A new Elite League season revs up

The first league meeting of the new speedway elite league season saw last years runners up Swindon Robins down hosts Eastbourne Eagles 47-43.

Not even new Eagles signing Matej Zagar's 11 point haul on the night could prevent defeat for the Eastbourne team.

Eight time world champion began his last season in Britain with 14 points, however he was outshone and equalled by débutante Thomas H Jonasson.

Next week sees a replay of last years final where Swindon travel to Wolverhampton on Monday.

For those who are new to the sport here is a brief explaination of exactly what Speedway and the Elite League is.

Nine clubs contest the Elite League, each club entering 7 riders into each meeting with 15 heats per event.

Each race consists of 4 laps of mixed material track. The average distance of a Speedway track is 300 metres. The minimum width of the track is 10 metres.

Point scoring is much like that of other motor sports. 3 points for 1st place, 2 for 2nd, 1 for 3rd, none for coming last. In the Speedway Grand Prix, which is the world championship of the sport, the points system becomes 6-4-2-0 in the semi-final and the final.

The bikes that the riders use weigh a minimum of 77kg unfuelled. The bikes run on methonal, not petrol, which cost £15 per gallon! The bikes can achieve 0-60 mph in just 3 seconds, which is on a par with the average Formula 1 car, topping 80 mph.

Speedway's slogan is 'no brakes, no gears, no fear'. It sums up speedway in one statement really. All the riders have in order to slow them down is the steel toe caps on their boots.

Some of the most spectacular crashes in all of motorsport come in speedway. An example of this is Tony Rickardsson's crash in the 17th heat of the 1999 Grand Prix.

"The richest minute ever in motorsport" comes in speedway, the prize for the winner of the Poland Grand Prix is $120,000.

Extensive and comprehensive coverage of this adrenaline fuelled, edge of the seat sport is available via SkySports with televised Elite & Premier League meetings along with Grand Prix events.

North West Counties Finals Day, Edge Hill University - 28th Sunday 2010

Sunday saw the North West Counties Cup final at Edge Hill University. The day saw teams from Under 16, 17 & 18 age groups compete.

The Under 16 match saw a spirited second half fight back from Golbourne Parkside come in vain against Wigan St. Patrick. A brace of tries came from full back Daniel Rushton who’s goal-kicking was fundamentally the difference in the 24-18 score line.

The Under 17 final contested between Crosfields and Halton Farnworth Hornets went all the way to extra time after the two sides traded field goals in the closing minutes.

Crosfields went into the second period of the game leading 18-6; however two second half tries from the Hornets tied the game up at 18 apiece.

The Crosfields fans had already, quite literally for some, began to crack open the champagne in celebration before Halton tied the game up. The Hornets then took the lead via a drop goal which had been set-up well by the forwards, the ball moving from right to left to create the easiest of chances.

It was clear that panic was setting in for the Crosfields side as they scrambled in an attempt to clinch the game or at least take it to an extra 15 minutes. The Warrington based team managed to drive their way into drop goal range, nudging over to take the game to extra time.

The score that clinched the title for the Widnes based club came in the dying minutes of the first seven and half minute period following ‘backs to the wall’ defence of their own try line. A cross field chip was collected on the 30 metre line by left winger Jimmy Hilton who finished well in the corner as cries of offside from players and supporters were waved away by the referee.

Halton came through the second period without conceding and thus were crowned the 2010 North West Counties champions.

The final game was a derby of sorts between Leigh Miners and St Judes of Wigan. The Wigan outfit won this game of attrition 12-10 following a late scare in the last 10 minutes.

Leigh captain Darryl Flanagan led from the front in the very first minute of the game, the loose forward putting in the first big hit of the game during Wigan’s very first possession of the football.

A try for Wigan came just three minutes later via opposing loose forward Stuart Banks taking the ball on the crash just five metres from the try line, touching down as tacklers fell off the attacker. The conversion was missed by number 12 James Rimmer making the score line 4-0.

