Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 15 June 12:30 pm

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

# We begin with rugby: Stormers lock Adré Smith has been called up to the Springbok training squad in Johannesburg. With over 50 caps for the Stormers, he is the latest player to join the expanded squad after his provincial teammate Ruben van Heerden joined the group last week. This is in preparation for the match against the Barbarians and the SA ‘A’ team’s match against Zimbabwe in Gqeberha on Saturday. Bok coach Rassie Erasmus and SA ‘A’ team coach Mzwandile Stick will announce their matchday squads tomorrow.

# Soccer: Four-time champions Germany got their World Cup campaign off to a winning start, beating debutants Curacao 7-1 in Houston. Six different players were on the scoresheet, with Kai Havertz netting two goals. Manchester United winger Amad Diallo scored a 90th-minute winner as Ivory Coast beat Ecuador 1-0 in Philadelphia. Liverpool forward Alexander Isak starred in his first World Cup appearance, leading Sweden to a 5-1 victory over Tunisia in Monterrey, scoring one goal and providing two assists. The Netherlands played to a 2-2 draw against Japan in Dallas.

# Golf: Zimbabwean Stuart Krog won the Mopani Zambia Open by a single shot at the Nkana Golf Club, his maiden Sunshine Tour title. He closed with a 66 to finish on five under par, one shot clear of South African Jason Roets, who ended with 75. South Africans Haydn Porteus and Keagan Thomas finished joint third on three under par. Krog says this is a special moment in his career:

# Motorsport: Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton claimed his maiden victory for Ferrari, winning the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix. This was his first victory since the Belgian Grand Prix in July 2024, when he was still driving for Mercedes, and his 106th career F1 win. George Russell for Mercedes finished second with McLaren’s Lando Norris in third for a first all-British podium since 1968. World championship leader Kimi Antonelli was forced to retire late in the race with car issues. Antonelli leads by 41 points from Hamilton after seven races.

# And lastly tennis: Croatia’s Donna Vekic ended a two-year title drought by winning at Queen’s in London. The 29-year-old defeated home favourite Emma Raducanu. The former US champion was aiming to become the first British woman to win at Queen’s since Ann Jones in 1969. With the victory, Vekic has become the sixth lucky loser, and the first since 2023, to win a WTA title. In Germany, American Ben Shelton won the Stuttgart Open by beating compatriot and defending champion Taylor Fritz.

Stay tuned for more news………….