Kent 346 for 4 (Stevens 121*, Billings 86*) lead Gloucestershire 221 by 125 runsScorecard For the professional, this is the most stressful time of the year. With every other press release a thanks but no thanks to a player deemed unworthy of further employment, the reminder to observers is a stark one. For all the love in the game, this is when careers and dreams are taken out the back and laid to rest. So today at Bristol, as Gloucestershire toiled amid the weight of Kents middle order, who finished day two with a 125-run first innings lead, with six wickets still in hand, some light shone through the August darkness.Darren Stevens, at 40 years of age, secured his first hundred of a demanding season which could well be his last for Kent. His deal is set to expire at the end of the year and, as of yet, Stevens has yet to see anything resembling a new contract and is keen to sort something soon. Perhaps the most surprising element in this period is that he has had to speak openly about his situation. Usually his performances do the brunt of the negotiations for him.But this year, things have not come as easy. Going into this match, he had scored only 365 runs and taken 26 wickets in the Championship. As ever with a player being in the latter years of his career, he now has to convince the powers-that-be that this is simply a dip in form rather than a terminal decline. In an interview with BBC Radio Kent, he spoke of his belief that he still has the physical capacity to cope at this level. He even relayed a conversation he had with physios at the club who assured him that, if he looked after himself, he could eke out another two years. All he wants is one more.There is a nobleness to Stevens and the 12 seasons he has spent at Kent so far. Even then, theres a savagery that underpins it all, allowing him to fall neatly in the intersection of the venn diagram of stalwart and cult hero. Rarely do the two intertwine as neatly as they do when discussing Stevens. He is the senior pro and the thrill giver; the wily old head and the untameable showstopper. He lives long in the memories of his enemies. Essex fans are sick of the sight of him, convinced he saves his best work for their derby clashes with Kent. His previous championship hundred came against them in June 2014.Perhaps the only regret he may have is that his spectacular feats have come solely within the confines of county cricket. Much of his batting has played out in front of sparse crowds unable the muster the ovation and awe that he deserves. It can at times feel like Stevens is operating in a manner too thrilling for such mundane settings, as if hes popping out in a tank to pick up some fags from the off-licence.Another selling point Stevens was keen to push was his desire to help out the younger members of the team, who are starting to realise their potential. There is every chance that, if any playing deal were to present itself, it may also feature a coaching element, much like Glenn Chapple (Lancashire) and Vikram Solanki (Surrey) took on as their playing careers wound down.It was fitting, then, that Stevens put on his latest masterpiece with Sam Billings at the other end. Billings, one of the poster boys for this very un-English awakening in English batting, where hand-eye and wrists are king and queen, has often spoken of Stevens influence on his career. Even now, with Billings on his way to becoming a global T20 superstar, he talks of Stevens ball-striking ability with the adulation of a kid hanging around the players balcony for a selfie. Their currently unbeaten partnership of 205 for the fifth wicket has come at a rate of five an over, from a potentially precarious starting point of 140 for 4.Having trailed Billings by some distance, as the youngsters exuberance allowed him a sedate start, with just six from his first 24 balls, Stevens stirred upon entering the forties. He reached 52 off his 70th delivery, before another boundary from the 71st took him level with Billings, for the first time. From then on, master and apprentice traded blows, as Gloucestershire were left powerless to stop the one-upmanship playing out in front of them. Every Stevens drive through extra cover was matched by a Billings sweep - orthodox and reverse - as Gareth Roderick did what he could to stem the run flow.Once Stevens was able to negotiate most of the strike, he made his way to 93. The manner in which he would then bring up his hundred was a nod to both sides of the Stevens coin.Some at the Bristol County Ground, who had already decided he would try and get there with a big shot, wondered which stand hed pepper to bring up three figures. Even the Gloucestershire fielders seemed to brace themselves for the big finish. Instead, Stevens went early, catching the field unaware, who had yet to be deployed in key areas. A glorious pick-up over long on off Jack Taylor took him to 99 The field did not bother converging for the one, which was taken into the leg side - Stevens squeezing the life out of his right fist as he completed the single.To be honest, its been a bit of a nightmare really, he admitted at stumps. It was nice to get the 30th of my career, too. Ive been waiting for about two and a half years for that.In the short-term, he reckons that Kent need to bat half of tomorrow, further strengthening their position, before the push for the final 10 wickets begins. For now, that is what concerns him. Manchester City Nicolas Otamendi Jersey . Halifax beat the Saint John Sea Dogs 7-5 on the strength of two goals apiece from Nikolaj Ehlers, Matt Murphy and Brent Andrews. Jonathan Drouin also scored and had three assists while Zachary Fucale made 17 saves for the Mooseheads (16-8-0), who led 6-1 after two periods. Manchester City