Today in sports history: June 10 - History made between NZ Warriors, Melbourne Storm

George Gattis is tackled during the Storm v Warriors clash in 2007
George Gattis is tackled during the Storm v Warriors clash in 2007 Photo credit: Getty

Some stories of the past that led sporting headlines around the world on June 10.

1934 

Italy wins the second Football World Cup, trumping Czechoslovakia 2-1 in Rome.

Reigning world champions Uruguay, who were regarded as the greatest team of all time at that point, refused to participate in the tournament, because they felt Europe had snubbed the inaugural tournament four years earlier.

Italy fought back from a goal down with 19 minutes to play, scoring an 81st-minute equaliser through winger Raimundo Orsi. The match went into extra time, where striker Angelo Schiavo wrote himself into football history, scoring the 95th-minute winner.

Italy would defend their crown four years later in Paris, but would have to wait a further 44 years before their third title in 1982.

1984 

Boston Celtics beat Los Angeles Lakers 111-102 in Game Seven of the NBA finals in one of the greatest series of all time.

The two sides were stacked with Hall of Fame talent, producing an enthralling series that saw the Celtics bounce back twice from a Lakers series lead.

Magic Johnson goes up for a loose ball in the 1984 NBA finals
Magic Johnson goes up for a loose ball in the 1984 NBA finals Photo credit: Getty

Larry Bird's 27 points a game led all scorers, but he was ably assisted by Danny Ainge, Kevin McHale and Dennis Johnson. The 'Showtime' Lakers, who were a Magic Johnson brain fade away from winning the title, were coached by legend Pat Riley.

Joining Johnson on the roster were Kareem-Abdul Jabbar, Michael Cooper, James Worthy and Kurt Rambis.

Bird was named series MVP and the two sides would dominate the NBA for the next five years, winning five titles between them.

2006 

The All Blacks rebound from a poor start to overrun Ireland 34-23 in the first test in Hamilton. 

Irish skipper Brian O'Driscoll was monumental in the first 40 minutes, scoring a sensational try, as the tourists took a 16-8 lead into halftime.

A shock result was on the cards with nine minutes remaining, but a Troy Flavell try and two late penalties from Luke McAlister lifted New Zealand to victory.

2007 

Missing six State of Origin players, Melbourne Storm still beat NZ Warriors 4-2 at Mt Smart Stadium in the lowest-scoring NRL game in 14 years.

Storm coach Craig Bellamy labelled his team’s win as the finest in his five years at the helm.

Melbourne trailed 2-0 after centre Tony Martin landed a penalty goal for the Warriors in the ninth minute, but lock Jeremy Smith reached out for the only try of the game nine minutes from fulltime.

Warriors coach Ivan Cleary was convinced the Storm made a major contribution to the defensive standoff with their focus on slowing the play-the-ball. 

"They focused on their biggest strength, which is probably pushing the limit in terms of the play-the-ball wrestle, and they certainly did that tonight," he said.

The result was the last of a six-match losing streak for the NZ side, which won nine of their last 12 games to qualify for the playoffs in fourth spot.

But their season fell flat, losing at home to Parramatta in week one, before a humbling 40-point loss to the Cowboys in Townsville.

2012 

Maria Sharapova wins her first French Open title, topping Italian Sara Errani 6-3, 6-2 at Roland Garros.

Maria Sharapova
Maria Sharapova Photo credit: AAP

The US-based Russian was dominant throughout her run to the title, dropping just one set in disposing of Petra Kvitova and Kaia Kanepi along the way.

The title was Sharapova's fourth Grand Slam and first in four years, but she would win just one more, at the same venue two years later. 

Sharapova has been a magnet to controversy in recent years, culminating in a one-year doping ban in 2016.

Birthdays

1993 - Reigning two-time Supercars champion Scott McLaughlin 

Deaths

1946 - First black heavyweight boxing champion Jack Johnson, in a car accident, age 68
2016 - Ice hockey great Gordie Howe, age 88

Newshub 12 months ago… 

Aussie captain Aaron Finch fends off ball-tampering accusations

Aaron Finch chats to Steve Smith during the 2019 Cricket World Cup
Aaron Finch chats to Steve Smith during the 2019 Cricket World Cup Photo credit: Getty

Australia captain Aaron Finch has leapt to the defence of teammate Adam Zampa, after eagle-eyed viewers spotted the spin-bowler fidgeting in his pockets during their Cricket World Cup loss to India.

Social media went into a frenzy, when Zampa was spotted reaching into his pocket between deliveries and accusations of ball-tampering started again, after Australia's highly publicised drama in South Africa last year.

But Finch insists Zampa was using hand warmers, which he uses in every match he plays.

The logic sounds reasonable, with temperatures about 16 degrees Celsius in London.

"I haven't seen the photos, but I know that he has hand warmers in his pocket," explained Finch. "He has them every single game he plays."