SPEEDWAY: BELLE Vue have topped a superb season
by agreeing a three-year deal to stay at Kirkmanshulme Lane.
The deal with landlords, the Greyhound Racing Association, gives
the Fonestyle UK Aces a level of security that they have not
enjoyed since Hyde Road stadium closed 17 years ago.
Belle Vue have negotiated annual deals in recent years with the
previous promotion, under John Perrin, searching for a new
home.
Promoter Ian Thomas said: "We have reached a verbal agreement and
now it is a matter of waiting for the contract to be drawn
up.
"We were given a one-year contract when we took over last November.
We had to prove ourselves as a promotion who could do the job
properly and the fact that we have been offered this deal would
suggest that we have done that."
Meanwhile, Manchester's Lord Mayor Coun Mohammed Afzal Khan invited
a party of riders and club officials to a civic reception this week
to mark the club's Knockout Cup victory and runners-up place in the
Elite League play-offs after finishing top of the table.
RUGBY UNION: Altrincham Kersal retained their 100
per cent record in North One with a 29-12 win over Middlesbrough at
Stelfox Avenue.
Tongan No 8 Jon Vailini ran in a brace of tries with Zimbabwean
second row Arthur Mate adding another.
Winger Joel Petit and fly-half Richard Wainwright added a try each
with the latter kicking two penalties.
North Two leaders Stockport beat Aspatria 68-13. Stand-in skipper
Simon Drew claimed a hat-trick of tries.
Bowdon picked up a much-needed win as they beat Fleetwood 17-7 at
Clay Lane with tries from back row Tom Fleming, scrum-half Dan
Clegg and Jean Volschenk.
BASKETBALL: MANCHESTER Magic suffered an 87-71
home defeat against Worcester Wolves in the National Cup
quarter-finals.
Jeff Jones' team were always behind, but there were pleasing
performances from Delme Herriman, who scored 16 points, Wade
Henninger (15) and Matt Hogarth (10).
The Amaechi Centre-based team were also beaten 66-62 at the Reading
Rockets, with Henninger (15), Herriman (14) and Hogarth (13) again
the leading scorers.
LACROSSE: MELLOR lost their slender advantage at
the top of the Men's North of England League Premier Division after
defeat to fellow title-chasers Heaton Mersey.
Previously unbeaten in the league, the Longhurst Lane club won the
final quarter of the match 5-1, but still lost 15-14.
Arch-rivals and defending champions Stockport are the new leaders
after they thumped Brooklands 12-1 at Georges Road.
Manchester Waconians, who were third, drop down the table after
their first loss. The Wilmslow Road side were beaten 13-12 in a
nail-biter with Wilmslow.
RUGBY UNION: TONGAN powerhouse Epi Taione could
be fit to bolster Sale's depleted squad when they face bottom club
Leeds Tykes in the Guinness Premiership tomorrow.
The league leaders lost another key player this week when France
called up Sebastien Chabal.
He joins Sebastien Bruno, Charlie Hodgson, Mark Cueto, Chris Jones,
Andrew Sheridan and Mark Taylor on international duty.
Director of rugby Philippe Saint-Andre, whose side were hit by
international call-ups last autumn, is keeping his fingers crossed
that both full-back Daniel Larrachea and wing Oriol Ripol are able
to shrug off injuries picked up in last Friday's Heineken Cup win
at Newport Dragons.
And Taione's return would be a welcome boost.
"Epi is close to fitness now," said Saint-Andre.
"This is a difficult phase for us but we will be taking 22 guys to
Headingley."
FOOTBALL: LIVERPOOL have decided against
signing Stockport County youngster James Tunnicliffe.
A £750,000 deal had been agreed to take the 16-year-old to Anfield
in advance of a trial spell.
The centre-back spent nearly two weeks with Liverpool, playing in
their reserves' 3-0 defeat by Blackburn last Wednesday.
But boss Rafael Benitez has pulled the plug on the move and
Tunnicliffe has returned to Edgeley Park.
Hatters boss Chris Turner said: "He's had two weeks with them but
he's staying with us.
"It has been a fantastic experience for him and I`m sure it'll
benefit both the player and Stockport County.
"He trains with our first team at the moment and doesn't look out
of place at the age of 16 so you can imagine how highly we regard
him."
Tunnicliffe went from the Hatters' under-16 side straight into the
first-team squad earlier this season and Turner believes the
youngster could be playing regularly in County's side by the end of
the current campaign.