But the finest Mancunian player of his generation has returned to the city and is feeling positive about his future.

After defeats by Ramsbottom United and Colne, Road were unable to get back to winning ways on Saturday as they drew 3-3 at Squires Gate.

Things looked good for Broughton Park as they led after five minutes with a fine try from Warren Duffy with new kicker Connor Mitchell just missing the conversion.

Didsbury dominated from the outset after welcoming back Sean Bishop and Dave Hoare with Chris Matthews slotting in at number 8.

Mellor did the business with a hard-earned 4-3 win at lowly Hooley Bridge Celtic to move within five points of Hey with a game in hand.

Not only did they lose 3-0 against Colne - a second successive setback after losing 3-1 at Ramsbottom – but two key players are set for a ban after Road finished the game with nine men.

But reigning champions Whalley Range retained their unbeaten record and stay seven points adrift of Hey with five games in hand as they beat Old Stretfordians 3-1.

And the Souh Manchester Reporter is delighted to have teamed up with the race organisers to create a ‘ Race within a Race’ for entrants living in our newspaper catchment area, with a prize for our first local male and female finisher and a full set of our local runners results printed in the paper following the event.

Sale took the lead in the first half but paid the penalty for having a man sin-binned as South Cheshire levelled. Sale remain seven points clear at the top.

Didsbury used the wind well to open the scoring with a try from Tom Makin but Blackburn soon showed their quality as they scored a try and penalty to lead 8-5.

They trailed 0-26 at the break and Park were pinned in their own half for the first 25 minutes of the second half.

The Whalley Range-based outfit racked up their third England Basketball Division Three win of 2012 with a 112-68 romp against Huddersfield.

But it is the rather less glamorous threat of the Huddersfield Heat – rather than the superstars of Yorkshiremen’s US namesakes from Miami – that they must focus on in the short-term.

After threatening to wield the axe over his starting XI last week, Walker described Thursday’s training session as "intense" and says many of his players are fighting to keep their place.

Icy conditions almost prevented the game from getting underway but, after a pitch inspection, Didsbury flew out of the blocks and Matt Harrison scrambled the ball in to give Didsbury the lead.

Slipping to their third defeat in a row, Burnage were unable to score at all in the first 40 minutes with Rossendale dominating play.

USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo this week named a provisional squad for the 2012 Olympics that includes eight 2008 Olympic gold medalists and 10 members of the 2010 USA World Championship gold medal winning team – and some of the most high-profile sports stars on the planet.

Having conceded on the break midway through the first half, Parkway took the game to Urmston after the interval and were rewarded when a stunning 30-yard shot from Murray Taylor was superbly tipped on to the post by the hosts’ keeper and Tom Culley followed up to slot home.

Road welcome Winsford United to Brantingham Road on Saturday, looking to bounce back from a 3-1 defeat at Ramsbottom United.

The Amaechi Centre outfit consolidated their position at the top of EBL3 with a home win over Leeds last weekend. But now they face a run of four away games as they go in search of promotion.

The event attracted the biggest entry for many years with a preliminary round needed to get down to the last 32.

The resumption of the league and cup programme following the festive break saw waterlogged pitches take a huge chunk of games out of action.

Didsbury were virtually at full strength and they dominated possession and territory from the kick off with French flyer Anton Vasseur opening the scoring with a try in the corner.

They finally saw off Ordsall FC 2-1 in the spot-kick decider after the game finished 3-3 to set up a showdown with Light Oaks from Salford.

The teenage guard will be an integral part of Magic’s team as they push for promotion to England Basketball Division Two in the second half of the season.

The MGPC involved major construction work above the professional’s shop with the club’s faith in professional James Curtis and his staff to deliver a great product being more than realised.

Treasurer Russell Hoyte of the new Manchester Respect Junior Football League said 28 U7 and U8 teams take part every week, shaking hands before the game to start off the match.

The Premier Division sides were even-stevens for most of the first half until Callum Franklin gave Oldham a 1-0 interval lead.

The Tough Mudder course was designed by British Special Forces to be the ultimate test of strength, stamina and mental grit.

Burnage were given a very early warning when Loo’s winger boomed over a penalty from 45 yards in the first minute.

The Amaechi Centre outfit had hoped to make progress in both competitions last weekend – but were left with a blank look.

Most of last weekend’s North West Counties games fell victim to the weather, including Road’s away fixture against Silsden.

The struggling home side were a goal up at the break, only for Coady to give Didsbury victory with two second-half efforts.

The aim is to see who can get nearest the pin on the tricky 171-yard par first hole and, a few years ago on captain’s day, a spotter on saw only 15 out of more than 200 players actually hit the new green.

‘Gowl’ combines golf and bowls, with participants at South West Manchester CC looking to hone their short skills game.

That’s not to say the reigning WTF World taekwondo champion wasn’t hurt by the snub.

Park took full advantage of Mike Mudd’s yellow to go 28-6 up, with Park only having two Ronan O’Brien penalties to show.

Reigning champions Whalley Range still pose the greatest threat to Hey and they took full advantage of some sloppy defending by Rochdalians to chalk up a comfortable 4-1 win.

