Latest - Former Panther Waqa Blake came back to haunt his old side and spark the Eels to a 16-10 win in the NRL.
Waqa Blake Photo: PHOTOSPORT
A barnstorming effort from Blake in the 62nd minute started a three-try onslaught in a five-minute period after the Eels had trailed 10-0 with a quarter of the match remaining.
The Fijian international broke the line again shortly to lay on another for skipper Clint Gutherson to level the scores and bring the 507 fans allowed into the ground back to life after a sluggish opening 60 minutes.
The Panthers had a chance to send the game into golden point on the full-time siren but the Eels held on to secure their best start to a campaign since the club's last premiership season in 1986.
- NRL
New Zealand basketballers in Esports Open
FIBA, the International Basketball Federation, has announced the launch of its first-ever international esports competition for national teams, the FIBA Esports Open 2020.
This inaugural series of exhibition e-basketball games will take place from 19 to 21 June.
The national teams participating include Argentina, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Cyprus, Indonesia, Italy, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, New Zealand, the Philippines, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Switzerland and Ukraine.
Each team will consist of seven players, five on the court and two reserves.
Games will be played remotely on NBA 2K using the Pro-AM mode and allowing full customisation of player avatars, uniforms and arena designs.
More F1 races cancelled
This year's Azerbaijan, Singapore and Japanese Formula One grands prix have been cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Singapore's Grand Prix has been cancelled. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Formula One had already cancelled four other races, including March's season- opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne and the showcase Monaco Grand Prix in May, and published a revised and shortened provisional schedule due to start in Austria on July 5.
The long lead times required to construct the Singapore and Azerbaijan street circuits made hosting those events impossible, while Japan's ongoing travel restriction forced cancellation.
"We have made significant progress with existing and new promoters on the revised calendar and have been particularly encouraged by the interest that has been shown by new venues in hosting a Formula One race during the 2020 season," the F1 statement said.
A second race in Italy has been mooted for Ferrari-owned Mugello or Imola, once home of the San Marino Grand Prix, while Germany's Hockenheim and Portugal's Algarve circuit in Portimao are other possibilities.
Austria and the UK have already signed up to host two races in the revised calendar.
"There is a contingency to have an extended European season with another one or two races if needed," F1's managing director Ross Brawn said on the organisation's official website.
"Bahrain and Abu Dhabi will be the backstop of the season from what we can see at the moment.
"That gives us 10. We'll find at least five or six good races in the middle."
"There are a number of good European tracks where we could add another one or two races on to make sure we have a comprehensive season."
- Reuters
Sammy gets clarity on potentially racist nickname
Former West Indies cricket captain Darren Sammy says he has accepted a former teammate's explanation of a potentially racist nickname he was given at the Sunrisers Hyderabad and hopes the issue can be used to educate players about racism.
Darren Sammy Photo: Photosport
Earlier, the 36-year-old sought clarification from his former team mates over the nickname 'Kalu' used for him when he was part of the Indian Premier League franchise from 2013-14.
Sammy said he did not know the meaning of the Hindi word that some unnamed Sunrisers teammates would call him and only became aware of its racial connotations after watching a TV show that discussed the issue.
"I'm please(d) to say that I've had a really interesting conversation with one of the guys and we are looking at ways to educate rather than focusing on the negatives," Sammy tweeted.
"My brother reassured me that he operated from a place of love and I believe him."
Separately in a video, Sammy advocated awareness to fight racism.
"It's a great opportunity to educate people about certain things that have been said or done, that even though you don't mean it in any way to be degrading to someone else, but the fact that it can be perceived to (be) that or it could mean that."
- Reuters
Pakistan name team for England tour
Pakistan have recalled pace bowler Sohail Khan and included uncapped batsman Haider Ali in their 29-strong squad for the upcoming tour of England.
The team is scheduled to play three Tests and as many Twenty20 internationals in August-September in a bio-secure environment following the Covid-19 pandemic.
Pakistan Cricket Board selectors have also placed Bilal Asif, Imran Butt, Musa Khan and Mohammad Nawaz on standby to cover for any player who fails pre-tour Covid-19 testing scheduled later this month.
Sohail, 36, has not played test cricket since the 2016 Boxing Day match in Melbourne but has been rewarded for his strong form in domestic cricket.
Haider has also been in impressive form in domestic and under-19 cricket to claim an emerging players' contract for the 2020-21 season.
Fast bowler Mohammad Amir and batsman Haris Sohail pulled out of the tour citing personal reasons.
Amir is expecting his second child while Haris was concerned about exposure to the coronavirus.
- Reuters
Australia to allow 10,000 spectators at small stadiums
Australia will allow crowds of up to 10,000 at small stadiums to watch sport as part of plans to ease social distancing restrictions in July, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said.
Morrison said Australia's states were working toward rules which would let stadiums with capacities of up to 40,000 host up to 10,000 spectators.
Limits on mass gatherings are still in place in Australia and vary between states and territories.
Australia has recorded more than 7,000 coronavirus infections and 102 deaths.
Australia's two biggest professional winter sports, the National Rugby League (NRL) and Australian Football League (AFL), resumed their seasons with matches at closed stadiums but have been given the green light to allow small groups of fans to attend venues.
The NRL is allowing fans at corporate boxes on game-day, while South Australia state authorities approved a crowd of 2000 in the terraces for the AFL match between the Adelaide Crows and Port Power at Adelaide Oval on Saturday.
- Reuters
Fans in the stands for Djokovic's tennis tournament
World number one Novak Djokovic is looking forward to returning to action in front of fans at the Serb's charity tennis tournament in Belgrade this weekend.
Novak Djokovic Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The first leg of Djokovic's Adria Tour is being held at his tennis complex by the Danube River, with Germany's Alexander Zverev, Austrian Dominic Thiem and Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov arriving for the event.
Fans will be able to attend despite the Covid-19 pandemic after the government lifted its ban on outdoor public gatherings.
"We have different circumstances and measures (to other countries) so it's very difficult to think of international standards (regarding the pandemic)," Djokovic said.
"We've had better numbers compared to some other countries. Of course, lives have been lost and that's horrible to see, in the region and worldwide. But life goes on and we as athletes are looking forward to competing.
"You can also criticise us and say this is maybe dangerous but it's not up to me to make the calls what is right or wrong health-wise. We are doing what the Serbian government is telling us and hopefully we soon will get back on tour collectively."
Djokovic said last week that proposed safety protocols at the U.S. Open, scheduled to begin on 31 August, were so extreme it would be impossible to participate and world number seven Zverev backed up his concerns.
Several thousand fans are expected to throng the makeshift stands at Djokovic's complex over the weekend and Thiem said he was delighted to be part of the event.
- Reuters
