WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2017 SPORTS

Middle finger gesture costs Thistlecrack out for Sri Lanka’s Dickwella Carlo Ancelotti 5,000 euros season with injury banned after T20 dissent BERLIN: Bayern Munich coach Carlo Ancelotti will donate 5,000 euros to LONDON: Trainer Colin Tizzard’s stable star Thistlecrack’s hopes SYDNEY: Sri Lanka’s Niroshan Dickwella was suspended for two limited-overs match- charity after making an obscene gesture to Hertha Berlin fans after their 1-1 of landing the blue riband of jump racing the Cheltenham Gold es yesterday after he was punished for dissent during last week’s pulsating Twenty20 draw on Saturday, the German football association (DFB) said Cup this year are over as an injury yesterday ruled him out for win over Australia. The wicketkeeper and opening batsman was docked two yesterday. The Italian had raised his middle finger after the rest of the season. The nine-year-old, who went down to his demerit points and fined 30 percent of his match fee for his aggrieved leaving the pitch at the end of the game and later said first defeat in five starts over fences last time out to Many Clouds reaction to being given out caught behind on Sunday, reaching five he had done it because he had been spat on by the who then collapsed and died, was found to have a slight tendon points and triggering an automatic ban. Australia wicketkeeper Tim home fans. Bayern scored in the sixth minute of stop- tear. “The vet scanned him this morning and it’s a slight tendon Paine was fined 15 percent of his match fee and received one demerit page time with hosts Hertha left fuming over the tear,” said Tizzard. “We’ve seen it at every yard and it happens point for taunting Dickwella over the dismissal in Geelong. Dickwella length of added time that was played. The DFB said it every year.” Tizzard, though, still has an imposing hand in the was punished after he paused to view the replay, kicked the turf and had ended an investigation into the incident in return for Gold Cup-which takes place on March 17 bringing the racing fes- stared over his shoulder “for a prolonged period of time”, an the charity payment. “The investigation has ceased in tival to a climax-with his impressive Welsh Grand National win- International Cricket Council statement said. The suspension means agreement with the DFB sports court. Linked to that is ner Native River the new favourite. Tizzard also has the veteran Dickwella will miss today’s third and final Twenty20 against Australia Cue Card-who was well beaten by his younger stablemate that the coach of Bayern Munich pays 5,000 euros in Adelaide, when the hosts will seek a consolation win. Sri Thistlecrack in the prestigious King George VI Chase in late Lanka clinched victory on the very last ball on Sunday when to the Sepp-Herberger charity.” The DFB charity December-on course for another tilt at a race which saw him is named after the late Germany coach and Chamara Kapugedera hammered a boundary, following come to grief three fences from home last year when in line for a Asela Gunaratne’s 84 not out off 46 balls. — AFP works on several social projects. — Reuters million pound bonus had he won it. — AFP Matured Kolisi ready to be a leader for

CAPE TOWN: Stormers loose forward Siya that have gone, Schalk (Burger), Duane Kolisi admits he has had some growing up (Vermeulen) and Jean (De Villiers),” he to do since bursting on to the added. The Cape Town-based side have a scene four years ago but he is now ready to challenging fixture list this season including be a leader after being handed the captain- all five of New Zealand’s Super Rugby teams. cy. The flanker was named skipper yester- Last year, they reached the quarter- day after last year’s co-captain Juan de finals having played only South African and Jongh tore knee ligaments and faces up to Australian sides, as well as the debutant three months on the sidelines. from Japan and Argentina’s Kolisi made an instant impact when he . They were given a sharp reminder came into the Stormers side in 2012, but of just how far ahead the New Zealanders when his career failed to take off he need- are in a 60-21 home thrashing in the play- ed a few home truths from coach Robbie offs by Waikato . Fleck to spark a change in his attitude Kolisi said the competition format left towards preparation and training. the Stormers under-prepared for that game Advice heeded, the 25-year-old is now and that playing teams from New Zealand ready to live up to the expectations that earlier this season would bring long-term come with being one of the senior players benefits. “It means we won’t get to a playoff in the team. “I had a conversation with the like we did and get shocked. When you coach last year and he told me I had to play them early in the competition it’s per- grow up, basically,” Kolisi told Reuters in an fect,” he said. “But you have got to be ready interview. “Since that day I haven’t looked mentally. We are not afraid because we back. “It’s not been easy, it’s been tough. I have to play them. If that is what it takes to won’t lie, I had to mature a lot. win Super Rugby, so be it.” “Obviously, now I’m a leader at home as Kolisi is convinced that the Stormers, well, I have got three kids that I must be a who start their season with a bruising role model for. I had to change a lot of my North-South derby at home to the on ways.” The Stormers have lost a number of Saturday, are genuine title contenders. key players in recent seasons but Kolisi, who “I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think that, I has collected 16 Springboks caps since mak- wouldn’t have worked this hard in pre-sea- ing his debut in 2013, says their presence is son if I didn’t think we have the squad to do still felt. “I have learnt a lot from those guys it,” he said. — Reuters

WELLINGTON: In this Aug. 6, 2016 file photo, The ’ Ardie Savea, center, runs over the Lions’ Courtnall Skosan, center bottom, during the Super Rugby final in Wellington, New Zealand. Super Rugby will begin its 22nd season tomorrow stalled at a crossroads at which fan expec- tations and commercial imperatives meet in an almost irreconcilable impasse. — AP

