WORLD OF SPORT

JOHN HIGGINS maintained his two-frame snooker World Championship semi-final advantage over Kyren Wilson after an intriguing evening session at the Crucible. Higgins opened up a 12-9 lead but Wilson responded with breaks of 106 and 93 to get within a frame of the Scot. Higgins rallied and a run of 91 saw him take a 13-11 lead into today. Barry Hawkins had earlier wrested back control against Mark Williams in the other semi-final. Two-time winner Williams produced some sparkling snooker to reel in Hawkins from 5-3 and draw level at 6-6, but Hawkins then moved 9-7 clear again. TAULUPE FALETAU will not return to Wales after next year’s rugby union World Cup having signed a new contract at Bath. The 27-year-old Lions No 8 (right) was originally signed up to 2019, having joined from the Dragons. Wales wanted to bring him home but the new deal dashes those hopes. WARRINGTON extended their winning rugby league run to nine games in all competitions with a 33-22 victory over Leeds Rhinos in the Betfred Super League. Ben Murdoch Masila powered over for the match-winning try in the final minute of the game to seal a memorable win for Steve Price’s men. Harvey Livett played a starring role for the visitors with a treble.