hello. this is bbc news. the headlines: tory triumph in the local elections, the best result for the conservatives since 2008. amid the celebrations the party and the prime minister are careful not to look complacent. i'm not taking anything for granted. i will be going out for the remaining weeks of this general election campaign to earn the support of the british people. labour has defended its performance insisting it is building a solid base for the general election. but there's been strong criticism from within the party. we have had very disappointing results in other parts of the country, yes, we have to go out there in the next four weeks and get a message out of the kind of country we could be. ukip suffers big losses across england, after the party lost 108 councillors and madejust one gain. now its leader faces questions over the party's future. two men have been charged with the

murder of the businessman guy hedger, who was shot the as home in dorset last weekend. 7 —— hedger, who was shot the as home in dorset last weekend.? —— last weekend. now it's time for sportsday. hello, i'm olly foster welcome to sportsday, these are our headlines tonight: the premier league title is going to a london club. spurs can keep themsleves in the race at the london stadium tonight. england summer of cricket has started in bristol with a big win against ireland townsend looks to sign off on a high at glasgow warriors, as the pro12 and premiership regular seasons come to a close. also coming up in the programme: a quick round of golf? and we catch up a quick round of golf? and we catch up with the winner of the badminton

horse trials, william fox pitt good evening, the premier league title race could be down to just the one point later this evening. tottenham have been slowly reeling in chelsea over the last couple of months with nine wins in a row, as the blues slipped up against crystal palace and manchester united. spurs are at west ham tonight. chris slegg is at the london stadium for us. west ham against tottenham always feisty, often thrilling. so much riding on this occasion. can totte n ha m riding on this occasion. can tottenham get the win that will move them within a point of leaders chelsea and keep the blues stewing all weekend until they play against middlesbrough on monday? or will west ham get the victory which

ensures they remain a premier league club? that would relieve some of the pressure on the manager, slaven bilic. one paper saying his future depends on the outcome of the two home games. the co—owner says that's not true much the position at the manager of west ham is always reviewed at the end of the season. no such pressures for mauricio pochettino, but both managers know there's plenty at stake. derby game against spurs, at our stadium. they need points, we need points. it's a massive game for them. it's a massive game for them. it's a massive game for us, of course. we are going to try tomorrow to get the points that will definitely mathematically and theoretically secure out mathematically and theoretically secure our status. it's important for us, but it's important for the premier league to put pressure, to be interest in the end of the season. of course, it's a great opportunity for us, friday, to try

to reduce the gap and put a little bit pressure to them. chelsea will surely be watching on with interest. although tottenham can reduce their advantage to such a slender one, should spurs lose, chelsea can wrap up should spurs lose, chelsea can wrap up the title by winning their next two matches against boro and west brom. commentray on west ham spurs is on radio 5 live. kick off at 8'o clock. let's get more on that match and the rest of the weekend fixtures. a little earlier i was joined by the former everton midfielder leon osman and i started by asking him about tonight's game at the london stadium spurs have done everything in their power to keep this league alive as such. it's an incredible record they're on. they'll go to west ham tonight hoping to get another victory. it's going to be a very

interesting game, you know, west ham haven't done fantastically well at home this season in their new stadium. a local derby, when the spurs are coming round, you know, maybe it's certainly a chance for the fans to raise the atmosphere. that will help the players. always great games in. november, west ham we re great games in. november, west ham were a couple of minutes from winning at white hart lane until harry kane scored a couple and spurs won 3—2. let's look at the top of the table now. is this everything you hoped the season would be at the sharp end of the table? yeah you hope when it comes to the end, that there's still a lot to play for, at both ends of the table. you know, the season hasn't disappointed this year. there's been fantastic team performances. in many aspects, it's still all to play for. chelsea are playing on monday night against middlesbrough. that lead could be down to one point. let's hearfrom the chelsea manager. we are ready.

