Bingo worker Declan Lydiate ‘struggled to stand’ when he was caught drink-driving by police. The 22-year-old had finished work and met up with friends at a Hanley casino before setting off for home in his car. Magistrates at North Staffordshire Justice Centre heard police spotted Lydiate’s Vauxhall Astra in Ford Green Road at 4.15am. Prosecutor Liz Ryder said: “Officers were alerted to Mr Lydiate as a result of his driving. The vehicle was driven at a slow pace before speeding up for no reason. It was then seen to go straight across the centre white line, almost onto the wrong side of the road, before it turned left and mounted the kerb. “Officers stopped the vehicle and spoke to the defendant who, when he got out of the car, struggled to stand unaided and leaned against the car.” Lydiate, of Chell Green Avenue, Chell, failed a roadside breath test and later gave an alcohol reading of 82 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal … [Read more...] about Drink-driving bingo hall worker, 22, struggled to stand when pulled over
Lydiate
Justin Tipuric shines as Ospreys stay In PRO14 title play-off race
Justin Tipuric led by example as the Ospreys stayed in the hunt for a place in the Guinness PRO14 title play-offs with a bonus point victory at Bloemfontein in South Africa. The Ospreys skipper’s engine hardly missed a beat as he seemed to be here, there and everywhere at the Toyota Stadium against an error-strewn Cheetahs team. The triumph enabled the Ospreys to close the gap on the fourth-placed Cardiff Blues, who were blown away by Munster in the final 30 minutes on Friday night, to three points in Conference A. The top three from each section advance to the PRO14 title play-offs with the fourth-placed finisher from each Conference meeting for the final place in next season’s European Champions Cup. Ospreys right-wing Hanno Dirksen had a let-off in the second minute following a dump tackle on Malcolm Jaer after the Cheetahs full-back had caught an up-and-under. Irish referee John Lacey deemed it a penalty offence but didn’t feel it warranted a card, much to the … [Read more...] about Justin Tipuric shines as Ospreys stay In PRO14 title play-off race
Pro14: Cheetahs v Ospreys (Sat)
5 Apr From the section Rugby Union Share this with Digg Facebook Google LinkedIn Reddit StumbleUpon Twitter Copy this link http://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/47801568 Read more about sharing. Guinness Pro14: Cheetahs v OspreysVenue: Toyota Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein Date: Saturday, 6 April Kick-off: 16:30 BSTCoverage: Report on BBC Sport website and BBC Sport app.Wales flanker Dan Lydiate returns as a replacement for the Ospreys in their Pro14 game versus Cheetahs on Saturday.It will be the 31-year-old's first game in five months after injuring his elbow against Australia last November.Wales internationals Alun Wyn Jones, George North and Scott Williams are all missing through injury for Ospreys who are chasing a play-off place.Cheetahs include wing Rabz Maxwane who is the league's leading try-scorer with 13.Ospreys are fifth in Conference A and have an outside chance of reaching … [Read more...] about Pro14: Cheetahs v Ospreys (Sat)
Cheetahs v Ospreys Live
The Ospreys welcome back Wales international Dan Lydiate back after five months out through injury as they face the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein. Allen Clarke's men have an outside chance of reaching the PRO14 playoffs and achieving Champions Cup qualification but require a bonus-point win in Bloemfontein to stay in contention. And they are without Alun Wyn Jones, George North and Scott Williams - who all miss out through injury. You can follow all the action live with rugby correspondent Andy Howell below. Kick-off: 4.30pm Cheetahs: Jaer; Small-Smith, Janse van Rensburg, Swanepoel, Maxwane; Schoeman, S Venter (capt); Marais, Dweba, de Bruin, Manjezi, W Steenkamp, Olivier, Nonkontwana, H Venter. Replacements: Van der Merwe, Coetzee, Venter, du Preez, Wiese, Basson, Paige, Fouche Ospreys: Evans; Dirksen, Allen, Watkin, Giles; Price, A Davies; Smith, Baldwin, Botha, Beard, B Davies, Cracknell, Tipuric (capt), King Replacements: Otten, Jones, Fia, Lydiate, … [Read more...] about Cheetahs v Ospreys Live
Cheetahs v Ospreys team news
Dan Lydiate is poised to make his return to action when the Ospreys take on the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Saturday. The chop-tackling flanker has been ravaged by injury in recent seasons but has the final few games to stake a claim for Warren Gatland's World Cup squad. But it's also a pivotal time of the year for the Ospreys, who simply must win their final three games to keep their slim hopes of making the play-offs alive. Lydiate's return from his most recent lay-off - five months in total with an elbow problem - is a welcome boost for the region, who are without the injured George North, Alun Wyn Jones and Scott Williams. Allen Clarke has opted for the same starting XV that beat the Dragons two weeks ago, meaning Justin Tipuric leads the time from the flank. "With three games left it’s a simple equation for us. We know what the challenge is over the last three rounds of the regular season and our focus is on ourselves, and what we can control," said Ospreys boss Clarke. … [Read more...] about Cheetahs v Ospreys team news