WOMEN’S FOOTBALL: Celtic beat Hearts 3-1 on Wednesday night to close in on their first-ever Scottish Women’s Premiership as Kirsty Howat’s hat-trick earned second-placed Rangers a 3-2 victory over Hibernian.

The top two are level on points with a game to go, but Celtic have a hugely superior goal difference.

Elsewhere, on Wednesday Glasgow City won 2-0 at Partick, Aberdeen drew 1-1 with Dundee United and Motherwell beat struggling Hamilton 4-2.

ICE HOCKEY: Britain crashed to a third successive World Championship defeat after going down 3-0 to unbeaten Switzerland on Wednesday night.

If they finish bottom of their group, they will be relegated just one year after gaining promotion to the top league and miss out on next year’s elite tournament.

Britain face Denmark, who have lost three of their four games, tomorrow afternoon before meeting hosts Czechia on Saturday.

NETBALL: Super League action is back tomorrow evening with table-topping Manchester Thunder playing the Saracens Mavericks, Team Bath taking on Leeds at the Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park arena and third-placed London Pulse at bottom club Strathclyde.

This week’s fixtures conclude on Saturday when Surrey Storm face the Severn Stars in a crucial play-off encounter and Cardiff host defending champions Loughborough Lightning.

MEN’S FOOTBALL: Despite winning just once in their last nine matches, Shelbourne still lead the League of Ireland by a point when they head into tonight’s match with Waterford.

Elsewhere, tomorrow evening, second-placed Derry are in Dublin to face St Patrick’s, reigning champions Shamrock Rovers take on floundering bottom club Dundalk, Sligo play Bohemians and Galway United take the league’s best defensive record to Drogheda.