Sport – Page 6 – praag.org

Soccer: Italy’s coach critical of Balotelli after win against Mexico

Andrea Pirlo celebrates scoring the opening goal for Italy against Mexico yesterday

Italy coach Cesare Prandelli tore a strip off tearaway striker Mario Balotelli despite the controversial star grabbing the winner in the 2-1 Confederations Cup victory over Mexico at the Maracana.

Balotelli sealed the win 12 minutes from time with a fine, muscular finish, but Prandelli was furious after the Milan striker was booked for stripping off his shirt in celebration.

“Mario needs to stop taking his shirt off after scoring a goal. Picking up silly bookings is not a good idea in a tournament as difficult as this one,” said Prandelli, having already castigated Balotelli for his sending off in the recent World Cup qualifier against the Czech Republic.

But as regards the performance, sparked by a sumptuous opening free-kick goal from evergreen cap centurion Andrea Pirlo, Prandelli pronounced himself satisfied with the Italians having shrugged off a limp warm-up draw against Haiti.

“It was a very tactical match but we dominated it for the most part. Mexico were trying to get into it on the counter-attack when we made mistakes. But we stopped them from finding their game and dictating the place. That’s what we tried to do and we managed it,” said Prandelli.

“Mexico came up against a very solid Italian team.”

Italy now head for Recife in the north to meet a Japan side beaten by Brazil in their opening game and coached by fellow Italian Alberto Zaccheroni as they look to keep pace with the Brazilians before their final pool showdown.

“He (Zaccheroni) knows us well and how we do things,” said Prandelli. “I know Alberto and we will have to be alert to anything. We are already concentrating on that next match.”

Mexico coach Jose Manuel de la Torre said Italy had to thank their “individual” moments of brilliance for their win.

“That was what made the difference,” said de la Torre in noting the majestic showing and free-kick finish of Pirlo.

“We came up against a very well-organised team with very good players, but it was their individual brilliance which proved the difference between us.

“We have a few things we need to work on and now we will focus on the next match against Brazil,” in Fortaleza, de la Torre concluded. – AFP

Soccer: Spain off to flying start against Uruguay

Spain's Pedro Rodriguez in a happy mood after Spain took the lead yesterday — Spain’s Pedro Rodriguez in a happy mood after Spain took the lead yesterday

World champions Spain got their Confederations Cup campaign off to a winning start on Sunday with a 2-1 win over South American champions Uruguay in the northern Brazilian city of Recife.

The Spaniards dominated throughout but after Pedro Rodriguez’s deflected opener had cause to be grateful to Roberto Soldado’s 32nd-minute clincher as Luis Suarez netted a late freekick for the Uruguayans.

Although the Uruguayans came closer to pinching a point than they deserved, Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque was exultant afterwards as his side laid the foundation for reaching the last four from a group also containing Uruguay and minnows Tahiti.

“These are three magnificent points which stand us in great stead when it comes to reaching the semi-finals,” said Del Bosque.

“It was a great match played out in conditions which sapped the players’ strength,” he added, referring to the warm, humid weather.

“We dominated almost the whole match but the margin was a slim one in the event. At 2-0 we thought we had it won already and we stepped off the gas a little.”

Uruguay counterpart Oscar Tabarez said: “Spain were superior and they deserved to win – we lacked a bit of discipline. In the second half it was a little more balanced as we dug deep to play for our pride.”

Cesc Fabregas came within the width of a post from giving Spain the lead in the 10th minute with a low strike before the favourites made the breakthrough after just 20 minutes — Lady Luck smiling on them as Diego Lugano deflected home Pedro’s shot to bamboozle keeper Fernando Muslera.

As is their habit, Spain were giving the Uruguayans almost no chance to touch the ball in the opening quarter and Xavi almost made it two when he sent a freekick whizzing just off target after 26 minutes.

Without the ball, Uruguay grew frustrated and resorted to some strong-arm tactics as first Edinson Cavani earned a booking for clattering into Sergio Ramos as they challenged for a header.