Danilo Jersey . -- Matt Rupert scored once in regulation and again in the shootout as the London Knights extended their win streak to nine games by defeating the Owen Sound Attack 4-3 on Friday in Ontario Hockey League action. http://www.cheapmanchestercityjersey.com/ . It just didnt show when he hit the ice. Berra made 42 saves and Kris Russell scored at 1:32 of overtime, lifting the Calgary Flames to a 3-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday night. Manchester City Kyle Walker Jersey . Defenceman Yannick Weber scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period and the Canucks breathed a sigh of relief with a 2-1 win on Saturday night. Manchester City Raheem Sterling Jersey . Uniteds eighth defeat of a wretched campaign means Liverpool, which currently occupies the fourth and final Champions League place, could go nine points clear of its fierce rival by beating West Bromwich Albion on Sunday. Charlie Adam scored both of Stokes goals at Britannia Stadium either side of Robin van Persies equalizer, with a miserable day for seventh-place United capped by first-half injuries to centre halves Jonny Evans and Phil Jones that forced them off. KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Their starting quarterback and running back never dressed, their top wide receiver joined them on the sideline with an injury of his own, and their Pro Bowl tight end was ejected by an official who didnt seem to think his antics were very funny.Good thing for the Kansas City Chiefs that everything was status quo on defense.That stout bunch kept Blake Bortles in check most of the afternoon, then stuffed the Jacksonville Jaguars on fourth down with less than 2 minutes remaining deep in their own territory, preserving a 19-14 win on Sunday made even more impressive by the long odds the Chiefs overcame.Thats what football is all about. Youre going to have weeks where you have injuries, said Nick Foles, who started in place of injured quarterback Alex Smith. You have to step up and make plays.Foles threw for 187 yards and a first-half touchdown toss to Albert Wilson, and helped to set up four field goals by Cairo Santos, as Kansas City (6-2) won its 10th consecutive home game.Meanwhile, the Jaguars (2-6) couldnt overcome four turnovers -- including a fumble at the goal line in the fourth quarter -- in their first game with quarterback coach Nathaniel Hackett directing the offense .Bortles was 22 of 41 for 252 yards and two touchdowns with a pick, showing little improvement after a week spent with his personal coach, Adam Dedeaux . His wide receivers hardly helped him, dropping several passes, including an early fourth-down throw that cost Jacksonville a chance at points.I thought Nathaniel called a great game, Bortles said. To run for 200 yards and throw for 200, or whatever, I thought it was awesome. If you look at the stat sheet minus the turnovers theres no way you say Kansas City won. But unfortunately, thats part of the game.Chris Ivory rumbled for 107 yards in the biggest bright spot for Jacksonville, but he fumbled going over the goal-line with 8:28 left in the game. The Jaguars quickly got the ball back, and Bortles hit T.J. Yeldon to get within 19-14 with 4:10 to go, but the extra time it took to score proved costly.They got the ball back with 3:01 remaining, and a long scamper by Bortles gave them a chance. But his pass on fourth-and-3 at the Kansas City 32 was batted to the ground and the Chiefs ran out the clock.We had four turrnovers and when you do that, any game in the NFL is hard to win, Jaguars coach Gus Bradley said.ddddddddddddAnd for us, we did it at critical times.The Chiefs played the whole way without Smith and starting running back Spencer Ware, who were out with head injuries, and offensive guard Parker Ehinger, who went on injured reserve with a knee injury.Wide receiver Jeremy Maclin hurt his groin on the Chiefs first series and did not return, and tight end Travis Kelce was tossed from the game in the fourth quarter after arguing over a pass interference no-call, then tossing his towel at the official as if it was a flag.As soon as the ref took off his hat (to throw), I knew I was out. Felt like an idiot, he said. It was a terrible decision, but just have to learn from it and keep going.What did Kelce learn from it?I cant throw my flag at the ref, he replied. He can throw his all day long.INJURIESJaguars wide receiver Allen Hurns left early in the second half with an ankle injury. He returned to the game, only to sustain a concussion while trying to make a catch later in the half. ... Jacksonville linebacker Myles Jack left with a hip injury.STATS AND STREAKSThe Chiefs have won three straight against Jacksonville. ... The Jaguars still do not have a touchdown on their opening possession since Week 2 last season, an NFL-long stretch of 22 games. ... Jacksonville has not forced a turnover in four games. ... The Jaguars scored in the first half on the road for the first time this season. Theyve still been outscored 68-7. ... Outside linebacker Dee Ford had both of Kansas Citys sacks, giving him 5 1/2 the past two weeks.LONG TRIP NOWHEREChiefs running back Knile Davis played after re-signing with Kansas City on Saturday. Davis was traded to Green Bay three weeks ago, cut after two games and signed with the New York Jets. He was cut again hours later, allowing him to return to Kansas City. It felt like I was home, he said.UP NEXT: The Jaguars return home to face the Texans on Sunday, while the Chiefs expect to have Alex Smith back when they visit Carolina.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys cheap jerseys Cheap Jersyes Cheap Basketball Jerseys Cheap NHL Jerseys cheap jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '