People who remember Durham’s pattern of late-season surges are probably worrying already.. Tennis

Pete Sampras regained his position as the world No 1 when he beat his American rival Andre Agassi 6-2, 6-3 in the final of the Sybase Open in San Jose, California, on Sunday.
Sampras took over the No 1 position from the Austrian Thomas Muster, who was beaten in the first round of the Dubai tournament last week, while Agassi remains at No 3.”The number one is just icing on the cake,” Sampras said “I played as well as I could today. But the team coming into form at the moment are Durham Wasps, who have overtaken Nottingham Panthers and moved into third place. Having beaten Newcastle Warriors 9-5 in midweek, Durham travelled to Fife Flyers on Saturday. Durham led 6-3 when, at the end of the second period, they had Kim Issel dismissed for cross-checking.

Iain Robertson, of Fife, received a 10-minute misconduct penalty plus minor penalties.
Wasps continued their dominance in the third period, scoring four goals without reply for a 10-3 win. In an ideal world, the match would have ended peacefully, but there was a doubtful check on Fife’s Doug Marsden with a minute remaining. The referee, Jouni Lehtonen, awarded five game- misconduct penalties – four to Fife and one to Durham – and the game ended with a total of 213 minutes in penalties awarded.The next day, Durham were at Milton Keynes Kings, who have won just five of 29 league games but have rattled the cages of the best. Once again, Milton Keynes let their concentration slip in the closing minutes.They led 4-3 at the end of the second period but then let Stephen Johnson, Todd Bidner and Ross Lambert put Durham 6-4 up in the last six minutes. Milton Keynes scored a consolation goal when they pulled their net-minder, but they were disappointed once again. Sheffield Steelers and Cardiff Devils continued their two-horse race for the Premier Division title, both winning their two games at the weekend without too much trouble. CAMBRIDGE: C Carter (Girton, capt), J Schulten, D Clark (Queens’), T McCarthy, R Cake (St John’s), A Sainsbury (Pembroke), T Parr, C Durrant (Sidney Sussex), I Bateman (Emmanuel), P Piotrowicz (Fitzwilliam), M Meredith (Clare), G Playfair, D Harding (Robinson), D Churton (St Catharine’s), G Osborne, C Mannall (Homerton)..

Lewes, 5-1 winners at home to Newbury, are seven points ahead of Gore Court and look set for the second South place.Ipswich beat Cambridge University 5-1 in the Adnams East Premier to keep their five-point lead over Peterborough Town.96th VARSITY MATCH (Reading HC, 27 Feb): SQUADS: OXFORD: T Griffiths (capt), W Kendall, H Tewes, K Robinson, A Walther (all Keble), D Jefferson, B Cope (Brasenose), S Knight, B Raumann (St Catherine’s), J Pratt (University), P Bell (Lincoln), R MacDowel (St Benet’s), S Innes (New), N Berry (Exeter), S Morley (Green). Hockey

Chris Armitage scored twice, with Ed Baldock adding a third as Oxford Hawks beat Lions 3-0 at the weekend to become the first Regional League side to clinch a place in the National League play-offs, writes Bill Colwill.
Hawks moved five points clear of Lewes at the top of the Nastro Azzurro South Premier. Replacements: D O’Leary (Harlequins), W Greenwood (Harlequins), A Healey (Orrell), R Cockerill (Leicester), D Garforth (Leicester), C Sheasby (Harlequins).. Medical tests yesterday diagnosed a medial ligament injury which will require surgery.ENGLAND A (v Italy A, Laquila, Italy, Saturday, 2 March): T Stimpson (West Hartlepool); P Hull (Bristol), A Blyth (West Hartlepool), P Mensah (Harlequins), A Adebayo (Bath); A King (Bristol University), A Gomarsall (Wasps); K Yates (Bath), P Greening (Gloucester), R Hardwick (Coventry), D Sims (Gloucester), J Fowler (Sale), M Corry (Bristol), A Diprose (Saracens, capt), R Jenkins (Harlequins). Phil Greening replaces Richard Cockerill at hooker and Kevin Yates returns at loose-head prop, with Richard Hardwick switching to tight-head instead of Darren Garforth.Chester Williams, the South African winger, is out for at least seven months after injuring his right leg playing a pre-season friendly for Western Province. Peter Mensah returns to the centre for Will Greenwood, while Andy Gomarsall comes back at scrum-half instead of Austin Healey. Dave Sims is recalled at lock for the match in Laquila and replaces Garath Archer, who wins his first senior cap against Scotland at Murrayfield on the same day.Rory Jenkins comes back at open-side flanker instead of Richard Hill, who has dislocated fingers.

It happened in the momentum of a gathering ruck situation and was without malicious intent.”I apologise to the player and further state that I intend to appeal the severity of the sentence imposed on me.”England A have made six changes for their game against Italy A on 2 March. She is the most perfect combined skier on the World Cup circuit.”The entire men’s combined event will be held today after high winds prevented the downhill leg being staged yesterday. The two slalom legs will be raced in the afternoon and evening.Photograph: AFP. Rugby Union

Peter Clohessy, banned for 26 playing weeks on Sunday after being found guilty of foul play during Ireland’s 45-10 defeat in Paris, is to appeal against the ban.
In a statement yesterday the prop said: “I wish to state my regret at the unfortunate incident involving myself and Olivier Roumat. Wachter finished in 3:21.73 and Kjoerstad in 3:22.35.”The slalom was as difficult as the downhill was easy,” Wachter said, referring to the relatively undemanding downhill course “I made the best of it, but Wiberg was way ahead today. The bottom of the course was especially icy.Wiberg produced a surprisingly aggressive second run for a total time of 3min 19.68sec. Almost half of the 34 starters crashed out in what coaches and racers said had been one of the most difficult slalom runs of the season.