Sports digest

A round-up of today's other stories in brief

Favre walks away for good this time

AMERICAN FOOTBALL:Record-breaking quarterback Brett Favre sat out the final game of what he has called his last NFL season at the weekend and then said he knew it finally was time to walk away.

After watching with the lingering effects of a concussion while his Minnesota Vikings capped a disappointing season with a 20-13 loss to the Detroit Lions, Favre suggested the risk of injury was a factor in his decision.

“If you just talked about head injuries, and there’s been lots of discussion on that this year, it wouldn’t be worth it anyway. But it’s time. I know it’s time. And that’s okay. It is,” Favre said.

The 41-year-old has come out of retirement twice before, but after 20 seasons in the NFL the career record holder in nearly every major category for passing simply said it was time.

“I hold no regrets, and I can’t think of too many players off hand that can walk away and say that,” said Favre.

Despite his advancing years, Favre had one of the best statistical seasons of his career in 2009, throwing for over 4,200 yards, 33 touchdowns and leading the Vikings to the NFC Championship game.

The Indianapolis Colts, Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks secured places in the play-offs on Sunday in an exciting climax to the NFL’s regular season.

The Packers beat the Chicago Bears 10-3 and will visit the Philadelphia Eagles in the wildcard round next week. Green Bay’s victory denied the New York Giants a place in the play-offs even though they beat the Washington Redskins 17-14.

NFL PLAY-OFFS – Wild Card weekend: Saturday (NFC) – New Orleans Saints at Seattle Seahawks; (AFC) – New York Jets at Indianapolis Colts. Sunday (AFC) – Baltimore Ravens at Kansas City Chiefs; (NFC) – Green Bay Packers at Philadelphia Eagles.

Divisional play-offs: Saturday, January 15th (AFC) – Indianapolis or Kansas City or Baltimore at Pittsburgh Steelers; (NFC) – Seattle or New Orleans or Green Bay at Atlanta Falcons; Sunday, January 16th (NFC) – Philadelphia or Seattle or New Orleans at Chicago Bears; (AFC) – Kansas City or Baltimore or New York Jets at New England Patriots.

AFC/NFC Conference championships – Sunday, January 23rd.

Super Bowl – Dallas, Texas – Sunday, February 6th.

Sainz extends lead in Dakar Rally

MOTOR SPORT: Carlos Sainz extended his lead in the Dakar Rally after yesterday's second stage, the Cordoba to San Miguel leg in Argentina.

The Volkswagen driver picked up his second-straight stage win and is three minutes and five seconds clear of X-Raid BMW’s Stephane Peterhansel.

Second quickest was Sainz’s team-mate Nasser Al-Attiyah, who is 14 seconds shy of Peterhansel in the overall standings.

DAKAR RALLY – Leading Positions after Stage 2 (Cordoba — San Miguel de Tucuman, Road section 440km, Special 300km) – Cars: 1 Sainz (Spa) Cruz (Spa) Volkswagen 03hrs 11mins 28secs, 2 Al-Attiyah (Qat) Gottschalk (Ger) Volkswagen 03:12:31, 3 Peterhansel (Fra) Cottret (Fra) BMW 03:13:02, 4 De Villiers (Rsa) Von Zitzewitz (Ger) Volkswagen 03:17:11, 5 Terranova (Arg) Palmeiro (Por) BMW 03:19:42.

Overall – Cars: 1 Sainz (Spa) Cruz (Spa) Volkswagen 05hrs 30mins 00sec, 2 Peterhansel (Fra) Cottret (Fra) BMW 05:33:05, 3 Al-Attiyah (Qat) Gottschalk (Ger) Volkswagen 05:33:19, 4 De Villiers (Rsa) Von Zitzewitz (Ger) Volkswagen 05:40:49, 5 Holowczyc (Pol) Fortin (Bel) BMW 05:46:04,

Davies opposed to recall for Henson

RUGBY: Former Wales dual-code star Jonathan Davies says Gavin Henson does not deserve to be considered for a recall to the Wales squad on current form.

Henson (28), made his first start for two years in Saracens’ 28-22 loss to Sale on Sunday, but lasted just 53 minutes before being substituted.

The ex-Osprey has said he wants to be selected for Wales’ Six Nations squad.

“Henson doesn’t deserve to be anywhere near the squad and I think everyone is fed up with it,” Davies said.

“He played (on Sunday), didn’t perform, okay if he doesn’t play why should he be in the squad?

“We all know what kind of player he is. He had an hour in a position he didn’t play but it was his choice to go to Saracens. Unless he plays he is not considered, simple as that . . . you can’t pick a guy on reputation of one or two games.”

Sharapova the hottest ticket

TENNIS:Maria Sharapova underlined her pulling power yesterday with Auckland Classic organisers confirming they had sold out all of the day sessions for the entire tournament just minutes before she stepped on court for her first round match.

Sharapova, making her first appearance in New Zealand, received an enormous cheer from the 3,200 fans, before overcoming a nervous start to beat Alberta Brianti 6-2 6-3.

Murray's singles win can't save Britain in Hopman tie

TENNIS:A jet-lagged Andy Murray won his opening match of the year yesterday but it was not enough to prevent Britain from losing 2-1 to Italy in the Hopman Cup mixed team event in Perth, Australia.

On a day when the US whitewashed France 3-0, world number four Murray brought Britain level with Italy by beating Potito Starace 7-5 6-1 after French Open champion Francesca Schiavone had beaten Laura Robson 7-5 6-3.

However, the Britons were edged out 6-7 7-6 7-6 in the deciding mixed doubles.

“It was a very long first day of the year,” Murray said.

“It’s disappointing we didn’t win but hopefully we can come through in the next one.”

Murray found it hard going in the hot and humid conditions inside the Burswood Dome but after a slow start, he overpowered Starace, breaking once to win the first set and then cruising through the second.