Bookies write off England

SPORTS BETTING: 

YOU really do have to feel for England’s rugby league team.

Leading 12-4 at half-time in their Four Nations match against old rivals Australia on Sunday, they eventually lost 16-12 and even had to accept a no-try ruling in the last minute.

Had that try been given and the kick converted, England would have reached the final against New Zealand, who had earlier thrashed Australia.

The same New Zealand team confronts England on Saturday, with our boys knowing the only way they can reach the final is to win by at least 10 points - most unlikely given New Zealand’s form. The bookies reckon they are 4-9 shots to beat England.

Steve MacNamara’s boys are rated 15-8 to win the game, so it really is a huge leap of faith to expect them to come out on top by 10 points or more. Mission impossible, I suspect...

Saturday night shows Strictly Come Dancing and the X Factor are in full swing, with both pulling out all the stops in the viewing-figures war.

SCD has a new favourite to lift the Glitter Ball in Eastenders actor Jake Wood, who is the 9-4 favourite to win. Saturdays singer Frankie Bridge is 5-2, while another singer, Pixie Lott, is 4-1 third favourite.

Television presenter Caroline Flack is 11-2, while the favourite to be eliminated from thew show this weekend is fellow TV personality, Alison Hammond.

Smirking Simon Cowell’s X Factor sees Andrea Faustini as the hot favourite at 13-8, followed by Lauren Platt on 100-30 and joint third-favourites in the shape of Ben Haenow and Fleur East (6-1).

The beginning of the truly awful “I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here” is imminent. Early betting next week.