NETBALL: Both of the new franchise teams suffered defeats in the opening round of Super League matches as Birmingham went down 71-63 in Leeds and Nottingham Forest were on the end of a 73-51 beating by London Pulse. 

London Mavericks won 65-56 at the Cardiff Dragons while Ella Clark top-scored with 40 goals as reigning champions Loughborough Lightning brushed aside last year’s runners-up Manchester 69-44.

MEN’S ICE HOCKEY: Belfast Giants lead the Elite League by just two points with a game in hand after they slipped to a 2-1 shoot-out defeat at in-form Glasgow while second-placed defending champions Sheffield edged out Cardiff 4-3 and enjoyed a 2-1 overtime win over Guildford.