Sports Briefs

07 February 2012 - 02:33

By Times LIVE

VALENCIA missed a chance to extend their advantage over fourth-placed Levante and fell further behind leaders Real Madrid and Barcelona when they were held to a 0-0 draw at Atletico Madrid in La Liga at the weekend.

Victory at Atletico's Calderon stadium on Sunday would have put Unai Emery's side seven points clear of Levante after their city rivals drew 1-1 at home to Racing Santander on Saturday.

It was Valencia's third draw in a row, with tomorrow's King's Cup semifinal second leg at Barcelona looming. - Reuters

Phoenix Open hotshot

THE US's Kyle Stanley took advantage of a final-round collapse by overnight leader Spencer Levin to win his first PGA Tour title by one shot at the Phoenix Open at the weekend.

A week after agonisingly squandering a seven-stroke advantage to lose the Farmers Insurance Open in a play-off, Stanley delivered the best possible reply as he closed with a flawless six-under-par 65 at the TPC Scottsdale on Sunday.

He birdied three of the last eight holes to post a 15-under total, finishing one ahead of compatriot Ben Crane (66). - Reuters

Ben back in squad

TEST seamer Ben Hilfenhaus has been brought into Australia's one-day squad to replace injured paceman Brett Lee, who was ruled out of the triangular series with a broken toe.

Hilfenhaus would act as injury cover for Friday's match against Sri Lanka in Perth. Australia won the first one-day international of the triangular series, beating India by 65 runs in a rain-shortened match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday.

Lee was ruled out for up to six weeks when he was struck on the right foot while bowling in the Twenty20 on Friday. - Reuters

Lancaster wants the job

STUART Lancaster confirmed he has applied to become England's new full-time coach.

The first match of Lancaster's reign as acting head coach saw a revamped England team begin the defence of their Six Nations Championship title with a 13-6 victory over Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday.

Lancaster will compete against candidates recommended to the Rugby Football Union by corporate head-hunters Odgers. - Sapa-AFP

Bafana to face Senegal

BAFANA will play against Senegal in a friendly international in Durban on February 29, the South African Football Association confirmed yesterday.

Safa CEO Robin Peterson said he hoped South Africans would pack the Moses Mabhida stadium for the clash. Senegal are ranked 43rd in the world - 13 places above South Africa - and are rated fifth on the African continent. - Sapa

Out of the fryingpan . . .

SOME world champions get easy title defences. Not Takalani Ndlovu, holder of the IBF junior-featherweight crown.

After surviving his first defence in Mexico by the skin of his teeth, Ndlovu must face veteran countryman Jeffrey Mathebula in a rematch at Carnival City on March 24. Mathebula gave Ndlovu hell in a 2010 encounter, with Ndlovu getting the nod by split decision. This will be the first time two South Africans trade leather for the IBF junior-featherweight belt. - David Isaacson