Ramos responded by shoving Gaston Ramirez before Uruguayan Cristian Rodriguez caught Jordi Alba with his elbow.

Suarez, in the news for intimating he would be partial to a move from Liverpool to Real Madrid, tried to rally the Celeste, who qualified for this event by winning the 2011 Copa America in Argentina, finding Cavani with a freekick, but the latter’s header was too close to Iker Casillas.

Del Bosque elected to keep faith with his veteran keeper despite Casillas missing a chunk of the second half of the season with a hand injury –once he had recovered the then Real coach Jose Mourinho left him on the bench.

After 32 minutes it was 2-0 courtesy of beautiful vision from Fabregas, who shimmied away from two defenders, then played in Soldado, who took one touch before drilling the ball into the roof of the net.

Uruguay made a change at the break with Ramirez giving way to Alvaro Gonzalez but Spain were still on fire as Xavi and Iniesta interlinked brilliantly before Xavi’s flick fed Pedro and his cross just eluded the diving Soldado.

Pedro then mishit an effort wide after a neat Fabregas through ball sent Alba into space.

With 20 minutes left Uruguay sent on veteran striker Diego Forlan for Diego Perez.

That sparked a revival of sorts for the South Americans and Suarez drove home a curling freekick with two minutes remaining to give the scoreline a more respectable look and also join Forlan as his country’s joint all-time scorer on 33 goals.

Spain came to the event having already become the only team in history to win three major events on the bounce – the 2010 World Cup sandwiched by Euro 2008 and 2012.

A win in this dress rehearsal for next year’s World Cup finals in Brazil would see the Spanish join Argentina and France as the only countries to win the trio of World Cup, the Olympics and the Confederations Cup. – AFP

Sergio Garcia still heckled over ‘racist’ fried chicken remark

garcia_swing — Sergio Garcia on the golf course

Sergio Garcia struggled with hecklers and poor shotmaking on Thursday at the US Open, opening with a three-over par 73 and being chided by some spectators over a racism row involving Tiger Woods.

After Garcia’s comment last month that he would serve Woods “fried chicken” should they dine together, considered an insult by African-Americans, the Spaniard was taunted by a few spectators.

One clucked like a chicken when Garcia was near. Another yelled the Spanish words for fried chicken. Yet another was the lone boo during polite applause as Garcia was introduced ahead of his opening tee shot.

“There were a couple here and there, but I felt the people were very nice for the whole day,” Garcia said. “I think that almost all of them were behind me and that was nice to see.”

Garcia’s troubled round, getting himself into trouble and trying to get out, proved an apt metaphor for his off-the-course issues with Woods.

The 33-year-old Spaniard, still seeking his first major title, fired a double-bogey 6 at the 14th hole and a quadruple-bogey 8 at the 15th, but played the rest of Merion in three-under par, including an eagle at the par-5 second.

“Unfortunately two really bad holes, but that’s the way it is,” Garcia said. “The US Open doesn’t give you much room. At 14, I slipped and obviously out of bounds and then I hit a bad tee shot on the next and went out of bounds.

“I guess I was just making my week a little bit tougher, but I tried to battle as much as I could coming in and I was able to shoot a decent score after being 7-over through eight.”

Garcia responded with a birdie at the first, then eagled, and after a bogey at the par-5 fourth answered with birdies at the eighth and 10th, the latter being his last hole of the day due to Merion’s unorthodox layout.

“I was able to make a nice recovery, I guess, so that was nice, but obviously I put myself in a tough situation,” Garcia said of his round.

It was Garcia’s first round in a major since his comment last month before the BMW PGA Championship when Garcia attempted a joke over what to serve Woods, saying, “We will have him round every night. We will serve fried chicken.”

The fried chicken remark sparked a racism furore much the same way that Fuzzy Zoeller had in 1997 when he suggested Woods serve fried chicken at a Masters champions dinner.

Garcia has apologized publically for the mistake and left an apologetic note for Woods in the locker at the US Open after exchanging a brief handshake on the practice range Monday at Merion.

