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Results Based News

Northampton clinch place in Final

Author: Sir David Smith
Date: 02/05/2009

Northampton are through to rugby union's European Challenge Cup Final after beating Saracens 16-13 on Friday thanks to Stephen Myler's late drop goal.

The Saints led 13-3 at half-time with a try from captain Bruce Reihana and two penalties and a conversion by Myler.

But Saracens hit back in the second half to draw level with winger Rod Penney going over for a try and Glen Jackson adding a penalty and a conversion to his first-half penalty.

However, Myler's late drop goal sealed Northampton's place in the Final later this month against either Worcester or Bourgoin.

John Higgins edged closer to snooker's World Championship final by taking a 15-9 overnight lead against Mark Allen.

However, the Scot struggled after resuming 13-3 ahead as Ulsterman Allen kept chipping away to retain hope that he can clinch an amazing comeback win.

In the other semi-final Shaun Murphy remains on course to beat Australian Neil Robertson.

In cricket's County Championship Division One, champion Durham had to settle for another draw at Somerset for whom Marcus Trescothick, Justin Langer and Craig Kieswetter all scored centuries after being forced to follow-on.

Vikram Solanki hit an unbeaten double century for Worcestershire who drew a rain-affected match with Yorkshire at Headingley while Moeen Ali also scored an impressive 153.

In Division Two, Gloucestershire secured their first victory since August 2007 at Northamptonshire, winning by 44 runs.

Derbyshire held on for a draw despite being forced to follow-on against Glamorgan while Leicestershire's match with Middlesex at Southgate also ended in a draw.

In the IPL, Bangalore Royal Challengers beat Kings XI Punjab by eight runs, despite a hat-trick and a half-century by Yuvraj Singh, while JP Duminy scored an unbeaten half-century as the Mumbai Indians edged past Kolkata Knight Riders by nine runs in East London.

Thomas Levet leads the Spanish Open in Girona at the halfway point, two shots clear of second-placed Soren Hansen and three clear of Peter Lawrie, the defending champion.

Meanwhile, Bubba Watson has a share of the lead at the halfway point of the Quail Hollow Championships in Charlotte after firing a superb seven-under-par second round score of 65.

Retief Goosen is also on eight-under par while overnight leader Tiger Woods bogeyed two of his final three holes to finish level par for the day and seven-under for the tournament alongside Jim Furyk, Zach Johnson and George McNeill.

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