Magic found the perfect response to their first blip of the season with victory over neighbours Stockport Falcons last weekend.

Conditions there tend to be miserable and West Yorkshire is set to be hit by wind, rain, frost and maybe snow this weekend. But Walker wants the game to go ahead with Road’s positive recent run having already been disrupted by one postponement.

Magic’s youngsters were given a double lesson last weekend as their unbeaten start to the EBL Division Three campaign came to a shuddering halt.

Road enjoyed three straight wins – all at home – ahead their scheduled trip to Colne last weekend.

His long-time Urmston Judo Club coach Steve Pullen MBE was delighted to be able to present Ryan with the coveted sixth dan belt when he came down to the Manchester University Judo Club at The Armitage Centre in Fallowfield to do some coaching with club members.

Judith Quine joins Margaret Hempsall (Didsbury) and Olive Chesworth (Chorlton) in being asked to be the club president, breaking with the long-held tradition in many clubs that presidents have previously been club captains.

Second-placed Bedians saw their recent good run ended by a 3-1 loss to Ashtonian.

Blustery conditions greeted both teams at Hough End, so keeping the ball on the deck was essential.

English Basketball League Division Three leaders Loughborough visit the Amaechi Centre on Saturday (7pm) and the young play-caller knows his team will have to be at their peak to overhaul them at the top.

Eddie Wileman has left the club in the aftermath of last Wednesday’s 2-0 derby defeat at Flixton.

Range took an early lead with a penalty from Rob Kinsella but Hey hit back before the break with a stunning free-kick from Mike Wild.

The home team had only won previous game this season but their pack proved to be a real handful throughout a terrific game.

Parkway went into the game having conceded the fewest goals in the league but this looked to change after Kieran MacHugh’s curled free-kick was superbly tipped on to the bar by the Parkway ‘keeper.

First, strikes from Dorian Jordan and Alex Hall capped a fine 4-1 win at Stockton. Next day Didsbury played Urmston in the Lancashire Cup – a repeat of last year’s final.

While Road’s football has been pleasing on the eye this season, they have struggled to convert it into goals.

This is the biggest ladies inter club team competition in the region and wins over Heaton Moor, Oldham, mighty Sandiway and Wigan took them through to finals day at Saddleworth for the first-time ever in the competition.

They won the first game 5-4 with a great second half producing strikes from Anyvaldo Cata, MoM Lewis Tucker, Adam Horton and Che Boothe (two). But they lost the second game 1-0 with Dylan Henry their MoM.

Flowers was also on the mark in a 2-2 draw with Kirby Stephen, with Samantha Hargreaves hammering home a great short corner strike.

Four consecutive victories at the their Whalley Range HQ have seen Magic move into second place in EBL3 as the only outfit in the division with a 100 per cent record.

Hey led 3-1 at the break with strikes from debutant Ashley Woodhead, Matt Neale and the predatory Matty Chilton.

The former European lightweight champion has reunited with his long-term mentor – just weeks after ending their 12-year partnership in acrimony.

A Danny Pilkington double-double sparked another home victory last Saturday.

A poor performance against a good team means that Park’s dismal away form continues.

Both teams started the game at a frenetic pace and some strong challenges were made.

Cameron (16) has been near on several occasions this season with gross 64s but he shot his record-equalling score playing in the club’s Balfour Millenium Juniors competition.

The club were runner-up in the Club of the Year category and head coach Mike Hill was runner-up in the Coach of the Year category at the awards held at Manchester Town Hall.

Forber, 68, won the award for Outstanding Contribution to Sport for his 40 years of coaching and promoting basketball in Manchester.

Ian Walker’s side suffered a 2-1 defeat against Irlam at Silver Street.

The Vodkat Premier outfit crashed out of the Manchester Premier Cup at the first hurdle on Tuesday night.

In a feisty encounter Bedians just had the edge as a brace from Stuart Madew topped the Villa strike from Pete Carley for a win which pushed them into second.

The 23-year-old played golf as a junior at Ellesmere Golf Club with a best handicap of 18 before taking time out of the game.

Park did well in dominating play in the first half against a strong wind. They scored two quick tries from Warren Duffy and Ronan O’Brien with O’Brien converting his own score.

Padiham equalised a minute into stoppage time on Saturday and claimed a winner five minutes later, condemning Road to a second straight league defeat.

Chorltonians missed some early chances that they were made to regret as Irlam had the match all square after extra-time at 1-1. Then Chorlts found their shooting boots as they won the penalty shoot-out by 4-2.

Goals from Neil Creasey, Mike Corbett, Gareth New and a brace from Andy Gillon maintained AFC Didsbury’s 100 per cent record in Division One with a 5-2 win over Fallowfield.

But conceding a number of penalties saw them trailing 9-0 after 18 minutes and this was followed by two yellow cards and two more penalties for a 15-0 interval deficit.

Their league match saw them beat Formby 3-2 after losing an early goal to win with strikes from Samantha Hargreaves, Pam Higgins and Jennie Flowers.