Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 19 September 12:30 pm

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

# We kick off with Rugby: South Africa’s Aimee Barrett-Theron will take charge of the first Women’s Rugby World Cup semifinal between defending champions New Zealand and Canada at Ashton Gate Stadium in Bristol, England, tonight. This will be the 49th Test in the middle for Barrett-Theron and a record 12th Women’s World Cup match as a referee. New Zealand’s Maggie Cogger-Orr will referee the second semifinal, between France and hosts England, tomorrow. World Rugby Match Officials Committee chairperson, Su Carty, says Barrett-Theron and Cogger-Orr will represent match officials with pride and distinction.

And, in more Rugby news, the Griquas’ starting-15 to face the Lions in tomorrow’s Currie Cup final shows only one change from the squad that beat the Cheetahs in last weekend’s semifinal in Kimberley. Lock Derik Pretorius replaces Malembe Mpofu, who failed his head injury assessment, with Marco de Witt providing cover on the bench. Phumzile Maqondwana is the back-up loose forward. The Lions are regarded as absolute favourites to clinch the title at home in Johannesburg after smashing the Northern Cape team 37-7 in their league match two weeks ago.

# Cricket: South Africa and Pakistan’s women’s teams return to Lahore today for the second one-day match after the Proteas won the first encounter by eight wickets. The hostesses posted a competitive 255 for four, but Marizanne Kapp and Tazmin Brits both scored undefeated centuries to help the visitors easily reach the target. The final ODI will be played on the same field on Monday, whereafter the teams will begin warm-up matches for the one-day World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, starting on the 30th.

# Tennis: It’s semifinal time in the Billie Jean King Cup in China. Defending champion Italy and Ukraine will do battle today after quarterfinal victories over the hostesses and Spain, respectively. Tomorrow the United States will play Great Britain. The US ousted Kazakhstan 2-1 after Emma Navarro beat Yulia Putintseva, and Elena Rybakina tied the score by beating Jessica Pegula, before Pegula and Taylor Townsed overcame Rybakina and Putintseva in the deciding doubles. Britain won both singles matches against Japan. The final will be played on Sunday.

# And, Motorsport: Oscar Piastri says McLaren has “clarified a lot of things” about team orders following the decision to ask him to give up second place to team-mate and title rival Lando Norris at the Italian Formula One Grand Prix. Piastri, who is seeking to become Australia’s first world champion since Alan Jones in 1980, challenged the team’s decision during the Monza race. Speaking ahead of this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix, he said there had been “good discussions” and the team were now “very aligned” on how to progress in the remaining eight races.

Stay tuned for more news………….