Barry's Blog

ONE DAYCRICKET WORLD CUP ENGLAND 311-8 50 OVERS SA 207 39.5 OVERS SUPER STOKES Regularly bowling in excess of 90mph, Archer - playing only his fourth one-day international - took 3-27 and hit Hashim Amla on the helmet to force him to temporarily retire hurt. After Stokes took an amazing one-handed catch on the boundary to dismiss Andile Phehlukwayo, South Africa were dismissed for 207 to lose by 104 runs. Stokes earlier made 89 and Jason Roy, Joe Root and Eoin Morgan hit half-centuries to take England to 311-8, a total that seemed no better than par. Quinton de Kock's 68 had South Africa in the hunt at 129-2, but he pulled Liam Plunkett to long leg to become the first of three wickets to fall for 15 runs. When Stokes took two wickets in two balls, the world number ones and favourites completed an ideal start to the tournament. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/48466791 MY OPINION England had the ability here to kill of this game and start the tournament 2wi...

CHALLENGE  CUP QUARTERS HULL FC 51-8 CATALAN NIFTY NAGULAGO Jake Connor and Bureta Faraimo's tries had Hull 12-0 up but two Lewis Tierney scores put Catalans within four points. But the hosts scored a remarkable 39 unanswered second-half points as they ran riot at the KCOM Stadium. Tries from Sika Manu, Albert Kelly, Jamie Shaul, Danny Houghton and two from Ratu Naulago saw the five-time cup winners ease into the last four. Naulago's first - a sprint from the halfway line - was the highlight for a rampant Hull, while Kelly dropped a shoulder to wrongfoot the Catalans defence for another impressive score. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/48433757 MY OPINION This result shows that Catalan have got a lot to improve on if they are going to be a challenger for Super League considering how well they have done this season. Home advantage was the difference in this match but the French side have to look at their second half

WOMENS FRENCH OPEN ROUND 2 Anisimova from the USA beat Sabalenka from Belarus 2-0 Swiatek from Poland beat Wang from China 2-0 Bolsova from Spain beat Cirstea from Romania 2-0 Alexandrova from Russia beat Stosur from Australia 2-1   Siniakova from Czech Rep beat Sakkari from Grease 2-1 Osaka from Japan beat Azarenka from Belarus 2-1 Barty from Australia beat Collins from the USA 2-0 Begu from Romania beat Muchova from the Czech Rep 2-1 Kenin from USA beat retired Andreescu from Canada Bencic from Switzerland beat Siegemund from Germany 2-1 Serena Williams from the USA beat Nara from Japan 2-0 Petkovic from Germany beat Hsieh from Tywan 2-1 Puig from Purto Rico beat Kasatkina from Russia 2-0 Blinkova from Russia beat Garcia from France 2-1 Halep from Romania beat Linette from Poland 2-1 Tsurenko from Ukrane beat Krunic from Serbia 2-1 ROUND 3 Vondrousova from the Czech Rep beat Suarez Navarro from Spain 2-0 Martic from Croatia beat Plisko...

MENS FRENCH OPEN ROUND 2 Cuevas from Uruguay beat retired Edmond from GB Thiem from Austria beat Bublik from Kazakhstan 3-1 Caruso from Italy beat Simon from France 3-0 In an all Argentine match Mayer beat Schwartzman  Zverev from Germany beat Ymer from Sweden 3-0 Djokovic from Serbia beat Laaksonen from Switzerland 3-0   Hoang from France beat Verdasco from Spain 3-1 Lajovic from Serbia beat Benchetrit from France 3-0 Struff from Germany beat Albot from Moldova 3-1 Thompson from Australia beat Karlovic from Croatia 3-1 Del Potro from Argentina beat Nishioka from Japan 3-2 In an all French match Monfils beat Mannarino 3-0 Coric from Croatia beat Harris from SA 3-0 Bautista Agut from Spain beat Fritz from the USA 3-0 Khachanov from Russia beat Barrere from France 3-1 Fognini from Italy beat Delbonis from Argentina 3-1 Klizan from Slovakia beat Pouille from France 3-1

