Barry's Blog

BASKETBALL WEST Houston Rockets beat Minnesota Timberwolves 4-1 Utah Jazz beat Oklahoma Thunder 4-2 New Orleans Pelicans beat Portland Trail Blazers 4-0 Golden State Warriors beat San Antonio Spurs ROUND 2 Houston Rockets lead Utah Jazz 1-0 Golden State Warriors lead New Orleans Pelicans 1-0 EAST Toronto Raptors beat Washington Wizards 4-2 Cleveland Cavaliers beat   Indiana   Pacers   4-2 Philadelphia 76 ers   beat Miami Hurricanes   4-1 Boston Celtics beat Milwacki Bucks 4-3 SEMIS Toronto Raptors v Cleveland Cavaliers Philidelphia 76 ers v Boston Celtics ICE HOCKEY EAST Tampa bay Lightning beat New Jersey Devils 4-1 Boston Bruins beat Toronto Maple Leafs 4-3 Washington Capitals beat Columbus Blue Jackets 4-2 Pittsburgh Penguins beat Philadelphia Flyers 4-2 SEMIS Boston Bruins lead Tampa Bay Lightning 1-0 Washington and Pittsburgh are level at 1-1 WEST Nashville Predators beat Colorado Avalanche 4-2 ...

Scot John Higgins looked unstable against Englishman Jack Lisowski as he beat him by 13 frames to 1 with a session to spare. Lisowski hit a 60 in the second frame. Higgins hit a 62, 88 a 101 a 56 a 68 a 55 before Lisowski hit an 81. Higgins then came back with a 100 a high break 146 and a 73 Englishman Kyron Wilson beat Welshman Jamie Jones by 13 frames to 5. Jones started with a 53 before Wilson hit a 54. Wilson hit a 64 and Jones hit a 53 I the same frame. Jones then hit an 80 and an 83 before Wilson hit a 67 and a 79. Ali Carter pulled off one of the shocks of the tournament after beating fellow Englishman Ronnie O Sullivan. Carter hit a 121 a 61 before Ronnie hit a 115 and a 96 before Carter hit a 68 and a 72. Ronnie then hit 2 55s before Carter hit a 51 and Ronnie hit a 54 in the same frame. Ronnie then hit a 79 a 105 and a 66. Carter then hit a 73. Ronnie then hit a 59 and 71 in the same frame. Carter then hit a 51 and Ronnie hit a 54 in the same frame. Carter ...

PRO 14 FINAL DAY MUNSTER 24-24 ULSTER BEST DOUBLE ONLY ENOUGH FOR DRAW Williams took advantage of a fumble by scrum-half Dave Shanahan to kick, collect and score the opening try in the third minute, his half-back partner JJ Hanrahan then landing the first of his three conversions. Ulster were soon on level terms when Jacob Stockdale picked up a loose ball and offloaded to Stuart McCloskey, who powered over, Johnny McPhillips adding the extras. Fly-half McPhillips kicked a penalty from 40 metres out to nudge Ulster in front, before Iain Henderson was forced to come off with a knee injury. Prop Scott barged over just before the half-hour mark to restore the hosts' advantage but Munster were reduced to 14 men for a spell soon after when Robin Copeland was sin-binned. Best drove over from a rolling maul and the visitors capitalised on their extra-man advantage again on the stroke of half-time when the Ireland hooker again crashed over after a powerful maul, McPhill...

Tomorrow is the final day of the Pro 14 and Edinburgh ned to pick up point against Glasgow assuming that Ulster do not beat Munster   at Thomand Park and I do think that ulster can get the win but you will rely a little bit on that miracle which I can not see happening as Edinburgh have got the form to destroy Glasgow. Edinburgh: B Kinghorn, D Fife, J Johnstone, C Dean, D van der Merwe, J van der Walt, S Hidalgo-Clyne; J Lay, S McInally (capt), S Berghan, B Toolis, G Gilchrist, M Bradbury, J Ritchie, B Mata. Replacements: N Cochrane, A Dell, WP Nel, L Carmichael, C du Preez, N Fowles, D Weir, M Bennett. Glasgow Warriors: S Hogg; T Seymour, N Grigg, S Johnson, DTH van der Merwe; F Russell, G Horne; A Allan, F Brown, Z Fagerson; T Swinson, J Gray; M Fagerson, C Gibbins, R Wilson (capt). Replacements: G Turner, J Bhatti, S Halanukonuka, R Harley, C Fusaro, H Pyrgos, P Horne, L Jones. The Blues still have hopes oof reaching the play offs but require the same miracle of...

