Sport On The Box’s Christmas Watch series returns for the festive period of 2012 as we guide you through all the must-see live sporting events each day, plus highlighting the best review shows and documentaries as this sensational sporting year draws to a close.
The pick of the live action on Friday sees a double session of live darts as the second round of the 2013 PDC World Championship begins at Alexandra Palace, featuring 15-time world champion Phil Taylor’s against young Dutchman Jerry Hendriks.
Elsewhere the stars of Welsh sport gather to look back on superb 12 months of achievement and accolades in BBC Wales’ Sports Review of the Year.
Full details below:
The line-up of 72 has been whittled down to 32 as the second round begins at Ally Pally on a busy day of action at the 2013 PDC World Darts Championship, all live and exclusive on Sky Sports.
The sport’s biggest showpiece continues in North London with six quality encounters across two sessions, five of them featuring players who have been world champion or have appeared in world championship final before.
Phil Taylor (above) was sensationally sent packing at the second round stage last year by Dave Chisnall. The 15-times world champion will be hoping for a much smoother ride this time against Jerry Hendriks, though judging by the Dutchman’s first round performance where he demolished Wayne Jones, ‘The Power’ will need to get into his stride early to avoid another painful exit.
Arguably the pick of the day#s matches opens up the evening session as Terry Jenkins faces three-time world champion John Part, while last year’s runner-up Andy Hamilton takes on former world champion Richie Burnett in the first encounter of the day.
Order of play: Afternoon Session – 12.30pm Andy Hamilton v Richie Burnett Dave Chisnall v Daryl Gurney Gary Anderson v John Bowles Evening Session – 7.00pm Terry Jenkins v John Part Paul Nicholson v Robert Thornton Phil Taylor v Jerry Hendriks…
Tonight’s live match in the npower Championship comes from Bloomfield Road as Blackpool host Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The Tangerines triumphed 2-1 when they last played host to Wolves, in what was then a Premier League encounter in November 2010.
Under the guidance of Michael Appleton (above), Blackpool have begun to make strides up the Championship table.
As they head into Friday’s home encounter with Wolverhampton Wanderers, the Seasiders are on a run of eight matches without defeat.
They have also been in good form at Bloomfield Road, having lost just two of their 11 encounters in front of their own supporters.
In contrast, Wolves have lost seven of their Championship matches on the road, with Stale Solbakken‘s team having yet to draw an away fixture.
Simon Thomas presents live coverage from Bloomfield Road on Sky Sports 2 from 7.30pm.
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There are three tasty live derby games to enjoy from the RaboDirect Pro 12 as the busy festive periods begins.
The featured match on BBC Two Northern Ireland from 7pm is the much anticipated provincial clash between Pro12 leaders Ulster and European champions Leinster at Ravenhill.
Ulster are sitting at the top of the Pro 12 table and will be keen to avenge the defeat they suffered at the hands of Leinster in last year’s Heineken Cup Final.
Stephen Watson introduces the action, with Maurice Field and Tony McWhirter providing analysis, and Bryn Cunningham joining Jim Neilly in the commentary box.
On BBC Two Wales and nationwide on BBC Red Button, it’s East against West as Cardiff Blues take on Scarlets at the Cardiff Arms Park.
Former Blues and Lions flanker Martyn Williams joins Ross Harries in studio, while Jonathan Davies is in commentary with Gareth Charles, Phil Steele is on the touchline and analyst Sean Holley is in the truck.
Finally on BBC Alba, Glasgow Warriors welcome Edinburgh in the first leg of the eagerly awaited 1872 Cup.
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2012 has been a wonderful and thrilling sporting year for Wales.
A Welsh Grand Slam, several Welsh world champions, Olympic and Paralympic gold medal winners, a Carling Cup Final for Cardiff City at Wembley, Swansea City continuing to fly high in the Premier League and another Pro12 title for the Ospreys and much, much more.
Some of Wales’s most recognisable faces from sport, media and entertainment look back on these memorable moments as they celebrate and relive the very best Welsh sporting achievements from the last 12 months.
