WOMEN’S RUGBY UNION: Bristol Bears made it six wins from their last seven games with a dominant 35-10 win over second-placed Saracens on Sunday afternoon in the English Women’s Premiership. Reigning champions Gloucester-Hartpury increased their lead at the top to 14 points after brushing aside Harlequins 57-24, Kanako Kobayashi scored a hat-trick as Exeter thumped Loughborough 43-7 and Ealing won 26-10 at bottom of the table Sale.

NETBALL: Manchester moved three points clear in the Super League after preserving their 100 per cent record with a 65-50 win at former table-toppers Severn Stars. Loughborough won 66-46 at Saracens to move second, Assaindey Olivia Tchine hit another 36 goals as London Pulse romped to a 76-43 victory against Team Bath, Surrey held off Cardiff 63-56 and bottom of the table Strathclyde suffered a heavy 73-34 in Leeds.

ICE HOCKEY: Mitchell Balmas scored twice and made an assist as table-topping Sheffield hit back from their recent dip in Elite League form with a 6-1 thrashing of last year’s champions Belfast on Sunday evening. Nottingham revived their chances of making the play-offs with a 6-5 overtime win in Glasgow, Coventry won 4-1 at Dundee and Manchester made it five wins from six games with a 2-1 shoot-out victory against Guildford.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Caledonia won 69-41 at Durham Palatinates to move joint top of the Women’s British Basketball League with London, who were not in action over the weekend. Essex suffered two losses, going down 83-74 at Sheffield and losing out 88-72 at home to Newcastle. Idil Turk top-scored with 24 points in Manchester’s 82-73 win at bottom of the table Cardiff Met and Nottingham edged out Oaklands 85-80.