SPORTS SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2015 Hurricanes claim top spot

DUNEDIN: The Wellington-based Hurricanes recovered from a shock loss last weekend to brush aside the Dunedin-based Highlanders 56-20 on Friday, sealing the top qualifying spot and a home semifinal in . Also, the ACT stayed in playoffs con- tention and moved into the provisional lead in the Australia conference by beating the last-place Western Force 33-20 for a fourth straight time. The Hurricanes have been atop the overall standings for most of the sea- son, but last weekend’s 35-18 loss to the - based left them vulnerable to a late challenge overall and in the New Zealand conference. They faced pressure to show the loss to the Crusaders was an aberration and did so emphatically, claiming a four-try bonus point on their way to a 30-13 lead by half- time, then adding four more tries after halftime. The Hurricanes’ 13th win from 15 games drew them 14 points clear of the Highlanders in the conference, which they have won, and guaranteed home advantage in the playoffs as they pursue their first Super Rugby title. Scrumhalf TJ Perenara scored tries in each half - his ninth and 10th of the season - and center Ma’a Nonu came off the bench for a quick second-half double as the Hurricanes overcame with surprising ease their closest conference rival. The Dunedin-based Highlanders won four of their last five matches to draw within nine points of the Hurricanes, and were one of the hottest teams entering the penultimate round of the regular season. OAKLAND: Golden State Warriors forward Marreese Speights (5) shoots against Cleveland Cavaliers forward James But they were swept aside by the Hurricanes’ out- Jones (1) during the second half of Game 1 of basketball’s NBA Finals. —AP standing first-half performance, and weren’t able to con- tain the Hurricanes in the second half in a match which was played at a constant, high tempo. Warriors beat Cavs in The Hurricanes wore black armbands in memory of long-serving teammate and former All Blacks flanker Jerry Collins, who was killed with his wife in an auto acci- dent on a French motorway hours before the game. Game One OT thriller Hurricanes captain Conrad Smith said Collins was an inspiration for the team. “Things were a bit overshad- OAKLAND: The Golden State Warriors, led block from behind by Kyrie Irving, then time after an awkward fall. owed tonight by the passing of one of our club mem- by the league’s Most Valuable Player LeBron James missed a jump shot for the Irving had been in dazzling form for his bers, but it was a nice way to recognize him,” Smith said. Stephen Curry, drew first blood in the Cavaliers with only 3.6 seconds remaining. team at both ends of the court with 23 “This was a step in the right direction for us but there’s a best-of-seven NBA Finals with a thrilling Curry had a team-high 26 points on 10- points, seven rebounds and four steals. wee way to go. There’s still a lot of work to be done but 108-100 overtime victory over the of-20 shooting while James weighed in With James sparking the offense and we’re proud of our efforts and to get where we have has Cleveland Cavaliers in Game One on with 44, his most ever in a Finals game, in Tristan Thompson spearheading a stifling taken a lot of hard work.” All Blacks flyhalf Beauden Thursday. Curry put the Warriors ahead at a losing cause as the Cavaliers were defense, the Cavaliers initially outshot the Barrett returned to the lineup after a month-long layoff 102-98 in extra time with two pairs of free outscored 10-2 in overtime. Warriors from the floor and they streaked with a knee injury, but while he took a full part in general throws before Harrison Barnes made it Asked how his team had coped with 14 points in front before ending the first play, he conceded the goalkicking duties to fullback 105-98 with a three-pointer at a raucous the offensive threat posed by James, who quarter with a 29-19 lead. James Marshall, who finished with five conversions and Oracle Arena in Oakland, and there was no is back in the NBA Finals for a fifth consec- Marreese Speights, off the bench, and two penalties. way back from there for Cleveland. utive year, Curry replied: “These guys stick Curry, who poured in a couple of threes, “We were able to scrap tonight,” Curry to the game plan. We know what he is inspired a stirring fightback in the second The Brumbies fully exploited a Western Force weak- said courtside after the Warriors outscored about and what he’s capable of. quarter as Golden State twice moved five ness, the rolling maul. Mauls led to all three of flanker the Cavaliers in shooting from the field by “Our guys guarded him all night and points ahead before Cleveland took a slen- ’s tries, and another weakened the Force 44.3 percent to 41.5 with five of their play- made it tough on him. This is a long der 51-48 advantage into halftime. defense for replacement prop Allan Alaalatoa to score ers getting into double digits. series.” James also added eight rebounds A running bank shot by Irving early in seven minutes after going on. “The three-pointer in the corner (by and six assists while big center Timofey the third gave the Cavaliers a seven-point The other try went out wide to an unmarked Christian Barnes) opened the game up and they Mozgov contributed 16 points for cushion but the Warriors, roared on by Leali’ifano, who also made four conversions. ACT led 33- scored just two points in overtime, that’s Cleveland. Adding further concern for increasingly vocal fans, clawed back to 6 with more than 10 minutes to go, and their bench huge.” The score was tied at 98-98 with Cleveland, however, was the sight of their end the quarter tied at 73-73, and set up a cleared, when the Force scored two consolation tries in 31.9 seconds left in regulation before inspirational All-Star point guard Kyrie gripping finale. Game Two is tomorrow in their home finale.—AP Curry was denied a layup by a superb Irving limping off the court during over- Oakland.—Reuters Brumbies seal Super Rugby playoff spot

PERTH: Wallabies openside David Pocock the 66th minute gave Pocock his second hat- South Africa on Saturday. The rolling maul, with Pocock tucked in grabbed a hat-trick of tries as the ACT trick of the season to put a gloss on a hard- Taking the national conference title would with the ball at the back, has been used to Brumbies secured a place in the Super Rugby fought victory. secure a top-three finish and potentially a bye great effect by the Canberra-based Brumbies playoffs for a third straight year with a 33-20 “It was really tough conditions out there,” through the first week of the playoffs before a all season and the Force had no answer to it in victory over Western Force in Perth yesterday. Brumbies skipper Stephen Moore said in a home semi-final. the 10th and 28th minutes. Pocock scored twice off the back of the rolling pitchside interview. “I knew we had to get the Western Force, who got consolation tries Lealiifano’s 17th minute effort and his con- maul and flyhalf Christian Lealiifano also five points and I’m really happy with that.” from prop Tetera Faulkner and winger Luke version of the first three tries ensured the visi- crossed before halftime with prop Allan The win sent the twice champions clear of Morahan in the last 10 minutes, have long tors turned around 21-6 ahead but they had Alaalatoa securing the crucial bonus point New South Wales Waratahs at the top of the been out of the reckoning for post-season to wait until the 59th minute before Alaalatoa with the fourth try around the hour mark. Australian conference pending the reigning play after a miserable season in which they crashed over under the posts to secure post- Another catch-and-drive from a lineout in champions’ match against the Cheetahs in have managed only two wins. season play. —Reuters