PREMIERE LEAGUE TABLE Player Played Won Drawn Lost L/D Points MVG 14 10 1 3 +40 21 Michael Smith 14 9 5 0 +34 18 Rob Cross 14 8 2 4 +10 18 Gary Anderson 14 7 3 4 +17 17 Daryl Gurney 14 4 6 4 +1 14 RVB 14 5 3 6 -12 13 Simon Whitlock 14 5 2 7 -15 12 Peter Wright 14 3 5 6 -23 11 MVG is Michael Van Gerwin RVB is Raymond Van Baneveld FIXTURES May 3 Arena Birmingham Peter Wright v Simon Whitlock Daryl Gurney v Michael Smith Rob Cross v Mic...

SNOOKER WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP Judd Trump started with a 10-9 win over fellow Englishman Chris Walkein. Trump started with a 58 before Walkein hit a 95 and a 141 before Trump hit a 64. Walkein then hit a 69 before Trump hit a 73 and a 51 before Walkein hit a 52. Trump then hit a 57 before Walkein hit a 51 before Trump hit a break of the same number. Trump hit a 61 to win the match. Scot Anthony Mc Gill beat Welshman Ryan Day 10-8. Day hit a 141 before Mc Gill hit a 75. Day then hit a 62 and a 52 before Mc Gill hit a 51. Day then hit a 145 and a 51 before Mc Gill hit a 60. Scot John Higgans beat Thai Un Nooh 10-7. Higgins started with a 62 a 51 before Un Nooh. Higgins then hit a 104 a 59 before Un Nooh hit a 121. Higgins then responded with a 81 before Un Nooh hit a 112 Higgins a 77 andd a 54 Englishman Robert Milkins pulled off one of the shocks of the tournament with a 10-5 win over Aussie Neil Robertson. Milkins started with a 54 a 72 a 73 before Robertson hit a 91. Milkin...

UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE SEMI ARSENAL 1-1 ATHLETICO GALLIANT GREIZMAN CHANGES EVERYTHING Despite their numerical advantage, the Gunners failed to find a way through until Alexandre Lacazette rose to nod in Jack Wilshere's cross. And with eight minutes remaining, Griezmann latched onto a long ball forward, shrugged off Laurent Koscielny and stabbed into the net at the second attempt to swing the tie Atletico's way. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43915785 MY OPINION I think that the goal Athletico scored definitely changed the game but to say they have an advantage with what Arsenal are playing with Wrengers future. Going to Madrid I don’t think will worry them and they might be able to what they haven’t all season and up their game. MARSELLE 2-0 RED BULL THAUVIN PUTS FRENCH IN CONTROL Florian Thauvin headed their opener from ex-West Ham forward Payet's free-kick and Cameroon winger Clinton Njie doubled the lead from a Payet pass. Fredrik ...

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SEMI FINALS BAYERN 1-2 REAL AWESOME  ASENIO Bayern lead! another shocker from goalkeeper Keylor Navas, who lets Joshua Kimmich to send the ball fizzing past him at his near post after a gallop down the right flank. Marcelo equalises and it’s totally against the run of play. He volleys low and hard into the bottom right-hand corner from 20 yards, converting a header across the box from Dani Carvajal A calamitous error from Rafinha leads to a Real counter-attack that ends with Marco Asensio clipping the ball over Sven Ulreich and into the bottom corner. https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2018/apr/25/bayern-munich-v-real-madrid-champions-league-semi-final-first-leg-live MY OPINION This tie seems now to be in Reals control and if they put in a good performance at home they should be in the final. If they score I think it makes the task impossible for Bayern but you do wonder how they can do so well in Europe this season but so poor ...