The opening 10 minutes of the game was a messy affair as both sides struggled to keep hold of the ball, knocking on frequently in the tackle. This was exemplified by the Miners forcing a repeat set only to lose the ball on the resulting play as they attempted to go wide early.

Leigh’s first try came in bizarre circumstances. Full back Hayden Skinkis attempted to control a kick from St. Judes by controlling it with his foot only for a heavy touch to take the ball into the right hand corner. Wigan, however, were unable to deal with the bouncing ball and Leigh winger Jonathan Grimshaw touched down.

The Miners nearly made it two tries in as many minutes, a deflected pass adjudged to travel forward by the referee.

Wigan failed to keep possession from the resulting scrum and again Leigh came close to scoring. A burst from first receiver by hooker Sam Clayton took him over the line, only for him to be unable to ground the ball – knocking on in the process.

Following this the game meandered its way to half time, changes in possession being forced by both sides. At 4-4 the first half had been very staggered, lacking in both rhythm and handling.

The first points of the second half came via the boot of Tommy Parkinson, Wigan penalised for an infringement at the ruck only to be marched 10 metres for dissent. The centre converted the easiest of kicks to take his side into a 6-4 lead.

The game continued to be an error strewn affair both sides failing to successfully keep hold of possession and complete sets. Aimless and poor kicking became a feature of the second half.

St. Judes extended their lead in the 50^th minute, James Rimmer touching down in the corner with two men queuing up outside him to score. Rimmer scored a second 15 minutes later from longer range, taking advantage of a stretched Miner’s defence, to make it a two score game, 12-6 as failed to convert either of his tries.

As the game moved into the final 10 minutes Wigan nearly put the game beyond any doubt but a knock on chalked the try off.

Leigh then made it a nervous last five minutes for St. Judes via a Tommy Parkinson try, the Wigan back three were unable to deal with a kick through and the number 3 gratefully ran the ball in for a four point score.

Strong defence in the last minute by St. Judes sealed the game for the Wigan side, forcing the Leigh players out of play, finishing the game 12-10. The man of the match was awarded to Wigan St. Judes captain Michael Whittle as the champagne flowed.

Wigan Warriors 24 - 4 Leeds Rhinos

A comprehensive second half performance from Wigan disposed of an injury ravaged Leeds Rhino's side at the DW stadium.

The first half produced just the one try coming via centre George Carmont, a move that swooped from right to left allowing the number four to cross the line unopposed.

The Warriors did well to repel a spirited Leeds side in the first 40 minutes that probed on many occasions inside the oppositions twenty.

At the interval the Cherry Whites led 6-0, Pat Richards converting the only try. During the break much was made of the fact that Wigan had already made 7 of their 12 interchanges, scrum half Mark Riddell limping off the pitch on two separate occasions.

In the second stanza the Rhino's continued to battle admirably. Good fortune for the Yorkshire outfit allowed Ryan Hall to touch down in the corner following an over-ran pass by the dummy runner.

It is fair to say that this was undoubtedly a much deserved try considering their fruitless efforts during the first half.

Any hopes of the young and depleted Rhino's outfit coming away with anything were dashed in an 11 minute period that brought 16 points for the Warriors. Darrell Goulding finishing well in the corner on two occasions with a Joel Tomkins touchdown sandwiched in-between.

Goulding's first try came after a lackadaisical kick chase allowed Amos Roberts to return the ball over the half way line. A quick play of the ball followed and a huge Pat Richards dummy allowed him to break the defensive line before being dragged down. Two play of the balls later and Goulding was in the corner, eventual man of the match Thomas Leuluai directing traffic at the decisive ruck.

Following this Cherry & White purple patch the game was well and truely beyond that of the Leeds side as tiredness and fatigue evidently began to set in. A 71 minute penalty goal from Pat Richards took his personally tally for the night to eight points and put the game to bed for the Wigan.

This was a truely clinical performance from Wigan which sees them maintain their two point lead at the top of Super League, Warrington Wolves also winning 32-16 against visitors Wakefield.