Presented by Jason Mohammad, the show features contributions from likes of Tom Jones, Lisa Rogers, Connie Fisher, Gethin Jones, Jade Jones, (pictured), Geraint Thomas, Robert Croft, Peter Jackson, Carolyn Hitt, Gareth Edwards, Rhodri Morgan and Nathan Cleverly.
Viewers outside Wales can watch the programme via Sky channel 971 or Freesat 972, or catch-up on BBC iPlayer shortly after its transmission.
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BBC Sport’s look back at the best sporting moments of 2012 continues with a look back at the Olympic track cycling and women’s boxing competitions, plus a repeat of Wales’ crucial victory over England on the way to their third Six Nations grand slam in eight years.
From 2pm, watch the full story of how Team GB wowed the crowds inside the raucous Olympic Velodrome after taking seven gold medals, matching their tally from Beijing 2008.
At 3.45pm, relive a historic session in London’s ExCeL as Nicola Adams became the first female boxer to win a gold medal.
Finally at 5.15pm, there’s a replay of Wales winning the Triple Crown with nail-biting victory over England in front of a packed crowd at Twickenham.
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ITV4’s week of review programmes continues with a celebration of the biggest names in world football that have graced European club football’s biggest stage.
Ned Boulting presents a look at some of the greatest players to have played in the UEFA Champions League, featuring Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard and Manchester United’s Ryan Giggs, as well as all the big names from continental Europe including Zinedine Zidane, Luis Figo and Lionel Messi.
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Olympics 2012 – Track Cycling
2.00pm-3.45pm – BBC Red Button
Olympics 2012 – Boxing
3.45pm-5.15pm – BBC Red Button
Six Nations 2012 – Wales v England
5.15pm – BBC Red Button
Welsh Sports Review of the Year 2012
9.00pm-10.00pm – BBC Two Wales
Dallas Mavericks @ Memphis Grizzlies – NBA
LIVE: 1.00am-3.30am (Sat) – ESPN
Melbourne Stars v Sydney Sixers – Big Bash League
LIVE: 8.00am-11.30am – Sky Sports 1
South Africa v New Zealand – 1st T20 International
LIVE: 3.55pm-7.30pm – Sky Sports 2
PDC World Championship – Day 8
Afternoon Session
LIVE: 12.30pm-4.30pm – Sky Sports 1
Evening Session
LIVE: 7.00pm-11.00pm – Sky Sports 1
London International Horse Show 2012
Kingsland Christmas Tree Stakes
DELAYED: 8.00pm-9.00pm – British Eurosport
Christmas Masters
LIVE: 9.00pm-10.20pm – British Eurosport
Pescara v Catania – Serie A | k/o 5pm
LIVE: 5.00pm-7.00pm – ESPN
Blackpool v Wolves – Championship | k/o: 7.45pm
LIVE: 7.30pm-10.00pm – Sky Sports 2
Grimsby Town v Wrexham – Blue Square Premier | k/o: 7.45pm
LIVE: 7.30pm-10.00pm – Premier Sports
Champions League Heroes
8.00pm-9.00pm – ITV4
Atletico Madrid v Celta Vigo – La Liga | k/o: 9.00pm
LIVE: 8.55pm-11.00pm – Sky Sports 3
Cardiff Blues v Scarlets – Pro12 | k/o: 7.05pm
LIVE: 7.00pm-9.00pm – BBC Two Wales / BBC Red Button
Ulster v Leinster – Pro12 | k/o: 7.05pm
LIVE: 7.00pm-9.00pm – BBC Two Northern Ireland
Glasgow Warriors v Edinburgh – Pro12 | k/o: 7.35pm
LIVE: 7.30pm-9.25pm – BBC Alba | Highlights: 11.15pm-12.00am – STV
Bordeaux-Begles v Clermont Auvergne – French Top 14
LIVE: 7.45pm-9.50pm – Premier Sports
