‘We dreamed a dream,’ says Griquas coach Pieter Bergh after Currie Cu…

The Griquas managed to right the wrongs and banish the ghosts of 2022 when they clinched a 23-16 Currie Cup final win over their fierce rivals, the Pumas, at Griqua Park in Kimberley on Saturday. liveiplscore.homes

The victory clinched back-to-back titles for the Griquas, after they stunned the Lions in the final in Johannesburg last year, but this win is all the sweeter as they did it in front of their home fans, and gained some revenge for four years ago.

Back in 2022 the Griquas and Pumas finished third and fourth on the log respectively, but stunned the Bulls and Cheetahs in the semis to set up a blockbuster final in Kimberly, and despite being slight favourites the Griquas were upset 26-19 by the Pumas, who won their first and only title.

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Better team

This time around the Griquas were clearly the better team, losing just one pool game, their first of the season against the Stormers, before winning everything else, and they deservedly lifted the trophy in front of their home fans.

“This is all I dreamt of. After 2022 this is all I wanted for Kimberley. A home final, in a stadium like this, to see the people come out and support us, this is all I dreamt of,” said an emotional Griquas coach Pieter Bergh after the match.

“This is amazing. They (the supporters) don’t always see what the players do in training, off the field, how hard they work and the sacrifices they make. They (the players) absolutely deserve this.

“We lost our first game of the Currie Cup against the Stormers and we came back, regrouped and the guys didn’t lose a game from there. So all credit to the players.

“We have had a lot of injuries over the season, but the guys bounced back, kept on going and believed that they could do it. The goal was to win it at home and I am just so happy.”

Proud captain

Griquas captain Albert Liebenberg was a proud man after the match, and praised how his team were able to lift their game after a successful campaign last year.

“It’s goosebump stuff. It was a great season for us. We pulled it through and the guys really performed. Going back-to-back was great. We wanted to go from good to great, which meant we had to keep winning. We wanted to win the final again and that is what we did,” explained Liebenberg.

Pumas captain Willie Engelbrecht was proud of his team’s efforts, after they fought their way into the final against all odds, and then pushed the Griquas to the brink before falling just short.

“It’s disappointing. Well done to the Griquas, they played well at the end. All credit to them. It was unlucky for us, but I am glad with how the season ended except for not winning the trophy,” said Englebrecht.

“I felt we had the game until about 65 minutes in. We lost our lineouts and in finals your set piece is crucial. Our defence was on point, but we were just lacking at the set piece.”

La JS Saoura quitte la Ligue des champions de la CAF dès le premier tour préliminaire. Après avoir remporté le match aller 1-0, le club algérien s’est finalement incliné 3-1 face à Horoya Conakry lors de la manche retour, ce qui permet au club guinéen de décrocher sa qualification sur l’ensemble des deux matches (3-2). Une remontée qui offre à Horoya la possibilité de poursuivre son aventure continentale, tandis que la Saoura voit son parcours prendre fin.

Horoya renverse la situation

Battue à l’aller en Algérie, la formation guinéenne devait impérativement réagir à domicile pour conserver ses ambitions dans la compétition. Horoya a répondu présent en trouvant à trois reprises le chemin des filets et en imposant progressivement son rythme à une JS Saoura qui n’a pas réussi à préserver l’avantage acquis lors de la première manche.

Malgré le but inscrit par les Algériens, celui-ci n’a pas suffi à contenir le retour d’Horoya. Plus efficace dans les moments décisifs, le club guinéen a finalement remporté la rencontre 3-1 et renversé une situation qui lui était défavorable après le match aller. Le score cumulé de 3-2 récompense ainsi le retournement opéré par les locaux sur l’ensemble de la confrontation.

La Saoura quitte la compétition, Horoya poursuit sa route

Cette qualification permet à Horoya Conakry de franchir le premier tour préliminaire de la Ligue des champions et de poursuivre son parcours sur la scène africaine. Après avoir été battu à l’aller, le club guinéen a su trouver les ressources nécessaires pour inverser la tendance et décrocher son billet au terme d’une double confrontation disputée.