we are ready to fight. we are ready to play these four games. i don't know honestly if i watch the game, west ham against tottenham, you know i don't know. you look at the run-in, i don't know. you look at the run—in, you've got chelsea with middlesbrough at home on monday night. then west brom. nothing to play for. watford, nothing to play for. sunderland, who have nothing to play for. the title should be theirs. spurs—west ham tonight. manchester united will be an emotive affair last game at white hart lane and away at leicester and hull. the money is still on chelsea. absolutely. to have a four—point lead at this point and you know, with the run in that they've got, that's the main thing. spurs have a more difficult run—in. and they're having to make the four points up. it looks like it will be beyond them. they will fight until the very end. middlesbrough being the only

tea m end. middlesbrough being the only team that chelsea have got who have something to play for. real live issues down at the bottom of the table as well. middlesbrough still not giving up hope of clawing their way out there. six points off safety with three to play. it looks like it's beyond them. we can't argue that. they'd admit that themselves. they'll fight until the very end. swa nsea, they'll fight until the very end. swansea, hull and crystal palace are still very much involved in this. it's going to be an interesting week oi’ it's going to be an interesting week or so. middlesbrough could be nine points adrift because hull play sunderland tomorrow. we will look at the fixtures in a moment. for those three managers in charge of hull, swa nsea three managers in charge of hull, swansea and middlesbrough it's going to bea swansea and middlesbrough it's going to be a nervy few days.” swansea and middlesbrough it's going to be a nervy few days. i think the confidence and belief from the players that we've seen in recent weeks is there. it'sjust players that we've seen in recent weeks is there. it's just that certainly the sunderland and manchester city game that you saw everything coming together and those four points out of six will give us plenty of confidence going into the

chee game. we've come to the very la st chee game. we've come to the very last three games now. we have to target to win all of those, putting all our focus into the game against everton. a home game. our form is good. we've played well now at home against stoke and well against manchester united away. we go into this game with a lot of confidence. it's a big mistake if we go for the game and think it's an easy game. we don't think sure. i hope nobody thinking in the club and our fans because it's really difficult game for us. if it's possible, we need to do more to win the game. there are the fixtures. we're not seeing chelsea's match against middlesbrough. those are the nine fixtures. manchester united are going to arsenal. any other year, you'd think there would be a lot riding on this, but could be a strange old game that one, because jose mourinho clearly prioritising europe as the easiest way into the

champions league. they're two games away from winning the europa league. especially with them having such a good result over at celta vigo with getting the away goal and coming back with victory. they're potentially two games away from not only winning a major trophy but being back in the champions league. if you'd have said to anybody three oi’ if you'd have said to anybody three orfour if you'd have said to anybody three or four years if you'd have said to anybody three oi’ four years ago if you'd have said to anybody three orfour years ago that if you'd have said to anybody three or four years ago that arsenal, man united three games to go in the season wasn't going to be anything on it, you'd have got laughed at. it's disappointing for both clubs that they've drift add way. man united have this europa league to challenge for. with the europa league the easiest way for manchester united to get into the champions league, jose mourinho thinking about resting players at arsenal. here's the response from the arsenal manager. we focus on our performance, you know, i don't know what manchester united will do. we know any way, they have a massive

squad with quality players and only a top level performance will get us the win we want. how do you think that will go? jose mourinho saying he will maybe rest players. he won't wa nt to he will maybe rest players. he won't want to go to play arsene wenger and basically give up the game. he'll wa nt to basically give up the game. he'll want to go there and get victory. certainly not lose. i expect it being a tight game. maybe finishing ina draw. it's the final round of matches on sunday in what has been a thrilling season in the championship. we'll see if brighton or newcastle will be champions. barring something extraordinary, fulham should hold onto the final play—off spot in sixth, that's because leeds have an inferior goal differnce. we'll find out the semi—final line up with reading, sheffield wednesday and huddersfield all guarenteed spots. wigan and rotherham have gone already but one of birmingham city, nottingham forest and blackburn rovers

is going tojoin them in league one. all matches are at 12 tomorrow, check the website for those fixtures. the league two season finishes tomorrow, hartlepool or newport will drop out of the league, and it's very tight for the play—off places. seven teams looking to make the final two spots...again go to the bbc sport website for all the in and outs the title was wwrapped up in sdcotland a long time ago. the champions celtic face st. johnstone tomorrow. bottom club inverness could get relegated if they lose to hamilton and motrherwell and dundee win their matches. couple of matches on sunday — partick v rangers and hearts face aberdeen england's cricketers have started their busy summer with a big win. seven wickets the margin of victory against ireland in bristol. adil rashid claimed his first wicket

