Amid riots, strikes and Thatcher’s Britain, Frank Bruno fought not just for boxing glory, but for a nation desperate for heroes, writes JOHN WIGHT
MEN’S RUGBY UNION: The Pacific Nations Cup continues tomorrow morning with six-time winners Fiji playing Tonga in Rotorua, New Zealand. The Tongans opened the tournament with a 30-16 win over Samoa last weekend. Canada follow up their opening 34-20 victory over the United States with a trip to Japan. The Canadians are ranked as the world’s 24th best team, the lowest in the competition, 11 places below Japan.
SPEEDWAY: Thursday’s Premiership top of the table clash between Ipswich and Sheffield was postponed due to a waterlogged South Yorkshire track but fourth-placed defending champions Belle Vue were in action, suffering a 50-40 defeat at King’s Lynn. Elsewhere Ryan Douglas top-scored with 13 points as Leicester produced a dominant second half to thump bottom of the pile Birmingham 53-37 and climb above Sheffield into second.
MEN’S FOOTBALL: League leaders St Johnstone take the Scottish Championship’s sole 100 per cent record into tomorrow’s home game with a Greenock Morton team that has drawn all three of their games. The only other unbeaten team, second-placed Raith Rovers, take on Partick Thistle while Ayr face Queen’s Park and Airdrieonians are at Arbroath. Bottom of the table Ross County, who were relegated from the Premiership last season, are at Dunfermline Athletic.
CRICKET: Tomorrow’s semi-final day in the Hundred sees the Northern Superchargers women up against reigning champions London Spirit for a chance to play the Southern Brave in Sunday’s final. Brave became the first ever team to qualify without losing after beating Welsh Fire by 27 runs on Thursday. Trent Rockets face the Northern Superchargers in the men’s semi-final with the winners taking on current champions Oval Invincibles in the final.