Research by the USGA has shown that U-shaped grooves allow top players to generate much more spin when playing the ball out of the rough, making the ball come to a quick stop on the green.

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Batsmen's techniques evolved to counter batpad catches, either by playing forward with the pad or hanging back on the crease and waiting for the ball to come to them.

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"He needs the freedom to get on the ball and go in either direction, come short, pick a pass, use his turn of pace, provide for others and nick a goal himself, " said Lomas.

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Explaining what they do tick by tick on a continuous basis has as much value as trying to come up with a rational explanation why the ball landed on the 9 on the roulette table in Bellagio instead of 10.

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And then King himself ran on to the ball after it had come off a West Brom head, before coolly slotting into the bottom corner.

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Owen believes, for every second he is on a football pitch, that the ball is about to come to him and he will score.

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But the equaliser did come on 74 minutes, when substitute Dobson latched on to a hopeful long punt and toe poked the ball past onrushing keeper Scott Bevan.

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"It was good to see Rhys come of age and take the ball-kicking duties on, he did extremely well, " said Davies.

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Vucinic gave them a warning of what was to come when he created a chance from nothing by controlling the ball on his chest and volleying over the bar.

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