Padraig Harrington became the first native to win the Irish Open in 25 years on Sunday, parring the first extra hole of a play-off to beat Welshman Bradley Dredge. The 35-year-old Dubliner prevailed when Dredge became tangled in heavy rough alongside the 18th fairway beside the River Maigue and ended up in shallow water.
South Africans are bracing themselves for the price of an average home hitting R1-million in 2008 as the property market continues its steady march higher. Tracy French, provincial manager at MortgageSA says looking at the recent trends in house-price data, it is likely that the average price of a home in South Africa will top R1-million in 2008.
Wits beat a determined Orlando Pirates 3-2 in their fast-flowing, final game of the Premier Soccer League season played at Bidvest Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The teams were level at 1-1 at the break. Clever Boys striker Kenwyn Manuel scored in the 14th minute with a rocket-like shot in front of the few supporters who braved the chilly, windy weather.
Kevin Pietersen’s dashing 109 put England in a position to win the first Test against West Indies at Lord’s. At the close of Sunday’s fourth day, the tourists were seven without loss in their second innings, needing a further 394 on Monday’s final day to reach their victory target of 401.
In a season-ending Castle Premier Soccer League match played at Seiso Ramabodu Stadium, Bloemfontein Celtic and Maritzburg United played to a one-all draw in front of a capacity crowd on Sunday afternoon. Home team Celtic led 1-0 at the break.
The trial of two men charged with the murder in April last year of actor Brett Goldin and fashion designer Richard Bloom is scheduled to start in the Cape High Court on Monday. Western Cape Judge President John Hlophe on March 5 postponed the trial to Monday.
Shavaan Marlie (25) and Clinton Davids (23) were each sentenced on Monday to an effective 28 years in prison for the murders last year of actor Brett Goldin and fashion designer Richard Bloom. The men were sentenced in terms of a plea bargain finalised in the Cape High Court.
Israel bombed a Hamas stronghold in the Gaza Strip on Monday in an escalating air campaign and a senior Cabinet minister said all the group’s leaders should be killed to try to end cross-border rocket fire. Israeli aircraft carried out a series of attacks in the territory early on Monday, a day after killing eight Palestinians.
Unidentified gunmen attacked an oil facility in Nigeria operated by France’s Total on Monday using high explosives, sources at private security companies said. It was unclear whether there were any casualties or damage to the facility in the attack. A Total spokesperson was not immediately available for comment.
Former Wallabies’ coach Eddie Jones Monday parted company with Super 14 wooden spooners Queensland Reds by what Queensland Rugby said was ”mutual agreement”. Jones, who was axed as Wallabies coach in late 2005 after a series of poor results, offered his resignation to QRU chairperson Peter Lewis.