ICE HOCKEY

Cardiff Devils did the double over Manchester Storm in the Elite League – backing up with a 4-1 away win on Sunday after winning 3-1 at home the previous day.

Devils’ Tyler Busch struck first in the rematch and after Loren Ullett levelled, the visitors took control.

Brandon Alderson, Cole Ully and Ben Davies ensured Devils’ success as they kept Storm at bay.

Busch and Alderson were also among the scorers in Cardiff, and then Busch and Joshua Waller combined to set up Alderson for the opening score of the weekend double-header.

Cameron Critchlow levelled for Storm early in the second period, but Arniel restored Cardiff’s lead.

Busch then struck in the third, this time Alderson turning provider along with Waller, to see Devils home.

Devils return to the ice on Wednesday, 25 October in the Challenge Cup at Guildford Flames (19:30 BST).

RALLYING

Matthew Hirst and Declan Dear will have another chance to clinch the Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship title for a third time on this weekend’s penultimate round of the series, the Visit Conwy Cambrian Rally (Saturday 28 October).

In a carbon copy of last year, the Delta Salvage/Witham Group Ford Fiesta R5 crew scored maximum points on the first four rounds of their 2023 campaign, only for their Woodpecker Stages jinx to deny them a five out of five clean sweep.

Having contested the Cambrian every year since 2018, Hirst knows the event well and was the top Pirelli Welsh finisher last year – and the Doncaster ace will be hoping to wrap this year’s Welsh title up with a round to spare.

“The Cambrian Rally is an event which crews want to perform well on given the previous winners of the event reading like an A-Z of British rallying royalty,” says Hirst.

“I must admit, it was a personal highlight getting to shake Mr Hollywood himself Petter Solbergs’ hand last year on the seafront in Llandudno after Oliver [Solberg] showed us what a top line works driver can do on these stages.

“One of the things I enjoy about this event is how it reinvents itself year on year. The route tends to be unpredictable which certainly adds to the challenge with the preparation going into the event from a pace notes perspective.”