MONDAY, 12.30PM:
THE Springbok sevens rugby squad reached the final four of the Hong Kong Sevens tournament, but lost heavily to Western Samoa on trying to reach the finals.
The Boks were trampled 45-7 in a one-sided game, which the strong and mobile Islanders dominated from the start.
The South Africans reached the semi-finals after narrowly beating a gutsy French outfit 24-19, after the two sides were locked on 19-19 at the end of time. Vlok Cilliers scored the match-winning try in extra time.
The South Africans were pleased with their performance after most pundits labelled them no-hopers to reach the last four of the annual Sevens showcase.*
PAKISTAN WIN SERIES
PAKISTAN recovered from losing three middle-order wickets in four overs to beat Zimbabwe by four wickets in the second one-day international cricket match in Harare on Sunday. Replying to Zimbabwe’s 272/4, the tourists notched up 276/6 with five overs to spare. Pakistan win the series 2-0.
BANYANA THUMP SWAZILAND
THE SA national women’s soccer team, Banyana Banyana, walked all over Swaziland with a crushing 9-0 defeat in their World Cup qualifier in Soweto on Sunday. The half-time score was 6-0.
COETZEE CLICHES MEXICAN OPEN
SOUTH African Jeff Coetzee beat Mexican Javier Gutierrez to win the Mexican Open singles title in Culiacan on Sunday. Third-seeded Coetzee had a hard time beating the unseeded Mexican, but came through 6-4 6-7 (7-6) 6-4.
HEYNS OUT OF SA CHAMPS
OLYMPIC double gold medallist and world record holder Penny Heyns has pulled out of the Absa Trust National Swimming Championships, which start in Durban on Wednesday. Heyns is still struggling with her form and has returned to train under her Olympic Games mentor Jan Bidrman.
SYMMO FINED R500
VETERAN South African offspinner Pat Symcox has been fined R500 for using foul language when dismissing a spectator’s request for an autograph during the controversial second test against Pakistan in Durban at the end of February. Symcox’s actions were found to have brought the game of cricket into disrepute.
COLOMBIA GAME CANCELLED
THE warm-up game between Bafana Bafana and Colombia on May 20 at the FNB stadium has been cancelled. The game was called off after the Colombians insisted on playing in their own country. According to the South African Football Association, a match against Zambia will possibly replace the Colombian fixture.
PRETORIUS BACK WITH A TKO
SOUTH African Middleweight champion Giovanni Pretorius seems to be rejuvenated after beating Argentinian Jorge Sclarandi on a second-round technical knockout at the Morula Sun on Sunday. Referee Clement Martin stopped the fight after Pretorius caught the Argentinian with a sledgehammer overarm right to the left eye. After the eye was examined by ringside medical staff, the fight was halted.