Sports betting: Yorkshire to win war of the roses

YORKSHIRE REPRESENT a bit of value for punters as the underdogs when they travel to Old Trafford to face Lancashire, their Roses rivals, in the Gillette, sorry, NatWest quarter-finals tomorrow.

Lancashire, with their great one-day history, and fresh from a victory over Hampshire Hawks in their Lightning guise at the weekend (while Yorkshire Phoenix were going down to Kent Spitfires), appear to hold the whip hand in this contest upon first inspection.

However, if Yorkshire, fifth in a County Championship in which Lancashire lie only 12th, can make their undoubted overall superiority count in the context of this limited overs encounter, they could easily spring what in any case would be no more than a minor surprise.

There is seldom much to choose between Manchester United and Arsenal and, when the Premiership winners meet the runners-up they beat by a single point in the Charity Shield at Wembley on Sunday, the draw has to be the best bet in 90 minutes.

Arsenal, possibly demoralised by the Nicolas Anelka transfer saga of late, face a rebuilding programme at the back this term while Manchester United, despite last season's successes, have conspicuously failed to invest in new talent during the close season.

Mark Bosnich is their only acquisition of note and that as a straight swap for Peter Schmeichel, leaving Sir Alex Ferguson with much the same squad to go to war with as the one which rode its luck last season.

Celtic are a fair bet to topple Rangers in the Scottish Premiership, which commences this weekend. Rangers, not surprisingly, are the long odds-on favourites after their six-point victory last season, but Celtic, with the shrewd Kenny Dalglish now at the helm, are capable of giving Rangers a run for their money.

Celtic looked possible Scottish Premiership winners at one point last term and, whether they win this time or not, it would be no surprise to see Rangers and Celtic flip-flop (change positions) in the betting at some point between now and the end of the season, leaving ultra-cautious punters with the chance to place a saver on Rangers.

CHANNEL 4 CRICKET

C H L S T

Lancashire 8-13 4-7 8-13 4-6 4-6

Yorkshire 6-5 5-4 6-5 11-10 11-10

Over-round at best prices (in bold): 104.

CHARITY SHIELD

C H L S T

Man Utd 5-4 6-5 5-4 5-4 5-4

Draw 9-4 11-5 9-4 11-5 11-5

Arsenal 7-4 15-8 7-4 9-5 9-5

Over-round at best prices (in bold): 110.

SCOTTISH PREMIERSHIP

C H L S T

Rangers 2-5 1-2 4-9 4-9 4-9

Celtic 13-8 11-8 6-4 6-4 13-8

Hearts 40-1 33-1 50-1 40-1 50-1

Kilmarnock 80-1 66-1 80-1 50-1 66-1

Aberdeen 100-1 80-1 100-1 66-1 100-1

St Johnstone 125-1 66-1 150-1 66-1 66-1

Hibernian 150-1 100-1 200-1 100-1 150-1

Dundee Utd 300-1 100-1 200-1 100-1 250-1

Motherwell 500-1 500-1 500-1 300-1 400-1

Dundee 750-1 300-1 500-1 200-1 400-1

Over-round at best prices (in bold): 111.

Win only

C Coral, H William Hill, L Ladbrokes, S Stanley, T Tote

n Suggested bets: pounds 1 on Yorkshire to beat Lancashire at 5-4 with William Hill; pounds 1 on Manchester United to draw with Arsenal at 9-4 with Coral or Ladbrokes; and pounds 1 on Celtic to win the Scottish Premiership at 13-8 with Coral or the Tote. (pounds 3 staked).