EUROPA LEAGUE FINAL CHELSEA 4-1 ARSENAL HAPPY HAZZARD  Emerson curls in from the left. Giroud stoops and flashes a header into the bottom left, under pressure from Koscielny. Brave, too, because Koscielny was trying to hoof clear. What a header that was! A goal out of nothing, and Giroud keeps the celebrations to a minimum against his old club. Kovacic works well down the left, and shuttles the ball forward for Hazard, who slips a pass back inside for Pedro. A first-time swipe, and Pedro whips the ball into the bottom right, Cech with no chance. Kovacic is allowed to dribble miles, left to right. It nearly opens up for him, but Pedro takes up possession instead, heading back to the left across the front of the box. He slips a ball down the channel for Giroud, who is clumsily bundled over by Maitland-Niles. A no-brainer for the referee. Hazard sends Cech one way, then rolls the penalty into the left-hand side of the goal The ball breaks to Iwobi, to the right of...

FRENCH OPEN ROUND 2 MENS Tsitsipas from Grease beat Dellien from Bolivia 3-1 Moutet from France beat Pella from Argentina 3-1   Nadal from Spain beat Maden from Germany 3-0 Goffin from Belgium beat Kecmanovic from Serbia 3-0 Nishikori from Japan beat Tsonga from France 3-1 Londero from Argentina beat Gasquet from France 3-1 Djere from Serbia beat Popyrin from Australia 3-0 Krajinovic from Serbia beat Carballes Baena from Spain 3-2 Mahut from France beat Kohlschreiber from Germany 3-0 Ruud from Norway beat Berrettini from Italy 3-0 Dimitrov from Bulgaria beat Cilic from Croatia 3-2 Wawrinka from Switzerland beat Garin from Chile 3-0 Federer from Switzerland beat Otte from Germany 3-0 In this all Fr3ench match Paire beat Herbert 3-2 Carreno Busta from Spain beat De Minaur from Australia 3-0

FRENCH OPEN ROUND 2 WOMEN  Svitolina feat fellow Ukraine a Kozlov because of retirement Mertens from Belgium beat Parry from France 2-0 Kudermetova from Russia beat Diyas from Kazakhstan 2-0 Stephens from the USA beat Sorribes from from Spain 2-0 Muguruza from Spain beat Larsson from Sweden 2-0 Hercog from Slovakia beat Brady from the USA 2-1 Kanepi from Estonia beat Zhang from China 2-1 Suarez Navarro from Spain beat Rogers from the USA 2-1 Sevastova from Latvia beat Minella from Luxenberg 2-0 Pliskovafrom the Czech Rep beat Kucova from Slovakia 2-0 Martic from Croatia beat Mladenovic from France 2-0 Vondrousova from the Czech Rep beat Potapova from Russia 2-0 Vekic from Croatia beat Peterson from Sweden 2-1 Konta from GB beat Davis from the USA 2-1

NBA CONFERENCE     FINAL GOLDEN STAQTE WARRIORS BEAT PORTLAND TIMBERS 4-0 TORORNTO RAPTORS   BEAT MILWAKE BUCKS 4-2

TO ME THIS IS WHERE ALL IRELAND BEGINS ROUND 1  QUALIFIERS LOUTH V ANTRIM TIP V DOWN LETRIM V WICKLOW WEXFORD V DERRY OFFALLY V LONDON MONAGHAN V FERMANAGH CARLOW V KILDARE LONGFORD WMEATH V WFORD TIES TO BE PLAYED 8-9 TH JUNE Tie of round Monahan v Fermanagh Easiest Offaly to beat London My tie Tip v Down 

FRENCH OPEN MENS ROUND 1 Fritz from the USA beat Tomic from Australia 3-0 In an all Italian tie Fognini beat Seppi 3-1  Zverev from Germany beat Millman from Australia 3-2 Nishioka from Japan beat McDonald from the USA 3-2 Delbonis from Argentina beat Garcia-Lopez from Spain 3-1   Benchetrit from France beat Norrie from GB 3-0 Ymer from Sweden beat Rola from Slovakia 3-0 Del Potro from Argentina beat Jarry from Chile 3-1 Lajovic from Serbia beat Monteiro from Brazil 3-0 Edmund from GB beat Chardy from France 3-2 Karlovic from Croatia beat Lopez from Spain 3-1 Bautista Agut from Spain beat Johnson from the USA 3-0 Thompson from Australia beat Davidovich Fokina from Spain 3-0 Klizan from Slovackia beat Kukushkin from Kazakhstan 3-2 Khachanov from Russia beat Stebe from Germany 3-0 Pouille from France beat Bolelli from Italy 3-0 Verdasco from Spain beat Evans from GB 3-1 Barrere from France beat Ebden from Australia 3-1   Hoang fr...

