Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 20 May 12:30 pm

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

# We start with rugby: The Lions will probably be without two stalwarts, Springbok scrumhalf Morné van der Berg and flanker Ruan Venter, for next weekend’s United Rugby Championship quarterfinal against Leinster in Ireland. Both returned home already, while the rest of the squad remained in Ireland after this past weekend’s final group match against Munster. The Johannesburg team is also worried over the fitness of captain Francke Horn and centre Henco van Wyk, but coach Ivan van Rooyen believes both could recover in time for the Leinster clash.

Meanwhile, fans can still vote for their URC try of the year, with four South African players being nominated. They are the Bulls’ players, Springbok flyhalf Handré Pollard for the match against Scarlets, and Junior Springbok wing, Cheswill Jooste, for his five-pointer against Munster; Wandisile Simelane of the Stormers for the match against Ospreys, and the Lions’ Nico Steyn for the encounter with the Bulls. The Stormers’ Bok player, Deon Fourie, won the award last year. The winner will be announced early next month.

# Soccer: Arsenal had been crowned Premier League champion for the first time in 22 years. The Gunners’ long wait for the title ended after Manchester City drew 1-all against Bournemouth last night, leaving City four points adrift of Mikel Arteta’s side. Arsenal’s success follows three consecutive seasons in which they finished as runners-up. Arteta becomes the first former Premier League player to win the trophy as a manager. Arsenal will be presented with the trophy after their final game of the season at Crystal Palace on Sunday.

# Cricket: Rajasthan Royals boosted their chances of reaching the Indian Premier League play-offs when they defeated Lucknow Super Giants by seven wickets. Mitchell Marsh scored 96 off 57 balls as he helped steer Super Giants to 220 for five. Fifteen-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi then struck 93 off 38 balls and shared a 75-run opening stand with captain Yashasvi Jaiswal to lead Rajasthan to victory in 19.1 overs. This lifted them into fourth place with one round of matches to go.

# And tennis: World number two Carlos Alcaraz has withdrawn from Wimbledon as he continues to recover from a wrist injury, which has also forced him out of the French Open where he is the defending champion. The Spaniard has not played since withdrawing from the Barcelona Open last month. The 23-year-old ⁠seven-time Grand Slam champion says his recovery is going well, but he is still not ready to compete. Alcaraz became the youngest man to complete the career Grand Slam when ‌he ‌won the Australian Open this year.

Stay tuned for more news………….