The Sport Matrix: Monday 27 April 2015

O’Sullivan warned over rude gesture

Ronnie O’Sullivan found himself in more bother at the World Championship in Sheffield after being warned for making a rude gesture during his second-round match against Matthew Stevens.

Referee Olivier Marteel approached O’Sullivan as he walked to the table at the Crucible when Stevens missed a red, telling him he had noticed his hand gesture, which was thought to have been self-directed.

O’Sullivan avoided a fine in the first round when he briefly played without shoes after a new pair proved uncomfortable.

Brownlee triumphs on injury return

Alistair Brownlee recovered from a fall to take gold in the Cape Town triathlon yesterday, the Briton’s first race of the season after overcoming an ankle injury.

Brownlee was tripped by Spain’s Javier Gomez, who came second, during the 10km run, but he picked himself up to kick on with 1500 metres to go and win by five seconds. The 2012 Olympic champion missed the first three races of the world series.

Meeke dedicates win to late mentor

Kris Meeke triumphed in Rally Argentina yesterday, the first win for a British driver in the World Rally Championship series since the late Colin McRae in 2002. Meeke dedicated the feat to the McRae, Meeke’s mentor who was killed in a helicopter crash in 2007. “The one guy who did most [for my career] isn’t here – this one’s for Colin,” said Meeke.

Bronze is sole Reds player in WSL team

Lucy Bronze was the only player from Liverpool’s championship-winning team to be picked in the Women’s Super League Team of the Year. The 23-year-old England defender joined Manchester City in the close season after clinching back-to-back WSL titles with Liverpool. The league’s runners-up, Chelsea, provided two players in the team, England forward Eniola Aluko and South Korea midfielder Ji So-Yun.

Robson scores winner on debut

Ash Robson, 19, experienced a debut to remember as he scored Castleford’s matching-winning try to see off a depleted Salford side yesterday.

The Red Devils, who were missing 12 players through injury or suspension, had led 10-0 and were still in contention when trailing 16-10, but Robson then went over for the score that sent the Tigers on their way to a 22-20 victory at the AJ Bell Stadium.