FRENCH OPEN WOMEN'S  ROUND 1 Kasatkina from Russia beat Paolini from Italy 2-0 Begu from Belgium beat Zhu from China 2-0 Puig from Purto Ricco beat Flipkens from Belgium 2-0 Andreescu from Canada beat Bouzkova from the Czech Rep 2-1 Muchova from the Czech Reo beat Kontaveit from Moldova 2-1 Anisimova from the USA beat Tan from France 2-0 Garcia from France beat Barthel from Germany 2-0 Azarenka from Belarus beat Ostapenko from Latvia 2-0 In an all-Russian tie Blinkova beat Gasparyan 2-1 Linette from Poland beat Paquet from France 2-1 Nara from Japan beat Jakupovic from Slovakia 2-1 Osaka from Japan beat Schmiedlova from Slovakia 2-1 Sabalenka from Belarus beat Cibulkova from Slovakia 2-0 Hon from Australia beat Babos from Hungary 2-1 In an all Chinease encounter Wang beat Zheng 2-0 Tsurenko from the Ukraine beat Bouchard from Canada 2-0 Krunic from Serbia beat retired Gavrilova from Australia Keys from the USA beat Rodina from Russia 2-0 ...

CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY OFF FINAL VILLA 2-1 DERBY MAGIC MC GINN Dean Smith's side launched a quick attack that El Ghazi finished off by coming in on the blindside of the static Jayden Bogle and diverting it into the net with his back. They doubled their advantage when Rams goalkeeper Kelle Roos misjudged the flight of a deflected El Ghazi shot and McGinn beat him to it to head into an empty net. That sparked Derby into life and they grew into the game before the combination of forwards Marriott and Waghorn got them back in it. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48331145 MY OPINION This game was Villas from the start and that Derby did not give themselves until the end of the match when with 10 minutes to go they got a goal back which changed the game dramatically as so much changed in that instant. Lampard did not have his tactics right but this he can learn for next season as he is a new manager but for JT this is brilliant.  

MENS FRENCH OPEN ROUND 1 Londero from Argentina beat Basilashvili from Georgia 3-0 Kecmanovic from Serbia beat Kudla from the USA 3-2 Carreno Busta from Spain beat Sousa from Portugal 3-0 Moutet from France beat Vatutin from Russia 3-0 Krajinovic from Serbia beat Tiafoe from the USA 3-2 Herbert from France beat Medvedev from Russia 3-2 Maden from Germany beat Coppejans from Belgium 3-0 Garin from Chile beat Opelka from the USA 3-0 Gasquet from France beat Zverev from Germany 3-0 Carballes Baena from Spain beat Muller from France 3-0 Nadal from Spain beat Hanfmann from Germany 3-0 Coric from Croatia beat Bedene from Slovenia 3-1 In an All Argentine tie Pella beat Andreozzi 3-1 Laaksonen from Switzerland beat Martinez from Spain 3-0 Wawrinka from Switzerland beat Kovalik from Slovakia 3-1   Simon from France beat Stakhovsky from the Ukraine 3-0 Tsonga from France beat Gojowczyk from Germany 3-1 Caruso from Italy beat Munar from Spain 3-1 D...

