any suggestion by others that women's sport somehow lacks the same punch or power as men' posts on social media have also had an impact all three agree - and that the impact has been largely positive."Social media's had a huge influence on women's sport," says Deignan, who has won many of the sport's biggest races, including the one-day Tour de France and Liege Bastogne Liege classic."If there's any inequality it's called out very quickly, and we are able to present ourselves to sponsors off our own backs; people can become their own brand in sport."It has its down side – [Cat and Imogen] are under more pressure than ever. People know everything you're doing and know how you're performing. But it is worth it as long as you learn how to manage expectation and pressure."Ferguson adds that "it doesn't feel like pressure yet"."It's all so new and exciting," she says. "Maybe we'll feel it more as we get older."But the pressure comes from all areas, including sometimes the top as she recalls an issue with world cycling's governing body."In my post-race interview in the London 2012 Olympics, I was asked to shake the hand of the UCI president [at the time Pat McQuaid] and I was a little bit annoyed. He was doing nothing for the female side of the sport and was getting away with it."I took that opportunity to speak up in the press conference. [As] the first medallist for GB, suddenly you become the headlines – it was quite daunting."I'm still happy I did it. It's the way I'd been brought up. It didn't seem like a big deal to me to shout about the inequality I was facing."But I realise now it's not as easy for everyone to do that, confrontation isn't comfortable for everybody.""The work Lizzie has done in the sport enabled me and Imogen to have careers," concurs Ferguson. "Ultimately to get paid when we are 18, [when] I don't think it was possible for Lizzie to do that when she was 18."There's also so much more legislation in cycling, such as maternity pay and it's down to Lizzie." Switching off There's little doubt Deignan lived and breathed the bike, coaching herself and using and an "evidence-based" approach to ensure she never left a stone one of the most important factors of preparation appears to have little to do with being an athlete."I hear [Lizzie] speak a lot about being a person off the bike, like not being a cyclist," says Wolff. "I don't think a lot of people speak about it - people think to be really pro you have to sleep, eat, train… repeat, so it's nice to know that different personalities have a different way of working that can be successful, and you don't have to be this one mould.""I tried knitting, once," she adds, rolling her eyes. "I was so bored.""I've got loads of interests," adds Wolff. "Guitar, baking sourdough, learning Dutch [to help communicate with her team-mates]. "But I'm not very good at [sticking with] hobbies when I'm not very good at them, so I don't find the first bit very… interesting.""I'm still trying to find a hobby," adds Ferguson, who reminds the room that like Wolff she has only just finished school, and that newly acquired free time is yet to be filled. Seeing is believing "[Lizzie's] not just a rider, she's a really lovely, interesting, intelligent person," adds Ferguson. "You can tell through watching her race she's made women's cycling more than a sport and made people want to race."Everybody needs an inspiration to achieve. Deignan may have been first on the scene for Wolff and Ferguson but many in the sport act as inspiration before her, including Beryl Burton and Nicole Cooke."A Little bit like [Wolff] I always thought cycling was, not boring… but an old bloke's sport," says Deignan. "[Then] seeing Victoria Pendleton, she was entertainment and she was this glamorous, impressive powerful woman, and as a teenage girl I thought 'oh wow this could be a good sport and I could fit in."You can't be what you can't see, and she was somebody I identified with."I just hope going forwards you demand quality at every turn," concludes Deignan to Wolff and Ferguson. "You have it now, but keep pushing for it. You're both incredibly talented and hard-working."You deserve it."
BBC News
23 minutes ago
- BBC News
Reijnders closes in on Man City move - Sunday's gossip
Tijjani Reijnders closes in on move to Manchester City, Newcastle United switch attention to try to sign Brighton forward Joao Pedro and Brentford could move for Ipswich Town boss Kieran Mckenna if Thomas Frank leaves. Netherlands midfielder Tijjani Reijnders, 26, is due to have a medical at Manchester City on Sunday to finalise his move from AC Milan. (Sky Sports), externalBournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez has been released from international duty by Hungary as the 21-year-old closes in on a move to Liverpool. (Mirror) , externalNewcastle United are set to step up their pursuit of Brighton and Brazil forward Joao Pedro, 23, having appeared to have missed out on 25-year-old Cameroon winger Bryan Mbeumo, who is expected to join Manchester United from Brentford. (Telegraph - subscription required), externalIpswich Town manager Kieran McKenna is on Brentford's list of possible candidates to succeed Thomas Frank, who is believed to be a leading option to replace the sacked Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham. (Talksport), externalPortugal winger Rafael Leao has told AC Milan he wants to leave the club, who want at least 70m euros (£59m) for the 25-year-old, who is one of the targets being considered by Bayern Munich. (Florian Plettenberg), externalChelsea are set to return with a second bid for France keeper Mike Maignan, 29, after having a first offer, which is considerably short of AC Milan's asking price, rejected by the Serie A side. (Calciomercato - in Italian), externalJuventus have reached an agreement with Paris St-Germain to extend France forward Randal Kolo Muani's loan spell, in order for the 26-year-old to play for the Serie A side at the Fifa Club World Cup. (Sky Italy), externalNapoli's Nigeria forward Victor Osimhen, 26, has accepted a contract offer from Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal. (Sky Italy), externalFenerbahce have joined fellow Turkish club Galatasaray in wanting to sign 29-year-old Germany winger Leroy Sane, who has yet to accept the offer of a new deal with Bayern Munich. (Sky Sports Germany), external Bayern Munich have reached a deal with Bayer Leverkusen to sign Germany defender Jonathan Tah, 29, before his contract ends on 30 June so he can play at the Fifa Club World Cup. (Fabrizio Romano), externalArsenal are set to sign Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, 30, by activating the £5m release clause in the Spaniard's contract. (Evening Standard), external
