By Tom Prosser  Welsh snooker legend Mark Williams says he was ‘destined to win’ the British Open on Sunday evening as he beat Gary Wilson 6-4 to claim yet another ranking title. “I’m a little bit fortunate to win it,” said Williams who first won the British Open title in 1997. “There were two or probably three matches that I definitely should have lost but somehow I managed to win them.

By Tom Prosser  When soon-to-be Paralympian Harrison Walsh first started his athletics journey, it was obvious to his coach he had a future star on his hands. Walsh – who was a highly promising rugby player with the Ospreys before a serious injury closed that route – will be competing in the F64 Discus at the Paralympics as he aims to win a medal at his debut Games.  He will be joined in Tokyo by six other Welsh track and field athletes, including Aled Davies, who will be competing at the Paralympics for the third time in the F63 Shot Put. 

By Tom Prosser Newport County coach Wayne Hatswell says the Exiles have a big week ahead of them as they look to get back to winning ways against Tranmere on Saturday before hosting Premier League Southampton in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday. The assistant manager is on stand by to take charge of the team this weekend as Michael Flynn is currently awaiting the results of a coronavirus test after having symptoms in the recent days.

When their 2019 British American Football campaign finished the South Wales Warriors were already planning for 2020 as the club’s comeback season. They had sealed a perfect season with the Division Two (South) championship on the final weekend of August 2019 and were set to start their climb back towards the Premiership having also secured their place in Division One of the British American Football Association National League. The club’s rebuilding efforts were finally being rewarded but its much anticipated 2020 season would never materialise. Like so much sport below the professional level British American Football had remained in, seemingly indefinite, suspension since March 2020. 

Wales’ Georgia Wilson is dreaming of winning a medal at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games after receiving a late call-up into the Great Britain team. The 25-year-old has replaced eight-time Paralympic dressage champion Sophie Christiansen, who had to withdraw when her ride, Innuendo III, suffered a veterinary issue. “It’s all happened so quickly but I’m really excited to go to the Paras,” said Wilson, who had her sights set more on Paris 2024.

Shane Lewis-Hughes has admitted he is almost back to square one when it comes to convincing Wayne Pivac he is the back rower for Wales. Lewis-Hughes, 23, was plucked from relative regional rugby obscurity to make his international debut against Scotland in the rearranged Guinness Six Nations game in October last year. The Cardifff Rugby forward went on to feature in the Autumn Nations Cup against Ireland and England, impressing head coach Pivac and the Wales management not only with his talent, but also his incredible dedication.

By Tom Prosser Cardiff City manager Mick McCarthy is delighted with the character and team spirit his team have shown during his reign so far. The Bluebirds have only lost three of their 26 matches under McCarthy and they will be hoping to continue that run when they take on Millwall at the Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday. “It’s a real benefit knowing we’ve got resilience and that willingness to fight for each other, particularly in this division because it’s a tough old league,” explained McCarthy.

Gold Coast Commonwealth Games race walk medallist Bethan Davies has bounced back from illness to gain the nomination standard for next year’s games in Birmingham. Davies enjoyed an outstanding 2018 season which saw her dominate the domestic scene, compete at the European Championships and take bronze in the 20k race walk in Australia. Over the past two years, however, the multiple Welsh and British champion has seen her form dip due to a series of immune-related illness and viruses.    

By Rob Cole Jamie Paterson is urging Swansea City fans to embrace the playing philosophy new manager Russell Martin is introducing at the club and to stay patient. Martin has been in Wales for less than a month and has already seen his team lose twice and draw once in the Championship. Tonight (Friday) they head across the Severn Bridge to face Paterson’s old club Bristol City. Paterson scored on his Swansea debut in a 2-1 defeat at Blackburn and then featured in the goalless draw at home to Sheffield United and the 3-1 midweek defeat to Stoke City at the Swansea.com Stadium.

Glamorgan hero Andrew Salter believes the lack of expectation on a young team helped them thrive after the county got their hands on the Royal London Cup by defeating Durham in the Trent Bridge final. Glamorgan lost batsman Colin Ingram, wicketkeeper Chris Cooke, all-rounders David Lloyd and Dan Douthwaite and seamer Timm van der Gugten to the inaugural edition of The Hundred, but those left behind have stepped up Kiran Carlson was appointed one-day captain in the absence of Cooke and Lloyd and he led the way against Durham with a belligerent 82 from 59 balls that helped Glamorgan post a competitive 296 for nine after they lost the toss.