WOMEN FRENCH OPEN ROUND 1 Kanepi from Estonia beat Goerges from Germany 2-0 Bertens from the Netherlands beat Parmentier from France 2-0 Parry from France beat Lapko from Belarus 2-0 Kudermetova from Russia beat Wozniacki from Switzerland 2-1 Konta from GB beat Lottner from Germany 2-0 Brady from the USA beat Jorovic from Serbia 2-1 Cirstea from Romania beat Juvan from Slovakia 2-1   Barty from Australia beat Pegula from the USA 2-0 Minella from Luxenberg beat Pavlyuchenkova from Russia 2-0 Hercog from Slovenia beat Sasnovich from Latvia 2-0 Hercog from Slovenia beat Sasnovich from Latvia 2-1 Zhang from China beat Lepchenko from the USA 2-0 Sevastova from Latvia beat Kumkhum from Thailand 2-0 Vekic from Croatia beat Samsonova from Russia 2-0 Rogers from the USA beat Sharma from Australia 2-0   Peterson from Sweden beat Putintseva from Kazakhstan 2-0 Mertens from Belgium beat Zidansek from Slovenia 2-1 Diyas from Kazakhstan beat Albie ...

SCOTTISH CUP FINAL HEARTS 1-2 CELTIC EDOUARD ERRATES Craig Levein's side fought valiantly, though, and took the lead when Arnaud Djoum's shot broke to Sean Clare, who back-heeled the ball to Edwards to shoot first-time beyond Scott Bain. Hearts could not maintain Souttar's flawless display. Zlamal hesitated as he left his line to close down Edouard inside the penalty area, then panicked and slid into the striker. Referee Willie Collum pointed to the spot and Edouard converted with confidence when Zlamal perhaps could have done better. The striker remained unflustered when Berra was caught out of position and Mikael Lustig's header sent the ball through for Edouard to chase, and he coolly lifted the ball beyond the Hearts keeper's reach and into the net. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48318590 MY OPINION I think that Celtic had been able to show their quality in a match of very little but if they had not got the penalty I wonder what it is th...

FRENCH OPEN MENS  SINGLES ROUND 1 Goffin from Belgium beat Berankis from Lithuania 3-0 Mayer from Argentina beat Vesely from the Czech Rep 3-0 Kohlschreiber from Germany beat Haase from the Netherlands 3-1   Djere from Serbia beat Ramos-Vinolas from Spain 3-0 Schwartzman from Argentina beat Fucsovics from Hungary 3-2 Dellien from Bolivia beat Gunneswaran from India 3-0 Federrer from Switzerland beat Sonego from Italy 3-0 Mahut from France beat Cecchinato from Italy 3-2 Nishikori from Japan beat Halys from France 3-0 Otte from Germany beat Jaziri from Turkey 3-1 Tsitsipas from Grease beat Marterer from Germany 3-0 Dimitrov from Bulgaria beat Tipsarevic from Serbia 3-2 Berrettini from Italy beat Andujar from Spain 3-1 Rudd from Norway beat Gulbis from Latvia 3-0 Cilic from Croatia beat Fabbiano from Italy 3-0 Popyrin from Australia beat Humbert from France 3-1

FRENCH OPEN TENNIS WOMEN'S  ROUND 1 Stephens from the USA beat Doi from Japan 2-0 Svitlona from Ukraine beat Venus Williams from the USA 2-0 Sorribes from Spain beat Van Uytvank from Belgium 2-1 Piskova from the Cheech Rep beat Brengle from the USA 2-0 In an all French match Mladenovic beat Ferro 2-0 Bencic from Switzerland beat Ponchet from France 2-0 Kozlova from the Ukraine beat Pera from the USA 2-0 Siegemund from Germany beat Zhuk from Russia 2-0 Kuznetsova from Russia beat Kucova from Slovakia 2-0 Vondrousova from the Czech Rep beat Wang from China 2-0 Larsson from Sweden beat Rybarikova from Slovakia 2-0 Muguruza from Spain Beat Townsend from the USA 2-1 Martic from Croatia beat Jabeur from Tunisia 2-0 Potapova from Russia beat Kerber from Germany 2-0

