Pulse sportstalk: some you win, some you lose ...
Some you win, some you lose
Matthew Hunter reflects on a week of sport ...
Mostly sport is a results game: a win is a win. Or is it?
Can a brave defeat be better than an unconvincing victory: well, many watchers of England’s rugby union side might say so. Furthermore, there’s the question of at what cost a win is secured: the controversy surrounding Thierry Henry’s ‘handiwork’ suggests that cheating your way to triumph is a shameful shortcut.
Lets deal with rugby union first. In the build up to the All Blacks encounter, performance rather than result seemed to be the chief priority: thankfully the team delivered a more convincing demonstration, though question marks remain over how far the side have come during Martin Johnson’s tenure. It finished England 6 New Zealand 19. Elsewhere the home nations standard was kept high with Wales’ Shane William’s inspired 33-16 win against Argentina and the Scots' epic 9-8 triumph over Australia.
What can we say about the debacle last Wednesday? Shocking, disgraceful, unsporting spring to mind. Perhaps most obviously: please, please can we have video technology in football …
The Irish can feel rightly aggrieved following France’s false 2-1 win on aggregate, Thierry Henry (pictured above playing for Barcelona) twice handling the ball before passing to William Gallas, who sickeningly scored. Even if the referee didn’t see it and the game therefore can’t be replayed because he technically didn’t make a mistake, will any neutrals now be supporting France in 2010? Some contrition has been shown, but that doesn’t do the Irish much good. (Most people are probably more sympathetic than Roy Keane!)
Following a barren spell, Lee Westwood proved his winning metal with a spectacular result at the conclusion of the ‘Race to Dubai’, securing not only a hefty cheque for the World Championship title, but top spot in Europe too. Let’s hope he can convert his form (23 under par!) into a major before long: promising signs too from overall runner-up Rory McIlroy (despite an unfortunate incident with an advertising hoarding …).
In South Africa, Paul Collingwood was the star with a commanding batting and fielding display: 105 runs, an excellent catch off AB de Villiers and the satisfaction of 2-24 from six overs. The English win in the second one-day international was secured by a significant seven wicket margin.
We … desire to live honourably in every way. (Hebrews 13:18)
- Matthew Hunter is a Christian writer exploring a vocation to Church of England ministry
