CRICKET – England take a 2-1 lead
England came back from the heavy defeat at Lords to regain the initiative in the 3rd Ashes Test against Australia. Australia decided to bat after winning the toss in overcast conditions and the decision backfired after superb bowling from Jimmy Anderson set up England’s win taking six wickets. Only Chris Rogers offered any resistance with 52 as the Aussies were bowled out for 132. England struggled with the bat to start with but stead innings from Ian Bell, now batting at number three, as well as in form Joe Root and Moeen Ali who all got half centuries steered England to 281 and a good lead.
The Australians collapsed to seven wickets down and were staring at a two day defeat. David Warner and Peter Nevill saw Ausrtralia through the end of the day and supported by a good inning from Mitchell Starc they at least gave England a total of 123 to chase. After an early wicket, Ian Bell with 65 not out drove England home to a clear 8 wicket win to take a 2-1 lead into next week at Trent Bridge, a ground which normally favours England’s swing bowlers.
BOXING – Jacobs defends Middleweight title
Middleweight champion Daniel Jacobs defeated Californian Sergio Mora in Brooklyn New York. Jacobs dominated the opening rounds and knocked Mora down in the 2nd round. Although Mora got up at the end of the round the medical staff diagnosed an ankle injury and deemed it not safe for Mora to continue. On the same card conqueror of Amir Khan, Danny Garcia defeated Paulie Malignaggi to put himself back into title contention. Elsewhere in Hull British olympic champion Luke Campbell defeated Tommy Coyle in 10 rounds in a Lightweight eliminator which could set him up for a World title shot later in the year.
RUGBY LEAGUE – Leeds to meet Hull KR in the Challenge Cup Final
Leeds will play Hull Kingston Rovers in the Final of the Challenge Cup at the end of August. Leeds saw off ST Helens in the battle of Super League’s top 2 in Warrington. Leeds stretched to an 18-4 lead after an excellent try to cap a fine performance by veteran Jamie Peacock.Two tries from Mark Percival brought Saints within four but Kallum Watkins late try sealed the victory and saw Leeds heading back to Wembley.
The Second Semi-Final at Headingley Saw favourites Warrington take the lead and dominate the early stages. However Hull’s defense with key tackles from Ken Sio and Paul Walker ensured the Humbersiders held firm as they began to get a foothold into the match. Josh Mantellato scored and converted his own try to level it up and Mantellato produced a perfect kick that was brilliantly taken by Ken Sio who ran 30 yards to score and give Hull KR the lead at half time. Hull dominated the early part of the second half and and another try from Kevin Larroyer with a penalty from Mantellato gave Hull KR a 20-4 lead. As in the other semi though, it was not over. Richie Myler produced 10 minutes of magic scoring a try and setting up Ben Currie for a second to bring Warrington within 2 points. In the final moments as both sides tried to find the key score, Gary Lunt went over for Hull K R to seal the upset victory as they look for their first Challenge Cup win since 1980.
CYCLING – Italian’s dominate Women’s race,
The women took to the London stage first in the Ride London Grand prix. Sadly the race was disrupted by a crash at the start of the final lap leaving a number of leading contenders out of the race. The course looped around St Jame’s Park area of London and is scheduled to become an annual event. Italian Barbara Guarischi beat American Shelly Olds in a sprint finish with another Italian Annalise Cucinotta finishing third. British hopeful Katie Archibald and Laura Trott finished 6th and 8th respectively.
In the men’s Ride London-Surrey Classic a breakway that the main peleton had no interest in chasing meant home favourites Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish were well out of contention in the final stages. British hopes then rested with Ben Swift who had gone with the breakaway and had finished 2nd in the race last year. However in the sprint finish Jean Pierre Drucker of Luxembourg timed his finish to perfection to win the race and by the first winner from Luxembourg of a major race on British soil. Swift in the end finished third.
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MOON OF LIBERTY SCOREBOARD
CRICKET
3rd Ashes Test At Edgebaston, Birmingham
England V Australia
Australia 1st Inns 136 ALL OUT (Rogers 52, Anderson 6-47)
England 1st Inns 281 ALL OUT (Root 63, Ali 59, Bell 53, Lyon 3-36)
Australia 2nd Inns 265 ALL OUT (Warner 77, Nevill 59, Starc 58, Finn 6-79)
England 2nd Inns 124 FOR 2 (Bell 65*)
England win by 8 Wickets
MOON OF LIBERTY STAR MAN – Jimmy Anderson (England)
England lead the series 2-1
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BOXING
At The Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York
WBA Middleweight Title
Daniel Jacobs (USA) beat Sergio Mora (USA) by TKO (Round 2)
STILL WBA Middleweight Champion … Daniel Jacobs
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RUGBY LEAGUE
Challenge Cup Semi-Final At The Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington
Leeds Rhinos (12) 24 ST Helens (4) 14
Scorers – Leeds – Tries: Hardaker, Moon, Peacock, Watkins Goals: Sinfield 4
ST Helens – Tries: Percival 2, Savelio Goal: Walsh
MOON OF LIBERTY STAR MAN – Jamie Peacock (Leeds)
Challenge Cup Semi-Final At Headingley, Leeds
Warrington Wolves (6) 18 Hull Kingston Rovers (12) 26
Scorers – Warrington – Tries: Atkins, Myler, Currie Goals: O’Brien 3
Hull K R – Tries: Mantellato, Sio, Larroyer, Lunt Goals: Mantellato 5
MOON OF LIBERTY STAR MAN – Ken Sio (Hull Kingston Rovers)
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CYCLING
Women’s Ride London Grand Prix
1st Barbara Guarischi (Italy)
2nd Shelley Olds (USA)
3rd Annalise Cucinotta (Italy)
Babara Guarischi Wins the Women’s Ride London Grand Prix
Men’s Ride London-Surrey Classic
1st Jean Pierre-Drucker (Luxembourg)
2nd Mike Tuneissen (Holland)
3rd Ben Swift (GB)
Jean Pierre-Drucker Wins the Women’s Ride London-Surrey Classic
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