The Warriors did not come out of this game totally unscathed however, both Sam Tomkins and Mark Riddell leaving the field injured.

With all this said however, the tide in Super League seems to be turning away from the predictable domination of Leeds & St. Helens to this revitalised and newly led Wigan team and the forever under achieving Warrington Wolves. Is a new dawn on the horizon for Super League XV?

The rise & rise of Graeme Swann

Graeme Swann bagged his first 10-wicket haul as England laboured to a 181-run victory over Bangladesh at Chittagong in the first test.

Long gone are the days where his off field antics caused him to fall out of favour with the England management after the 1999 tour to South Africa.

Although life was understandable frustrating finding himself out of the test team he did however play during the one-day international triangular tournament. An injury to Ashley Giles opened the door for him to bowl five overs in the match, showing confidence and spinning the ball well.

It is clear to see from the way that Swann plays that he is a very confident and cheeky chappy. In fact upon bumping into him at Wimbledon one year, before becoming an England fixture, I asked if he was infact Graeme Swann. He turned to me and said: "I most certainly am", which always gathers a laugh when I tell people due to the predictability of the reaction.

His persona did not sit well with the England management 10 years ago. As a result of his confidence, which at the time was interpreted as arrogance, he rapidly feel out of favour.

A move from Northamptonshire to Nottinghamshire appeared to be the change that would see Swann break into the England test squad. In 2007, after becoming an instrumental part of the Trent Bridge outfit, winning the County Championship in 2005 and helping them regain first division status again in 2007, he was recalled for the tour to Sri Lanka.

At the time Monty Panesar's star was fading and Graeme Swann's stock was well and truely rising. He finally made his test début against India in Chennai, taking two wickets in his first over - only the second time this has happened.

Swann's control and ability to vary the balls that he bowls in terms of flight and turn, this allied with his lusty lower-order hitting, displaced Panesar as England's test spinner and secured his a place in the 2009 Ashes winning England team.

After starting the first test nervously in Cardiff bowling in tandem with Panesar on a SWALEC stadium which was predicted to turn he soon settled and contributed a number of match-turning performances. (Pardon the pun).

Not only did he display good flight and guile with the ball but made important contributions with the bat as part of England's frequently used re-guard action.

In the third test at Edgbaston he was locked in a compelling battle with Australian captain Ricky Ponting for five balls, before castling him with his own 'ball of the century'.



In the final test at The Oval Swann added to his four-wicket haul that he achieved at Lord's, taking the wicket of Michael Hussey to seal the series on the final day.

Following this Ashes winning series the England team knew they needed to do their upmost to avoid the same hangover which dogged the England team after the 2005 series. Touring South Africa, in the second test Swann collected nine wickets in the game, including 5 for 54 in England's innings demolition in Durban.

After taking 54 wickets in the calender year, the first time this had been managed by an England spinner in over 50 years, Swann rocketed to the position of no. 3 in the world, the highest ranking for an England spinner in decades.

Swann is now one of pivotal members of the current England team, and it is fair to say one of the first names of the team sheet.

The A-Force turning into A-Farce

Audley Harrison's dreams of a world title clash with either of the Klitschko's have been dashed. It comes after Harrison's fight with European Heavyweight champion Albert Sosnowski was called off.

Sosnowski has instead opted for a world title fight against Vitali Klitschko on the 29th May in Schalke's football stadium in Gelsenkirchen, where the prospective Wladimir vs. David Haye fight was scheduled to take place.

Last month Audley Harrison had gone far enough to say that a fight against the current European champion would be enough to propel him to a fight against the Klistchko's, without the need to fight his old foe and sparring partner David Haye.

Harrison claimed that no one in America was talking about the new WBA champion David Haye and that Audley himself was better known on the other side of the Atlantic than Haye.

Harrison constantly puts blame upon the BBC for the way that he was treated whilst contracted to BBC Sport. Audley admits that after four defeats in eights fights that he was coming back a broken man to fight for an eventual European title. His personal mission is to became a world champion, admitting that perhaps he may be crazy or delusional. The latter being the most appropriate.

