AMERICAN FOOTBALL: The Seattle Seahawks cruised to a 34-14 win over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, earning a trip to the Super Bowl to face the Pittsburgh Steelers on February 5th.
The Seahawks' defence forced four turnovers, including three interceptions from Carolina quarterback Jake Delhomme, and kept Panthers' wide receiver Steve Smith in check en route to their first trip to the Super Bowl.
The Steelers defeated the Denver Broncos 34-17 after Ben Roethlisberger threw for two touchdowns and ran for another.
They turned two first-half turnovers by Denver quarterback Jake Plummer into touchdowns on the way to a 24-3 half-time lead. The Broncos, who lost for the first time at home this season, never led.
EQUESTRIAN
Panel to pick manager: The Equestrian Federation of Ireland (EFI), which took over team selection for international show jumping squads at a meeting with Show Jumping Association of Ireland and Irish Sports Council representatives last Friday, have now agreed to form a panel to select a new team manager for the sport.
The EFI executive have nominated a "representative panel", which will convene under an independent chairman. The chairman will be nominated by the Irish Sports Council.
The role of team manager has been under discussion for some months, and although Robert Splaine has been named as the heir apparent, no contract has yet been agreed. Grania Willis
ROWING
Fifth crew rescued: A fifth crew taking part in the Atlantic Rowing Race has had to be rescued.
Chris Barrett and Bob Warren of the double Spirit of Cornwall had only 200 miles of the 2,931-mile race from the Canaries to Antigua to complete when they were forced to send out a distress signal.
Barrett and Warren were spotted in a life raft and the support yacht Aurora came to their rescue early yesterday morning in very difficult conditions.
Irishman Paul Gleeson and Canadian Tori Holmes passed halfway on Sunday.
They have upped their mileage in recent days and may finish towards the end of next month. Liam Gorman
SNOOKER
Higgins turns attention to World Championship: New Wembley Masters champion John Higgins is hopeful his title-winning form will help him become a multiple World Championship winner.
Higgins' amazing 10-9 victory over defending champion Ronnie O'Sullivan gripped a packed Wembley Conference Centre late on Sunday night.
The Scot has now won two Masters crowns and a staggering 26 major titles since he turned professional in 1992.
He won the World Championship in 1998 and started this season with a 9-2 victory over world number one O'Sullivan to win the Grand Prix title in Preston.
Now Higgins is focused on snooker's biggest prize.
He wants to join seven-time winner Stephen Hendry, six-time winner Steve Davis and the likes of Ray Reardon, John Spencer, Mark Williams, Alex Higgins and O'Sullivan on the list of multiple-winners.
"It's the World Championship where I would like to be a multiple winner," said Higgins. "I want to join that group of players who have done that."
"Winning the Masters this year has been a dream come true, but now I want to win the World Championship again."
Higgins' victory earned him £125,000 in prize-money, taking his career earnings past the £4 million mark.
The match swayed from side to side, Higgins winning five frames on the spin having trailed following the loss of the opening three. And, despite O'Sullivan three times hitting back to level (5-5, 7-7 and 8-8), and having led 9-8, it was Higgins who ultimately held his nerve.
