Sport’s greatest winning streaks

Sport is all about streaks, winning and losing, though whether one of the gloomiest runs in world sport — England’s footballing failure to reach the final of a major tournament for nearly half a century — can be brought to an end by Roy’s Boys remains to be seen. It seems unlikely, but how nice for to be going into a tournament with so little expectation and a team full of youth and vigour, playing without fear. Much better to be under the radar than being hyped out of sight. Can’t wait myself.

Certainly one of the most remarkable winning streaks in sport came to an end last weekend — and an even more impressive streak continued into a third decade. Neither got much coverage, but they deserved to. After four-and-a-half years and 77 matches, Clermont Auvergne, the flamboyant French rugby side, were finally beaten at home, punctured in the Stade Michelin by Castres, from the Pyrenees, in the play-off semi-finals.

It was an extraordinary run — several English sides have headed to the Massif Central with confidence, only to be sent home with their tails between their legs — but all good things come to an end. Most of them, anyway. Unless you are a devotee of the tiny type in the sports pages, the Tasmanian real tennis player Rob Fahey may not be familiar, but he deserves applause after retaining the oldest world title in any sport (it was first awarded in 1740) for the 11th time. He first won this biennial tournament in 1994 and still reigns supreme at the age of 46.

Real tennis is a niche sport — there are only about 50 courts worldwide, although they once covered Europe like cinemas do today — but to stay at the top of your game in any field for 20 years is impressive, especially given that the final is played as the best of 13 sets over three days.