Weekend sport wrap

SBS World News Radio: Another big weekend in sport saw some champions prove their greatness, others stumble badly and others still aspiring to be champions, against the odds.

Weekend sport wrapWeekend sport wrap

Weekend sport wrap

Perhaps in sport more than any other field, the power of persistence can do a lot of good.

And if you don't believe that, just ask Sally Pearson.

The 2012 Olympic gold medallist has fought through achilles tendon, hamstring, and wrist injuries in recent years.

But she's never given up- and her reward has come on the same track in London where she won her Olympic gold medal.

Pearson has claimed the gold medal in the women's 100 metres hurdles at the World Athletics Championships.

She says the triumph is the culmination of a lot of work.

"This whole year has been focused on this night. And I didn't want to ruin that for anything, and I left no stone unturned to get here. And it's just incredible!"

Incredible too, the end of the career of Usain Bolt - but not in a good way.

Bolt's hamstring giving way whilst he was running his last race for Jamaica in a relay.

Whilst things were culminating for Sally Pearson, they're just getting started in the English Premier League.

But unlike Ms Pearson, who had success jumping over hurdles, the likes of Chelsea and Liverpool failed to negotiate their opening hurdle.

Chelsea had two players sent from the field in their three-two loss to Burnley.

Whilst Liverpool could only draw three-all with Watford.

Arsenal won, but conceded three goals to Leicester before late efforts from Aaron Ramsey and Olivier Giroud made sure they were victors.

Manager Arsene Wenger preferring to see the positive side of it though- saying it's games like the Arsenal-Leicester seven-goal thriller that make the Premier League what it is.

"You want the Premier League to be the best league in the world, and I think it has to produce these kinds of games to produce interest and quality. Even (though) people will say we conceded three goals. Yes. But we scored four as well, and the game was of quality."

It was a great start in the Premier League for Socceroos Aaroon Mooy of Huddersfield Town, who helped set up two goals in his side's surprise three-nil win away to Crystal Palace.

In rugby league, the battle within the National Rugby League's top eight teams is on- at both ends of that top eight.

First-placed Melbourne has defeated the second-placed Sydney Roosters 16 points to 13.

Whilst North Queensland has fallen to eighth place, and is in danger of missing the finals altogether, after a 24-16 loss to Penrith.

The Cowboys, already missing star Johnathan Thurston for the rest of the season with a shoulder injury, have now seen a range of their other good players suffer a range of other injuries.

But coach Paul Green remains hopeful for his team - and proud of it.

"Feels like there's a few things going against us the last couple of weeks, but, as I aid, we've got plenty of character. (I'm) proud of those blokes in there. There ares some spent bodies in there...guys playing out of position."

And in rugby union, the countdown is well and truly on to next weekend's Bledisloe Cup match between Australia and New Zealand in Sydney.

The Australian squad for the match contains several players from the Western Force, whom the Australian Rugby Union announced last week will be kicked out of the Super Rugby competition, as it contracts back to fifteen teams.

That's obviously something that may play on the minds of those players.

But Australian coach Michael Cheika says he's not worried about their preparation.

"If there's any one thing that could keep you focused when something like this happens, it's the quest for winning a Bledisloe. From what I've seen of our lads- all our lads, and those guys in particular, they've come in with a really strong focus on preparing themslves."

Australia hasn't held the Bledisloe Cup since 2002.

 






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