MEN’S FOOTBALL: The English Championship play-offs kick off tonight with Bristol City facing Sheffield United in a semi final first leg clash. City finished 22 points behind third-placed Sheffield United in the regular season but the South Yorkshire club have failed to gain promotion via the play-offs on eight occasions. United were only relegated from the Premier League last year while Bristol City have not played top-flight football since 1980.

MEN’S CRICKET: Scotland take on the UAE in Amstelveen today for a crucial one-day World Cup League Two game. George Munsey top-scored with 78 as the Scots beat the same opponents by three wickets last week to climb to fifth in the eight team table. Another victory will see the defending champions move fourth before they play the league leading Netherlands on Saturday. The Dutch thumped the UAE by 113 runs on Tuesday.

NETBALL: Birmingham Panthers captain Gabby Marshall has announced her retirement after suffering two serious concussions this season. The 29-year-old Mancunian had played Super League netball since 2013 for Manchester, London Mavericks and the Severn Stars before becoming the new Birmingham-based franchise’s first signing. Marshall won eight caps for England and a bronze medal at the World Youth Cup in 2017. 

MEN’S RUGBY LEAGUE: Parramatta can climb off the bottom of the NRL tomorrow morning when they kick-start round ten with their game in hand against fellow strugglers the Dolphins. Just four points currently separate Brisbane Broncos in 5^th from Parramatta in 17^th. League leaders Canterbury Bankstown will be without back-rower Jacob Preston for their top of the table clash at Canberra after he received a four game suspension for a crusher tackle.