Gary Lemke looks back at a jam-packed sporting weekend as the Euro 2024 saw a host of goals in the competition’s opening weekend, while the Proteas advanced to the T20 World Cup Super Eight.
PLENTY GOALS A FEATURE OF EURO (SO FAR)
Germany, Spain and Holland looked the best of the 14 teams who have played so far in the Euro 2024 competition, with their weekend wins catching the eye. There have only been seven games played so far – group matches continue daily until the 26th – but a feature is that there have been goals in all seven so far.
There has been one draw (Slovenia vs Denmark) and only two clean sheets (Spain and England), It very much feels as though the trend that dominated the English Premier League (plenty goals, few 0-0’s) might be worth watching, and punting on, as these Euros unfold. England have eased slightly to 4/1, still favourites, after their 1-0 win over Slovakia.
MCILROY MELTDOWN COSTS HIM DEARLY
Bryson DeChambeau is a US Open golf winner for the second time. Rory McIlroy stays on one. DeChambeau put a tick next to the name of LIV Golf Series Major champions on the PGA Tour. McIlroy hasn’t won a Major in 10 years, DeChambeau last won the US Open in 2020.
Those are the bare facts. They belied the drama of the finish at Pinehurst No2 when McIlroy went from winning, to losing, He bogeyed three of the last four holes, missing putts he would sink 9 times out of 10, and virtually gift-wrapped the Major to DeChambeau. Of course, the American accepted it with both burly arms. That’s the fine margins in sport. Someone wins, someone loses.
BULLS IN THE BOX SEAT FOR FINAL
All roads, and flights, will be heading towards Pretoria for this weekend’s United Rugby Championship final when the Bulls host Glasgow’s Warriors. The Bulls, expectedly, saw off Leinster (25-20), while the Warriors, unexpectedly, overcame Munster 17-10 away.
That means the Scottish club must travel to Loftus for the final. The Bulls will be strong favourites. They finished second on the final log (the Warriors were fourth), they beat the Warriors 40-34 last month and there’s that sign as the players exit the tunnel and run into the field. It reads: “Altitude, 1350m. It matters”.
PROTEAS ONE OF EIGHT STILL STANDING
We’re basically into the Super Eight phase of the T20 World Cup, which has been the polar opposite in terms of the rampant scoring of the IPL. So far only one country (Australia) has managed over 200 (201), while a team has been bowled out 10 times for under 100 – Uganda (39, 40 and 58), Oman (47), Namibia (72), New Zealand (75), Papua New Guinea (77 and 95), Sri Lanka (77) and Ireland (96).
South Africa, who are into the Super Eight stage with USA, West Indies and England, have also had their bowlers to thank, having posted scores that have included, after their 20 overs, 113-6, 115-7, and twice chasing wins, 80-4 and 106-6. The weather hasn’t been great, leading to a few washouts and soggy outfields.
BOXING’S TANK CARRIES ON ROLLING
They call Ring Magazine “The Bible Of Boxing” and their No8-ranked pound-for-pound fighter, Gervonta “Tank” Davis, defended his WBA lightweight title with an impressive eighth-round knockout of Frank Martin in Las Vegas.
It took his record to 30-0 with 28 wins by stoppage. He has his problems outside the ring, but inside of it he is a formidable force. Closer home, at Emperors Palace in Johannesburg, local hope Roarke Knapp suffered an upset third-round knockout to Mexico’s Jorge Garcia Perez for the IBO junior-middleweight title.
ALSO WORTH A CONVERSATION …
South Africa’s women’s Proteas suffered a heavy defeat in their opening ODI encounter against India in Bengaluru. The hosts reached an impressive 265 for 8 in their innings and then bowled out South Africa for 122 …Sunday night brought the closure to qualifying for the Paris Olympics and it is confirmed that Christiaan Bezuidenhout and Erik van Rooyen are the two highest-placed South African men, while the women’s two highest-ranked golfers are Ashleigh Buhai and Paulo Reto …
Champion jockey-elect Richard Fourie extended his number of winners for the season to 343, which is now nine ahead of previous record-holder Anthony Delpech. Fourie’s Hollywoodbets Durban July ride, Future Swing, is at 7-1 with the sponsors … Fabian Hurzeler became the youngest full-time manager of an English Premier League club after Brighton appointed the 31-year-old.