World number one Woods had tweeted in response to the “fried chicken” remarks: “The comment that was made wasn’t silly. It was wrong, hurtful and clearly inappropriate … it’s long past time to move on and talk about golf.” -AFP

Sergio Garcia gets booed for ‘racism’ after ‘chicken’ jibe to Tiger Woods

Sergio Garcia received a warm welcome from US Open spectators on Thursday despite his recent racist remark toward Tiger Woods, but US star Phil Mickelson was the clear fan favorite.

Philadelphia sports fans have a reputation for toughness across the United States, notoriously having booed Santa Claus at an American football game, and their reaction to the Spaniard after his “fried chicken” remark was uncertain.

But when Garcia was introduced to start his opening round at Merion in the 113th US Open, there was only one lone, loud, clear boo to be heard amid polite applause from hundreds of spectators.

Garcia arrived at the 11th tee, used as a starting spot due to course logistics at the 6,996-yard layout, alongside 2009 British Open winner Stewart Cink, both men greeted warmly ahead of a 7:44 a.m. start.

Ireland’s Padraig Harrington received a louder ovation upon his arrival and Garcia quietly made some final practice swings, two policemen behind nearby pine trees to the right of the tee a noticable sign of extra security.

After the trio teed off and began walking down the first fairway, the fans yelled some words of encouragement to Garica, “Go Sergio” and “Go get ’em Sergio.”

The 11th tee area, which features a large rock with the plaque honoring Bobby Jones for his 1930 US Amateur victory that completed a sweep of that year’s US and British Opens and Amateurs, also saw the crowd produce yells of “Kooch” for Matt Kuchar and “Oooost” for South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen.

A simmering dispute between Woods and Garcia took a cruder tone last month before the BMW PGA Championship when Garcia attempted a joke about what he might serve Woods should they have dinner together.

“We will have him round every night. We will serve fried chicken,” Garcia said.

The reference to fried chicken, seen as an insult to African-Americans, sparked a racism furore much the same way that Fuzzy Zoeller had in 1997 when he suggested Woods serve fried chicken at a Masters champions dinner.

Garcia has apologized publically for the mistake and left an apologetic note for Woods in the locker at the US Open after exchanging a brief handshake on the practice range Monday at Merion.

Woods, scheduled to begin his quest for a record-tying fourth US Open title and 15th major crown in the afternoon, said again on Tuesday that it was time to move on and put the comment in the past.

Hundreds were waiting in line for the grandstand at the 11th tee to open at 7 in the morning for the first group were wondering if Mickelson, a five-time US Open runner-up, would arrive on time.

Mickelson flew home Monday to Southern California to attend his daughter Amanda’s eighth-grade graduation ceremony and caught an overnight flight across the nation back to Merion in time to make it to the tee for his 7:11 start.

“Your week Phil” and “You made it” were among the yells of encouragement for the black-clad US left-hander who turns 43 on Sunday under overcast skies. – AFP

Italian soccer fans sentenced for ‘racism’

kevin-prince_boateng5 — AC Milan's Kevin-Prince Boateng

Six fans of lower-division club Pro Patria have been issued jail sentences from 40 days to two months for inciting racial hatred during a January friendly against AC Milan.

After repeated racist chants directed at him during the match, Milan and Ghana midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng kicked the ball in anger at a section of the crowd, took off his shirt and walked off the pitch with the rest of the Rossoneri.

Milan players Urby Emanuelson, Sulley Muntari and M’Baye Niang were also targeted by the chants.

Prosecutors had requested four- to six-month sentences.

The ANSA news agency reports that one fan received a 40-day sentence after collaborating with authorities, while the other five fans received two-month sentences.

The fans were also fined a total of ?10,000 ($13,000), plus trial expenses. – AFP

FIFA to discuss ‘concrete proposals’ to fight racism

FIFA is to discuss “concrete proposals” for combating racism over the next few months and plans to put them into effect in May, soccer’s governing body said on Friday.

The proposals will be chewed over by FIFA’s executive committee at its next meeting in March and then presented to the annual Congress in Mauritius in May which is expected to have the final say, FIFA said.