Pour la JS Saoura, l’aventure continentale s’arrête donc dès ce premier obstacle malgré le succès obtenu lors de la manche aller. Le représentant algérien devra désormais se tourner vers les compétitions nationales et tirer les enseignements de cette élimination, tandis qu’Horoya peut déjà se projeter vers le prochain tour de la Ligue des champions.

The post Ligue des champions CAF : Horoya élimine la JS Saoura et poursuit sa route, l’aventure s’arrête pour les Algériens appeared first on AfricaFootUnited.

Opener Abhishek Sharma smashed 82 from just 32 balls as India hammered Afghanistan by seven wickets in the first T20 international in New Delhi on Sunday.

Chasing 157 for victory, India rode on Abhishek’s blitz, which included seven sixes and seven fours, to achieve the target in 13.4 overs and lead the three-match series 1-0.

Abhishek got his first runs with a six off Fazalhaq Farooqi in the opening over and there was no looking back for the swashbuckling left-handed batter.

He lost opening partner Sanju Samson for 10 but kept up the charge with a flurry of fours and sixes to raise his fifty off 22 balls.

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Abhishek and Ishan Kishan, who made 42, put on 121 runs as the pair tore into the opposition attack to raise the noise of over 25,000 fans at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.

“The shots Abhishek played were flawless, exemplary,” said India captain Shreyas Iyer.

“Kishan has been in great form. He’s very relaxed, calm and knows his game.”

Abhishek fell to off-spinner Mohammad Nabi as Rashid Khan took a good catch in the deep.

Nabi soon sent back Kishan before Tilak Varma (3) and Iyer (8) saw the team home.

India’s left-arm quick Arshdeep Singh set up victory with figures of 3-19 in his four overs as he helped restrict Afghanistan to 156-8.

Put in to bat, Afghanistan slipped to 43-5 before Azmatullah Omarzai hit an unbeaten 64.

Returning pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah started with a wide down the leg side for five extras but struck on the second legal delivery to dismiss Rahmanullah Gurbaz, caught at first slip.

Iyer praised Bumrah, calling the pace spearhead, who returned to the team after an injury in the second ODI against England in Cardiff on July 16, a “great asset”.

Skipper Ibrahim Zadran attempted to hit back with two fours but was soon run out for 11 after a mix up with Sediqullah Atal to give India the upper hand.

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“I would say that run out was the turning point,” said Zadran. “Ishan Kishan grabbed the ball and threw it to the bowler. They got the momentum.”

Wickets kept tumbling as spinners Axar Patel and Varun Chakravarthy took one each as Afghanistan lost half their side in seven overs.

Omarzai, who survived a dropped catch on 39, and Nabi (33) then combined to rebuild the innings with a partnership of 83.

Arshdeep broke the stand as he bowled Nabi off a slower yorker.

Omarzai stuck around until the end as Afghanistan got 21 runs off the last over from Shivam Dube but it was not enough against the reigning T20 world champions.

Afghanistan, who have long used India and the United Arab Emirates as home venues, are the official hosts for the series.

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–AFP

Photo: BCCI/X

The post Abhishek blitz powers India past Afghanistan appeared first on SA Cricket Mag.

Manchester City a remporté le derby au terme d’un scénario complètement inattendu. Réduits à dix dès la 23e minute après l’expulsion de Phil Foden, les Cityzens ont résisté aux assauts de Manchester United avant de frapper contre le cours du jeu. À Old Trafford, les hommes de Michael Carrick ont longtemps eu la maîtrise de la rencontre, mais un but d’Erling Haaland à l’heure de jeu a finalement suffi à offrir les trois points à City (0-1), toujours invaincu après quatre journées.

United domine, City résiste

Manchester United a immédiatement imposé son rythme. Avec Mbeumo, Bruno Fernandes et Rashford aux commandes, les Red Devils ont multiplié les offensives, portés par un Marcus Rashford particulièrement remuant. En face, Manchester City évoluait notamment avec Cherki en meneur de jeu, mais a rapidement été contraint de revoir ses plans.

Le tournant du match est intervenu à la 23e minute. Phil Foden a été directement expulsé après un geste de frustration sur Bruno Fernandes, laissant ses partenaires à dix alors que United était déjà dans un temps fort. Les Red Devils ont alors accentué leur pression, mais se sont heurtés à une défense de City bien regroupée et surtout à un Gianluigi Donnarumma vigilant dans son but.

