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Home , Andrea Lovotti, Antoine Dupont, Camille Chat, Damian Penaud, Grand Slam (rugby union), Guilhem Guirado

Established 1961 25 Sports Sunday, March 17, 2019 struggle past Italy in their final Six Nations match

‘I’ve rarely been through a Six Nations tournament like this’

ROME: France beat Italy 25-14 to finish their disap- minutes clutching his ribs with coming on pointing Six Nations campaign with a second win, con- for the hooker who watched from the sidelines along demning the hosts to a 22nd straight defeat in the tour- with centre Wesley Fofana who pulled out with a mus- nament. Three tries from , Maxime cle injury just before kick-off. Medard and and ten points from youngster sealed victory in the DEBUTANT ZANON UNLUCKY Giuseppe Garibaldi Trophy between the two nations. Zanon came tantalisingly close to a try before the replied with a try for Italy on 53 minutes break on his first start as he chased down Allan’s grub- with accounting for the remainder of ber. The 21-year-old Treviso centre had a clear run at Italy’s points as the Azzurri earn a fourth straight the line but the ball hit the cushion around the post and Wooden Spoon for a whitewash. frustratingly slipped out of his hands. “I’ve rarely been through a Six Nations tournament Italy went into the dressing room 6-10 with Allan like this, but at least we have ended on a winning note,” converting a penalty goal to close to one point shortly said France’s . The French have just after the restart as knocked the ball one win against Scotland (27-10) after being thrashed out of ’s hand. by 44-8 and losing 26-14 to last week- But Huget broke through racing down to the left end. It was also disappointing final match at the Stadio crossing over the line to touch down under the posts, Olimpico for Italy captain , the holder of with Ntamack converting. Tebaldi replied by making a a record 69 caps in the tournament. Italy dominated subtle break around a ruck, getting Italy’s first try on 52 possession in the first half but failed to convert it into a minutes for 14-17 but Allan missed the conversion after try with Parisse, , and debutant earlier failing with a penalty attempt. Marco Zanon wasting chances. hooker Ghiraldini, 34, was stretchered off A pair of Allan penalties had given Italy an early with a knee injury to thundering applause for his final foothold in the game in the first 12 minutes. But France home game after 104 caps. Italy looked to have closed pounced on an Italy kicking error after 15 minutes in the gap when Zanon touched down but he knocked the the . ball on after a superb last-gap tackle from Penaud. Maxime Medard powered forward, passing for It was 22-year-old Penaud who sprinted through for Penaud who outpaced Angelo Esposito, slipping a pass his third try in 11 Tests to make sure of victory. inside for Dupont to dot down under the posts. Ntamack missed the chance to convert, his only slip-up Ntamack converted and then added a penalty goal as of the afternoon. Italy remain waiting for their first win France began to get into their stride opening up a four- in the tournament since February 2015 with more dis- : France’s fly half Romain Ntamack (R) passes the ball to France’s lock Gregory Alldritt (L) during the Six point lead. appointment for the long-suffering fans in their 100th Nations international match Italy vs France yesterday at the Olympic stadium in Rome. —AFP France captain went off after 20 Six Nations match and 500th in their history. — AFP

