SPORTS SHORTS Wasps sting Sale on winning return

RUGBY UNION

WASPS scored seven tries as they overcame hosts SALE 41-26 in the Premiership Rugby Cup.

Will Porter, Dan Frost and Nizaam Carr (above) were among the Wasps players to cross and head coach Matt Everard said: “For us it was about getting back to winning ways.”

Elsewhere, hooker Max Norey was EXETER’S hero as his hat-trick helped edge out WORCESTER 31-29.

NORTHAMPTON beat SARACENS 46-35 in another thriller.

GOLF

ENGLAND’S Georgia Hall will take a five-shot lead into today’s final round of the Aramco Saudi Ladies International.

Hall carded a four-under-par 68 at the Royal Greens Golf & Country Club in King Abdullah Economic City for a 10 under total of 206.

She said: “I’ve got to go out there and keep my focus until the end.”

Czech ace Kristyna Napoleaova, who shared the halfway lead with Hall, shot a 74 to fall out of contention.

Weight until you next see Higgins BY

SNOOKER SHANE MacDERMOTT JOHN HIGGINS hopes that his weight loss can lead to a precious fifth World Championship crown next month.

The 46-year-old world No.6 shed the pounds after “struggling to breathe” last year in Sheffield.

Higgins (above) said: “I’m trying to eat better and keep in shape.

“I want to see how far I can go now I’ve lost a bit of weight. I’d love to see if it’s a benefit with the longer-framed multi-session matches.”

MOTOGP BY ZOE BURN

REIGNING MotoGP champ Fabio Quartararo is optimistic he can deliver a strong title defence this year after a set-up gamble with his Monster Energy Yamaha looked to have paid-off in Indonesia yesterday.

The Frenchman, starting from pole ahead of Jorge Martin and Johann Zarco in today’s race at Mandalika, only finished ninth in the opening round a fortnight ago.

Quartararo said: “I will try to hone it until November.”