The FA Cup provided the major drama of the sporting weekend as non-league Crawley Town almost forced a replay against Manchester United and League One Leyton Orient managed that feat versus Arsenal.
United could only muster a 1-0 win at home to Crawley, who spurned several chances to equalise. Orient went one better thanks to Jonathan Tehoue’s late leveller, which earned them a rematch at the Emirates. The winner of that game will face United at Old Trafford in the quarter-finals.
The only confirmed last-eight game is Birmingham versus Bolton after they beat Sheffield Wednesday and Bolton respectively. Stoke, who saw off Brighton, will play West Ham or Burnley and Manchester City or Aston Villa will take on Everton or Reading. City and Everton won fourth round replays versus Notts County and Chelsea respectively – the holders beaten on penalties at Stamford Bridge.
In the only Premier League game of the weekend West Brom and Wolves drew 1-1 in the West Country derby at the Hawthorns.
The Cricket World Cup began in Asia on Saturday with India comfortably defeating co-hosts Bangladesh thanks to Virender Sehwag’s superb 175. On Sunday New Zealand thrashed Kenya by 10 wickets and Sri Lanka, the third co-hosts, outclassed Canada.
In the second round of Rugby League’s Super League there were wins for defending champions Wigan, Harlequins, Warrington, Castleford, Wakefield, Leeds and St Helens.
In Rugby Union’s Premiership leaders Leicester, second-placed Saracens, third-placed Gloucester, Bath, Harlequins and Exeter were victorious.
The Six Nations returns next weekend with a potential title decider between England and France at Twickenham on Saturday after Italy face Wales in Rome. On Sunday Scotland play Ireland at Murrayfield.
