Blog: johnloguk

A GREAT WEEKEND OF TRUE SPORT

Man Utd and Arsenal was a good game to watch, but there is too much that I find unsavoury in top football to really enjoy it. In contrast there were 3 other major sporting events this weekend that gave me unbridled pleasure.

First the Great Britain Rugby League team took on New Zealand. Having already won the first close encounter of a 3 match series, they only needed another victory last night for their first series win in 14 years. Captain fantastic Jamie Peacock crashed through several tackles inside 2 minutes to give GB the lead, then Leon Price went on one of his typical mazy runs for a 12-0 lead. Great Britain were perhaps lucky to be so far ahead at this point, after New Zealand failed to capitalise on some heavy pressure, but the GB defence was outstanding throughout the game. Gareth Raynor should have scored a 3rd try after a defensive mistake, but with the line at his mercy he failed to ground the ball. No matter, within seconds he finished off a sweeping move in the corner. The second half was a rout, with fast flowing rugby and 5 more tries for Great Britain. The old warriors Peacock, Adrian Morley and Keith Senior put in some great work, but this GB side is full of athletic youngsters that bodes well for the future. In contrast to New Zealand, GB kept the ball alive with some fantastic off-loads in the tackle, and played the game at a furious pace. Kiwi legend Robbie Paul said this GB team could be the best ever, and New Zealand have a mountain to climb to regain some self respect in the last game after this 44-0 defeat. Following on from the Rugby Union World Cup, this game emphasised yet again the huge gulf in attitude between top footballers and rugby players. One lot are dishonest, pampered, whinging babies, the others are rugby players!

In the early hours of the morning Joe Calzaghe put in another storming performance of guts and class, to demolish Mikkel Kessler and retain his World Super-middleweight boxing titles. Kessler was previously undefeated, like Calzaghe, and this was a true test. Calzaghe has put in some unconvincing performances against lesser opposition, but he always pulls everything out against the big guys. Kessler shook him several times, but Joe won comfortably in the end. It is a shame that pay per view means that few people get to see Calzaghe's fights, in any other era he would be a household name.

Does anyone put her fans through so many twists and turns of emotion as Paula Ratcliffe? Her lack of a sprint finish means that she has to slowly burn off her opponents well before the final dash for the line. Usually, when she has someone on her shoulder in the latter stages they sprint clear of Paula to win. For most of the New York Marathon Paula had the great Ethiopian Mete Wami as her shadow. Wami had run the Berlin marathon 5 weeks ago so must have been tired, but Paula was still recovering from giving birth and various associated injuries. The longer Wami hung in behind her, the more I feared for Paula. Then, despite looking laboured, Paula put in a spurt round about 23 miles and started to pull away. But slowly Wami clawed it back and dropped into Paula' shadow again. Just when you thought the writing was on the wall Paula pushed again, but this time Wami got back much quicker and you had to think that the Ethiopian had it in the bag. With 800 metres to go Wami moved out and took the lead, moving 5 metres clear of a struggling Paula. But amazingly this time it was Paula who dug in deep and reeled Wami in. But she didn't stop there, she took the lead again and pushed ahead, Wami tried to stay with her, but slowly the gap widened. The commentators helpfully reminded us that there was still a long way to go, and anything could still happen! But Paula continued to pull clear, the gap rapidly widened, and finally Paula had the finish in sight and sprinted to a great victory. In those last miles my legs were running every step with her. Races like this make the hairs on the back on my neck stand on end, real sport, true honest competitors going head to head with every ounce of their strength.

And next month it's Hatton v Mayweather, bring it on!

by johnloguk on 21:03 on 4th November 2007