haul, as they bowled irish out for 126, and and alex hales and joe root scored most of the runs, as they reached their target with 30 overs to spare. ben croucher reports england's longest summer started against the team who had to make the shortest trip. ireland are trying to prove they can mix it with the test playing nations. they looked at home early on. they'd soon be blown away. from 90—3 to 126 all out. getting used to joe from 90—3 to 126 all out. getting used tojoe root‘s partime spin was surprising even for the man himself. losing wickets to rashid was no disgrace. the yorkshire had five. england had a tiny total to attack. the tally jason roy could knock off without trying. his loose stance soon had england one for one. alex hales was dropped twice as well. ireland discovered how

self—destructive that could be. he passed 50. england were home injust 20 overs. next up a short hop down the m 20 overs. next up a short hop down them4 20 overs. next up a short hop down the m 4 for 20 overs. next up a short hop down the m lifora 20 overs. next up a short hop down the m 4 for a second match on sunday. on today's evidence, ireland still have a long, long way to go. ireland are a good, strong side. they've beaten us before. they're not a side we take lightly. going in and putting in a clinical performance is as good as we can ask for as a side. that within itself re—emphasising how ruthless we need to be going forward. there's going to be going forward. there's going to be going forward. there's going to bea to be going forward. there's going to be a lot mentally more than anything that the lads would want to put right for sunday. that'sjust freshening up—and—coming into the game and putting this to bed. coming in fresh on sunday. they play at lord's on sunday. it's also going to be a busy summer in women's cricket. england are hosting the world cup next month. the majority of matches will free to watch online.

and for the eight teams, prize money has been increased 10 fold from the last tournament, with a pot of1 and half million pounds it reflects the health of the women's game. earlier i spoke to clare connor from the ecb four years ago, the last world cup in india, the game has progressed since that time in so many ways. you know, not least with players, many players around the world now being professional cricketers. in 2013, eve ryo ne professional cricketers. in 2013, everyone was an amateur. that coupled with more coverage, more cricket being played, more global events, the recognition that play the players, reward increased prize money pot is welcome. we can see that the huge growth opportunity is in the women's and girls game. that's not just in the women's and girls game. that's notjust as players, it's about the whole female engagement piece. it's about mums. it's about coaches and volunteers and women being involved in the cricket clubs. over 80% of primary school teachers are women. so it's really important that cricket has a good relationship

with women. i talk about trying to normalise the game for women and girls, so it's as normalfor a little girl to pick up a cricket bat asa little girl to pick up a cricket bat as a boy. we've made real progress in those areas, but we have a long way to go to fully complete that normalising process. the rugby union premiership reaches the end of its regular season tomorrow. still so much to play for in this one. three teams can finish first. wasps face saracens. a chance for the saints to make up for what has been a very frustrating season. it's been very disappointing. the squad we've got and the players we've got we've not

really done as well as we should have this year. if we can just scrape in top six and rebuild for the boys who are staying here and the boys who are staying here and the coaches to rebuild next year, and hopefully, pick up some pieces and hopefully, pick up some pieces and learn from what this year has brought us. the pr012's brought us. the pro12‘s regular season comes to a close. leinster or munster will finish top ahead of the play—offs. scarlets and ospreys should join them in that. it's going to be the final game for gregor townsend at glasgow as they face edinburgh. it hasn't been the greatest season for them. he's turned the warriors round in his five years in charge. they we re in his five years in charge. they were champions a couple of seasons ago. he's leaving to take on the scotla nd ago. he's leaving to take on the scotland job. gregor townsend took over at warriors in 2012. here he is then setting ambitious targets. we can become one of the leading teams in europe. we want to become the first scottish team to lift the heineken

cup. warriors did become winners, though the pro12 was the mcguiness pr012 though the pro12 was the mcguiness pro12 by the time they lifted the trophy. pr012 final would pro12 by the time they lifted the trophy. pr012 finalwould be pro12 by the time they lifted the trophy. pr012 final would be the biggest game. the way the players prepare for that game, how calm they we re prepare for that game, how calm they were in the build up, and the rugby they delivered when it matters was superb. just stood back and watched them go about their work. commentator: he cuts through them like a butter knife splitting the defence. european success has been more elusive. warriors reaching the knock—out stage of the champions cup this season for the first time. losing to english club saracens in the quarterfinals. losing to english club saracens in the quarter finals. i got that wrong asa the quarter finals. i got that wrong as a coach. a lot of that defeat was down to me and how we prepared. how we overprepared for saracens and in doing so, we took a way, i believe i