SNOOKER WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 1 Scot Higgins pulled off a comfortable 10-7 win over Thailand’s Un-Nooh.   John Higgins started with a 62 a 51 before Un- Nooh hit a 50. Higgins then came back with a 104 and a 59 before Un-Nooh hit a 121. Higgins hit an 81 before Un-Nooh hit a 112 and a 60 before Higgins hit a 54 Englishman Rob Milkins beat Australian Neil Robertson 10-5. Milkins started with a 54, a 72, a 73 a 91 a 69 a 55 and a 54 Welshman Mark Williams beat Englishman Jimmy Robertson. Mark Williams started with a 63 before Robertson hit a 51. Robertson then hit a 105 an 84 and a 51 before Robertson hit a 59 Williams then hit a 54 before Robertson hit a 55. Williams then hit a 100

CHALLENGE  CUP LAST 16 DRAW Hull Kr v Wigan I would bet on Wigan Castleford v St Helens I see St Helens Toronto v Warrington this one is an upset for me and I back Toronto Leigh v Salford I say Salford Featherstone v Hull FC I think this will go to Hull Fc but it will be close Catalan v Whitehaven I think the fact that they have to go to France will make the difference here   Widnes v Leeds I think Leeds should be too strong Huddersfield v Wakefield To close to call What do you think

Blackburn have been promoted to the Championship and Chesterfield have been relegated to non league 

Jack Lisowski pulled off a major shock by beating former world champion Stuart Bingham 10-7.     Lisowski started with a 105 a 128 before Bingham hit a 123 a 51 a 60 and a 88. Lioswski then hit a 60 before Bingham hit a 71 Lisowiski then hit a 58 before Bingham hit a 57. Lisowiski then hit a 97 Ricky Walden showed his experience by beating young Belgium Luca Brecel 10-6. Walden started with a 68 a 105 a 90 a 74 and a 76 before Brecel hit a 89. Then Walden hit the only century of the game a 123 followed by a 56 and a 60. Walden looks like a good outside bet.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SEMI FINAL LIVERPOOL 5-2 ROMA SUPER SALAH AND FABULOUS  FIRMINHO Salah, who has now scored 43 goals since his summer move from Roma, scored twice and assisted two other goals. He curled his first into the top corner from the edge of the box - then clipped the ball over Alisson for a second. Salah then ran down the right and squared for Sadio Mane to make it 3-0 - before doing the same to set up Roberto Firmino. Liverpool then became only the second team to score five goals in a Champions League semi-final match when Firmino headed in James Milner's corner. With his side leading 5-0, Reds boss Jurgen Klopp took off Salah - and Roma gave themselves a chance for next week's return leg at the Stadio Olimpico. First Edin Dzeko lashed home from Radja Nainggolan's pass, then Diego Perotti put a penalty into the top right corner after Milner handled Nainggolan's shot. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43871379 MY O...

Ding Junhai cruised to a 10-3 win over fellow Chinese player Guodong but Guodong got off to the better start with an 82 and a 54. But then Ding showed his class with a 68 and a 124 before Goudong hit a 57. Dig then hit a 72, 51, 78 and a 98   Barry Hawkins beat fellow Englishman Stuart Carrington 10-7. Carrington started with a 65 but Hawkins replied with a 79. Carrington then hit a 78 before Hawkins hit a 58 a 61 and an 82. Carrington replied with a 79 and a 74 Before Hawkes hit a 79.   Jamie Jones pulled off one of the shock of the tournament so far by beating Shaun Murphy 10-9 starting with a 56 but Murphy set his stall down early with a 137 and a 59. Jones then hit a 114 and a 67 before Murphy hit a 59 a 102 and a 101. Jones then hit a 58 a 57 and a 124 Mark Allen from NI picked up a simple win over Liam Highfield starting with a 88 before Highfield hit a 99. Allen then hit an 80 a 52and an 89 before Highfield hit a 51 and another 99Allen then hit a 50 to win ...

ICE HOCKEY STANLEY CUP Tampa Bay Lightning are through after beating the new Jersey Devils 4-1 Boston Bruines and Toronto Maple Leaves are tied at 3-3 Washington Capitals beat the Columbus Blue Jackets by 4 games to 2 Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Philadelphia Flyers by 4 games to 2   Nashville Predators beat the Colorado Avalanche 4-1 Winnipeg Jets beat the Minnesota wild 4-2 Vegas Golden Knights beat the LA kings 4-0 Anaheim Ducks beat the San Jose Sharks 4-0 QUARTER FINALS Lightning v Bruines or Maple Leaves Capitals v Penguins Jets v Preditors Golden knights v Ducks Who is your sure fire semi-finalist from the matches to be played and can anyone give me a fast response to Bruines v Maple Leaves NBA Houston Rockets led Minnesota Timberwolves by 3 games to 1 Utah Jazz lead Oklahoma Thunder3-1 Golden State Warriors Lead San Antonio Spurs 3-1 New Orleans Pelicans beat Portland Trail blazers’   4-0 Milwaukee Bucks Bo...

