Today's sports news: What you need to know

Latest - The Warriors' finals hopes are extinguished after failing to score any points in the second half against the Canberra Raiders in the NRL on Friday night.

The Warriors were ahead 16-6 at halftime, but the Raiders scored five unanswered tries - including two in the last two minutes - to win 28-16 in Mackay.

The win keeps the Raiders in touch with the top eight and ends the Warriors chances of playing finals this year.

Warriors halfback Chad Townsend also re-injuried his shoulder in the loss, with the AC joint issue likely to end his season early.

The The Warriors opened the scoring from the very first set of the game with Sean O'Sullivan crossing the try line after less than a minute's play.

Rocco Berry scored the Warriors' second try in the 18th minute and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak ended his sides scoring with a try in the 25th minute to make it 16-0.

Tom Walsh second in Switzerland

New Zealand shot putter Tom Walsh has finished second in the latest Diamond League meeting in Lausanne.

Walsh threw a best of 22.10 metres, just over half a metre behind Olympic champion Ryan Crouser of the United States.

The Cantabrian was happy with his performance.

"It was a good competition for me today and I was happy to put pressure on Ryan Crouser this time.

"Throwing far early on in the competition to put pressure on Ryan can be a good tactic to try and beat him, Walsh said.

Walsh still leads the overall Diamond League standings.

He'll next compete in Poland next month.

Garbett to Italy

Wellington teenager Matthew Garbett is moving to Italian Serie A club Torino.

The 19 year old has been playing for Falkenbergs in Sweden and played 20 League games.

English clubs Brentford, Crystal Palace and Watford had all shown interest in the forward.

Garbett signed a three-year contract when he joined Falkenbergs from Western Suburbs in January 2020.

He played at the recent Tokyo Olympics.

Garbett is expected to start in Torino's youth team.

Erakovic joins NZ Tennis Board

One of New Zealand's most successful tennis players Marina Erakovic has been appointed to the Tennis New Zealand board.

The former world number 39 in singles, retired from the WTA circuit in 2018 after more than a decade of competition winning one singles title and eight doubles titles.

She reached the third round at Wimbledon three times and the French Open once and also represented New Zealand in the Fed Cup.

Tennis NZ Board chair Terri-Ann Scorer, said Erakovic will bring a valuable palyers perspective to the board.

Erakovic has previous governance experience having served on the WTA board.

Root puts England in control

England captain Joe Root smashed his third hundred in three tests, putting his team in pole position for a series-levelling victory in the third match against India.

Root's majestic 121 headlined a strong top-order performance by the hosts, who had bundled out India for 78 to seize early control of the match at Headingley.

England's top four batsmen helped themselves to 50-plus scores as the hosts finished day two on 423-8 for a massive 345-run lead.

Craig Overton was batting on 24 at stumps, while Ollie Robinson was yet to open his account.

India, who lead the five-test series 1-0, won the second test by 151 runs.

England's players wore black armbands in memory of former captain Ted Dexter, who has died at the age of 86.

-Reuters

Mountainbikers down the field

New Zealand's top mountainbikers have failed to make an impression on the leaders in World Championship cross country short course race in Italy.

Sam Gaze finished 11th, Anton Cooper 13th and Ben Oliver 20th.

The race was won by American Christopher Blevins.

The trio are scheduled to compete in the Olympic distance cross country on Sunday, while New Zealanders will also compete in the downhill events.

Mendy in custody

Manchester City defender Benjamin Mendy has been charged by the Cheshire Constabulary with four counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, with the Premier League club suspending the Frenchman pending an investigation.

The police added Mendy, 27, has been remanded in custody and is set to appear at Chester Magistrates' Court on Friday.

City said in a statement they would not be making any further comment as the matter was subject to a legal process.

Mendy, who has played for France 10 times and won the World Cup in 2018, was signed by City from AS Moncao in 2017.

He has won the Premier League three times with City although injuries have limited his playing time, with the left back undergoing knee surgery in the 2018-19 season.

-Reuters

Real still want Mbappe

Real Madrid have increased their offer to sign Paris St Germain forward Kylian Mbappe to 170 million euros ($287 million) after having an initial 160 million euro bid rejected.

Spanish and French media reported on Tuesday that Real Madrid had made a bid for the 22-year-old World Cup winner, who scored 42 goals in all competitions for PSG last season and has reportedly said he wants to move to Spain.

PSG sporting director Leonardo had said the 160 million euro bid was "not sufficient" and that Mbappe, who has one year left on his current deal, would only leave on the Ligue 1 club's terms.

Mbappe joined PSG from AS Monaco in 2017, initially on loan and then permanently a year later in a deal valued at 180 million euros.

-Reuters

Dane takes 12th stage

Denmark's Magnus Cort Nielsen put the disappointment of being pipped on the previous stage behind him to sprint to victory on stage 12 of the Vuelta a Espana.

Nielsen, who led a breakaway until 200 metres from the stage 11 finish on Wednesday, sprinted to victory after a gruellingly hot 175km route from Jaen to Cordoba in Southern Spain, holding off a late attack from Andrea Bagioli.

The victory represents a fifth career stage win at the Vuelta for the Dane.

Race leader Odd Christian Eiking retained the red jersey after finishing in the peloton, who were awarded the same time as the stage winner.

-Reuters

Dates confirmed for World Cup

The Rugby League World Cup will be held in England between Oct. 15 and Nov. 19 next year, after it was pushed back to 2022.

The World Cup, originally scheduled for Oct. 23-Nov. 27, 2021, was postponed after defending champions Australia as well as New Zealand withdrew in July, citing player welfare and safety concerns amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The dates see the tournament move one week earlier than scheduled in 2021 to maximise attendance and viewership. Work now continues to release a full revised match schedule by no later than the end of the year."

Tickets will be automatically transferred to the corresponding fixture next year, while a general admission ticket refund window will also be opened for those who wish to get refunds," the organisers added.

Australia have dominated the World Cup, winning eight of the last nine tournaments, including six in a row from 1975-2000. New Zealand won the 2008 edition.

-Reuters

Alonso stays at Alpine

Double Formula One world champion Fernando Alonso will remain at the Alpine F1 team for a second season in 2022.

The 40-year-old Spaniard, who had teased a "big announcement" in a coded message on Twitter yesterday, will continue to race alongside Frenchman Esteban Ocon who was handed a fresh three-year deal by the Renault-owned team earlier this season.

Alonso, winner of 32 races, made his Formula One comeback this year after two seasons out during which he competed in the World Endurance Championship and the Dakar rally.

He played a pivotal role in securing team mate Ocon's maiden win at the last race in Hungary by holding up the charging Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton. His fourth-place finish in that race was his best result of the season.

The Spaniard is currently 11th in the overall standings with 38 points.

-Reuters

Ted Dexter dies

Former England captain Ted Dexter has died aged 86 after a recent illness.

Dexter, nicknamed "Lord Ted", was an aggressive batsman and part-time seam bowler who played 62 tests for England after making his debut in 1958 against New Zealand.

He captained England and Sussex in the early 1960s.

Dexter scored 4,502 runs at an average of 47.89 during his test career and took 66 wickets at an average of 34.93.

As a cricket administrator Dexter became chairman of the England selectors between 1989 and 1993.

He also developed a test player ranking system that was formally adopted by the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 2003 and forms the basis of the governing body's current test rankings.

Dexter was later appointed president of MCC and was awarded a CBE in 2001.

-Reuters