We look back on the last seven days from the world of sport, picking out some of the highs and lows...
We picks out some of the major moments from the past week
It's only a game. That's what your mother used to tell you when you were young, right? Well, that simply isn't true. There is a thin line between success and failure in sport, and there's no doubting which side we all want to be on.
Over the past seven days some have achieved moments to remember, while others have come up short in their pursuit for success.
We take a look back at the winners and losers from the last seven days -
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Good Week...
Luke Donald
Two weeks. That's exactly how long Rory McIlroy got as world number one before Donald overtook him again in the rankings. The Englishman returned to top spot thanks to his
play-off victory at the Transitions Championship, a birdie at the first extra hole proving enough to pip Jim Furyk, Robert Garrigus and Bae Sang-Moon in the sudden-death shoot-out. Donald's success on American soil is the perfect preparation ahead of the Masters, as he bids to end his quest for a maiden major at Augusta. His efforts also boosted his bank balance to the tune of $990,000.
Wales
Winning the Grand Slam is starting to become a regular thing for Wales, who on Saturday completed a clean sweep in this year's RBS Six Nations with a
nervy 16-9 triumph over France in Cardiff. A first-half try from winger Alex Cuthbert and 11 points from the boot of Leigh Halfpenny proved enough for the home side to secure a third Slam in the space of eight years, while it is their second under the stewardship of Warren Gatland. The victory avenged their World Cup semi-final loss to the same opponents five months ago, while it also served as a fitting tribute to the legendary Mervyn Davies, the 1976 Slam skipper who passed away on the Thursday before the match.
Jenson Button
Button enjoyed a perfect start to the 2012 Formula One season on Sunday,
taking a superb win at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne. Much of the pre-race talk was of fellow McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton's apparent return to top form after the 2008 world champion took pole position at Albert Park. However Button, who out-scored Hamilton over the course of 2011, showed he will take some budging as McLaren's top dog by passing his team-mate at the start and going on to take a comfortable win.
Roger Federer
Not even illness could stop Federer firing in Indian Wells, the Swiss star claiming the BNP Paribas Open for a
record fourth time in his career thanks to a 7-6 (9-7) 6-3 triumph over big-serving American John Isner. In-form Fed has now won third straight titles on the ATP Tour, following on from his recent successes in Rotterdam and Dubai, while he has now won 15 matches on the spin. His run to the final saw him get the better of long-term rival Rafael Nadal, one of only two men to beat him so far in 2012. The other? Isner, in Davis Cup action.
Bad Week...
Matthew Macklin
There was to be no celebrating for Birmingham-born Irishman Macklin on St Patrick's Day as his brave bid to become a world champion in New York ended in defeat. The 29-year-old put up a superb display against
middleweight king Sergio Martinez but fell short in the final reckoning, two knockdowns in the 11th round resulting in his corner pulling him out before the bell sounded for the final round. It was another case of 'so near, so far' for Macklin, who lost a controversial points decision to German Felix Sturm last year.
Scotland
While Scotland fans would have hoped their country wouldn't end the Six Nations campaign empty-handed, no one would've wanted them to end up with the wooden spoon.
A 13-6 defeat to Italy in Rome condemned Andy Robinson's side to bottom place in the final table, the Scots suffering their first whitewash in the tournament since 2004. Giovanbattista Venditti scored the only try of the game in a scrappy affair at the Stadio Olimpico to give the Italians their only win. As for Scotland, questions will now be asked over Robinson's future in the job...
St Helens
It simply goes from bad to worse for Saints,
a narrow 12-8 loss at Bradford on Saturday evening meaning they have now suffered their worst start to a Super League season their illustrious history. They have managed just one point from their last five outings and worryingly found themselves sitting outside the play-off places in the table. The poor run of form led to drastic measures on Monday -
the club decided to part ways with coach Royce Simmons, placing Mike Rush in temporary charge of first-team affairs. The fixture list has not been kind to the new man - Saints next face Leeds - the team that beat them in last year's Grand Final - on Sunday.
Kauto Star
All the talk in the run up to the Cheltenham Gold Cup was whether Kauto Star could win the race for a third time at the age of 12. The race was billed as a head-to-head with last year's winner Long Run - but it never materialised. Kauto was never going well and was pulled up by jockey Ruby Walsh on the first circuit, with retirement now beckoning for arguably the horse of the century, while Long Run ran below par and finished third.
Instead it was Tony McCoy and Synchronised who came out on top, catching up with the 50-1 outsider The Giant Bolster on the run-in to the finishing post.
