October Issue 2011
37
www.seren.bangor.ac.uk
Sport
NEW ZEALAND END 24-YEAR WAIT FOR WORLD CUP
Rob Young
tralia provided the closest contest in opment of second and third tier rugby the quarter final stage, with a typi- nations has closed the gap considerably cally physical Springbok side being between the top flight and lower levels he knockout stages of the Rugdominated at the breakdown by the of international rugby. by World Cup 2011 began in Wallabies with flanker David Pocock’s New Zealand went on to beat AusWellington, New Zealand, becontribution in particular leading to an tralia 20 – 6, the hosts dominating the tween an Ireland side with a sporadic early exit for the winners of the 1995 Australian team in all aspects of run of form and a Wales side that had and 2007 tournament the game with Australian flybeen steadily improving half Quade Cooper seem“France’s 9 – 8 victory over Wales was marred winners, meanthroughout the tournaing that no team ingly unable to settle into ment. by the controversial sending off of the Wales his rhythm. France’s 9 – Buoyed by a victory captain Sam Warburton in the 18th minute” has yet won the Webb-Ellis trophy 8 victory over Wales over Australia in the pool in consecutive tourwas marred by the stages, Ireland entered the knockout controversial sendstages with confidence. A youthful forced errors and the untried combi- naments. ing off of the Wales The last quarter final saw the Wales side proved too much for them nation of Jonny Wilkinson and Toby captain Sam Warburton in in their quarter final matchup however, Flood at Fly-Half and Centre respec- end of the Argentina’s campaign the 18th minute. Wales continwhen Warren Gatland’s team stormed tively landing the team on an early at the hands of the favourites ued heroically for the rest of the their way to a 22 – 10 victory and their flight back home while Marc Lièvre- New Zealand, though the match but were unable to breach first semi-final in 24 years. “Some peo- mont’s France deservedly progressed to Argentinean contribution the French defence and missed the semi-fi nals. to the RWC 2011 has ple thought I was being funny when I The Webb Ellis Trophy several crucial kicks, eventuSouth Africa’s fixture against Aus- shown that the develsaid that we were coming here to win it, stayed in New Zealand but I wasn’t,” said Welsh winger Shane Williams. England’s matchup against France went less well for Martin Johnson’s team, whose campaign has been marred by well publicised (and often exaggerated) antics off-field, with un-
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ally going on to finish the tournament in fourth place behind Australia while France prepared for a final against hosts New Zealand. The final at Eden Park was an almost exact duplicate of the inaugural Rugby World Cup final in 1987, from the participants to the stadium, even down to the result. The tournament favourites didn’t have the easiest time of it however, with an obstinate French defence and several probing runs threatening to prevent the All Blacks from ending a remarkable 24 year long wait for the Webb-Ellis trophy. Denied the opportunity to play their usual freeflowing game, an under-strength All Blacks side ground out a 8 – 7 victory over France, running out the clock in the last five minutes of play to win the RWC 2011.
DRAMATIC DERBY DAY AS UNITED AND CHELSEA SUFFER Thomas Knott
his antics; fireworks in the bathroom for the first one and two excellent goals nce the last day of the Premier providing the catalyst for United’s unLeague season rolls in May expected downfall. It wasn’t all Balotelthe footballing world will li’s show though; United’s own defence probably still be looking back on this also played a starring role. Jonny Evan’s Sunday as one of the most dramatic was sent off shortly after the restart days this term. Old Trafford hosted for a silly challenge on (who else, but) its second shock result of the season, Mario Balotelli as he got through on the first being United’s 8-2 thrashing goal. With that it only went from bad of Arsenal. This time saw Ferguson’s to worse for United as they hit the selfmen on the wrong side of a battering, destruct button, forever throwing playgoing down 1-6 to local and title rivals ers forward against a playing at their Manchester City. A team featuring the unstoppable best. The defeat leaves United five points ever perfectly timed Mario Balotelli who this week has set both his house behind City at the top of the table and and the city of Manchester alight with although it’s still early days there’s no doubt about who’s staked the first claim. F u r ther south in London there was the Chelsea vs QPR derby. A game people expected to be heated and entertaining; one United’s De Gea can only watch as the City fans celebrate they expect-
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Joe Horne