Perry started the Championships with a shock 10-4 win over SelbyPerry started with a 52,56 and a 63 before Selby hit a 74 and a 92 Perry came back with a 59 an 84 a 109 an 84 a 76 and to finish a 90 Ronnie Survived a scare to beat Steven maguire by 10 frames to 7 trailing 4-0 Maguire hit a 101 a 95 and a 54 before O Sulavan hit a 110 and a 118 then Maguire hit a 84 before Ronnie hit an 86 Maguire thyen hit a 84 before O Sulavan hit a 54 and a 77 Carter proved he is over his problems with a 10-8 win over Dott Carter started with a 106 before Dott hit a 52 Carter then hit a 61 and a 62 before hitting a 108 Dott then hit a 75 before Carter hit a 56 and a 63 Mathew Stevens started with a 60 and a 77 before Wilson hit 94, 126, 121 68 and a 54 and I thought that Stevens would put up more of a fight than his 10-3 defeat One of the big surprises was an unknown Haotin beating Marco Fu 1-5 Fu started with a 122 a 51 before Haotin hit a 102 Haotin then hit a 127 and an 87   befor...

PREMIERSHIP Exeter with 75 will get a home semi-final in the Premiership Saracens look secure but not certain with a home semi-final with 67 Wasps with 61, Leicester with 57, Newcastle with 59, Gloucester with 56 and Sale with 54 are all competing for semi-final spots but the looser might not get Europe. I think that Leicester and Newcastle will finish in the semis and Sale will finish 7 th Irish look doomed withy 22 but Wooster with 31 and both Northampton and Quins aren’t sae with 36   I think Irish are down TOP 14 Montpellier look to be in the semis with 76 Toloun and Racing with 70 Toulouse with 68, Lyon with 66 castre with 64 Paloise with 62 and Stade Rochelle with 61 could all switch positions before the end of the season so if you are second now you might not even get the chance to play off as you might drop to 8 th I see Toulon reaching the semis with racing, Stade Rochelle, Castre and Racing reaching the top 6 Paloice I think will finish 8...

FA CUP SEMIS MAN U 2-1 SPURS HAPPY HERERA Spurs started at a ferocious pace and fully deserved the early lead they took after only 11 minutes when Dele Alli slid home a finish from Christian Eriksen's cross after Davinson Sanchez's long pass opened up Manchester United's defence. Jose Mourinho's side survived the siege and levelled on 24 minutes, Wembley specialist Alexis Sanchez rising to direct an athletic header across Spurs keeper Michel Vorm from Paul Pogba's perfect cross for his eighth goal in eight appearances at the stadium. Herrera's crisp low finish just after the hour put United in the final. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43762296 MY OPINION There are people that believe that there is a jinx on Spurs when it comes to cup semi-finals and am sort of agreeing with it at the moment as I just wonder even with home advantage they can’t win a semi. United will be going into the Cup final with a lot of confidence as they shoul...

EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS RUGBY SAT LEINSTER 38-16 SCARLETS SUPER SEXTON The Irish province made a blistering start as tries from James Ryan, Cian Healy and Fergus McFadden gave them a 24-9 half-time lead. Scott Fardy and Johnny Sexton underlined their dominance and Tadhg Beirne scored Scarlets' consolation. Leigh Halfpenny earlier kicked three penalties, but Scarlets were otherwise helpless against unstoppable Leinster. Unerringly accurate and ruthlessly clinical, Leinster played near-perfect rugby at times as they took a major stride towards a fourth Champions Cup title. MY OPINION This was a game that Leinster had control of from the start. It also says to me that with the ability to win the semi so easily winning the final would not be difficult. They do rely on sexton though and if he is injured there might be a few problems SUN RACING 27-22 MUNSTER TERIFIC THOMAS Teddy Thomas scored twice in a dazzling start by Racing and then set up Maxime Mac...