Birmingham Post

Rugby: In Brief - Richard Cooper

Cricket: In Brief - Aston Manor Cc

CRICKET: Aston Manor CC start their coaching sessions for young cricketers tomorrow. The sessions for youngsters from the age of nine will take place at the sports hall at Streetly School in Queslett Road East, Sutton Coldfield.

Football: Earnshaw's Last Stand ; Barclays Premiership

Bryan Robson allowed Robert Earnshaw to leave West Bromwich Albion for Norwich City after the Wales international striker refused to withdraw a transfer request. Robson had hoped that Earnshaw would buckle down and fight for a first-team place in the second half of the season but the player was intent on leaving.

Football: Bentley's Class Drives United to Distraction ; National Round-Up

Manchester United succumbed to a David Bent-ley hat-trick to allow Chelsea to go a daunting 15-points clear at the top of the table. Blackburn Rovers defeated United in a thrilling 4-3 encounter to complete a league double and it was Bentley who was their hero.

Tennis: Henman Masters Gasquet ; Tennis

Tim Henman reached the quarter-finals of the Zagreb indoors event with his second victory this year over rising star Richard Gasquet. He made hard work of the tenth game in the second set but, after fending off breakback points, won 6-4, 6-4.

Football: Blues' Last-Gasp Escape

Liverpool 1 Birmingham City 1

Rugby: Sanderson Hits Back Over Injury Concerns

Off the field they are close and on it their fates seemed forever entwined but England flanker Pat Sanderson is determined not to emulate his brother Alex in at least one respect - a career-ending back injury. The Worcester captain has been forced out of the first three matches of this year's RBS Six Nations after being sidelined with a second back problem.

Rugby: Drahm Handed England a Debut

Worcester's Australian fly-half Shane Drahm will make his England representative debut in tomorrow's A international against Italy. Drahm, who qualifies for England on residency grounds, will be partnered at half-back by rising Bristol star Shaun Perry in a side containing several players capped at senior level, including Wasps centre Stuart Abbott, Leicester wing Tom Varndell and Bath prop Duncan Bell.

Racing: Magern to Prove a Point

Charlie Hall Chase winner Ollie Magern looks set to be the main beneficiary of Cheltenham's abandonment in the re-routed HBLB Cotswold Chase at Wincanton today. With a large chunk of the original field failing to enter the new race for one reason or another, the way is clear for the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained eight-year-old to get back to the form he showed at the start of his campaign.

Rugby: Corry Threatens Wales

England captain Martin Corry last night issued a fierce warning to grand slam winners Wales before Saturday's Six Nations Championship clash: We are coming after your title. England have not won the championship since 2003 and had the stuffing knocked out of them in the opening match last year when Wales snatched an 11-9 victory in Cardiff.

Rugby: Ruddock Senses Rising Pressure On England

Mike Ruddock has described English attempts to install Wales as favourites for Saturday's Six Nations Championship showdown as "bizarre". Wales, who set off along the M4 today as reigning champions, have not beaten England at Twickenham since their Triple Crown season of 1988.

Rugby: Sixways Start for Blaze ; Under-21s

Worcester forward Richard Blaze will start in the England Under- 21 team for their Six Nations Championship match against Wales at his own club's Sixways ground on Friday night. Blaze's club-mate Nick Runciman is among the replacements in a squad that contains several players with Premiership experience.

Rugby: Extending Reay Stay Aids Moseley Promotion Plan

On-loan centre Andy Reay is to stay with Moseley for at least another month after head coach, Ian Smith, reached an agreement with his employers Bristol. Smith yesterday met with Richard Hill, his opposite number at the Premiership club, and negotiated an extension to the loan arrangement that has seen Reay star in three of Moseley's last four matches.

Rugby: Old Salts' Long Road Towards Twickers ; Powergen Junior Vase

If Old Saltleians reach the semi-finals of this season's Powergen Junior Vase they will have done it the hard way. The north Birmingham club have twice been moved from the Midlands to London sections of the draw to balance up the numbers.

Golf: Woods Not Over the Hill ; Golf

World number one Tiger Woods accepts even he cannot beat Father Time - but insists his game is good enough to keep him ahead of the chasing pack for a while yet. The American turned 30 in December and is entering what most consider the peak period of a golfer's career.

Australian Quartet's Open Door

Australians Michael Wright, Bradley Hughes, Ben Bunny and Adam Bland have earned places in the Open championship at Hoylake in July. The quartet came through the 36-hole international qualifier at Kingston Heath in Melbourne.

Cricket: Incisive Asif Ends Long Wait for Pakistan Win ; Cricket

Abdul Razzaq claimed four wickets to help Pakistan complete a comprehensive victory over India in the third and final Test in Karachi. The 341-run win also sees Pakistan clinch the series after the first two matches ended in high-scoring draws.

Cricket: Bbc 'Villains of the Piece' ; Comment

News of the failure of the campaign to return Test cricket to free-to-air television was predictable as it was regrettable. An era has ended and the long-term future of the game has been jeopardised. The dangers of failing to expose future generations to live cricket have been eloquently made in these pages by my colleague, Pat Murphy. The present deal is far from ideal.

Cricket: Bears Fretting Over Trott Back Injury ; Exclusive

Jonathan Trott missed Otago's latest State Shield (one-day) match in New Zealand with a worrying back injury. The Warwickshire batsman has spent the winter in Dune-din as an overseas player. He has played a key part as an all-rounder for Otago in all forms of cricket, bowling more overs than at any stage in his career. The fear is that his back has been unable to sustain the increased bowling load.

Badminton: Badminton: Hallam and Mann On Course for Semi-Final ; Badminton

Tracey Hallam, Simon Archer and Julia Mann will spearhead the Midlands challenge in this weekend's English National Championship in Manchester. The trio are seeded for the three-day event, which begins tomorrow at the Velodrome, but Warwickshire's interest is further enhanced by Jill Pittard, Chris Tonks and Mark Constable, who are also seeds.