MEN’S FOOTBALL: Larne top the Irish Premiership by three points after the defending champions extended their unbeaten run to 20 games with a narrow 1-0 win at Ballymena.

Cliftonville beat Glenavon 4-2 to move second as Linfield suffered a surprise 3-0 reverse in Coleraine.

Daire O’Connor grabbed a hat-trick in Glentoran’s 8-2 pasting of bottom club Newry, Carrick edged out Dungannon 2-1 and Crusaders won 1-0 at Loughall.

NETBALL: Ugandan international Mary Cholhok was immediately back into her stride with 51 goals to help reigning champions Loughborough see off Surrey 63-50 as the new Super League season began on Saturday.

Last year’s runners-up London lost out 56-40 to Manchester, the Severn Stars brushed aside Leeds 57-41, Team Bath squeezed past Strathclyde 53-49 and Saracens drew 48-48 with the Cardiff Dragons.

MEN’S CRICKET: Sri Lanka meet Afghanistan in Dambulla again tomorrow for the second leg of their three-match twenty20 series.

The Sri Lankans lead 1-0 after narrowly taking Saturday’s opener by just four runs.

Chasing 160 to win Afghan captain Ibrahim Zadran hit 67 not out but was unable to score the 11 needed off the last over.

Sri Lankan paceman Matheesha Pathirana took 4-24 to earn the man of the match award.

MEN’S FOOTBALL: Welsh Cup holders The New Saints won their 22nd consecutive match after coming from behind to overwhelm Briton Ferry Llansawel 5-1 and cruise into the semi-finals.

Flint Mountain’s epic cup run ended with a 3-0 defeat at last year’s runners-up Bala, Sam Jones scored twice as Cardiff Met beat Colwyn Bay 3-2 and Connah’s Quay also made it through to the last four with a 4-1 win at Buckley Town.