“I am very pleased with the ideas that have evolved today and look forward to the deliberations with the executive committee next month,” said FIFA president Sepp Blatter following a meeting of the strategic committee.

“The aim is to present to the FIFA Congress in Mauritius in May concrete actions, as well as strong sanctions which will really have an impact.”

FIFA did not elaborate on what the proposals were.

Blatter has previously suggested that points deductions and even relegation could be used as sanctions for teams whose supporters are found guilty of racist behaviour.

Bulgaria, whose fans racially insulted a Danish player, and Hungary, whose fans were found guilty of anti-Semitic behaviour during a friendly at home to Israel, were recently ordered to play their next home World Cup qualifiers behind closed doors.

Italian authorities have drawn up plans for stopping games in cases of racism. Referees and the fourth official have been told to report incidents to public security officials who would have the final say. – Reuters

Boer mystique? Paul Kruger wins US Super Bowl for Baltimore Ravens

With a name like Paul Kruger, the same as that of the famous Boer president, any football player is bound to make history. In a close match between the Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers, Kruger swung the game in the Ravens’ favour, giving them a three-point win in America’s most important sporting competition.

Kruger hails, not from the Transvaal, but from Utah. Both of the former University of Utah star’s sacks came on third-down plays, forcing the 49ers to settle for field goals in Baltimore’s 34-31 victory in Sunday’s Super Bowl XLVII at the Superdome.

After lining up on the left side, Kruger quickly blasted his way into the backfield and took down Kaepernick for a 10-yard sack on a play that started at the Baltimore 8-yard line on San Francisco’s second drive. He celebrated by swinging his arms, pretending to conduct an orchestra.

“That’s just what came to mind,” he said.

On the final possession of the first half, the 49ers reached the Baltimore 9 before Kaepernick rolled to his right and had to duck under Kruger, who officially was credited with a sack for no gain.

Former Utah defensive lineman Manny Fernandez recorded a total of three sacks in three Super Bowls for Miami in the 1970s, leaving Kruger something to shoot for in his next appearance. That may or may not come with Baltimore, as he’s becoming a free agent following his fourth NFL season. Kruger recorded 4.5 sacks in four playoff games and 13.5 sacks in 20 games, counting the regular season.

“We had to fight for everything we got,” Kruger said. “Nothing was given to us, and we played in so many tough games like that.”

Kruger, a quarterback at Timpanogos High School, and defensive lineman Haloti Ngata of Highland became the first pair of former Utah prep athletes to team up for a Super Bowl winner. Ngata made two tackles before spraining his knee in the third quarter and spending the rest of the game in the locker room.

“I’m just happy that they were able to finish off without me out there,” Ngata said.

Counting a loss for East’s Will Tukuafu, a 49ers defensive lineman, Utah preps now have a collective 6-20 record in Super Bowls.

South Africa’s Giniel de Villiers placed second in Dakar Rally

de_villiers_giniel — Giniel de Villies,during his 2009 win in the Dakar Rally

Frenchmen Stephane Peterhansel and Cyril Despres, both hoping to retain their titles in the Dakar Rally, stayed on top of the standings after Thursday’s 12th stage.

Peterhansel kept his commanding lead in the car category, 50 minutes, 21 seconds ahead of Giniel de Villiers of South Africa and 1:31:06 in front of Joan Roma of Spain. Roma won the stage with American Robby Gordon 4:18 behind in second. With no need to push it, Peterhansel finished in sixth place.

With two stages remaining, followed by the podium presentation on Sunday in the Chilean capital Santiago, Peterhansel knows anything can happen.

“Yes, for sure we can smell victory, but I can remember two times when I have lost the Dakar just on the last day, so we know that anything can happen,” Peterhansel said. “I could make a mistake, we could have some technical problems. So, there are still two days left.”

In bikes, Despres was 5:39 ahead of KTM teammate Ruben Faria of Portugal in the standings. Chile’s Francisco Lopez trails by 13:40. Frans Verhoeven of the Netherlands won the stage, 1:38 ahead of Faria.

