HERE are some of the top sports stories from across our Black Country and North Worcestershire papers.

Cricket - WORCESTERSHIRE were staring defeat in the face when day three of the LV= County Championship Division One match closed against Durham at New Road.

The County had battled back to leave the visitors a victory target of 318, but Durham skipper Paul Collingwood eased to an unbeaten 111 as his side needed just another 53 runs to clinch victory today with seven wickets in hand.

Worcestershire picked up two early wickets with Joe Leach and Jack Shantry the successful bowlers in dismissing Mark Stoneman and first innings century-maker Scott Borthwick respectively.

But Durham opener Keaton Jennings and Collingwood figured in a third wicket stand of 108 to take their side to 174-3.

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Michael Richardson (41no) then joined Collingwood and the pair took Durham through to 270-3 by the close in an unbroken fourth-wicket stand of 96.

Football - TIVIDALE have appointed Phil Male and Ross Thorpe as their new joint management team ahead of the 2015/16 season.

Male, 36, retired as a player at the end of the 2014-15 campaign at Sutton Coldfield Town, and made several appearances for Tivi under Dean Whitehouse in the West Midlands Regional League.

Thorpe, 33, who retired from playing football at the age of 17 due to injury has managed Alvechurch, and held coaching roles at both Sutton Coldfield Town and Coleshill Town respectively having become a qualified coach at the age of just 21.

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Football General Manager, Leon Murray, said: “We’ve a lot of hard work to get through in the next few weeks, particularly on the playing side to ensure we have a competitive side for the start of the season.”

American Football - FANS of the NFL are being encouraged to join a new Gridiron club in Worcestershire.

Worcestershire Black Knights want to fill the void left after Hereford Chargers and Redditch Arrows closed down several years ago.

The Knights have vastly experienced coach Colin Branagh on board, who previously worked with well-established Sandwell Steelers and was also connected to the England set up.

At the moment, the Knights are focusing on attracting new members and coaching, with numbers up to 40 at the Wednesday night training sessions held at Diglis Basin in Worcester.

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The club must play three friendly games over the next 12 months in order to qualify for British American Football Association National League status in 2016.