After the announcement of the fight with the hugely popular pole Harrison claimed that following his Olympic success he would show all his ability and why after Sydney he went 19 & 0. To be truthful to you Audley the reason you went 19 & 0 was because you were fighting bums my friend.

They say the truth is hard to take but you have to be cruel to be kind.

Harrison beat Tomasz Bonin in a Alphabelt title fight, a World Boxing Federation championship fight for all of you who care, in nine rounds in a bout scheduled for 12. David Haye on the other hand, while preparing for a European Cruiserweight fight, disposed of Bonin within a round. . . . .

Harrison then lost on a split decision to Danny Williams and then a unanimous decision to unknown fighter Dominick Guinn. Fraudley then got back to winning way via a 3rd round KO victory against another nobody in the form of Andrew Greely.

His next fight was a demolition of Danny Williams in 2006, a Danny Willaims that he hadn't been during his victory against Harrison. Williams was a shadow of his former self. It was following this fight that the ITV audience were promised that Audley would become a heavy weight champion by 2008 and an undisputed champ by 2009. This did not happen. . . . hell in this time David Haye became the undisputed champion of the cruiser-weight division and then a champion in the heavy weight division!

As ever our hopes were raised by Audley following the Willaims fight. They were the dashed by Reading fighter Michael Sprott, doing what I can only describe as 'flopping' him in round three. Harrison maintains that no one saw the punch that sent him to the canvas like a giant redwood coming. . . well, clearly neither did he. It's always the punches you don't see coming that knock you out.

Since then Audley Harrison has been a series of fits and starts and the winning of the Prize fighter competition has only deluded him further, making him believe he is actually capable of a world title.

After this recent set back it seems unlikely that he will ever capture a world title, certainly if he doesn't intend to do it via David Haye. Haye faces John Ruiz on April 3rd, a fight I shall be at. Vitali's younger brother Wladimir, holder of the WBO, IBF & IBO heavy weight titles, in turn faces Eddie Chambers on the 20th March before Vitali's contest with the EBU title holder. With these dates set it looks as though the path is set for Harrison's old sparring partner, Haye, to clean up this lack-luster heavy weight division and set himself up to become the undisputed champion of the world.

Hull KR finding the perfect balance?

A first Super League try of his young but potentially very prosperous career for Liam Watts well and truely put a dampener on Shaun Ainscough’s Castleford debut.

In a game where Hull Kingston Rovers had to come from behind twice it was two of Rovers youngest players who scored tries at vital times to dramatically clinch a 24-20 victory at The Jungle.

Watts’ match winning try came just eight minutes from time. However he could have had his first ever in the competition 51 minutes earlier when he was held up short of the line. Murrell burrowed his way over from dummy half from the play of the ball to reduce the deficit to four points.

Although not a product of the Hull Kingston Rovers academy Murrell is however already in his fifth season at the club and at just the age of 24 he is ever improving and becoming one of the most versatile options in Coach Justin Morgan’s arsenal.

Murrell is one of four survivors from the National League 1 Grand Final Winning team of 2006. The other three were also instrumental in the victory over the Tigers on Saturday evening. Murrell has made his way from the position of stand-off to hooker by way of loose forward during his time with Rovers.

Full back Ben Cockayne, started in both the Grand Final in question and at The Jungle on Saturday. His try following a Michael Dobson grubber kick made it just a one score game, setting up a thrilling finish. It was in fact Cockayne who scored Rovers first ever Super League try in their opening game of the 2007 season, winning at home to Wakefield Wildcats.

Ben Fisher and Jason Netherton are the other two survivors from 2006, both used as replacements at Castleford.

At the age of just 19 the future looks bright for the prop forward Watts. Coach Justin Morgan sang the young man’s praises after his matching winning try got the Robins back to winning ways. “I’m really happy for Liam because we contemplated taking him off but we thought it would be great for his education to finish a game off under extreme pressure and he came up trumps.”

