Rallying Roughyeds 7-2 for promotion

SPORTS BETTING: OLDHAM’S rugby league players have already performed a minor miracle to shrug off the loss of key personnel at a vital stage in their Co-Operative Championship One campaign.

Having battled their way to the semi-final stage of the play-offs and with promotion in their sights, Oldham are a team on a roll.

And that momentum will surely stand them in good stead for Sunday’s showdown at York.

This should be a close encounter of the bruising kind and, with York quoted at 5-2 and Oldham 7-2 to win the whole shebang, the bookies certainly expect a tight match.

Oldham can just about win this one, but Keighley are hot favourites at 8-13 to come out on top in the final at Warrington on Sunday week and only a brave man would oppose them judged on their performances this season.


MANCHESTER United’s habit of throwing neighbours City a lifeline in Sunday’s thrilling derby has raised doubts about their ability to successfully defend their Premier League crown.

The Reds can be backed at 5-2, but Chelsea continue to attract support and are a best-priced 5-4.

As the only unbeaten team in the league, that’s hardly a surprise, but Liverpool may yet launch a challenge and have come in to 15-2 from a season’s-best 9-1.

Arsenal are out to 10-1 to win the title, with City unchanged on 14s.

I can’t see City making a meaningful title bid, but the Carling Cup is certainly within their capabilities.

Most of the Premier League big guns tend to field fringe teams in this competition, but City boss Mark Hughes needs to win a trophy this season and has already fielded a strong side for the club’s second-round victory at Crystal Palace.

Expect more of the same at home to Fulham tonight, after which City will be shorter than the 7-1 currently on offer. The advice is to get on now.


ATHLETIC’S much-needed home win against Carlisle on Saturday has eased fears of a battle against relegation from League One.

Latics are out to 13-2 for the drop, but can be backed at 20-1 for promotion.

The early signs suggest Athletic will be a mid-table team, a view clearly shared by the bookies given the prices quoted above.


ENGLAND’S cricketers avoided the shame of a 7-0 whitewash when beating Australia in the final ODI of the series on Sunday, but don’t expect them to cut any ice in the Champions’ Trophy which started in South Africa yesterday.

Andrew Strauss is a decent captain, fine batsman and generally good egg who deserves to lead a better team.

But England have been poor in 50-overs cricket for the best part of 20 years and in a competition featuring such powerful opposition, even quotes of 18-1 about a surprise triumph hardly represent value.

England launch their campaign against Sri Lanka on Friday and are 6-4 to make a winning start. The Sri Lankans are 1-2, a generous price for such a talented and streetwise one-day team.


STRICTLY Come Dancing got under way at the weekend when the most obvious conclusion to draw was that ante-post favourite Joe Calzaghe has two left feet when it comes to the ballroom.

Arguably the finest boxer this country has ever produced, Calzaghe is out to 33-1 to win Strictly, a price which makes zero appeal despite the huge public support he can expect following his many wonderful performances in the ring.

Hollyoaks actor Ricky Whittle has yet to step on the dance floor, but has been impressing onlookers to such a degree that he is already 5-2 to win the competition.

It could well be an all-Hollyoaks final as the programme’s former actress Ali Bastian, who now stars in The Bill on ITV, topped the judges’ vote last weekend and is second favourite at 11-4.

The second section of dancers strut their stuff this weekend, after which the betting market will become a lot clearer.


DESPITE fears over Kevin Pietersen’s availability for England, South Africa can still be backed at 8-15 to win this winter’s Test series on home soil.

Pietersen is making a slow recovery from surgery on an injured Achilles and England coach Andy Flower admitted on Monday that he might not be ready for the Tests in his native South Africa.

That would be a huge blow to an England side whose middle order is at best adequate and, quite often, prone to collapse.

Get on the Proteas because the 8-15 won’t last. For the record, England and the draw are 4-1 shots.


RECOMMENDATIONS: Manchester City to win Carling Cup, 7-1 (totesport); Sri Lanka to beat England in Champions Trophy, 1-2 (general).