Null and Void

We open this week’s episode with a look back at the latest round of autumn rugby internationals with England’s loss to South Africa, Wales’ record 11th consecutive defeat, Ireland’s narrow win over Argentina and France’s electric win against the All Blacks. We also cover the cross-code game from Headingley where former Rugby League and Rugby Union stars pulled their boots on for a hybrid game to raise important funds for Motor Neurone Disease.

It was (yet) another Nations League break in men’s football, with England’s wins over Greece and Ireland securing their return to the top tier of international football. It was also promotion for Wales as their run under new manager Craig Bellamy continues. Meanwhile in the Women’s Super League and Championship it was a first, as all fixtures were played at each home club’s main stadia. League leaders Chelsea continued their 100% start to the season, inflicting a first defeat of the season on second placed Manchester City, whilst Arsenal had a convincing win away to Tottenham.

In tennis Jannik Sinner wrapped up another title with his win in Turin, whilst in the women’s Billie Jean King Cup, Great Britain were led to a quarter final victory over Canada thanks to singles wins by Emma Raducanu and Katie Boulter – meaning they progress to take on Slovakia for a place in the final.

We also have the latest from cricket, golf, NFL, netball and cycling before issuing a Get a Grip haymaker to everyone involved in the utterly farcical boxing bout between 27 year old Youtuber Jake Paul and 58 year old retired heavyweight champion Mike Tyson.

Another great show from your favourite duo.

It was a tough weekend for the norther hemisphere home nations in Rugby Union, as Ireland lost to New Zealand, Scotland lost to South Africa, Wales had a record equalling 10th straight loss at home to Fiji and England yet again missed out in a close game, losing 42-37 to Australia.

In Rugby League we preview this Sunday's hybrid game for MND. A mix of former rugby union and rugby league greats will play in a cross-code game to raise funds for MND. The game was the brain child of former Rhinos player, Rob Burrow (who passed away from the disease last year) and former Leicester lock Ed Slater. The game is called the 745 game as a tribute to the shirt numbers worn by Burrow, Slater and Scotland's Doddie Weir, who have all done so much to raise awareness and vital funds.

Pep Guardiola's Manchester City slumped to their fourth consecutive defeat means that Liverpool go into the international break 5 points clear at the top, whilst in the Women's Super League, big wins for Chelsea and City mean they maintain their unbeaten start to the season.

In Tennis, Cameron Norrie made the final of the Moselle Open. Still working his way back from a 3 month injury lay off, Norrie played well to get to the final, but was then beaten by Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi.

And in Cycling, Sir Mark Cavendish brought the curtain down on a 19 year career, winning a sprint finish in the Tour de France Criterium in Singapore. Sir Cav was saluted with an emotional "Wheel of Honour" from other riders before the start.

We also have the latest from golf, athletics, netball and cricket-including a worthy Get a Grip regarding the hosting of the Champions Trophy in February!

First up in Episode 174 is Rugby Union, following England's agonising 24-22 defeat at home to New Zealand, whilst Scotland kicked off their Autumn series with a fantastic 57-17 win over Fiji.

In Football, Arsenal's title hopes seemed to take a dent in their loss at Newcastle, until City lost at Bournemouth and Chelsea drew with Manchester United. In the FA Cup, Tony and Andy have nailed their colours to the mast as to which minnows they will start with in following a path from the second round to May's final at Wembley.

The Formula 1 in Sao Paolo was a fantastic display of wet weather driving, as Max Verstappen went from 17th on the grid to winning the race- putting him within touching distance of the title with just 3 races left.

We also bring you the latest in Cricket, Rugby League, Golf, Tennis and NFL - before we give a Get a Grip to New Zealand's All Blacks (and their fans) over being too sensitive over the Haka and how other teams respond.

Our guest slot sees the return of local triathlete Tom Mayor. In January we interviewed Tom as he shared his story of being diagnosed with a brain tumour whilst coaching football in America, and how he intended to run or cycle 10k a day for 10 months to raise awareness and funds for Brain Tumour Research to mark 10 years since his diagnosis. Well 10 months on and Tom rejoins us to update on how the challenge went, and some of the highs and lows that went with it.

If anyone wants to donate to this amazing cause, there is still time. Just donate via:

http://www.justgiving.com/page/tom-mayor-10k-a-day

In Episode 173 we are excited to welcome as out guest

In football we have the news of Erik Ten Hag’s departure

From Valenica we have a new half marathon world record after Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha ran 57 mins 30 secs on his way to victory in Spain. And in NFL, Chiefs remain unbeaten, whilst Washington’s rookie quarterback threw a 52-yard Hail Mary touchdown pass to steal a last minute victory over the Bears.

We also have updates from the Rugby League series between England and Samoa, Cricket from Rawalpindi, Formula One, Golf and Tennis – as well as your contacts and another spicy Get a Grip!