It is clear that Justin Morgan has a clear vision when it comes to player development. With many players in the squad under the age of 25 the possible naivety that youth provides is obviously not a worry to Morgan. This is clear in the starting of Chaz I’Anson in the stand-off position; another youngster who like Murrell is very versatile having also played in the loose forward role. I’Anson showed glimpses of what is to come having made half breaks from first receiver, coming close to scoring at one point during the game seeing a gap in the defence and accelerating into it, a resilient and strong Cas’ defence stopping him 3 metres short of the try line.

Last year Kris Welham was named as the clubs Young Player of the Year having established himself as a first team regular last season, contributing 13 tries. Having clearly worked hard in the off season to bulk up in order to cope better with the physicality that Super League provides Welham is forever improving and at the age of just 21 should he perform as he did last campaign he may just be in contention for an international call up come the end of the year.

The blooding of youngsters such as Watts, I’Anson and Welham by Hull KR is a clear sign that the licensing programme introduced in 2009 is working. With the licensing scheme reducing the amount of foreign players youngsters such as Sam Tomkins (Wigan), Kyle Eastmond (St. Helens) and Ryan Hall (Leeds) are all being given their chance in the sink or swim environment of Super League all of whom are well and truely swimming, two representing England in the 2009 Four Nations. It is clear that a change in personnel is occurring in the England ranks and a talented side is being formed, which will only lead to a better performance in the next World Cup, on home soil in 2013.

So, as Morgan seeks the perfect balance to his squad, combining young and old, along with solid overseas recruitment, it may not be too long until the Rovers are mounting a serious challenge for honours.

Why Henry Winter is the best sports journalist writing today

Due to the fact I will be making an attempt to include few, if any, football related posts it is quite ironic that I believe a football correspondent to be the best sports journalist.

Henry Winter began his career at the Independent and moved to The Telegraph in 1994 and he is now their chief football correspondent. He is a familiar face also on Sky Sports’ Sunday Supplement. Winter is without doubt one of the top sports writers in Britain, and has been for over 20 years, not only writing in both the Daily Telegraph and Telegraph online but also in Four Four Two magazine.

Unlike other football writers Winter doesn’t simply concentrate on the Premiership. Not only is it refreshing to see this but he does it so beautifully. When you think that half of all football attendances in Britain are outside of the Premiership it is only logical that this should be the case. It is fair to say that the currently League One side Leeds, who once scaled the dizzying heights of elite European club football, are bigger than some of the clubs currently in the Premiership.

Winter’s writing extends beyond the work he does for the Telegraph and Four Four Two magazine, he wrote Kenny Dalglish’s biography, which he has described as a great honour. He also wrote the book F.A. Confidential and he, himself, admits that it is no surprise the things that were revealed inside the Football Association.

It is my view that Henry Writer is the best sports journalist as a result of his honesty. Like other sports writers and commentators he has been accused of being biased, naturally by those who don’t agree with his, at times, controversial comments.

As an Arsenal fan, as can be expected when such a high profile journalist, he has been accused of being a Manchester United fan by Manchester City fans, a Liverpool fan by Everton fans and a Tottenham fan by Arsenal fans. It is fair to say that as a sports journalist you have to become quite neutral in order to avoid criticism.

Henry Winter has many qualities that make him the best in the country, not by far mind you as Michael Atherton in the Times is a very close second. Winter wins by a nose.

Winter’s responses in both his articles and on the Sunday Supplement are educated and well constructed, unlike like some journalists from the red top tabloids who use a ‘scatter-gun’ approach in order to get their points across. Not taking anything away or deriding their knowledge or views because it is to some readers taste and suits the image of the working man who might read his ‘Supergoals’ pull out in The Sun.

All this being said Henry Winter is such an appealing writer due to the fact that he is a superb word-smith and his broad use of the English language makes for riveting, easily read and well constructed articles that are a pleasure when it comes to reading them.