RUGBY Rugby faces challenges ahead of changes in 2017

WELLINGTON: Super Rugby will begin its 22nd moment and has embarked on a full review of the more competitive than they were last year.” But on season tomorrow, stalled at a crossroads at which tournament’s structure which might result in teams paper it seems New Zealand teams will be dominant fan expectations and commercial imperatives meet being axed in South Africa and Australia. again this season. Although the five New Zealand in an almost irreconcilable impasse. squads contain 33 players playing Super Rugby for The sudden expansion of the competition last FULL NEW STRATEGIC PLAN the first time they retain depth, plus the Auckland- year from 15 to 18 teams was unsettling to fans Existing commitments to broadcasters, spon- based - the only New Zealand team to miss last who saw playing standards drop in what had previ- sors and other stakeholders prevented any year’s - are stronger than last season. There ously been regarded as the world’s best profession- changes being made to this season’s structure and are issues, the largest of which is the mid-year tour al rugby tournament. the result may be a substantial decline in live and to New Zealand by the British and Irish Lions. While Newcomers to the tournament - Japan’s television audiences until the tournament’s short- leading All Blacks will remain available for Super Sunwolves, Argentina’s Jaguares and South Africa’s comings are addressed. Rugby, it is likely their attention will be strongly Kings - occupied the bottom rungs on the compe- What exactly may be on the table in 2018 is not focused on the Lions series. Also, two New Zealand tition ladder and the integrity of the conference clear but SANZAAR is not expected to be swayed teams, the and Highlanders, must transi- system, made necessary by a larger number of for long from its course of further expansion. SAN- tion to playing under new coaches. teams, was undermined by an unexpected weak- ZAAR is working with outside consultants to pro- ening of teams in Australia and South Africa. That duce a 10-year strategic plan for its competitions FOCUS ON FINANCIAL STABILITY resulted in teams forfeiting home playoff advan- which is expected to be completed mid-year. At the same time the Australian and South tages to others that had performed less well during “We should be in a position by the end of May, African teams have not easily coped with a steady the regular season and in teams reaching the play- beginning of June, to deliver the full new strategic drain of top players to France, Britain and offs whose regular season records hardly justified plan for SANZAAR,” chief executive Andy Marinos Japan.The board of the Australian is that reward. The glowing example was the Cape told Fairfax Media. Marinos disputed claims that already considering whether to drop one of its five Town-based Stormers who finished top of their recent changes to Super Rugby have diminished teams and if so which one and on what criteria. A African conference but were beaten 60-21 at home the tournament’s appeal. He cited statistics that focus on financial stability might imperil two-time in the playoffs by the Hamilton-based Chiefs, who show the average number of points scored in champions the ACT but the Perth-based were only the third-best New Zealand team. matches increased from 45.3 to 52 last season and and the are in Tournament organizers SANZAAR have argued tries per match increased from 5.1 to 6.4. But those greater jeopardy, imperiling years of effort to expansion is an unavoidable necessity, saying the increases are largely the result of the mismatches broaden the game’s geographical base in Australia. commercial viability of the competition depends that have become more common. “We have to marry what is our priority with the pri- on its growth now and in the future, to retain the “All of those numbers we are up on any other rug- orities of the joint venture and see if we can come interest of broadcasters and to build its fan base. by competition in the world,” Marinos said. “And from up with a solution that works for everybody,” ARU They have floated plans for further expansion into a viewership perspective by some magnitude we chief operating officer Rob Clarke told Australian Asia and for forays into the United States and even- dwarf what the other competitions are generating. I Associated Press. “Ultimately it’s not going to be a tually Britain where Super Rugby would presume still believe it’s a premium competition.” Marinos perfect fit for everybody and there will be some to take on established and popular domestic com- acknowledged the 2016 competition was one-sided sacrifices that are going to be made.” petitions. The Pacific Islands remain a major source as New Zealand teams captured four of the top five South Africa may be forced to consider surren- Kuwait defeat Saudi, S Lanka in of talent for Super Rugby but a problematic area of placings but suggested that was an anomaly. “It was dering one of its six teams but also faces geograph- U-16 World Cup Tennis tournament expansion for organizers because of small local a rather bizarre year where we had dominance com- ical challenges and the danger of alienating fans in economies and a lack of infrastructure. ing out of one conference and, except for (South some of its rugby strongholds. The Lions, who SANZAAR has been forced by a generally nega- Africa’s) Lions others struggling to assert themselves,” reached last year’s final against the Hurricanes, By Abdellatif Sharaa tive fan reaction to last year’s competition to put he said. “Early indications are the South Africans, remain strong but other South African teams may moves towards further expansion on hold for the Australians, Jaguares and Sunwolves are going to be have to contend with a lack of depth. — AP KUWAIT: Kuwait National Juniors Tennis team defeated Saudi Arabia and Sri Lanka with the same score 3/0 each, during the World Cup Tennis tournament for U-16 being held in New Delhi, India. 15 Asian countries partici- pating in the tournament are Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Bangladesh, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Bhutan, Vietnam and host coun- try India. Kuwait’s group, includes Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka and Lebanon. Kuwait’s delegation to the tournament includes Abdelsamad Al-Aryan heading the delegation coach Bejorm, and players Bader Antar, Ali Al-Shatti and Essa Qabazard. President of Kuwait Tennis Federation Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Abdallah Al-Sabah congratulated the delegation for these excel- lent results which places Kuwait on top of its group and qualify for the semifinals. He said KTF cares for the base of the ages stages specially those under 16 years old, which will be depended on in the future. He said the federation prepared a program for juniors teams all year that guarantees their participation in several international and Asian countries. Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber TOKYO: In this April 23, 2016 file photo, Fecund Lsa of Argentina’s Jaguares scores a try during their Super Rugby match against Japan’s wished the delegation all success. Sunwolves in Tokyo. Super Rugby will begin its 22nd season tomorrow. — AP