Fernando Alonso won a thrilling Australian Grand Prix on Sunday, opening up a 14-point margin over his main championship rival Kimi Raikkonen in the process, writes James Allen in Melbourne.

This was one of the most spectacular races for many years and only 13 of the 22 starters made it to the chequered flag. Both Ferraris were destroyed in separate accidents, Jenson Button's Honda engine blew up 100 metres from the finish line, and local hero Mark Webber retired while leading the race. There was drama even before the race had started as Juan Pablo Montoya spun his McLaren on the parade lap, then Giancarlo Fisichella stalled his Renault on the grid, which forced him to start from the pit lane.

At the start, pole sitter Button held off a fast-starting Alonso, with the McLaren duo of Raikkonen and Montoya fighting a fierce duel in the opening corners. Ferrari's Felipe Massa's heavy crash with Williams' Nico Rosberg brought out the first safety car and at the restart Button's Honda could not get temperature into his tyres and Alonso breezed past him into the lead.

The safety car was out again a lap later as Red Bull's Christian Klien smashed into a wall. At the second restart Button was passed by Raikkonen, but the Finn flat spotted a tyre and the resulting vibration damaged his front wing and caused him to drop off Alonso's pace.

The cool track temperatures meant many drivers struggled to get grip from their tyres and Michael Schumacher was very slow in the middle part of the race, eventually crashing as he tried to fight some speed from his car.

This brought out the third safety car and the front runners chose this moment to pit. Raikkonen changed his front wing, but problems fitting it lost him a further 10 seconds to Alonso. A few laps later the safety car was deployed again following a big accident involving the Toro Rosso car of Tonio Liuzzi. This gave Raikkonen the chance to close up on Alonso for the final 16 laps, but the Renault driver had it covered and drove smartly on to his second win in three races. Raikkonen finished second with Ralf Schumacher third.

*The weekend’s football may have breathed the semblance of life into the title race, but for sides around the middle of the table - especially those with FA Cup concerns - the season is already winding down, writes Jonathan Wilson at Upton Park. West Ham and Charlton may be only six miles apart, but proximity does not necessarily breed ferocity and the most significant incident of Sunday's lifeless goalless draw was the ankle injury suffered by Luke Young.

After Charlton's captain hobbled off with his left ankle heavily strapped there must be fears about his fitness to take his place as England's reserve right-back at the World Cup.

There have been suggestions - slightly outlandish, admittedly - that Teddy Sheringham is worth a wild card selection for his wit and experience. On Sunday, though, on his 40th birthday, he was looking his age, and the close-range 83rd-minute half-volley that drew a smart reaction save from Thomas Myhre was his only real involvement in a game of which West Ham had the better.

Lee Cattermole's first Middlesbrough goal proved decisive as Manchester City were beaten 1-0 at the City of Manchester Stadium. The youngster won the match with a fine header three minutes before the break. But had it not been for a string of fine saves from City's David James, the margin of defeat could have been far greater.

Hearts hammered Edinburgh rivals Hibernian 4-0 to reach their first Scottish FA Cup final in eight years. Scotland international and former Hibs forward Paul Hartley hit a hat-trick to send Hearts on their way to the final against third division shock team Gretna. Edgaras Jankauskas slotted home the other goal.

*French rugby retrieved something from a chastening Heineken Cup weekend, ensuring semi-final representation at the last when Biarritz beat Sale 11-6, writes Huw Richards from the Estadi Anoeta. The Basque club will cross into Spain again later this month to entertain Bath - surprise 15-12 winners at Leicester - at the Anoeta.

Amid a ferment of Basque consciousness, each side found their good intentions thwarted by their own imprecision of execution and the defensive organisation of the other. There was not an immense amount to choose between two teams who lead their national leagues, but Biarritz were always marginally stronger, quicker and more penetrative.

All the first-half points were scored in an eight- minute burst, two penalties from Dimitri Yachvili for Biarritz and one from Charlie Hodgson for Sale. Then Fijian wing Sireli Bobo claimed the only try in the 32nd minute. Biarritz worked him into a small amount of space down their left and he swerved outside Mark Cueto's tackle to score.

The other semi-final is an all-Irish clash in Dublin. Munster, who beat Perpignan 19-10 to reach their sixth semi in seven years, will meet a Leinster team who produced the performance of the cup so far, beating holders Toulouse 41-35.

*Oxford overcame awful conditions to win the 152nd University Boat Race on Sunday. It was their fourth victory in the past five encounters. Cambridge, who had been favourites, took on a lot of water and were unable to catch the Dark Blues.