Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 23 June 12:30 pm

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

# We start with rugby: The Springbok Sevens ‘A’ team is the Rugby Africa Sevens champion following a commanding 26-12 victory against Madagascar in the final in Mauritius. South Africa swept Pool B with convincing victories over Burkina Faso, Zambia, and Nigeria. In the quarterfinals, they thrashed defending champions Uganda 26-0, before a hard-fought 19-12 win over Zimbabwe to book their place in the final. Blitzbok coach Philip Snyman says he is happy with the way the players applied themselves and executed their duties:

More rugby: All Blacks coach Scott Robertson has named five debutants in his 33-man squad for next month’s three home Tests against France, while Scott Barrett returns as captain. The uncapped players are Brodie McAlister, Ollie Norris, Fabian Holland, Du’Plessis Kirifi, and Timoci Tavatavanawai. Samisoni Taukei’aho and Quinn Tupaea, who have not featured for New Zealand since 2023 and ’22, respectively, are back in the squad. Robertson says they had to balance continuity and opportunity:

# Cricket: The West Indies Women beat South Africa by six wickets to level the three-match T20 series one-all in Barbados. Spinners Afy Fletcher and Karishma Ramharack took two wickets each as South Africa were restricted to 113 for six in their 20 overs. In reply, captain Hayley Matthews scored an unbeaten 63 off 56 balls, as the West Indies reached the target in the final over. The series decider will be played this evening.

# Tennis: World number two Carlos Alcaraz defeated big-hitting Czech Jiri Lehecka to clinch a second Queen’s Club title in London. The 22-year-old Spaniard won 7-5, 6-7, 6-2, to earn his fifth title of the season and his 21st career title. Meanwhile, in Germany, Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik beat Russia’s Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 7-6, to win the Halle Open for the second time. The 27-year-old Bublik is just the fourth player in the 32-year history of the tournament to claim the title more than once.

# And finally, motorsport: MotoGP championship leader Marc Márquez of Ducati continued his bid for a seventh world title by winning the Italian Grand Prix, his 93rd career victory across all classes. His brother, Alex of Gresini Racing, finished second with VR46 Racing’s Fabio Di Giannantonio in third. South Africa’s Brad Binder finished ninth for KTM Factory Racing. Márquez, who now has a 40-point lead at the top of the championship, says it’s special to win at Mugello for the first time since 2014:

Stay tuned for more news………….