The Star Online: Sports
The Star Online: Sports |
- Golf: Stenson takes lead in SA Open second round
- Yachting: Sail around the world on your sofa
- Rugby: Samoa shock Wales in Cardiff
| Golf: Stenson takes lead in SA Open second round Posted: 16 Nov 2012 06:55 PM PST EKURHULENI, South Africa: It was a Swedish affair at the SA Open at the 72-par Serengeti Golf and Wildlife Estate on Friday with Henrik Stenson leading as lightning interrupted play early. His countryman Magnus A Carlsson finished second with an unconfirmed nine-under-par 135 and is tied with Thursday's leader Merrick Bremner from South Africa, currently nine under par having played 32 holes. Former world number four Stenson was pleased after sinking three consecutive birdies from holes 15 to 17, having teed off on the 10th. "I made a little bit of a trembling start. I made five pars - nothing great the first couple of holes," he said. "That kind of jump started my day, those three birdies," he added. Still recovering from jet lag after his airplane only arrived in South Africa on Tuesday, he nevertheless birdied two more on the first and third to have five-under par after 12 holes. "I went to bed at midnight last night, and woke up at 1:40 am (2340 GMT), so I guess the body thought it was a bit of an afternoon kip," he laughed. "I slept another couple of hours, so I don't know what time of day it is, really." The Swede has used drivers effectively, a new tactic in his play this year. "I've hit some really good tee balls, and on this course, if you can fly it 280 or 290 metres, then you can take a lot of bunkers out of play and end up going in with a gap wedge instead of a seven-iron. It's a huge advantage - there are probably seven or eight holes where it makes a difference." Charl Schwartzel, 2011 Masters Champion, meanwhile still contends for the lead at the Jack Niklaus signature course in Ekurhuleni east from Johannesburg. The South African was six under par after playing 32 holes when heavy thunderstorms typical of the plateau rolled in. The area lies around 1,750 metres (5,740) feet above sea level. Norway's Espen Kofstad was also on his heels, with five under par after 33 holes, and German Martin Kaymer, currently fifth in the Race to Dubai, four under par after 32 holes. Play was suspended and will resume on Saturday 07:30 local time (0930 GMT), while the third round will tee off on two tees at 10:30 (0830 GMT). - AFP |
| Yachting: Sail around the world on your sofa Posted: 16 Nov 2012 04:18 PM PST PARIS: Hundreds of thousands of internet gamers are currently up at all hours as they take part in a virtual version of the ultimate endurance sailing experience, the round-the-world single-handed yacht race the Vendee Globe. The non-stop race runs from November to February and over 300,000 have signed up for the second version of the virtual version of the four-yearly event at www.virtualregatta.com. As the real contenders embarked from France's west coast last Saturday racing full speed ahead toward the Cape of Good Hope, the gamers were able to measure themselves against their heroes using options like constant weather reports and sail changes either for free or for a small fee with added options such as a GPS. "It's fun, you can be grounded, turn back or come to a virtual standstill. But unlike the real skippers you don't run the real risk of colliding with a trawler," explained Louis Andre, product manager at Players, the company that established the game in 2006. "Our aim was to get people into sailing in big numbers. It seems to have worked," he said. While on-line racers can count amongst their number two-time winner of the real race, Michel Desjoyeaux, around half the competitors have never set foot onboard a yacht. - AFP |
| Rugby: Samoa shock Wales in Cardiff Posted: 16 Nov 2012 06:59 PM PST CARDIFF, United Kingdom: Samoa produced another memorable victory in Cardiff as Wales slumped to their fifth successive defeat, losing 26-19 to the south sea islanders in Friday's one-off Test match. Fa'atoina Autagavaia, George Pisi and Johnny Leota all crossed as the Six Nations champions suffered a similar fate to their predecessors. Memories of famous World Cup shocks from 1991 and 1999 came flooding back as the ferocious tackling and clinical finishing of the visitors rocked hosts Wales. But unlike those wins of the past, this was far les of a surprise given the mess Welsh rugby suddenly finds itself in following three losses in Australia and defeat last week to Argentina. Ashley Beck's interception try before half-time handed Wales a 13-7 lead and appeared to have settled home nerves after falling behind to an early try only for second-half scores from Pisi and Leota wrapped up a deserved victory for the Pacific islanders. Samoa made a dream start with a try little more than a minute into the game that stunned the 44,000 crowd at the Millennium Stadium. Number 8 Taisasina Tuifu'a made yards after breaking through in midfield. Fly-half Pisi was quick to spread the attack wide where Paul Williams and George Pisi combined to hand full-back Autagavaia a straight-forward finish from close range. Pisi converted for an early 7-0 lead that was almost stretched further only for the fly-half's penalty to struck the post. Samoa lived up to their reputation as fearsome tacklers and Wales hooker Richard Hibbard was the first to take the full brunt of the south sea islanders, forced off after just 18 minutes. It summed up an uncomfortable opening for the hosts who were still reeling from their defeat to Argentina six days earlier. Wales slowly regained their composure as Halfpenny cut the deficit to a single point with two penalties while Pisi missed a second effort. Just a minute later and another mistake by Pisi led to Wales taking the lead through Beck. Samoa were full of ambition as they pressed forward but Pisi's arching pass intended for his brother was easily telegraphed by the Welsh centre who galloped 70 metres up field to score his team's first try of the autumn series. Samoa ended the half with a Pisi penalty and wasted no time in regaining the lead after half-time with a second try. Ashley Beck was robbed of possession and Kahn Fotuali'i turned defence into attack, skipping past Jamie Roberts before Pisi finished acrobatically in the corner with a superb piece of individual skill to touch down in mid-air. Pisi missed the conversion before exchanging a series of kicks with Halfpenny as the lead changed hands five times during the second half. Leading 21-19, Samoa repelled a rare attack by Wales who, for the second week in a row, failed to show any threat with the ball. Instead it was Samoa who had the final say when David Lemi kicked ahead, Halfpenny and Autagavaia both missed the bouncing ball to leave replacement Leota to touch down for the match-winning try two minutes from time. - AFP |
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