respectively but Newport Gwent Dragons win at Kingsholm was the

RIO DE JANEIRO -- The race was billed as the Bledisloe Cup of rowing, but in the end, the trans-Tasman showdown for gold between Australias Kim Brennan and New Zealands Emma Twigg never materialised.Brennan dominated from start to finish, painting Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas in brilliant green and gold, while Twigg was left trailing in her wake.Brennan saved Australian rowing here in Rio. Australia used to be a superpower, but after an absence of golds at London 2012 and just two silvers here heading into Saturday, the panic button was being readied. But then came along Brennan who stormed home.Campaign Number One, an initiative to establish Australia as the worlds best, will be launched after the Rio Games, but Brennans triumph here will give them a secure platform from which to inspire the next generation.Brennan, who chairs the Australia Olympic Committees Athletes Commission, is a reluctant hero, but lived up to her tag of favourite heading into the race and embraced the pressure.One of the dangers of our sport is around the dangers of where youll be or where you wont be, Brennan said. This sport has always been about getting the most out of yourself and being calm under pressure.The most pressure comes from myself because I know how much Ive put into this over the years.I was away from my husband for three-and-a-half months, and its really quite a selfish thing to do, and the pressure was partly because I wanted to make it feel worthwhile.You can walk away incredibly happy if you know youve given the best show of yourself, and Im so chuffed to have a gold medal.After winning bronze and silver in 2012 she established dominance in the single sculls -- the last time she failed to win a race before she got to Rio was in 2014, with Twigg taking that one.But it wasnt straightforward from the start in Rio. She struggled in the first heat amid the windy conditions and choppy waters but found her stride in the semifinals where she faced Twigg.It was all geared up for a wonderful battle between the two in the final after Twigg challenged Brennan in the semis with a late sprint she hoped would give her Aussie rival and friend something to think about.But as Brennan looked up to Cristo Redentor and found a tranquility -- I just thought how bloody cool is this -- it was commanding from Brennan as she won by 1:38 ahead of USAs Genevra Stone with Twigg in fourth.I went into it with a technical focus, to sit up and keep the beat up a bit more, Brennan said. I was racing my race and that worked in my favour. When the crosswind kicked in, that makes it harder for people to sprint, so I just stayed calm in those closing stages.Competitiveness and sporting prowess is embedded in Brennans blood. Her father Max Crow played AFL for Essendon, St Kilda and Footscray, and she is married to Scott Brennan who, before today, won Australias last rowing gold in 2008.It was funny, she said. The song they played when I went to the podium was the song we played for our wedding dance, but it was just one of those moments where it just felt like it was meant to be.But I can stop feeling inadequate. My husband has a gold medal, so now were even.Its a bit ironic that sportspeople are held up as heroes. In reality were the lucky ones. Were living our dreams, so I want to be there for my family more and be a better support to the people around me.The bad news for Brennan is now she will have to find new things to visualise when she allows her mind to drift: the gold is proof that dreams do come true.Its one of those things where you do so much visualisation and you imagine that moment so many times, Brennan said. Just crossing the line I couldnt work out whether that was actually it or that was just my imagination again; I cant really believe it. Custom Mets Jersey China . -- The Portland Timbers and Real Salt Lake played to a 0-0 tie Saturday night that left the top of the Western Conference standings unchanged. Cheap Custom Mets Jersey . Its an influence in football and a big part of the game. http://www.custommetsjersey.com/ . -- Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson asked his players a simple question during Fridays morning shootaround: How many of them had ever been on a team 14 games over . Custom Mookie Wilson Jersey . Those lessons were more than enough to overwhelm the Utah Jazz. Lou Williams scored 25 points and the Hawks continued their offensive upswing as they rolled to an easy 118-85 victory over the Jazz on Friday night, winning their third straight and for the fourth time in five games. Custom Mets Jerseys . The 25-year-old Japanese star has officially been posted by his club team, the Rakuten Golden Eagles.English teams enjoy European resurgence and Racing 92 dethrone Toulon; Stuart Barnes casts an eye over the rugby world 1. On Sunday, Leicester completed a wonderful weekend of European Champions Cup rugby for the Premiership clubs. From five, the number has reduced to three but even Exeter and Northampton can take plenty from the desolation that Chiefs in particular tasted.The three sides that will compete for a place in the final have not turned the tables on the French because of a sudden influx of money (which there obviously is) but because of the quality and ambition of the rugby they are playing. There is one key word - ambition. It didnt used to be a part of the Saracens rugby lexicon but all that has changed. Leicester have always played a bit more rugby than the old clichés allowed us to believe, while Wasps simply havent been good enough for a while.This time around all has changed. In the pool stages they were Englands most impressive teams. It is good to see a bit, hell, a whole lot, of positive thinking being rewarded after some dark years of inadequacy and bleating. Vereniki Goneva scores his second and Leicesters fourth try 2. Having praised the trio, it must be said that