Online Betting News from Sky Bet

South Africa 9/4 To Come From Behind & Win

Sky Bet are offering 9/4 for South Africa to come from behind and win their third Test against the British & Irish Lions in Johannesburg on Saturday, live on Sky Sports 1 from 2:00pm. Last weekend saw Ian McGeechan’s Lions side have victory snatched from them by a last minute penalty from Morne Steyn to secure a series victory for the Springboks. It’s 1/4 for South Africa to whitewash the Lions 3-0 and 11/4 that the Lions take the final Test. In the handicap betting the Lions are 10/11 with an eight point start (10/11 South Africa -8 & 16/1 H’Cap Tie).

Sky Bet’s Tim Reynolds said, “Prior to the first Test, Sky Bet customers were backing South Africa to whitewash the Lions 3-0. We thought we had got this beaten last weekend until the 80th minute penalty from South Africa sealed the victory. We’re keeping our fingers crossed that the Lions can end on a high.”

From the match specials it’s, 11/10 that the Lions open the scoring, 6/1 that the first scoring play is a Lions try and 8/11 that the second half contains the most points.

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Halley 6/1 for England

Bradford back Dave Halley is to switch his international allegiance from Wales to England in the hope of playing in this year's Four Nations tournament and Sky Bet make him a 6/1 shot to take part.

Sky Bet's rugby league compiler David Sykes said: "With it looking a two horse race for the full back position between Shaun Briscoe and Paul Wellens, we feel the only chance of him making an appearance is on the wing, where Peter Fox and Ryan Hall are ahead of him in the pecking order."

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Look who's back!

Following the news that Former Wigan and St Helens coach, Ian Millward, is to return to England next season after agreeing a three-year contract with Co-operative Championship club, Leigh Centurions Sky Bet are offering odds on how Leigh will fare during the next three seasons under Millward's tenure.

They are 4/1 to be the Championship regular season winners, 4/1 to win the Grand Final and 3/1 to win the Northern Rail Cup.

Sky Bet's rugby league compiler, Dave Sykes, said: "Although Ian took Leigh from a lowly-placed position to the top four before being released to take over at St Helens in 2000, he could be facing an ever bigger task this time around as the Centurians currently lie one place above the relegation trapdoor and aren't certainties even to be in the Championship by the time he begins his second spell in charge."

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Saints 1/4 for Super League

St Helens are 1/4 favourites with Sky Bet to win the Super League regular season following the weekend's action.

Saints produced a first-half masterclass against Celtic Crusaders on Friday night as they secured a 30-0 victory to maintain their four-point lead at the top of the table.

Leeds are the only realistic challengers at 11/4 as they stayed in touch with a thrilling 33-20 derby triumph over Bradford Bulls.

In the grand final betting, St Helens are favourites at evens with Sky Bet while Leeds are 6/4 with Wigan and Warrington next in the betting at 12/1 and 14/1 respectively.

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Lions 6/1 To Come From Behind And Win

Sky Bet are offering 6/1 for the British and Irish Lions to come from behind and win their second Test against South Africa in Pretoria on Saturday. Last Saturday’s Test saw Ian McGeechan’s men stage a thrilling second-half comeback, fighting back from 26-7 down to narrow the world champions’ margin of victory to five points.

The Springboks have been backed into 4/7 (from 15/8 pre-tournament) to whitewash the tourists 3-0 and Sky Bet have cut them to 1/3 (from 4/9) to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series on Saturday. The Lions are 9/4 to square the series in the second Test at Loftus Versfeld. Sky Bet have also moved the handicap line from -7 South Africa to -8.

Sky Bet’s Helen Jacob said: “Following the Lions’ late comeback in Durban we did see support for them during the early part of this week but since their disappointing draw against the Emerging Springboks, it’s been one-way traffic for the hosts.”

