Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 12 January 12:30 pm

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

# We start off with rugby: The European Professional Club Rugby has awarded Ulster a 28-0 bonus-point victory over the Cheetahs after the cancellation of their Challenge Cup round three clash in the Netherlands yesterday. The fixture was originally scheduled to take place at the NRCA Stadium in Amsterdam in the Netherlands, but adverse winter weather forced organisers to move it to the Duke Rugby Club. That pitch was then deemed unfit for play. EPCR says as the hosts, the responsibility rested with the Cheetahs to ensure the fixture could be fulfilled.

More rugby news is the Harlequins ended the Stormers’ 100-percent record in the Champions Cup this season after scoring nine tries in a 61-10 victory at Twickenham Stoop in London. Nick David scored a hat-trick to help Harlequins book their spot in the last 16 and they will secure a home knockout tie with a bonus-point win over La Rochelle next Sunday. The Stormers, who managed two tries through Imad Khan and Dylan Maart, will hope a victory at home to Leicester Tigers on Saturday will be enough for a home last-16 place.

# Cricket: Durban Super Giants returned to winning ways with a narrow two-wicket victory over Sunrisers Eastern Cape in their SA20 clash in Gqeberha. Captain Tristan Stubbs scored an unbeaten 47 as Sunrisers posted a mediocre 158 for five in their 20 overs. In reply, Marques Ackerman scored 45 to help Super Giants reach the target with three balls to spare. The victory moves the Durban side into fifth place on the table, keeping their playoff chances alive.

# Soccer: The South African Masters and Legends Association is considering fielding former Bafana Bafana captain Lucas Radebe as their candidate for governing body SAFA’s presidency. Danny Jordaan has not confirmed whether he will be contesting for a fourth term. Radebe failed to make the ballot in 2018 and 2022 because SAFA’s constitution requires candidates to be members of the associations’s structures with ten years of regional-level experience. The association says there is a huge appetite for esteemed individuals and former players such as Radebe to rescue SAFA.

# And finally, tennis: Poland defeated Switzerland 2-1 to win the United Cup title for the first time in Sydney. Iga Swiatek lost to Belinda Bencic in the opening match. Hubert Hurkacz, who was playing his first tournament in seven months following knee surgery, levelled the tie for Poland with victory over Stan Wawrinka. In the deciding mixed doubles, Polish pairing Katarzyna Kawa and Jan Zielinski maintained their 100-percent record in the tournament, beating Bencic and Jakub Paul 6-4, 6-3 to clinch the title.

Stay tuned for more news………….