In Episode 172 we bring you another great selection of

We begin with Football and updates from the Premier League and Women’s Super League action. Meanwhile in Rugby’s Premiership there were a host of nail-biting finishes – Saracens beat Bristol with the last kick of the game, Bath edged out Quins with just 90 seconds left on the clock, and Leicester held on to beat Gloucester in the Ed Slater Cup – named after a lock who played for both sides and is now fighting with MND.

In Formula 1, Lando Norris was unhappy at the controversial decision to penalise him 5 seconds for his passing of title rival Max Verstappen. This dropped him to 4th and moved Verstappen up to 3rd. Meanwhile Ferrari’s Charles LeClerc and Carlos Sainz took 1st and 2nd place.

It was the finale of the America’s Cup races this weekend.

This week’s guest is Dorothy Hathaway, who recently won an U23 Tug of War World Championship silver medal. Dorothy joins us to give an insight into how she got involved in the sport, the time commitment involved in training, as well as her excitement at competing in the World Championship event. She also shares some of the intricacies and details of the sport for us and our listeners. An absolutely brilliant guest, and another from the South Stoke production line of sportsmen and sportswomen achieving amazing sporting feats!

Episode 171 starts with an update from Rugby League’s Grand Final, where Wigan’s 9-2 win over Hull Kingston Rovers secured the first ever quadruple in the Super League era.

In Football it was an international break, so Nations League matches. England’s winning start under interim boss Lee Carsley came to a juddering halt with a 2-1 home loss to Greece in a very confused performance, whilst Wales’ great start under new boss Craig Bellamy continues.

In Rugby Union, England’s Red Roses won the WXV title with a hard fought 21-12 win over hosts Canada-and in the Premiership there were “Derby Weekend” wins for Sale, Bath, Bristol, Leicester and Quins.

Kenyan Ruth Chepngetich set a new women’s world record in the Chicago Marathon with her time of 2 hours 9 minutes and 57 seconds taking nearly 2 minutes off the previous record. Meanwhile there were records galore in England Men’s team’s first test in Pakistan as England racked up 823, to win by an innings and 47 runs in Multan. Joe Root’s 262 helped him overtake Sir Alastair Cook as England’s highest ever test run scorer.

We have a Get A Grip covering Wimbledon’s decision to axe line judges for Artificial Intelligence from next summer, and, in a Null & Void first, we have a report from the World Conkers Championships – where the tournament has been rocked by allegations of metal nuts and marked strings cheating!

Have no fear though dear listener, whilst Wimbledon are

We kick off this week with Rugby League. In the men’s Super League semi-finals, holders Wigan had a 38-0 win over Leigh, whilst Hull Kingston Rovers qualified for their first Grand Final with a close win over Warrington. In the women’s Super League York Valkyrie became the first side to win back to back Grand Finals when they beat treble chasing St Helens 18-8.

We then move to England Men’s Cricket tour of Pakistan, with the hosts racking up an impressive 556 in the first innings of the 3 match series. In the women’s T20 World Cup, England are sitting pretty with 2 wins from 2 games as Heather Knight’s side seek to top the group for the next stage, whilst Scotland have had two tough games, losing both – and they will be looking forward to facing the Auld enemy at the weekend.

In Rugby Union, England’s Red Roses went 2 from 2 in an

And in a Null & Void first we have an update from the

We start Episode 169 with a look back at the weekend’s

We bring you all the dram from the Rugby League play-offs “eliminators”, as well as late drama in Rugby Union’s WXV Division 1, where Ireland tore up the form book and beat reigning world champions New Zealand.

In Cricket, England had both sides of the Duckworth Lewis

England’s Netball tour of the Antipodes had a narrow 2-1

Our guest this week is Joy Foster, who chats with us about

Joy also shares an insight into how the lessons she learned

We also have all the latest from golf, NFL and tennis – as well as Tadej Pogacar becoming only the 3rd ever male cyclist to win the Tour De France, Giro D’Italia and World Championship “triple crown” in the same year.

We kick off this week with Cricket – with updates from England’s series with Australia, Afghanistan beating South Africa and Surrey winning their third consecutive County Championship.

In Formula 1 it was a frustrating weekend for Max

Football saw the return of the Women’s Super League, whilst in Rugby Union the Premiership kicked off with a re-run of last season’s final –with Bath this time beating title holders Northampton.

Our guest this week is triathlete Phil Wortley, who returns

This week we kick off by looking back at Team USA’s Solheim Cup win in Virginia, as Stacy Lewis’ team took the trophy for the first time in 7 years.

Whilst Tony was “unwilding” in the garden, Andy was one of 41,000 in the crowd cheering on England’s Red Roses as they beat current World Cup holders New Zealand. Both sides head off to Canada for the WXV Division 1 tournament, and Scotland and Ireland also warmed up for their games with big wins.

In Cricket, rain robbed fans of the final T20 between

In Formula 1 Lando Norris was able to narrow the gap to Max Verstappen with a 4th place finish in Azerbaijan as McLaren team mate Oscar Piastri driving well to win.

And finally we have the results in from the World Stone

Another action-packed episode!