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British & Irish Lions 20/1 To Remain Undefeated

The British & Irish Lions face their toughest test to date tomorrow when they line-up against the world champions South Africa in Durban, live on Sky Sports 1 from 4:00pm. The tourists go into Saturday's game boasting a 100% record from their warm-up games, it’s 20/1 with Sky Bet they remain undefeated and 2/1 they win the first Test. The Lions will be hoping to repeat the first-Test success they enjoyed on their way to a series win over the Springboks 12 years ago, it’s 10/11 for Ian McGeechan’s men to win with a handicap start of 8 points (10/11 South Africa -8 & 16/1 H’Cap Draw) and 6/1 they win by 1 to 5 points.

South Africa, who’s only competitive preparation for the series was an unconvincing 36-7 win over a Namibian Invitation XV are 1/3 to claim the series (9/4 British & Irish Lions & 33/1 Draw) and it’s evens they whitewash the Lions 3-0.

Sky Bet’s Tim Reynolds said, “We were originally 2/5 for South Africa to claim the series but with 90% of the total stakes on the world champions, we have cut them to 1/3. However, Sky Bet customers obviously think that the Lions best chance of victory will be in the first Test, as we’ve seen good money for them on both the handicap and the match result.”

Sky Bet are also offering their customers a chance to win a share of £500 of free bets by predicting the result of the three game test series between the Lions and South Africa. Please click here to enter.

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Donald 3/1 To Lift Fastest Man In League Crown

A sprint challenge to find the fastest man in rugby league is to take place at this year’s Carnegie Floodlit Nines tournament and Sky Bet make the Leeds Rhinos wingman Scott Donald as their 3/1 favourite. Warrington flyer Kevin Penny currently on loan at Championship side Widnes Vikings is 4/1 with last weekends England debutant Peter Fox available at 5/1.

Sky Bet’s Tim Reynolds said, “There’s a lot of quick players on the rugby league circuit and this is a real opportunity to find out who is the fastest of them all.”

Carnegie Floodlit 9’s Fastest Man in League
Donald, S       3/1  
Penny, K        4/1   
Fox, P           5/1   
Ford, J          6/1    
Calvert, R      8/1 
Halley, D      10/1    
Ballard, P     12/1    
George, L    12/1   
Roberts, A   16/1   

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British & Irish Lions 18/1 To Win All Their Remaining Matches

Today saw the British and Irish Lions record their sixth straight win in a row with a 20-8 victory over the Southern Kings and Sky Bet are offering 18/1 that the Lions go on to win their remaining four matches.

The Lions now face South Africa in their first Test on Saturday and are 2/1 to come out victorious (4/11 South Africa & 18/1 Draw) and 10/11 to win with a handicap start of 8 points (10/11 South Africa -8 & 16/1 Tie). It’s 9/4 for the Lions to win the series and (1/3 South Africa & 33/1 Draw) and 16/1 they whitewash South Africa 3-0.

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Westerman 10/11 To Score A Try On England Debut

Castleford loose forward, Joe Westerman, a late call up to the England squad for their match against France on Saturday evening, is 10/11 to score a try on his international debut in Paris.

The teen sensation, who won the 2008 Super League Young Player of the Year award, is 20/1 to score the first try of the game and 16/1 to complete a hat-trick of tries in a game where the hosts receive a 32 point start on the handicap.

Sky Bet’s rugby league compiler, Dave Sykes, said: “The French have been struck with several injuries. As a result of losing a trio of Catalan Dragons players we have set the handicap at 32, rather than our original estimate of mid twenties.”

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Lions 25/1 To Go Unbeaten

Having won their opening three matches, the British and Irish Lions are now 25/1 with Sky Bet to go unbeaten in their 10 -match South African tour.

At Absa Stadium on Wednesday, Ian McGeechan’s side will play Sharks, who are quoted at 11/2 to inflict the first defeat on the Lions and given a 16 points start on the handicap. 5/6 is on offer for the Lions to win all seven of their non-Test matches.

The Lions are 9/4 with Sky Bet towin the series, while the Springboks have been backed down to even money (from 15/8) to whitewash the tourists.

Sky Bet’s rugby union compiler, Simon McMinn, said: “At the start of the tour the Lions were 66/1 to remain undefeated but have been well backed after their first three victories, especially following their emphatic 74-10 win over the Golden Lions.“

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