“There are still two days left to race and, on the Dakar, you can be smiling one day and then unfortunate the next day. … So I’m saving my smile for when we reach the end of the rally,” he said. “For the moment, it’s going fine.”

Tennis player Caroline Wozniacki accused of ‘racist’ impersonation

Caroline Wozniacki has been accused of doing a ‘racist’ impersonation of fellow tennis player Serena Williams after stuffing her bra and shorts.

At a recent exhibition against Maria Sharapova in Brazil, the former world No. 1 stuffed courtside towels down her kit to replicate the body of the curvaceous Grand Slam champion.

But now the 22-year-old Dane, whose boyfriend golfer Rory McIlroy was in the crowd, has now been accused of racism by some observers.

On Tumblr, one blogger wrote: ‘This isn’t “harmless fun” as one article described it. its racist. out and outright racism. mocking and making fun of the bodies of black women for a laugh? real funny, stupid white girl. real real funny.’

Another blogger pointed out: ‘It may have been done in “jest,” but I love how people can can turn a black woman’s body and sexuality into a caricature. However, we should not have the autonomy to celebrate any successes of our own.

While on feministing.com, an article read: ‘Given the history and current-day context of racialized standards of beauty, and the hypersexualization of people of color, when a white woman makes fun of a black women’s body, especially in a way that hypersexualizes her and draws on the stereotype of black women’s big butts, it’s racist.’ – mailonline.com

Rugby player parts with testicle

British rugby league player Paul Wood has lost a testicle after a collision during the English sport’s showpiece final at Manchester’s Old Trafford stadium on Saturday.

Wood was playing for the Warrington Wolves against Leeds Rhinos in the Super League Grand Final.

The prop sustained the injury one minute into the second half, but managed to play the rest of the match before seeking treatment.

Despite Wood’s determined effort, Warrington lost the match 26-18 to 2011 champions Leeds.

Just coming out the hospital to go home… Seriously feel like I’ve left something?
Paul Wood

“Ruptured my right testicle, got a knee one minute into the second half, had to have it removed,” tweeted the 30-year-old father of two. – CNN

Showing his sense of humor remained intact, he later tweeted: “Just coming out the hospital to go home… Seriously feel like I’ve left something?

“Tony Smith (Warrington coach) did say in his pre-match team talk last night ‘your balls are on the line here guys!’ I didn’t think he meant literally.”

Rugby League is similar to Rugby Union, although each team has 13 players rather than 15.

In addition to being played in Britain, the sport is also popular is Australia and New Zealand.

Major 8 cricket teams head into Twenty20 play-off

There were no jitters for the big teams in the first round of the World Twenty20 as all eight of them cruised into the Super Eights starting from Thursday.

Afghanistan, Ireland, Zimbabwe and Bangladesh failed to spring a surprise before bowing out in the group stage.

With the Super Eights split into two groups, Group 2 looks marginally more challenging, with South Africa, Australia and former champions India and Pakistan in the chase for semifinal berths.

Host Sri Lanka takes on New Zealand on Thursday in Group 1, which includes defending champion England and West Indies, who meet in a double-header at Pallekele International Stadium.

All four Group 2 teams won their first-round matches while West Indies is the only team to progress without a victory, doing so on superior run-rate after its matches against Australia (loss) and Ireland (abandoned) were affected by rain.

The three subcontinent teams – India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka – will be relying heavily on their spinners.

Sri Lanka finger spinner Ajantha Mendis broke his own world record with staggering figures of 6-8 against Zimbabwe.

Offspinner Harbhajan Singh returned after a year out with an impressive four-wicket haul against England as India shot out the defending champ for only 80 after posting 170-4.

Pakistan offspinner Saeed Ajmal also took four wickets against New Zealand and denied the Black Caps a victory with two wickets in the last over.

The Asian teams’ pacemen struggled to curtail the flow of runs, but there was no such headache for South Africa, New Zealand and England.

South Africa’s Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel bowled with lot of verve and Sri Lanka lost its rain-curtailed seven-overs-a-side match against the Proteas by 32 runs.