took away part what have we do really well, which is going about and playing our game. not to deliver our best performance in that day was really disappointing. with a tinge of regret then, he's moving on. taking charge of the national team. we have a scottish coach in charge of the scottish national side with a proven track record at club level. there will be detractors who will say he's not ready. bunkham, it's a case to he's the man for the job and the time is right for him. i think he'll be a huge success. scotland won three of their five six nations matches this season. townsend's task —to matches this season. townsend's task — to take them further. these were happier days. novak djokovic has sacked his entire coaching team. djokovic was knocked off the top of the world rankings by andy murray

last year. explaining his decision he said, "i'm a hunter. my bigger goal is to find the winning spark on the court again." so he's going to tour alone until he finds a new head coach. austria's lucas pustleberger at the jeer row detalla. —— giro de i talla. stage one was expected to go down to a sprint finish. but postlberger sprinted away. he will be in the leader's pinkjersey tomorrow. remember that false start at the grand national last month, 26 jockeys, including the winning jockey, derek fox, were charged and they have all been banned for one day. they lined up before the starter had called them forward.

the world's best riders are in gloucestershire at the badminton horse trials. it's the biggest and most prestigious meeting in eventing. christopher burton from australia, is in the lead. eventing. christopher burton from australia, is in the leadlj eventing. christopher burton from australia, is in the lead. i say every year that the badminton horse trials attracts the very best. this year is no different. it reads like an unofficial world champions. there's been very important name mittsing and it's this —— missing, and it's this gentleman, william fox pitt. why aren't you here? yes, it's very strange. it's sad. i'm 48 and i'm past it. but of course, i've had wonderful horses in the past, so lucky. they're all 17 and in the field having a happy time. they've done their bit for me. very much now it's onto the new earament i have lonely —— era. i have lonely seven—year—olds, but they're teenagers and a long way off. i'm

very much here for the beer, to catch up with — walk the course, meet friends, support people. it's one to be at and one that you certainly wouldn't miss. this has been a difficult time for you. it was just over 18 months ago you had that devastating fall in france, which quite frankly nearly killed you. yeah, i was very lucky, wasn't i. goodness. that changes your perspective. it helps you accept other things. i was so lucky to re cover other things. i was so lucky to recover from that. i've come back andl recover from that. i've come back and i feelfine. recover from that. i've come back and i feel fine. so recover from that. i've come back and i feelfine. sol recover from that. i've come back and i feel fine. so i should rnt even be thinking of riding around here, it would be crazy. you haven't retired? i would love to ride round here on the right horse. personally my ambition would be why, at my age, doi my ambition would be why, at my age, do i need to? if you have an exciting horse, iwould do i need to? if you have an exciting horse, i would love to. are we getting an exclusive here. are you really considering retiring? you a lwa ys you really considering retiring? you always said the highs drive me on. if you haven't got the highs does that mean you could be retiring?|j think that mean you could be retiring?” think now i would more get a high from a horse than from an occasion. ifi

from a horse than from an occasion. if i get, i have got two very nice eight—year—olds, and i've got ambition for them. i would love one day for them to be top horses. if they're not, they're not. it's ok. let's ta ke they're not, they're not. it's ok. let's take it back to this sport. i'm not retiring. i'm in that no—man's land. i'm not retiring. i'm in that no-man's land. that fall that you had was over the cross—country. eventing is ariathlon of the eventing. this is a cross—country fence here. this is fence 24. they are trying to make the sport safer though. the administrators, what are they doing and what state is it in terms of safety? it's at its best possible state. over the last few years, they've been developing the safety of the sport and bringing things in. they're doing a huge amount of work on the course to really make it horse friendly, rider friendly but keep that badminton essence. we miss seeing you here. we hope you may be in tokyo in three yea rs. if hope you may be in tokyo in three years. if you want to watch the action here, it's on the red button tomorrow on the bbc and the finale, the showjumping, is on sunday. the head of los angeles bid to host

