MEN’S FOOTBALL: Linfield picked up the northern Irish Premiership title for a record-extending 57^th time without playing after second-placed Glentoran failed to beat last year’s champions Larne in east Belfast on Tuesday night. 

The Glens had led 2-0 early in the second half but were reeled in by a tap-in from Paul O’Neill and Andy Ryan’s penalty to leave Linfield a whopping 19 points clear in the table with only six games to play.

MEN’S RUGBY UNION: English Premiership bottom club Newcastle Falcons will be spared a relegation play-off this season after it was confirmed that Ealing, who currently lead the second-tier Championship by 13 points, have again failed to meet the top league’s ground capacity and safety compliance criteria. 

The west London club have either won the Championship or finished as runners-up for the last nine seasons.

MEN’S CRICKET: Pakistan are 2-0 down in their five-match Twenty20 series with New Zealand after they slumped to a five-wicket defeat in Dunedin. 

Captain Salman Ali Agha top-scored with 46 from 28 balls as Pakistan posted 135-9 in their rain reduced 15 overs before the Kiwis smashed their way to victory with 11 balls to spare. 

The third match is due to start at Auckland’s Eden Park on Friday morning.

MEN’S FOOTBALL: Defending champions Spain are in Rotterdam on Thursday evening for the first leg of their Nations League quarter-final with the Netherlands. 

The other last eight ties see Croatia, who lost on penalties to Spain in the last final, host France, Denmark take on Portugal and Italy host Germany in Milan. 

France are the highest placed European team in the world rankings, sitting second behind Argentina and one place ahead of Spain.