New Zealand’s Kyle Mills and Tim Southee knocked over Bangladesh’s top order with six wickets between them after Brendon McCullum smashed a best-ever T20 innings of 123 off 72 balls.

New Zealand has the advantage of knowing the conditions well at Pallekele as it played both of its first-round matches there.

Kiwis skipper Ross Taylor hoped his batsmen will also show as much aggression against the Sri Lanka spinners as they did against Bangladesh.

“The main message is to be aggressive and not let them settle,” Taylor said. “The two games that we’ve had against Pakistan and Bangladesh, there was one short boundary and one big boundary … if there is a short boundary then we need to attack that.”

A host team has yet to win the World Twenty20, but Sri Lanka hopes to end that jinx thanks to Mendis, Lasith Malinga, captain Mahela Jayawardene, Tillakaratne Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara.

Mendis missed the rain-shortened game against South Africa due to a side strain during his record-breaking performance against Zimbabwe. Coach Graham Ford said it would be a setback if Mendis could not recover for Thursday’s match.

“With the way he bowled and the x-factor he brings, it would be a big blow,” Ford said. “In T20 cricket you want guys who can win matches on their own and he’s one of those guys.”

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Led by Luke Wright’s brilliant 99, England’s top order flourished against the mediocre bowling attack of Afghanistan before it hit rock bottom against Indian spinners at Colombo.

There will be no letup for them in the Super Eights, where they will face the likes of Mendis and West Indies’ offspinner Sunil Narine.

“I think it’s important for the batsmen to get back into the nets and feel hitting the ball again. It’s all a state of mind, getting yourself back into a positive frame,” England captain Stuart Broad said.

West Indies’ batting reputation precedes it, so much of its hopes rest on Narine helping to restrict opponents.

“Sunil is our trump card, he has done well for us in this format and hopefully he could have a big impact on the English batting lineup,” captain Darren Sammy said. “We definitely look to bowl spin against them, but we have quality seam bowlers up front in Fidel (Edwards) and (Ravi) Rampaul.”

Pakistan has problems with its pacemen, but its top order batsmen all have showed decent form, with Imran Nazir smashing 72 against Bangladesh and Nasir Jamshed scoring 56 against New Zealand. Captain Mohammad Hafeez also played useful knocks of 43 and 45.

Pakistan struggles when chasing a target. Although it successfully chased down 176 on Tuesday against Bangladesh for the loss of only two wickets, the competition is much stronger from here on.

“In the pace bowling department there’s probably a bit of an issue with the implementation of the basics,” Hafeez said. “Mohammad Akram (the bowling coach) is working hard at this, but sometimes things just don’t work out.” – Sapa/AP

‘Racism’ ends Terry’s international career

Former England Football captain John Terry has called time on his international career. He informed ‘Three Lions’ boss Roy Hodgson of his decision in a telephone call on Sunday evening.

The 31 year old faces a Football Association disciplinary hearing charged with using racist language against Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand on Monday.

Terry was cleared of racially abusing Ferdinand in court in July and says the FA’s decision to pursue charges against him makes his position “untenable”.

Terry made his England debut in 2003 against Serbia and Montenegro and was initially made captain in 2006. He was one of the team’s star performers during recent years, but the end of his international career was mired in controversy.

“I would like to thank the England managers who have selected me for my 78 caps,” Terry said. “I have had great pleasure in sharing that honor with all the players that I’ve played with.”

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“I would like to thank them, the fans and my family for their support and encouragement during my international career. Representing and captaining my country is what I dreamed of as a boy and it has been a truly great honor,” he added.

Heavyweight world champion Vitali Klitschko pays tribute to Corrie Sanders

Heavyweight world champion Vitali Klitschko has paid tribute to South African boxer Corrie Sanders who died Sunday after being shot in an armed robbery.

“Corrie Sanders was the most difficult opponent I ever fought,” the 41-year-old World Boxing Council (WBC) champion told Germany’s Sport Bild Plus.

Sanders beat Vitali’s younger brother, Wladimir, by technical knock-out in Hanover, Germany in 2003 when he stopped the Ukrainian in the second round in a major upset to win the WBO heavyweight title.

