Sport news in brief
Williams routs Lisowski to reach Masters final
Mark Williams can look forward to his first appearance in the final of The Masters since 2003 after a 6-0 rout of Jack Lisowski in the first semi-final. Twelve months after suffering a stunning defeat to Neil Robertson, who needed two fouls to recover from 67-26 down in the deciding frame, Williams made sure there was no question of a repeat with a clinical performance. Williams dominated on the safeties and punished errors from Lisowski to seize the upper hand, and said his performance shows he is over the disappointment of last year. It means the
world number seven is into his first final at the Alexandra Palace, with The Masters still at the Wembley Conference Centre the last time he made it to the last two. Williams will now face Judd Trump, who overcame Stuart Bingham 6-1 in the second semifinal. PA
Everton crisis deepens as board miss Southampton loss
Everton’s board of directors were ordered to stay away from Goodison Park due to perceived security risks but what they missed was their relegation-threatened team plunging into further trouble after a 2-1 defeat to bottom side Southampton. In an unprecedented move, the executives did not attend after offensive messages – including death threats to chairman Bill Kenwright – were made to specific individuals during the week by angry fans. Club officials called it a “profoundly sad day” but things were not much better on the pitch as Everton squandered a lead given to them by Amadou Onana’s first goal for the Toffees.
James Ward-Prowse scored twice as Saints moved level on points with their hosts, who are only kept off the bottom of the table by goal difference after just one win in 11 league matches and have their lowest tally (15) at the halfway stage of a Premier League campaign.
Meanwhile, on the south coast Solly March scored twice as Brighton and Hove Albion set aside the absence of star Leandro Trossard to inflict another setback on Liverpool FC’s stuttering season with a superb 3-0 win. Substitute Danny Welbeck wrapped up Albion’s victory after March’s quick-fire double early in the second period put them on course for a resounding success. Jurgen Klopp’s stunned visitors had no response to being outplayed at the Amex Stadium, leaving the Seagulls to leapfrog them into seventh position. Liverpool have now dropped a staggering 26 points this season, with just 18 games gone.
West Ham slumped into the Premier League bottom three following defeat at fellow strugglers Wolves. Both sides went
into the Molineux meeting out of form in the league but it was the hosts who sealed a 1-0 victory courtesy of a smart Daniel Podence strike which lifts them out of the relegation zone. West Ham headed to the Black Country having won just one of their last nine Premier League games, taking a single point from their previous six. It left the Hammers looking over their shoulder and into the drop zone, where their hosts sat following an equalling galling run of results.
In the midlands, Brennan Johnson scored two second-half goals as Nottingham Forest further strengthened their Premier League survival bid with an impressive 2-0 win over Leicester, whose miserable run continues. The Wales international registered his first league goals since September to move Forest above their East Midlands rivals, who have now lost four in a row, and four points clear of the relegation zone. PA
Adair stars as Ireland level T20 series against Zimbabwe
Ross Adair top-scored with 65 as Ireland levelled their T20 series against Zimbabwe with a six-wicket win in the second match in Harare. Zimbabwe were without former England batter Gary Ballance, who sustained an injury during his new side’s win in the first match on Thursday. Graham Hume took three wickets for 17 off his four overs as Ireland restricted the hosts to 144 all out before making an immediate impact with the bat. Andy Balbirnie and Adair put on 48 for the first wicket and Adair surpassed his half-century as the tourists went on to level the series with one match to play.
Nadal to face Draper in Australian Open first round
Rafael Nadal will play Jack Draper from Britain in the first round of the Australian Open tomorrow. Asked at a pre-tournament news conference yesterday whether he feels vulnerable, Nadal said: “Yeah. Without a doubt,” replied the 36-year-old from Spain, whose 2022 was littered with health concerns that included chronic pain in his left foot, damaged rib cartilage and
a torn abdominal muscle. “I have been losing more than usual ... I need to live with it and just fight for the victories.” Looking ahead to his upcoming encounter in Rod Laver Arena against Jack Draper, a fellow left-hander who is a 21-year-old from England ranked 40th, Nadal said: “I think I’m prepared to play well. We’ll see Monday if I’m prepared to win.”
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