ed to showcase plenty of aggression and passion; one they did not expect to feature 2 red cards, a penalty, and some incredibly suspect refereeing. It was definitely a game of two halves: The first 45 minutes were QPR’s for the taking with 10th minute penalty giving them the lead and Chelsea being down to nine men by the end of the half. Come the 90th minute Loftus Road should have been dreamland, but as it was Chelsea’s nine men took the game by the horns. Despite running out defeated by Helguson’s first half goal it seemed as though they were going to take all three points as a valiant performance was topped off with a beautiful flowing move culminating in David Luiz’s bicycle kick being deflected over the bar by an unlucky Frank Lampard. Referee Chris Foy had some very big decisions to make, and whilst it can be argued he got them right, it was his inconsistency that had Chelsea manage Villas-Boas furious at the final whistle. Didier Drogba’s red card was undoubtedly the right call as the Ivory Coast international flew in two footed against QPR’s Taarabt. The others however, were less clear-cut; Bosingwa saw red as the last man for dragging down Wright-Phillips although it did seem to be 50/50 as both players fought
for the ball. The problem with the penalty for most was not the decision to give it – the unnecessary shove in the back from Luiz was probably deserving – what irked many however was Foy’s incon- Drogba is dismissed for his two-footed lunge on Taarabt sistency in sion, blaming Villa-Boas’ age for his the opposing box as David Luiz and Frank Lampard comments against Foy. QPR did incredibly well, holding both felt that they should have been on until the bitter end to for three awarded penalties for being hauled points few would have expected them down. Come the final whistle in a derby to take. But it was nine man Chelsea, hotly contested by both teams, Chelsea who put in the shift of the weekend had received 7 yellow cards to follow and earned their pride if nothing else. the 2 red, whilst QPR had received just It’s unfortunate that the headlines and 2 yellow cards for their troubles. The talking points will all be focused on the post match interviews were equally in- red cards, the penalty, and the unexteresting as Villas-Boas slammed Foy, pected result. Villas-Boas will find out perhaps fairly, for his inability to keep on Wednesday whether the FA have control of the game, and Neil Warnock charged him for misconduct for his displayed some managerial tunnel vi- comments after the game.
Nigel Worthington saw fit to call time on his management of Northern Ireland following their poor qualifying campaign. Poor results against Estonia and two defeats to Serbia put paid to their chances of qualification – a far c r y from their heroic 2008 campaign in which they beat eventual winners Spain 3-2. Two wins from ten games this time around however, means Worthington’s resignation leaves them looking for a replacement that can make a better attempt at qualification for the 2014 World Cup.
Victory over third-placed Armenia has ensured Ireland a playoff spot for Euro 2012. Their chances of automatic qualification were damaged by two draws w i t h Slovak i a , though with Ru s s i a going through a s group w i n ners, second is a more than respectable finish for the team unlucky to miss the World Cup. Ireland face Estonia in a two legged fixture, with the games taking place on the 11th and 15th of November. A first international tournament for ten years beckons for Giovanni Trapattoni’s men.
UNLUCKY FOR SOME: EURO 2012 QUALIFYING DRAWS TO A CLOSE
England gained automatic qualification to next summer’s European Championship with a characteristically nervy ending to their qualifying campaign. Despite letting a two goal lead s l i p to draw 2-2 in M o n tenegro they sealed t h e i r place in Poland & Ukraine, finishing unbeaten at the top of Group G. Pre-emptive crisis talks have already begun however, as Wayne Rooney takes a three game ban to the tournament. Whether he boards the plane or not is yet to be decided despite the expected national debate.
Scotland’s faint hopes of a Euro 2012 playoff place were dashed in a 3-1 away defeat to Spain, with the Czech Republic picking up second place in their group. It w a s n’t a negative c ampaign, d e spite some o d d formations, and coming up against the world champions need three points is a big ask. The Scots will rue a number of missed chances throughout their shaky campaign. Scotland play Wales in the upcoming World Cup qualifiers next year.
After winning three of their last four competitive games, Wales’ future looks bright once again under manager Gary Speed, Wales have now jumped to 45th in the FIFA w o r l d r a n k ings - a considera b l e achievem e nt considering their being an embarrassing 1 1 7 t h back in August. W i t h promising young talent coming good within an already fair squad, the Welsh fans will await the World Cup qualifying campaign, where they will face Scotland, with newfound and entirely justified optimism.