MEN’S FOOTBALL: National League table-toppers Southend put their perfect start to the season on the line against Kidderminster at Roots Hall on Friday evening.  

Second-placed Sutton United take their 100 per cent record to Gateshead, while Harrogate in third are at Aldershot.

Bottom-of-the-pile Solihull Moors visit Scunthorpe and Altrincham, who are also still looking for their first point in three games, take on Halifax.

HOUSE RACING: Kildare-born David Egan bagged a hat-trick at Newbury on Tuesday evening to take his season’s tally to 49 winners.

The former British champion apprentice jockey steered home favourite Crusherman in the second race before cruising home by two-and-quarter lengths on the James Fanshawe-trained Lion of Mali.

He rounded the meeting off by partnering 4/1 shot Magical Merlot to a narrow victory over Empirical.

MEN’S CRICKET: South Africa face Namibia in Windhoek on Friday for the first game of their tri-series that will also see them play Zimbabwe on Saturday.

The Proteas are currently ranked as the world’s fifth-best short-format team, seven places ahead of Zimbabwe with the series hosts a further five places back in 17th.

The Namibians beat South Africa by four wickets off the last ball of the game in their first-ever meeting last October.

MEN’S HOCKEY: England play Australia at Amstelveen Friday afternoon for their World Cup fifth-place match.

The English failed to reach the semi-finals after being held 2-2 by the Netherlands in their final group game.

The Dutch are up against Spain in their last-four clash tomorrow evening before defending champions Germany take on Argentina, who beat England 3-1 on their way to the semis, for a place in the final.