the 2024 olympic and paralympic games says his focus is to win for that year only. the ioc is considering awarding both the 2024 and 2028 games at the same time, when they vote on hosts cities in september. paris are the only other city in the running for 2024. frankly, i applaud them for the thinking. it is the right thinking at the right time. that's a process that they've undertaken amongst the four vice presidents and the iov staff. at some point they will engage with us about how that may proceed or may no. 0ur engage with us about how that may proceed or may no. our focus engage with us about how that may proceed or may no. ourfocus is engage with us about how that may proceed or may no. our focus is the same as it's been since september 2015, which is we want to win the 2024 olympic games and paralympics. sport it seems is increasingly

trying to downsize to make itself more marketable and watchable. now gofrl is trying sixes at st albans this weekend. there's an experimental competition with an eye on reaching a newed audience. as golf a poet once wrote, is a day spent in strenuous idleness. who has time for poetry? this is sport's es p resso time for poetry? this is sport's espresso era. everything is made short and intense. why linger over 18 holes when you can speed through six? i think golf's got to fall into line with everyone else. it's a time that it's got to make it a lot more fun, shorter. to be honest, it's the first time someone's said you know what, we're going to do something and we've done it. there's been a lot of talk. this time there's been action. there are 16 nations, teams of two play matches against each other over six holes. group stage, then knockout, then a winner. golf

is dealing with a big issue of dwindling participation and the perception that it's... a bit old fashioned, stuffy — was that the new image? if you're not prepared to change, you're not prepared to adapt, you're not only sports, but any type of business, you run the risk of falling behind. and again, that's what this week is about. it's show casing our game, our skills in a different format. there are good professionals here, not superstars. it's possible i was told the likes of rory mcilroy might someday play golf sixes, if things go the right way. right now — smile and hope that the world smiles along. that's it from this sportsday. from all of us at the bbc sports centre, have a great weekend, whatever sport you're watching or following. have a great weekend, whatever sport you're watching orfollowing. from all of us, goodbye. it was a lovely day for swathes of

the uk. with plenty of sunshine. this is one of our weather watcher pictures from the north west highlands. absolutely lovely. the snow on the peaks melting away. it wasn't like that for all. we saw pretty cloud there in clacton—on—sea. here's confirmation of that cloud in the south of the uk. even here there were breaks. sunshine getting through. a glorious day further north. there was a bit a breeze blowing for many. that continues to drag in cloud from further east. that cloud might thicken up enough to bring the odd spot of rain to the midlands, wales, northern england. more cloud overnight than we've seen recently. temperatures holding up for many. rain creeps into the far south and west. the far north of the uk, we might seea west. the far north of the uk, we might see a touch of frost. that weather front in the south—west is accompanied by fairly brisk winds.

it will be confined to the far south—west. i think there'll be very little rain else where. there might bea little rain else where. there might be a shower or two early on, the midlands and wales, maybe into northern england. the main focus for the rain is the south—western corner. there'll be brightness in the south—east. it's going to be a lovely afternoon across much of cod. away from the north —— much of scotland. away from the north coast, temperatures pegged back. we see spells of sunshine in northern ireland. northern england, more cloud than today. still cool down the north sea coast. warmerfurther west. there's that brighter weather in the south—eastern corner. 16 in brighton and london. get down to the south—west, that thicker cloud, outbreaks of rain mainly in cornwall, some might creep into devon. whatever we see will clear through the evening. most other places will be fine and dry on saturday night. just the odd light shower in the west midlands, maybe into wales as well. into the second pa rt into wales as well. into the second part of the weekend, this breeze

still, a northerly, cold from the north, bringing low cloud, maybe light rain, drizzle to go with that. further west it's brighter and a good deal warmer as well. a cool feel to things with that breeze along the north sea coasts, nine, ten degrees sunday afternoon. further west, 15, 16. it's dry over the next few days basically. it looks like it will stay dry into the early pa rt looks like it will stay dry into the early part of next week. maybe beginning to see some rain developing later on next week. we keep you up to date with the details on all of that. bye for now. this is bbc news. i'm ben brown live in westminster as the results from the local elections come in from all over the uk. big wins for the conservatives — they've taken control of eleven councils and gained more than 500 seats. i will not take anything for granted. this is not about who wins and loses in the local elections, it's about continuing to fight for the best brexit deal.

labour has a tough time after it loses more than 380 seats and seven authorities, including glasgow city council, which they've held since 1980. we have had very difficult results, yes. we have got to get a message out of the kind of country we could be. mixed fortunes for the liberal democrats —