MEN’S FOOTBALL: Linfield took a big step towards regaining the Northern Ireland Premiership title after beating champions Larne 1-0 at Windsor Park on Tuesday night.

Kieran Offord slotted home the winner early in the second half after Larne’s Andy Ryan had been sent off before half-time.

Linfield lead second-placed Glentoran by 20 points, but have played three more games, with Larne a further five points back in fifth.

MEN’S RUGBY LEAGUE: The new Super League season kicks off on Thursday evening with reigning champions Wigan hosting Leigh in a Greater Manchester derby.

Last year’s runners-up Hull Kingston Rovers are in action on Friday when they take on Castleford, the only top-tier team that lost in the Challenge Cup third round, while 10-time winners St Helens begin their campaign against Salford on Saturday when newly promoted Wakefield visit Leeds.

MEN’S CRICKET: India’s Jasprit Bumrah, the world’s top-ranked Test bowler, has been ruled out of the upcoming Champions Trophy after suffering back spasms.

He joins Pat Cummins, who sits two places below Bumrah in the rankings, on the sidelines after the Australian captain sustained an ankle injury.

World Cup-holders Australia will also be without injured Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Marsh as well as Marcus Stoinis, who has retired from international one-day cricket.

MEN’S FOOTBALL: Shamrock Rovers are in Norway tomorrow evening to face Molde in the first leg of their Uefa Conference League knock-out round play-off.

The Dublin club’s League of Ireland season does not start until this weekend while Molde have to wait until the end of March to begin their domestic fixtures.

Elsewhere, on Thursday night Norwegian champions Bodo Glimt are at Twente Enschede in the Europa League’s knockout round play-offs.