14 Feb 2021

Today's sports news: What you need to know

2:26 pm on 14 February 2021

Latest - New Zealander Sam Tanner has bettered the A qualifying standard for the Tokyo Olympics, and run a personal best by nearly two seconds in the United States.

Sam Tanner

Sam Tanner Photo: Photosport

The 20-year-old Tauranga athlete clocked 3 minutes 34.72 seconds indoor grand prix meeting in New York, breaking Nick Willis's indoor record of 3:35.80 set 11 years ago.

Willis, who has won Olympic bronze and silver over 1500m, was also in the same race, finishing seventh in 3:37.53. The 37-year-old tweeted his congratulations afterwards, saying "NZ mid distance is in great hands for the next decade".

Tanner's previous best of 3:36.44 was set at the Tauranga Twilight meeting on January 1.

Wales edge Scotland in second-half comeback

Wales roared back from a 17-3 halftime deficit to complete a remarkable 25-24 Six Nations win over Scotland at Murrayfield, in a crackling encounter that saw momentum shift time and again.

2021 Guinness Six Nations Championship Round 2, BT Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh, Scotland 13/2/2021
Scotland vs Wales
Wales' players celebrates Louis Rees-Zammit scoring a try 
Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Craig Watson

Wales' players celebrates Louis Rees-Zammit scoring a try against Scotland. Photo: © INPHO 2021

Winger Darcy Graham darted onto a clever chip from Ali Price to score the first try, before the effervescent Scotland captain Stuart Hogg collected his own kick through to add another.

After barely firing a shot in the first period, however, Wales fought back with tries from Louis Rees-Zammit and Liam Williams. Prop Wyn Jones thudded over after a driving maul to score a third.

A 54th minute red card for Zander Fagerson appeared to seal Scotland's fate, but Hogg reclaimed the lead for the home side with yet another brilliant score.

The last laugh belonged to Wales in a breathless finale, however, as Rees-Zammit scored his second try via his own brilliant chip-and-chase.

-Reuters

Two-try Watson leads England to comfortable win over Italy

England put last week's Scotland defeat behind them with a six-try 41-18 Six Nations victory over Italy at Twickenham as Anthony Watson scored two tries and Jonny May claimed a memorable one with an astonishing, acrobatic leap.

Italy took a shock second-minute lead with a try by Monty Ioane but England eventually took control with tries by Johnny Hill, Watson and, via an American-football style dive over a defender, May.

The hugely impressive Watson got his second via a long-range interception then flanker Jack Willis came off the bench to score, before being carried off on a stretcher soon after with a serious-looking knee injury.

Italy grabbed a second through Tommaso Allan before England hit back through Elliot Daly, but were unable to add to their tally despite dominating the last 10 minutes.

-Reuters

Daniell through in men's doubles in Melbourne

New Zealand's Marcus Daniell and his Austrian partner Philip Oswald have battled their way into the third round of the men's doubles at the Australian Open in Melbourne.

They fought back from a break down in the first set to beat Germany's Dominik Koepfer and American Tennys Sandgren 7-6 (4) 6-7(3) 6-2 in 2 hours 06.

Daniell and Oswald will be straight back out on court Sunday for their third-round match against American's Nicolas Monroe and Francis Tiafoe.

New Zealand number one Michael Venus meanwhile and his Australian partner John Peers will have another day off before the 10th seeds take on 5th seeds Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury on Monday for a place in the quarter finals.

Rohit ton helps India weather top-order collapse against England

Opener Rohit Sharma smashed 161 while India's other top-order batsmen fell cheaply, helping the home side build to 300-6 on the opening day of the second match against England at Chennai's MA Chidambaram Stadium on Saturday.

At 86-3, India looked to have thrown away any chance of batting themselves into a strong position on a pitch where runs are going to be harder to come by as the match progresses.

But Rohit's 162-run partnership with Ajinkya Rahane dragged the hosts back into the contest, before England dismissed both in the final session.

Rishabh Pant was batting on 33 at stumps, with debutant Axar Patel on five at the other end.

-Reuters