Snooker: Since the Travis Perkins UK Championship became a ranking event in 1984 the world title holder has had his name engraved on the trophy nine times, appeared in the final on 12 occasions and has reached 16 semi-finals (Phil Yates writes). To maintain that tradition, however, Shaun Murphy must exorcise a memory that could undermine his challenge.

Last month Murphy went into his closing match in the Betfred Premier League needing two frames against Ronnie O’Sullivan to qualify for the semi-finals. He lost 5-1 after missing simple pots amid the tension. Today at the Barbican, York, Murphy, who is attempting to join Steve Davis, Stephen Hendry, John Parrott, John Higgins and O’Sullivan as the sixth player to complete the World and UK Championship double in the same year, plays Nigel Bond for a place in the last 16.

Tancock claims bronze medal

Swimming: On a night when three world records fell at the European Short-course Championships in Trieste, Italy, Britain celebrated a solitary bronze, courtesy of Liam Tancock in the 50 metres backstroke (Craig Lord writes).

After Ros Brett set a British record of 26.36sec but missed a medal in the 50 metres butterfly, Tancock also finished fourth but was elevated to the bronze medal when Marco di Carli was disqualified. Having set a British record of 24.01sec in the semi-final, Tancock raced the final in 24.06.

Laure Manaudou, of France, took 2.10sec off the 800 metres world record to win in 8min 11.25sec, while Lazslo Cseh, of Hungary, took 2.35sec off the previous best in 400 metres medley before a Holland 4 x 50 metres freestyle quartet clocked 1min 36.27sec.

Cricket: The results of “cricket idol”, the national search for a bowler by London County Cricket Club, are in and from 500-odd boys seen since April, one has emerged.

Tim Linley, a swing bowler from Leeds who plays for Horsforth in the Airedale and Wharfedale League, was announced yesterday as the winner by Neil Burns, the LCCC chief executive.

Linley, 23, is not exactly a surprise discovery because he has been playing for Oxford UCCE for three years, has made his first-class debut and has been signed on a one-year contract for next season by Sussex. But the ambitious scheme has unearthed some green shoots, particularly in the barren spin department.

Yelling challenge

Athletics: Hayley Yelling accepts that she faces a tough challenge to match the record of Paula Radcliffe and win a second SPAR European cross-country title tomorrow. The defending champion, 31, heads to Tilburg, in the Netherlands, to face a field that contains Justyn Bak, last year’s runner-up, and Aniko Kalovics, a former bronze medal-winner, who are in form. Yelling is confident that she can challenge for victory.

England get flyer

Rugby union: England made a perfect start in their quest for a second successive title in the IRB World Sevens Series. Fresh from last week’s triumph in Dubai, they opened their campaign in George, South Africa, with a 40-0 victory over Canada and followed it up with another emphatic triumph, crushing Portugal 36-0, to reach the quarter-finals without conceding a point.

McAvoy signs

Rugby league: Leeds Rhinos have made Nathan McAvoy, the former Bradford Bulls and England back, their fifth signing for the 2006 season, a year after he left Saracens to rejoin Salford City Reds. He will make his debut in the Boxing Day match at Headingley against Wakefield Trinity Wildcats.

Skoda withdrawal

Motor rallying: Skoda will not provide a factory team for the World Championship in 2006, although it will support two private teams, the Czech car maker said yesterday. It will provide cars to the Czech team of Jan Kopecky and the Austrian Red Bull Skoda team.

Winning streak

Hockey: Cannock will be missing Graham Moodie, the Scotland and Great Britain midfield player, when they take on Chelmsford today hoping to record their twelfth successive victory in the premier division. The league leaders play St Albans in the English Cup tomorrow.

Cookey on target

Netball: Pam Cookey, the England shooter, was in superb form for TeamBath in a 73-34 victory over Leeds Met Carnegie in the Superleague last night. Notching up their fourth successive win in the competition, TeamBath also consolidated their position ahead of Brunel Hurricanes at the top of the table.