Sports review 28-8-11

Wigan Warriors celebrate their record 18th Challenge Cup win after a sensational match against the Leeds Rhinos

Rugby League:

Wigan Warriors won the Challenge Cup at Wembley for a record eighteenth time. It was Wigans first visit to Wembley since their eight year winning run ended after the 1995 win against Saturdays opponents Leeds, (they beat St Helens in 2002 at Murrayfield). Wigan flew out of the blocks with three early tries, Leeds did fight back to within a score at half time, but the Super League holders and current leaders just had too much for their Yorkshire rivals and edged ahead to win a fantastic final, 28-18. Leeds have now lost the last five finals they have played in, Wigan now face second placed Warrington in a game that should decide who finishes as leaders going into the playoffs.

Rugby Union:

England went to Dublin to face an Irish side in poor form. Despite beating the English in the Six Nations and having a record against them at home that would be the envy of many, they were no match for an England side clearly fired up and looking to cement their places ahead of the opening World Cup game against Argentina. England will go away now battle hardened and with high confidence after condemning the Irish to a sixth defeat in eight. In the Tri Nations, Australia beat New Zealand 25-20 in a stunning game in Brisbane. The second defeat in two games left the Wallabies with their first Tri Nations title for ten years and they leave for the World Cup in fantastic form.

100m sensation Usain Bolt is disqualified after a false start

World Championship Athletics:

The biggest stories coming out of the Daegu championships are the high profile disqualifications of two British medal hopes, Christine Ohuruogu in the 400m and Dwaine Chambers in the 100m, but also of the fastest man in the world, Usain Bolt. Bolt who also false started leaving training partner Yohan Blake to take the glory. In another British disappointment, Mo Farrah was overtaken by Ibrahim Jeilan of Ethiopia with just metres remaining in the 10,000m. Farrah the fastest man in the world this year had looked in complete control before Jeilan’s late surge relegated the Brit to Silver.

South African ‘Blade Runner’ Oscar Pistorius finished in third place in his heat to qualify for the semi-finals of the 400m. The first amputee athlete to race in the able-bodied competition is already a multi Gold medal winner in the Paralympics.

McLarens Lewis Hamilton crashes out

Belgium Grand Prix:

Sebastian Vettel once again dominated the ‘Spa’ race to increase his remarkable lead even further. Team mate Mark Webber fought back from a poor start to finish second just ahead of McLarens Jenson Button. Lewis Hamilton crashed out after contact whilst leading the race. Vettel is now 92 points ahead of Webber after his seventh win in the last twelve races.

Tennis:

Britains Laura Robson has qualified for the US Open. Now ranked 173 in the world, Robson will hope that the aftermath of Hurricane Irene will not hamper her progress and that she can make an impact as the fourth Brit woman in the main draw along with Andy Murray in the mens singles.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger cuts a lonely figure at Old Trafford

Football:

In the Barclays Premier League, the lead changed hands five times over the weekend as first Wolves led, then Chelsea, before Liverpool took the top spot for the first time in two years overnight. Manchester City’s thumping of Spurs put them top on Sunday, before Manchester United’s astonishing 8-2 win over an increasingly desperate Arsenal, left the champions looking down at the rest after the first three games. At this early stage the title cannot be won, but it can certainly be lost, and with both North London clubs (Arsenal and Spurs) suffering two defeats apiece to top four rivals, it could be a season of trial and tribulation for them both.