Saracens need to up their game when they meet Wasps in what will be a highlight of rugby this season.Against Northampton, they appeared complacent but listening to their skipper Brad Barritt talking to Graham Simmons post-match, I was fascinated to hear how he thought his team were afraid to lose.Thats a world away from complacency but what does it actually mean? From my playing days with a Bath team typically expected to win, it was something that crept upon a team when defeat felt inconceivable.As the Saints, already underdogs and injury ridden, saw men like Tom Wood, Kieran Brookes and the match-changing George North drop out, maybe deep down, beyond even the words of their coach, this worm got into their system. They wont have a fear of losing against Wasps, thats for sure. Billy Vunipola of Saracens didnt hit the highs of previous games against Saints 3. A sloppy performance from the favourites but another compelling individual cameo from Chris Ashton. Three tries in his two comeback games - if a wingers prime responsibility is to score - then he is straight back into the mix not only for the England tour party but the Test team for Australia.He must have tracked fully 70 to 80 metres behind his screening colleagues before changing gear and accelerating through a previously unseen gap to dive over. The splash is welcome back. Chris Ashton has scored three tries in two games since his return from suspension 4. No such celebrations for Exeter. Not at full-time, anyway. To see the animation on the usually poker-faced Rob Baxter through the course of the game was to see just how much this quarter-final match meant to Exeter.Baxters team have been on a journey where every defeat has been cosseted by their managers explanation of the game in the scheme of their journey. On Saturday, the setback translated into probably the first savage disappointment for the men of Devon.There was no safety net this time, only pain. How they bounce back from this defeat will be a test of team and management. I expect them to pull through. Rob Baxter, head coach of Exeter Chiefs 5. Resilience, a fearlessness to play from their try line and a super sub in the shape of Dai Youngs own son, Thomas, turned the tide against the Exeter pick-and-drive onslaught. Junior, superb against Northampton last week, came on after an hour and it was his turnover near Wasps try line that changed the face of the game.The fact that he also made a crucial break in the build-up to the Charles Piatau try - which gave Wasps the hope to transform into victory - makes him my Wasp of the day, despite the heroic Jimmy Gopperths kick at the finish. Highlights of the Champions Cup quarter-final between Wasps and Exeter. 6. One day later, the Tigers produced a terrific effort against an admittedly disappointing Stade Francais team. Losing is a habit and its one the French champions couldnt shake. Yet lets not discredit Leicester. This is a season where they are in full-blown transition with Aaron Mauger making them into a Super Rugby team (or heading that way.)They are not the finished article; they are not even the best team in their own country. But European Cups are not always won by the leading team.Northampton and Bath were certainly not the best teams in Europe in their winning years but the tournament - when it comes to the crunch - is a cup and anything can happen on a one-off occasion.ddddddddddddI still dont think Leicester will win the European Champions Cup but with only two games left and one of them against a French team in Nottingham, it would take a brave man to dismiss them. I wont be. Highlights of Leicester v Stade Francais 7. A word of praise for Maxime Machenaud. He fluffed a kick to beat Toulon from in front of the posts, five minutes from time, 35 metres out.Three minutes later he had a shot at redemption and he took it. Yes, it was in front of the posts but pressure can do strange things to even the coolest. Just think what happened to Jordan Spieth when he quadruple-bogeyed his way out of contention at Augusta later that night. Dan Carter after Racing 92 beat Toulon 8. Toulons epic odyssey has come to an end and three consecutive trophies is quite a feat for teams to now try to match.We didnt always love the team and the money that helped make a grand old club into Europes finest modern side. But respect to the men like Matt Giteau who never left an ounce of effort behind.Even in defeat, his 60-minute effort after four months out with injury, was worthy of the highest praise. He sums up this side of all-stars but also, all hearts. Toulons Delon Armitage found defeat tough to take 9. A brief mention for the Challenge Cup. It was a good week for the competition. We had four competitive and classy quarter-finals with strong teams fighting for the trophy.London Irish and Connacht deserve mentions for their brave but losing efforts at Harlequins and Grenoble respectively but Newport Gwent Dragons win at Kingsholm was the performance of the weekend.Montpellier away is hardly a reward but youve gotta be in it. Jonathan Wisniewski scored 23 points in Grenobles victory over Connacht 10. A throw forward to this weekend and a huge pair of games live on Sky Sports. Scarlets slip against Cardiff Blues at home a week ago means they need a win to cement their top-four position.The problem is their visitors are the defending champions - Glasgow. Up to third place in the table, Gregor Townsends charging team have their eyes on a home semi-final and a repeat triumph in Edinburgh.And then Connacht meet Munster. Pat Lams boys can take a gigantic step towards a home semi-final with a victory. That would be a hammer blow for the under pressure but ever-defiant Munster team.Anthony Foley could do with an old fashioned 80 minutes of Munster magic in Galway. Any conjurers left in that part of Ireland? Glasgow Warriors coach Gregor Townsend Also See: Team of the week Cockerill confident Carter eyes reunion Sky Sports pundits ' ' '