Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 8 April 12:30 pm

Good day, let’s look at the latest sports news and scores:

# We start with rugby: The Sharks will host Edinburgh in the quarterfinals of the European Challenge Cup in Durban on Saturday after beating Zebre 47-3 in their round-of-16 clash at Kings Park. John Plumtree’s side scored seven unanswered tries to keep up their hopes of capping a difficult season with some silverware. If they win again this weekend, they will host either France’s Clermont or Ireland’s Ulster in the semifinals.

Meanwhile, Springbok Sevens head coach, Philip Snyman, says he is happy with his side’s improvements in the Hong Kong Sevens. The Blitzboks finished sixth, picking up enough log points to deliver their third-best finish of the season so far and remain in the top eight on the overall log. Snyman says the focus will now shift to prepare for the Grand Final of the reimagined Sevens Series in Madrid at the end of next month:

# Soccer: Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis is optimistic as they prepare for the second leg encounter against Nigeria’s Super Falcons at Loftus Versveld tomorrow. Despite a 1-0 loss in the first leg, Ellis believes the team can turn the tables, citing home advantage. She is sure Banyana can still qualify for the Olympics, joining Spain, Brazil and Japan in Group C:

# Tennis: World number one Novak Djokovic admits his expectations are low heading into the Monte Carlo Masters. Unlike in previous years when he started his year with titles at the Australian Open, Dubai or the Sunshine Double, the Serbian remains without a trophy so far this year. The two-time champion in Monte Carlo hopes he can play better, having not advanced beyond the quarterfinals in seven appearances since 2015:

# And, Olympic Games: Eight-times world climbing champion Janja Garnbret is looking to win another gold medal in Paris this year, just like she did in Tokyo in 2021 when the sport made its debut in the Games. The 25-year-old Slovenian ‘spider woman’ told AFP as a child she climbed doors, closets and trees before starting to win climbing competitions. An illustrated children’s book about her life should be out later this year. She will compete in the lead and bouldering discipline, that was split off from speed climbing.

Stay tuned for more news………….