United aurait pourtant pu concrétiser sa supériorité avant la pause. Rashford pensait notamment avoir trouvé la faille sur un coup franc parfaitement exécuté à la 45e minute, mais sa tentative a terminé sur le poteau. Manchester City pouvait alors s’estimer heureux de rejoindre les vestiaires sans avoir encaissé de but.

Haaland punit le manque de réalisme de United

Le scénario n’a pas changé au retour des vestiaires. Manchester United a continué d’attaquer et Kobbie Mainoo a à son tour trouvé le poteau, d’une superbe frappe depuis l’entrée de la surface (51e). Deux énormes occasions manquées qui allaient finir par coûter cher aux Red Devils.

Car contre toute attente, c’est Manchester City qui a trouvé l’ouverture. À la 60e minute, Erling Haaland s’est jeté au second poteau sur un centre de Gvardiol légèrement dévié par Dorgu et a envoyé le ballon dans la lucarne opposée. Le but, d’abord refusé, a finalement été accordé après intervention de la VAR (0-1).

United a alors jeté ses dernières forces dans la bataille, mais City a parfaitement résisté malgré son infériorité numérique. Les Skyblues auraient même pu doubler la mise lorsque Fernandez a déclenché une frappe puissante à l’entrée de la surface, repoussée par Lammens sur son poteau (69e).

Dans les dernières secondes, Manchester United a encore eu l’occasion d’égaliser. Après une superbe intervention de Donnarumma, Mbeumo a manqué la balle du 1-1 à la 90e+4. Cette ultime occasion résumait finalement le derby : United a eu les situations, City a eu l’efficacité.

Avec ce succès, Manchester City signe une quatrième victoire en quatre journées et réalise une opération majeure en s’imposant chez son voisin. Pour Manchester United, le constat est beaucoup plus préoccupant : les Red Devils ne comptent que quatre points après quatre journées, et leur manque d’efficacité leur coûte déjà cher.

The post Premier League : réduit à dix, City fait tomber United à Old Trafford appeared first on AfricaFootUnited.

Nick Mallett says a Springbok win on Saturday was never in doubt, the only question was the margin against an All Blacks side that has shown it is no match for South Africa physically.

The former Bok boss was speaking on the Talking Boks podcast after the Boks’ 43-28 victory in Baltimore secured the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series 3-1.

“The most dominant performance,” Mallet said. “They’ve done it this whole series; we’ve had periods of dominance but haven’t managed to take our opportunities.

“I was more comfortable in this game than in any other one I was watching. I felt that for the Boks, it was just a question of how much we were going to win by.

“We would’ve been happy with 3-1 at the beginning of the series. All the people who said 4-0, they’re dreaming.”

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Mallett noted that Rassie Erasmus had answered doubts about whether his senior players could hold up over four punishing weeks against the All Blacks.

“When you consider, unusually for Rassie, he kept the body of that squad together and only moved players in and out because of injuries or because of weather conditions … It was a group of 23 to 30 players that he didn’t move away from, which is unlike the Nations Championship selection.

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“We learned that the older players – which was a big question mark before this series, whether players in their mid-30s would be able to last – coming through four Tests against the All Blacks over four weekends is harder, in my opinion, than the last four games in a World Cup.

“The guys came through with flying colours. Pieter-Steph [du Toit] always plays his 50-odd minutes. Siya Kolisi was playing really well. The two centres [Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel], just the backbone of that defensive backline.

“Rassie’s been involved for 100 Test matches. He understands what is required to win Test matches, and he’s got a massive support base from not only the players but also from the country.”

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Mallett was careful to credit Dave Rennie’s progress in charge of the All Blacks, as he felt the Kiwi hadn’t yet grasped out-thinking the Boks tactically.

“Rennie’s come in, he’s had 13 games now, he’s lost three away from home. He’s still got a lot of time to bed down this All Black team, and he will have learned.

“[But] I don’t think you’re going to beat South Africa just by playing movement rugby. They’re going to have to front up physically, which I didn’t think they did.”

Photo: Michael Franken/Michael Franken Photography

The post ‘Boks came through with flying colours’ appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.