He fought Vitali Klitschko a year later in Los Angeles for the vacant WBC heavyweight title, but lost by a technical knock-out in the eighth round.

“Corrie was fast, could give and take a punch. His style was very dangerous and did not suit me. I was very pleased to be able to win this fight,” Vitali Klitschko said.

The Klitschko brothers expressed condolences on their Facebook page Sunday after hearing of Sanders’ death.

“We were shocked to learn of the sudden death of Corrie Sanders and we want to express our sincere condolences to his family,” they said.

“We will remember Corrie as a great person both inside and outside the ring. He was a great fighter with a big heart who always positively represented the sport of boxing.”

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Sanders, 46, was shot in the stomach and hand while attending a family celebration at a restaurant at Brit near Pretoria on Saturday evening. He was taken to hospital where he died early Sunday.

South African news reports Monday said Sanders had been at his nephew Michael’s 21st birthday party at the Thatch Haven Restaurant when four armed men stormed in randomly shooting.

According to SAPA news agency, the former boxing champion was at the entrance to the venue, making his way to the buffet, when the shooting started.

Eyewitnesses said Sanders had told his daughter Marinic, 15, to get down and play dead and was covering his daughter when he was shot.

Police brigadier Thulani Ngubane told South African news media a search was continuing for the gunmen in a murder inquiry. – Sapa

Former world-champion boxer Corrie Sanders refused medical treatment in South Africa

Blue Bulls win at last against Cheetahs

The Blue Bulls broke their three-week losing streak with a clinical performance to trounce the Free State Cheetahs 34-30 in Pretoria on Saturday.

While the Bulls had underperformed in previous weeks, things seemed to click for the hosts as they dominated every aspect of play to shut the Cheetahs out.

The victory kept the Bulls in the running to secure a place in the playoffs, lifting them off the bottom rung of the Currie Cup ladder, while the Cheetahs dropped down to the bottom of the log.

Bulls flyhalf Louis Fouche opened the scoring with a penalty conversion in the fourth minute while Cheetahs winger Nico Scheepers returned the favour four minutes later.

The Pretoria side got over the whitewash in the 12th minute when eighthman Arno Botha pierced the Cheetahs’ defensive line.

The talented loose forward calmly offloaded to a speeding Sampie Mastriet, who scored in the corner, with Fouche missing the conversion kick.

Scheepers closed the gap once again with a successful shot at goal in the 17th minute to take the scores to 8-6.

Fouche then stepped up to the plate to slot over a monstrous attempt at goal from deep inside his own half.

He succeeded with two more penalty conversions to extend the Bulls’ lead to 11 points with eight minutes left in the opening period.

The Cheetahs then added another three points on the half-time whistle with Scheepers converting a penalty to reduce the home side’s advantage.

After the break, Fouche converted another penalty conversion to regain their 18-point lead.

The Cheetahs, however, refused to bow down as they hit back with two tries within the space of 10 minutes.

The visiting attack found a new spark as Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske sent Sias Ebersohn on to replace Tewis de Bruyn at flyhalf.

It was, however, exciting backline player Raymond Rhule who was rewarded in the 53rd minute for an all-round sterling performance on the night, with Scheepers converting.

Midway through the second half the Cheetahs once again found a gap in the Bulls’ defence with Scheepers scoring in the right hand corner and converting his own try.

The closing minutes were filled with drama with the Bulls defending a four-point lead.

The hosts, however, took the game out of the Cheetahs’ reach as replacement loose forward CJ Stander added his name to the try scoring sheet with four minutes remaining in the encounter.

The Free Staters had the last say of the match as prop Marcel van der Merwe scored the final try with a minute left on the clock.

Scorers: Bulls 34 (17): Tries: Sampie Mastriet, Franco Mostert, CJ Stander. Conversions: Louis Fouche (2). Penalties: Fouche (5).

Free State Cheetahs 30 (9): Tries: Raymond Rhule, Nico Scheepers, Marcel van der Merwe. Conversions: Scheepers (3). Penalties: Scheepers (3).- Sapa