Glenn Phillips will relish the opportunity to be part of Welsh Fire if the big-hitting batsman is signed again next season. The New Zealander smashed a magnificent 80 from 35 balls against London Spirit on Wednesday night and at one stage looked poised to become the first player in The Hundred to reach a century. He didn’t quite make it in the end, but his destructive innings paved the way for Welsh Fire to win by three wickets at Sophia Gardens with three balls to spare.

Wales manager Robert Page has added former Rotherham and Scunthorpe boss Alan Knill to his coaching staff for the rest of their World Cup qualifying campaign. Knill, 56, replaces Arsenal coach Albert Stuivenberg on the backroom team after the Dutchman left the role following Euro 2020. Page said: “I am delighted that Alan is joining us for the remainder of the World Cup qualifying campaign.

By Alex Bywater Glamorgan captain Kiran Carlson wants his team to relish the pressure of their first List A final since 2013 when they face Durham at Trent Bridge on Thursday with the Royal London Cup on the line. The Welsh side have had a superb campaign in the 50-over format and now only Durham stand between them and a first trophy since 2004. It has been 17 long years since a Glamorgan captain last lifted silverware – a streak Carlson is hoping to break with victory in Nottingham.

By Tom Prosser “The atmosphere at the grounds in The Hundred is something I’ve never experienced before.” Those are the thoughts of Georgia Redmayne who’s Welsh Fire side fell to a 7-wicket defeat to London Spirit on Tuesday evening. The Fire set their opponents a modest target of 96 which was chased down with 42 balls to spare. “We probably were about 30/40 runs light,” explained Redmayne.

By Tom Prosser Welsh Fire’s David Lloyd insists the Welsh Fire are looking to ‘go out with a bang’ as they take on Shane Warne’s London Spirit at Sophia Gardens on Wednesday evening. “It’s been a difficult competition for us,” explained Lloyd who plays his county cricket with Glamorgan. “We’ve been unfortunate with injuries and losing Jonny Bairstow to England after two games wasn’t helpful.

Russell Martin has claimed the reason Swansea City’s players are not fit enough is because of their disrupted pre-season. The Swans head coach claimed a summer of upheaval is taking its toll as his team crashed to a 3-1 home defeat to Stoke City on Tuesday night. The protracted departure of Steve Cooper, the cancellation of pre-season fixtures due to Covid-19, and the unsuccessful pursuit of other candidates before the club turned to Martin all combined to leave the squad underprepared for the start of the Championship.

Mick McCarthy hailed Cardiff City saviour Aden Flint after the two-goal defender rescued a dramatic point with two towering headers in a 2-2 draw at Peterborough. The Bluebirds were staring at a first defeat of the campaign after conceding twice in three minutes early in the second half.They were still in shock from teenage talent Harrison Burrows’ 49th-minute opener when they were stung by a second Posh goal from Siriki Dembele following a clinical counter-attack.

By Paul Evans Matthew Rees is setting the UK single-seater motor racing world alight, after taking the lead in the prestigious F4 British Championship mid-way through his debut season. With 15 of the 30 rounds completed, the Cardiff teenager is sitting on top of the leaderboard, thanks to another double podium finish last weekend at Knockhill. That puts the F4 rookie five points clear of the field, having knocked James Hedley, who is in his second season of F4 racing, off the top of the points table in Scotland.

New Swansea City signing Ethan Laird has paid tribute to Nicky Butt for his progress through the ranks at Old Trafford. Laird – who could make his Swansea debut at home to Stoke City on Tuesday night after joining on a season-long loan from Manchester United – says former United star Butt has been a key figure in his development. Butt left Old Trafford earlier this year after a shake-up in the club’s academy staff but not before he had helped the likes of Marcus Rashford, Mason Greenwood, Dean Henderson and Scott McTominay break into the first team during his nine-year stint as a coach.

By Alex Bywater Glamorgan’s Joe Cooke has revealed the magnitude of his match-winning performance against Essex is still ‘sinking in’ as he guided his side to a first one-day cup final in eight years. Cooke was the star of the show for the Welsh side on a belting Sophia Gardens wicket as he took five for 61 with the ball and guided Glamorgan home by striking an unbeaten 66. “It’s a pretty cool and special feeling,” explained Cooke, who only made is 50-over debut just under a month ago.