register to 888sport
888sport time:

Results Based News

Hook secures Lions triumph

Author: Sir David Smith
Date: 14/06/2009

The British & Irish Lions maintained their 100 per cent record on their tour of South Africa with a hard-fought 26-23 victory over Western Province at Newlands.

James Hook was the hero, as the Welshman kicked a 77th-minute penalty to make it five wins from five games for the Lions.

The tourists struggled to assert any dominance over the depleted home side, with William de Waal's kicking always keeping Western Province in the game.

Two Stephen Jones penalties helped the Lions take a 6-3 lead after de Waal had opened the scoring with a penalty of his own, but two drop goals by de Waal and Joe Pietersen helped the hosts move ahead.

However, the Lions regained the lead when Tommy Bowe finished off a flowing move in the right corner.

The Ireland winger then turned provider to set up Ugo Monye, who had a free run to the try line and made it 18-12 to the Lions at the interval.

Western Province refused to lie down in the second half though even when Martyn Williams' pushover try moved the tourists 23-15 clear.

After another de Waal penalty, a try from the ever-dangerous Pietersen handed the hosts a lifeline when he brought the sides level, de Waal's looping pass finding the full-back in the corner.

Hook missed one long-range penalty but kept his nerve with three minutes left to finally seal the victory.

In rugby league England dished out a 66-12 thrashing to France in Paris, with Salford City Reds' Richie Myler scoring a hat-trick of tries and kicking nine goals in a five-star display.

Ryan Atkins, Danny McGuire, Peter Fox (2), Ryan Hall, Shaun Briscoe (2), James Roby and Sam Burgess also went over for the visitors.

In Super League, the Celtic Crusaders sprung a shock by beating Wigan Warriors 22-16 at Brewery Field, with Peter Lupton's late try the decisive score.

Wakefield Trinity Wildcats saw off Hull FC 37-22, with Danny Brough the star of the show with a try and six goals.

At cricket's ICC World Twenty20, online betting favourites South Africa maintained their 100 per cent record with a 20-run victory over West Indies to make almost certain a semi-final spot.

New Zealand's hoped took a huge blow as they were thrashed by six wickets by Pakistan, with the Black Caps dismissed for just 99 as Umar Gul became the first man to take a five-wicket haul in a T20 international.

Andy Murray will face James Blake in the final of the Aegon Championships at Queen's Club.

Murray saw off Juan Carlos Ferrero 6-2, 6-4, while Blake progressed when Andy Roddick suffered an ankle injury and had to retire at 4-4 in the first set.

online betting