Sport

Today's sports news: What you need to know

10:31 am on 3 October 2020

Latest - New Zealand squash player Joelle King has lost in the semi-finals of the World Tour Finals in Egypt.

Photo: PSA World Tour 2020

The eighth seed has been beaten 18-20, 11-8, 11-2 by Egyptian fifth seed Hania El Hammamy.

King won a titanic first game in 30 minutes before running out of steam.

El Hammamy levelled the match by winning a tightly fought second game and then just took eight minutes to win the third.

She will face fellow Egyptian Nour El Tayeb in the final.

Another Liverpool player tests positive

Liverpool forward Sadio Mane has become the second player from the English Premier League champions to test positive for COVID-19 this week.

Photo: PHOTOSPORT

The club has said in a statement that the Senegalese, who scored in Monday's 3-1 league win over Arsenal, has displayed minor symptoms of the virus but feels in good health overall.

On Tuesday, Liverpool's new midfield signing Thiago Alcantara tested positive and was also reported to be displaying minor symptoms.

"Liverpool Football Club are and - will continue to - follow all protocols relating to COVID-19 and Mane will self-isolate for the required period of time," said the statement.

Liverpool visit Aston Villa on Monday morning (NZT).

Cleary masterclass downs Roosters

Nathan Cleary has put the Penrith Panthers one win away from their first NRL grand final in 17 years.

Photo: PHOTOSPORT

The Panthers halfback has scored three tries, kicked four goals and a field goal to lead Penrith to a 29-28 win over the Sydney Roosters in their qualifying final.

Cleary's field goal was ultimately the difference between the two sides as the Roosters came back from 28-10 down to set up a thrilling finish.

The Panthers have now earned a week off ahead of their preliminary final later this month.

The Roosters will now play an elimination final next week as they attempt to win a third straight NRL title.

Auckland edge BOP

Auckland's held on to beat Bay of Plenty 20-16 in Rotorua in the opening match of round four of the Mitre 10 Cup.

Photo: Photosport Ltd 2020

Winger Salesi Rayasi scored two tries for Auckland, who led 17-9 at halftime.

The Aucklanders have claimed the John Drake Boot for 2020 and are now second in the premiership standings, a point behind the defending champion Tasman Mako who visit North Harbour tomorrow (Sunday).

Winless Counties-Manukau and Manawatu will meet in this afternoon's first match in Pukekohe, before Northland host Taranaki in Whangarei.

Tonight Canterbury will square-off against Wellington in Christchurch with the red and blacks trying to avoid a third straight defeat.

Next Rugby World Cup draw to take place in December

The draw for the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France will take place in Paris on Dec. 14 using seedings based on the world rankings taken after last year's tournament.

Rugby World Cup Photo: RWC

Officials said it was the "least-worst option" following the disruption of the international calendar in 2020.

However, recognising the potential for major swings in form and personnel over such a long period, the Rugby World Cup Board has also recommended that the draw for future tournaments should take place no earlier than one year before the event.

Twelve teams have automatically qualified owing to a top-three place in their 2019 World Cup pools -- champions South Africa, England, Wales, New Zealand, Japan, France, Australia, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, Argentina and Fiji.

The remaining eight teams will come through the regional qualification process.

The rankings for the draw have South Africa, New Zealand, England and Wales in the top band. Ireland, Australia, France, and Japan are in Band Two, with Scotland, Argentina, Fiji and Italy in Band Three. Bands Four and Five consist of qualifiers.

- Reuters

Venus exits French Open

Michael Venus and his Australian playing partner John Peers have suffered a shock second round defeat at the French Open in Paris.

Photo: PHOTOSPORT

They've been beaten in straight sets, 7-6 (3) 6-3 by Denmark's Freddie Nielsen and Germany's Tim Puetz.

Venus, the 2017 men's double champion with American Ryan Harrison, and Peers were the 11th seeds in the men's doubles and in a rich vein of form having won the European Open title in Hamburg last Monday.

Rafael Nadal has raced through to the last 16 of the men's singles.

The 12-time champion has needed little over an hour and a half to beat Italian Stefano Travaglia in the third round.

US Open champion Dominic Thiem and women's top seed Simona Halep have also booked their places in the fourth round.