Hello, how are we doing? Welcome once again to the blog page, and another chance for you to catch up on everything that is going on in my world of journalism, but also things that I'm sure you have noticed as well!
It's World Cups galore isn't it? The rugby league one gets underway this week on Saturday afternoon between England and Samoa, which is swiftly followed by the T20 cricket one on the Sunday, but the first one has already started, the rugby union for England's women.
An opening 84-19 win over Fiji was very impressive, as the Red Roses ran in 14 tries to put themselves top of their group and reinstate the fact, they were strong favourites for this tournament.
They face France this coming Saturday looking to build on that opening win and to keep that momentum going.
Other home nations Wales and Scotland find themselves in the same group, and they played out a thrilling game on Sunday, with Wales just running out 18-15 winners.
Both teams have a difficult group with Australia and New Zealand in there with them, but like England they will have more idea as to where they stand after this weekend's games where Scotland take on Australia on Saturday and Wales play New Zealand on the Sunday.
Meanwhile, Fylde will also be hoping to pick up another win on Saturday afternoon, as they take on Rotherham in what should be an absolute cracker.
A perfect five from five so far this season, and a place at the top of the table has meant that joint head coaches Chris Briers and Alex Loney have once again stamped their authority down on the league that their side are promotion challengers.
There's been plenty to like about their performances so far, especially their away win to Hull Ionians, where they managed to dig deep over in Humberside and record an important 34-31 victory.
Saturday does pose another challenge, but like I said, the game should be a fantastic one to watch.
Rivals Preston Grasshoppers picked up their first win since returning to Division Two with a 32-12 victory over Huddersfield.
They sit 11th in the table and take on Sheffield Tigers at home on Saturday, looking to make it back-to-back home wins.
In other news to do with the club it was great to catch up with former player Steve Kerry the other week to chat to him about his cardiac arrest that he suffered whilst playing cricket three months ago.
Kerry broke points scoring records throughout his career in both codes with his pinpoint kicking, and it was even better to see late last week that the doctor that saved his life won an award for saving Steve's life.
Crossing codes to league now, and everything is set for their World Cup to kick of the men this weekend.
They also start on Saturday, a very busy day for sport I know, when they take on Samoa.
Shaun Wane's side have plenty of players from the northwest involved, and they'll be looking to make the home advantage count.
Scotland and Wales are also both involved, with Scotland taking on Italy on Sunday, and Wales playing a week on Wednesday against Cook Islands.
The women's tournament doesn't start just yet, even though there is some warm-up matches lurking just around the corner for them.
Onto cricket, and England's cricketers don't actually play their first game in the tournament until 22nd October, but the first set of games do start this Sunday in their World Cup campaign.
Ireland take on Zimbabwe while Scotland face West Indies next Monday, should be smashing to keep an eye on that's for sure.
A break in the blog now to provide you with 10 sporting moments you might have missed in the last week...
Ells Ten
1. Football - Arsenal beat Liverpool 3-2 to stay top of the Premier League.
2. Darts - Michael Van Gerwen beats Stockport's Nathan Aspinall 5-3 in the Grand Prix, after Aspinall fought back from four nil down to make it 4-3.
3. Football - England women beat USA 2-1 in friendly thanks to a winner from Barrow's Georgia Stanway.
4. Rugby League - Paul Wellens has been announced as the new head coach at St Helens.
5. Horse Racing - Knappers Hill wins the Silver Trophy at Chepstow for Harry Cobden and Paul Nicholls.
6. Boxing - Conor Benn has his fight with Chris Eubank postponed.
7. Formula One - Max Verstappen wins his second world title.
8. Tennis - Emma Radacanu will lead Team GB next month in Glasgow at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals.
9. Cricket - England beat Australia by eight runs in a T20 warm-up match.
10. Snooker - Ronnie O'Sullivan wins the Hong Kong Masters, beating Marco Fu 6-4 in the final.
The final piece to this blog is a catch-up with some of my past interviewees to see how they are getting on now.
Martha Allington who I interviewed the other week, read the piece by clicking here, has been selected in the 24-woman squad for the next upcoming training camp, a brilliant achievement.
The marathon man Gary McKee is still 'hossin on' with his challenge of a marathon a day, I think I'm due a trip up again at some point, hopefully trying to run more than last time!
That's it though for this round-up, I'll be taking a look at different things each time I do one of these, but the Ell's ten will definitely be a regular feature, if you like it of course.
Anyways, I'll catch you in the next piece again shall I?
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