Al-Fuzaie wins fence jumping Reds stun fellow competition strugglers By Abdellatif Sharaa Sunwolves KUWAIT: Kuwait Equestrian Sports Club (KESC) rider Abdelrahman Al-Fuzaie won the tournament of the club in late turnaround in the 135 cm fence jumping competition. Second place was won by Yara Al-Hunaidi followed by the Abdallah Al-Roudhan. TOKYO: Hamish Stewart nailed a last- KESC rider Jamila Al-Mutawa won the 125 cm event minute penalty as the Queensland Reds pro- followed by Abdelaziz Al-Ajeel and Abdallah Al- duced a superb comeback to beat Japan’s Gharabally. The 115 cm event was won by Suleiman Al- Sunwolves 34-31 yesterday and post their Tainan, ahead of Nadiya Al-Mutawa and Fahad Al- first win of the season. Masoud. The Australians trailed 21-5 at half-time but Meanwhile, head of KESC Jassim Al-Kharafi distrib- their bench provided an instant impact after the uted awards and prizes, then he honored riders who break for the visitors in Tokyo, scoring four won local and foreign tournaments. tries in 16 minutes-two by Brandon Paenga- Amosa-in an astonishing turnaround. “We didn’t start too well but the win shows the belief and character of this team,” said Reds 21st Asian Clubs centre Samu Kerevi. “It was a game of two Al Boum Photo halves-but we can’t be starting games like that. We need to be more clinical.” Handball After a Hayden Parker penalty restored a snaps Mullins’ five-point advantage for the Sunwolves with Tournament eight minutes left, Tate McDermott pounced on Gold Cup jinx a loose ball from a Harry Hockings charge- By Abdellatif Sharaa down to tie things up again. CHELTENHAM: Irish trainer Willie Mullins ended Stewart missed the conversion but made no years of frustrating near misses as Al Boum Photo KUWAIT: The Higher Organizing Committee of the mistake with the late penalty as the Reds, won the blue riband of steeplechasing the 21st Asian Clubs Handball tournament to be held at thrashed 63-28 on their previous visit to Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday. Kuwait Sports Club from March 20 until April 1, com- Tokyo, won for the first time in four matches Mullins-the most successful trainer at the Festival pleted its preparations for this important event. this season. It was a stinging defeat for the with 64 winners-had finished runner-up six times The handball hall been renovated to meet specifica- Sunwolves, who looked on course for a victo- and it looked as if his luck was out after three of his tions of the Asian Handball Federation. Deputy ry that would have boosted their survival runners failed to make it onto the final circuit. Chairman of HOC Bader Al-Osaimi thanked officials of hopes with critics calling for them to be boot- However, superbly guided round by Paul the Public Authority for Sports who did not spare any ed out of Super Rugby. Townend Al Boum Photo stormed clear at the final effort in meeting all the needs of the tournament, which With competition organisers set to meet this fence to hold off a fast-finishing Anibale Fly, who is being held after three years absence due to the week to discuss the tournament’s future, the improved on his third in the same race last year. “It sports suspension. He said HOC faced many chal- Sunwolves players started the game as if their is the one I have really wanted,” said Mullins, whose lenges and obstruction that were overcome due to the of the hall, in addition to lay a rubber floor that is avail- futures depended on it. Tries from Jamie Booth, redoubtable mother Molly came into the ring on cooperation between all officials. able in one company around the world. Rahboni Warren-Vosayaco and Dan Pryor put what was her 67th successive Festival visit. “Racing He said the most difficult obstacle were the condi- Al-Osaimi said “we hope Kuwait representatives the Sunwolves in the driving seat, while Parker’s has been very good to me I have a fantastic life tions of the Asian committee that visited the club two display the hoped level and see them compete in the left boot paced the hosts with 11 points. through it I thought if we do not win the Gold Cup months ago, and asked that the electronic board must final match, but the important thing is the tournament’s But the game swung on three quickfire so be it what will be will be. be changed, and provide two new clocks on either side success. scores in the second half as Paenga-Amosa “It was not looking too good when we lost three smuggled the ball over the line just before the on the first circuit every time I looked at Paul his hour mark and Harry Hoopert crashed over body language gave me positive vibes,” added 62- moments later. After making changes last year to correct struggles, year-old Mullins. For Townend it was redemption as Stewart converted both and when Paenga- McIlroy feels he is on the right track with the Masters, he had received a 21 days ban last season for trying McIlroy, Fleetwood Amosa scored a carbon-copy try in the 65th and a chance to complete a career , just a to steer Al Blum Photo wide of the last fence when minute and Stewart again added the extras, the month away. He began Friday’s round with his lone in the lead at Punchestown. Reds suddenly led by five points. Keisuke share lead at Players bogey of the day before going on to make one eagle Mullins stayed loyal to him as did the owner Uchida darted over to level things at 26-26 and and six birdies. Marie Donnelly and left Townend tearful after cross- Parker’s boot looked to have stopped the rot. “I felt like I came back well,” McIlroy said. “Once I ing the line. “The first thing that went through my Championship But the Sunwolves, who recorded their got a birdie on the eighth it started to snowball.” head was for Paul and how great it was for him to first-ever away win with a stunning 30-15 McIlroy also slammed the PGA Tour for allowing play- wipe away those memories,” said Mullins. Townend, LOS ANGELES: Rory McIlroy charged up the upset over the Waikato Chiefs earlier this ers to take too much time between shots, describing it who is on course to be crowned Irish champion leaderboard on the back nine, firing a seven-under 65 month, were denied a second victory of the as an “epidemic”. McIlroy and his playing partners had jockey witrh his closest challenger Rachel on Friday to grab a share of the lead with Tommy season after Hockings charged down Uchida’s to wait on almost all the tee boxes. Blackmore, was in tears after crossing the line. “I Fleetwood at the halfway stage of the Players clearance, allowing McDermott and Stewart “It’s become somewhat of an epidemic on tour .... thank the owners so much and Willie,” said Townend. Championship. to finish the job. Honestly, I think (the Tour) should just be a little “It’s the Gold Cup there is only one a year that is McIlroy, of , went seven under par “It was a bit of a heart-breaker,” said tougher and start penalizing shots earlier, and that why it is so special.” For the horse’s owner it was on his final 11 holes, making an eagle on the par-five Sunwolves centre Jason Emery. “But we can would be an easy way to fix it,” he said. her first winner at the Festival, although she too has 16th, a birdie on the par-three 17 and par on the par- take lessons from that and it’s definitely This is the second straight week Fleetwood has had had some close shaves. “Thats the way to go start four closing hole to reach a 12-under 132 total. something we can use as a weapon in our a share of the 36-hole lead after starting quickly Friday at the top!” she smiled. Bristol de Mai took third, He is tied with England’s Fleetwood who shot a next games.” with a birdie-eagle-birdie beginning to his round. “It defending champion Native River stayed on for five-under 67 for his sixth straight round under par. Before the game, the teams observed a was a bit tougher today. The greens got crustier and fourth after Richard Johnson had the devil of a time “It was just another good day on the golf course. I did minute’s silence for the victims of Friday’s gun crustier,” Fleetwood said. “All in all I am very happy. to roust him at the start. “He just wasn’t the same everything pretty much the way I wanted to,” McIlroy attacks on two mosques, which “Happy my game is improving and I am getting up horse as last year,” said Johnson. said. “My attitude has been great all year.” left 49 people dead and dozens more injured. there more and more.” Tiger Woods just made the cut Hot favourite Presenting Percy may have paid for Ian Poulter (66), Jim Furyk (64), Brian Harman (69) “First and foremost our prayers and love go to with a one-under 71 but was left hovering along the his unconventional preparation in just having one run and Abraham Ancer (66) are tied for third at nine- the people of Christchurch,” said Kerevi. cut line after a quadruple bogey seven on the pictur- over hurdles as he never threatened. “Never got under 135 at the TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, “It’s been an emotional couple of days and esque par-three island green. He finished tied for 39th going,” said Presenting Percy’s jockey Davy Russell. Florida. ’s Jason Day shot a 66 and is tied for our hearts go out to those people and families with a three-under 141 total, nine strokes back of the “Things did not fall his way, that is how it is.” — AFP seventh with Keith Mitchell and Kevin Kisner at eight- who have lost so much.” —AFP under 136. leaders. —AFP