Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 15 April 12:30 pm

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

# We start with rugby: The Sharks have named a Springbok-laden touring squad for the next two rounds of the United Rugby Championship in Europe. The Sharks welcome back Eben Etzebeth, Grant Williams, Lukhanyo Am, and Aphelele Fassi from injury. The touring squad, which consists of 16 forwards and 12 backs, is coach John Plumtree’s strongest he has had available to him this season. The Sharks, who are fourth in the URC standings, will take on Edinburgh in Scotland on Friday followed by Ulster in Belfast, Ireland, a week later.

More rugby news: The University of Cape Town’s Ikeys defeated the University of Stellenbosch’s Maties 44-21 in the Varsity Cup final at the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch. Having lost the last two finals, it was third time lucky for UCT, who denied Maties victory in their 150th anniversary year. UCT winger Ntokozo Makhaza won Player that Rocks, after scoring a brace of tries and slotted all his kicks at goal for a personal haul of 32 points. This is UCT’s third Varsity Cup crown overall and first since 2014.

# Cricket: Two teenagers earned their first call-ups to the Proteas Women’s squad for a triangular one-day series in Sri Lanka starting later this month. Seventeen-year-old wicketkeeper Karabo Meso and 19-year-old leg-spinner Seshnie Naidu impressed for the South African under-19 team which reached the final of the Junior World Cup earlier this year. Allrounder Miané Smit was also asked to join the squad for the series against Sri Lanka and India, seen as an important part of preparations for the World Cup starting in India in October.

# Golf: Newly-crowned Masters champion Rory McIlroy praised his caddy after clinching a career major Grand Slam on Sunday, saying he wouldn’t be able to win without his close friend Harry Diamond’s assistance. The two are friends since childhood, and Diamond was McIlroy’s best man at his wedding in 2018. He says the victory is as much Diamond’s as it is his own. Diamond, a former amateur player, stands to win at least ten-percent of McIlroy’s winnings of 79.5-million-rand.

# And finally, motorsport: Red Bull consultant Helmut Marko believes the Formula One team will have to come up with an improved car to keep the services of four-time world champion Max Verstappen. The Dutchman is currently third in the drivers’ championship behind McLaren’s two drivers, Lando Norris from England and Australian Oscar Piastri, after winning just one of the season’s first four races. Marko says Red Bull will have to create a basis with a car so Verstappen can fight for the championship.

Stay tuned for more news………….