Manchester United remain on course for the Premier League title thanks to a 1-0 win at home to Everton. Javier Hernandez headed the winner in the 83rd minute.
With four games to go Chelsea are United’s nearest challengers – six points behind – after they beat West Ham, who went bottom, 3-0 and Arsenal lost 2-1 at Bolton. Fernando Torres, who cost Chelsea £50million in January, finally scored his first goal for the club to break a 903-minute drought.
Manchester City strengthened their grip on fourth spot with a 1-0 at Blackburn thanks to Edin Dzeko’s first Premier League goal. Fifth-placed Tottenham were held 1-1 by West Brom but Liverpool can still finish fourth following a 5-0 demolition of Birmingham in which Maxi Rodriguez scored a hat-trick.
Wolves are second from bottom, two points from safety, following a 1-1 draw with Fulham. Wigan are third bottom after a 4-2 defeat to Sunderland. Blackpool, who drew 1-1 with Newcastle, are level on points with Wigan but out of the relegation zone on goal difference. Aston Villa and Stoke remain in mid-table courtesy of a 1-1 draw.
Leicester and Saracens secured home Rugby Union Premiership play-off semi-finals with wins over Newcastle and Gloucester respectively. Leicester saw off the relegation-threatened Falcons 24-13 and Sarries won 35-12.
Despite their defeat, Gloucester remain on course for the semis along with Northampton, who beat London Irish 26-16. Bath have an outside chance of reaching the play-offs after a 43-10 thrashing of Wasps.
Leeds remain bottom after a 38-3 thumping by Harlequins but are level on points with Newcastle, who have a game in hand. Exeter beat Sale 30-24.
St Helens are top of Rugby League’s Super League after Jamie Foster’s touchline kick secured a 22-20 victory over Castleford. Warrington, who lost 24-10 to Hull FC, are second. Wigan are close behind thanks to a 26-0 win over Wakefield.
Elsewhere, Hull KR beat Harlequins 37-24, Leeds eased past Crusaders 34-16 and Catalan Dragons drew 8-8 with Bradford.
Cricket’s 40-over domestic competition began with defending champions Warwickshire narrowly losing their first group game to Hampshire and the Netherlands shocking Yorkshire and Derbyshire in consecutive days. There were also wins for Durham, Gloucestershire, Lancashire, Northamptonshire, Somerset, Middlesex and Leicestershire.
Lee Westwood regained golf’s world number one spot by winning the Indonesian Masters. Fellow Englishman Luke Donald nearly took over from Westwood but missed out on the Heritage tournament in a sudden-death play-off.