Play-Offs - Thursday May 23 The O2, London TV Channel: Sky Sports (1900 GMT) Semi-Finals (Best of 19 legs) Michael van Gerwen 10-7 Daryl Gurney This game was level at 5-5 before Gurney broke to lead for the first time and make it 6-5 then MVG hit 4 legs in a row and there was no coming back from there Rob Cross 10-5 James Wade Wade broke early in this game to make it 5-3 but Cross showed no emotion after that as he was able to hit leg after leg to win the match Wade needs to look at this match and see what it is that went wrong Finals (Best of 21 legs) Michael van Gerwen 11-5 Rob Cross This was the tie that everyone wanted but another match that Cross would want to forget as he was destroyed during the match and has to as himself what he needs mentally to be able to compete with MVG mentally as he has the talent

ICE HOCKEY CONFERENCE  FINAL   ST LOOUS BLUES BEAT SAN JOSE   SHARKS 4-2 BOSTON BRUINS BEAT CAROLINA HURRICANES 4-0

Daryl Gurney will play MVG and Wade will play cross in the Premiere league darts semi Gurney comes from Derry 

PREMIERSHIP FINAL DAY BRIGHTON 1-4 MAN CITY MAGICAL MARHEZ Huge, huge moment here as Murray rises to head a corner into the back of the net. Ederson came but got nowhere near it. Now then, City just have to find a response here. That did not last long then! City level the scores in the 28th minute as Aguero collects a flick from David Silva before firing a low strike through the legs of Ryan! City take the lead at the Amex and it is a towering header from Laporte, who rises above everyone to meet a cross from Mahrez. Huge, huge moment in the title race! That might be that! Wonderful strike from Mahrez as the attacker works some space outside the Brighton box before finding the top corner with an explosive effort! City have a free kick in a dangerous area as Bissouma fouls Sterling... City with a fourth as Gundogan finds the back of the net with a wonderful free kick! https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/man-city/title-race/live-commentary/live-commentary-brighton-...

RUGBY UNION CHAMPIONS CUP FINAL LEINSTER 10-20 SARACENS VILUPIOUS ININUPOLA The Irish side held a 10-point lead until the 39th minute but Sarries drew level when Sean Maitland's try cancelled out Tadhg Furlong's opener. Both defences stood firm after the interval but Owen Farrell kicked Saracens in front just before the hour. Victory was sealed when Billy Vunipola crashed over from the back of a scrum. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/48239893   MY OPINION Saraces were the better side by a long way and I think that you saw that during the match but from 10-0 Leinster didn’t score which must be considered a worry. Ireland might bneed to take a look at this one going into the world cup CHALENGE CUP FINAL CLERMOUNT 36-16 LA ROCHELLE LOVELY LAIDLAW It resulted in tries for wing Damian Penaud, number eight Fritz Lee and centre Wesley Fofana, while Laidlaw added four penalties and three conversions, with Morgan Parra booting a penalty. Fly-half I...

UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE SEMI VALENCIA 2-4 ARSENAL agg 3-7 ABAMEYANG ARROW Aubameyang's right-foot volley from 20 yards levelled matters before Alexandre Lacazette put Arsenal ahead with a placed effort into the right corner. Gameiro, a four-time winner of the competition at Sevilla and Atletico Madrid, tapped in Valencia's second of the night before Aubameyang rounded off the scoring. The Gabon forward slid in from Ainsley Maitland-Niles' cross and then blasted emphatically into the top corner late on to complete his hat-trick  https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48171988 MY OPINION This was the result needed for Arsenal as they assured their spot in the final but most would say that this was a poor performance over the 2 legs by the Spanish side but they still have hope through the league and maybe that is on their minds CHELSEA 1-1 FRANKFURT 2-2 agg Chelsea 40n 4-3 on pens LOVIN LOFTUS CHICK Ruben Loftus-Cheek coolly stroked into the far cor...

Player Played Won Drawn L/D Points Cross 15 10 2 +28 22 MVG 15 9 3 +37 21 Wade 15 6 6 +18 18 Suljuvic 15 7 3 +2 17 Gurney 15 7 3 +2 17 Price 15 6 4 +1 16 Smith 15 3 4 -21 10 Wright 15 2 5 -27 9 Night 16 - Thursday May 16 First Direct Arena, Leeds TV Channel: Sky Sports (1900 GMT) Gerwyn Price v Peter Wright James Wade v Rob Cross Michael van Gerwen v Mensur Suljovic Daryl Gurney v Michael Smith