Melissa Courtney is starting 2019 on a high – and not just because she is at an altitude camp in Kenya. The Poole AC runner had a stellar year last season winning 1500m bronze for Wales at the Commonwealth Games in Australia and setting a host of new best times.

Former Cardiff Devils captain Ryan Finnerty brings his ‘rough and tumble’ Stormtroopers to the Viola Arena in Cardiff Bay on Saturday (7pm). Canadian Finnerty was an intense, aggressive competitor during his playing days and his Manchester Storm team play with that same commitment. “Finner’s rough and tumble style of play is exactly how he has […]

Four of the six races held at Hereford Racecourse went to trainers  based in Wales (writes Brian Lee). Bridgend’s Christian Williams took the opening Conditional Jockeys’ Novice’ Handicap Hurdle with 9-1 chance Uno Mas, ridden by Rex Dingle. Uno Mas which won by a length from the top weighted Bahama Moon and then, after Vale […]

Craig Bellamy has temporarily stepped down from his role as Cardiff City Under-18s coach following the club’s decision to investigate a bullying claim against him. The investigation is taking place after reports of a complaint about the former Wales striker’s alleged treatment of a young player, who has since left the club. Bellamy has refuted the allegations.

Josh Sheehan, a 23-year-old midfield player from Carmarthenshire, caught the eye during Newport County’s 1-0 defeat against Stevenage away.  Former Cardiff City striker Alex Revell scored the only goal of the game after 85 minutes for a Stevenage team who had Kurtis Guthrie sent off six minutes before half-time. Former Swansea man Sheehan, from Pembrey […]

Former Wales under-21 striker Owain Jones left EvoStik Southern League leaders Taunton Town reeling at the MetCoaches Stadium. Swansea-born Jones, 22, scored twice after replacing injured Craig McDonnell with Ian Traylor completing the Martyrs’ tally from a penalty. Former Swans, Yeovil and Nuneaton forward Jones is playing for Merthyr on loan and gunned down Taunton […]

Phil Neville stoked up the atmosphere at Salford City by announcing he was going to print out tweets by gloating Wrexham fans – and pin them on the home dressing room wall. He did that before City’s return Vanarama National League clash at Salford City. The Dragons won 5-1 at home against City on Boxing Day […]

Hey, Deadballline Guy . . . why don’t you share with us your thoughts on all things West Wales rugby as we head into 2019?  The movers, the shakers, the teams on the up and those on the slide – hey, maybe you could do it as you stroll back to work?

Geraint Thomas has headed back to Los Angeles hoping to this year write another successful sequel to his astonishing 2018. The Team Sky rider is on a training camp in California – just like he did 12 months ago before riding into the record books as only the third Brit and first Welshman to win the Tour de France.

Evan Mosey has been a shining addition to a Cardiff Devils team intent on winning the Elite League title for a third successive season. The American from Downers Grove, Illinois is playing a huge role for Devils, who are top of the League after their 3-2 home win against Guildford Flames at the Viola Arena. […]

The Welsh Motorsports Centre at Pembrey is set for another bumper season in 2019, with an array of motorcycle, car and truck racing – in addition to rallying, drifting and multiple rounds of both the BTRDA and British Rallycross Championships. The new season at Pembrey Circuit will kick off in early April with the Drift Championship making the first of two visits to the west Wales venue – before the British Racing & Sports Car Club makes a long overdue return for an Easter extravaganza. High-octane thrills will be provided by the Classic Motorcycle Racing Championship in early May, before the heavyweight behemoths of the British Truck Racing Association Championship descend on Pembrey. Always a highlight of the year, the five-tonne mega-machines will dazzle over the weekend of May 11/12, and will be joined by a stellar supporting cast.

Joel Makin has reached a new career high of 23 in the world after rising one place in the January rankings. The Haverfordwest-born player started 2018 ranked 41 in the world but improved 18 places after an impressive year.

Cardiff are still very much in chase for the Principality Premiership title after they won their first derby clash with arch-rivals Pontypridd in a decade with a 34-15 win at the Arms Park. In a game that proved the big Welsh rugby derbies aren’t merely confined to the festive regional battles, a five figure crowd enjoyed a high-standard match that saw the home side reduced to 12 men at the end with three players in the sin-bin. Steve Law has turned Cardiff into an attractive side to watch and this was their 11th win in their last 13 league outings.

Oli McBurnie insists he always knew his goal touch would return despite his recent dry spell. The Swansea City striker scored twice in his team’s 4-1 thrashing of Reading at the Madejski Stadium on New Year’s Day as the Swans won for the first time in four matches. The goals were McBurnie’s first since November and helped lift the club to 12th in the Championship table – seven points adrift of the play-off spots.

Connah’s Quay returned to the top of the JD Welsh Premier League, taking full advantage of Barry Town’s slip-up on New Year’s Eve, with what Andy Morrison felt was a deserved win for his side against Bala Town. The Nomads avenged their Boxing Day defeat to Bala with the Lakesiders, running out 4-1 winners at […]

Neil Warnock has admitted he still needs two or three players to help with Cardiff City’s relegation battle – but he’s not holding his breath. The Bluebirds manager was given further evidence of the holes in his team as they were beaten 3-0 at home by Tottenham in a one-sided New Year’s Day clash. The defeat may have felt affordable to Cardiff fans after their impressive four points tally from previous away trips to Crystal Palace and Leicester, but with other clubs finding some form around them it appears more costly than it might have been.

Geraint Thomas will defend his Tour de France title in 2019. The Cardiff-born rider admits the thrill of lining-up on the start line in Brussels on July 6 with the No 1 on his back was too good an opportunity to turn down.

Harry Kane has one tin can left on the firing range shelf, but Neil Warnock is determined that Cardiff City do not get blown away on New Year’s Day. England striker Kane had a year to cherish in 2018, but the Tottenham striker remains unfulfilled in one sense. Kane may have begun last year by scoring in Wales against Newport County in the FA Cup, but Cardiff City are the only Premier League team he has never scored against.

Having binned one unwanted tag, Dragons caretaker coach Ceri Jones is now keen to shed another. Fresh from gaining their first derby victory for four years thanks to their 23-22 win over the Ospreys on Sunday, the Dragons are now aiming to gain their first away victory in the Guinness Pro14 for almost four years to maintain their momentum. That opportunity will come at another Welsh region – the ailing Scarlets – on Saturday, a possible case of waiting for two arrivals for so long they had almost been given up on, when all of a sudden they both arrive at once.

Phil Turner won the West Wales Rally Spares JAFFA Stages Rally for a second year in a row, after a fine performance at the Welsh Motorsports Centre at Pembrey yesterday. The Craig Cefn Parc driver quickly got used to a new paddle gearshift system in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 and, together with co-driver Simon Anthony, recovered from an off on the infamous Beach Road on SS3 to win the Carmarthen Motor Club organised event by 32 seconds. Jamie Jukes/James Morgan set the fastest time on the opening stage in their Spencer Sport Mitsubishi Mirage to take an early, and massive, 21 second lead. However, a puncture on SS2 and gearbox issues on SS4 ruined that excellent start.