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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2013 SPORTS Leaders Clermont notch 70th straight home victory PARIS: Clermont racked up a 70th straight home away match in the league this season and drop to win and extended their lead at the top of the fifth, nine points behind Clermont, who they enter- French Top 14 with a 33-19 victory over Oyonnax on tain next weekend. Louis Picamoles crossed the try- Sunday. And with their three closest rivals all losing, line for the visitors to help them to a 13-8 lead at Clermont opened up a six-point lead at the top of the break. the table. Fijian born wing Noa Nakaitaci was the Marvin O’Connor’s score had initially given the architect in the first half, scoring a brilliant 60-yard Basque team the lead but it was former All Black Joe individual try before making a second break and Rokocoko’s score on 64 minutes that proved the teeing up Samoan No.8 Fritz Lee to go over. turning point before his fellow New Zealander’s Nakataici’s score was pure genius as he took the clinching late kick. That result moved Bayonne a ball from the back of a breakdown, looped around point above Oyonnax. Grenoble maintained their the forwards and burst through a gap in Oyonnax’s fine home form and ended Castres’s three-match defensive line before chipping ahead and winning winning run with a 20-16 success. Tries from South the foot-race to touch down. However, Clermont African prop Albertus Buckle and Fijian wing Alipate were denied a bonus point by a spirited second-half Ratini gave Grenoble victory despite Fiji centre display from the second division champions. Centre Seremaia Bai’s score for Castres, who had to content Pierre Aguillon and South African hooker Jody themselves with a losing bonus point. Jenneker both went over either side of France hook- Stade Francais moved up to second with a 19-12 er Benjamin Kayser’s try for the hosts but Oyonnax win over Perpignan, who lost for the fifth time in a still dropped into the relegation places. row. Stade scored the only try in the first half with a “We’ll take that victory against a very good penalty try awarded as Perpignan, reduced to 14 Oyonnax team,” said Clermont’s New Zealander men, crumbled in the scrum. Montpellier bounced coach Vern Cotter. “Even without the bonus this win back from three straight defeats to get their top six allows us to stay on top. We wanted to do well bid back on track with a crushing 48-22 destruction before the European Cup (begins again in two of rock-bottom Biarritz, who are becoming increas- weeks).” In the day’s late match, underperforming ingly isolated, 13 points from safety. Racing-Metro earned a huge morale-boost with a Tries from Fiji wing Timoci Nagusa, hooker 14-3 victory over European champions Toulon. Mickael Ivaldi and braces from New Zealander No.8 Wing Marc Andreu scored the only try of the match Alex Tulou and Georgian flanker Mamuka Gorgodze while Ireland fly-half Jonathan Sexton kicked three ensured an attacking bonus point. That was despite penalties for the Parisian hosts. CLERMONT-FERRAND: Clermont’s French scrum-half Thierry Lacrampe (center) runs with the ball spirited resistance from Biarritz midway through the England legend Jonny Wilkinson kicked Toulon’s during the French Top 14 rugby union match ASM Clermont Auvergne vs Oyonnax on December 29, second period as Norway lock Erik Lund, American only three points. It was a Racing’s second scalp this 2013. — AFP wing Takudzwa Ngwenya and South African full- season having beaten Clermont 13-9 at home in the one draw and six defeats as third-placed Castres, now our aim is to get back in the Top six.” Record back Johan Pietersen all crossed the whitewash. European Cup in October. Yet their indifferent with only bonus points separating them. “It’s an four-time European champions Toulouse were Bordeaux-Begles earned a crucial victory to ease six league form has left them in eighth, two points important result for us, especially when you see the denied a losing bonus point by a last gasp Stephen points away from danger with a 27-23 win over fel- behind Montpellier in the final play-off berth- other results,” said Racing coach Laurent Travers. Brett penalty that gave Bayonne a much-needed low strugglers Brive, who are just two points above although they share the same record of eight wins, “We’ve caught up a bit with the peloton and 21-13 victory. It means Toulouse have lost every the drop zone. — AFP Top-Ranked UConn hammer Cincinnati STORRS: Breanna Stewart had 12 points and 12 rebounds to lead top-ranked UConn to a 67-34 win over Cincinnati on Sunday in the teams’ first matchup as members of the American Athletic Conference. Moriah Jefferson and Bria Hartley each added 12 points for Connecticut (13-0, 1-0 American Athletic Conference), which won despite being held 19 points below its season average. Cincinnati (7-5, 0-1 American), which is winless in nine meetings against the Huskies, was led by Jeanise Randolph who had 15 points and 10 rebounds. The Huskies held Cincinnati scoreless for the game’s first six minutes and led 16-0 before Kayla Cook got the Bearcats on the board with a 3-pointer. UConn led by 13 at half- time and used a 16-3 run in the second half to put the game out of reach. Kaleena Mosqueda- Lewis had seven points during the Huskies early run, but also picked up three early fouls and had to sit for the final 14 minutes of the first half and didn’t score again. Cincinnati responded by scor- ing 14 of the next 20 points and outscoring UConn 20-17 the rest of the half. A 3-pointer by Marley Hill just before the halftime buzzer cut the UConn lead to 33-20. Cincinnati cut the lead to 35-24 before UConn took control. Hartley went end-to-end after rebounding a missed jumper by Bianca Quisenberry to give UConn a 51-27 lead and force a Cincinnati timeout. No 10 Wichita State beat Davidson 81-70 OKLAHOMA: Samford’s Hannah Nichols (2) fights for the ball with Oklahoma’s Morgan Hook Cleanthony Early had 24 points and 10 (10) and Sharane Campbell (24) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game at rebounds to help No 10 Wichita State to extend Lloyd Noble Center in Norman on Sunday, Dec 29, 2013. — AP the best start in school history with an 81-70 vic- tory over Davidson on Sunday. Ron Baker had 15 13-0 in 2006-07. Justin Black scored 22 points for career, and No 13 Florida handled Savannah State points for Wichita State (13-0) while Darius the Bears (3-9), and Anthony Hubbard added 15. 76-34 on Sunday. Young received a standing ova- Carter scored 13 and Tekele Cotton added 10. It had been eight days since Oregon defeated tion as he left the game with 5:41 remaining, wav- Tyler Kalinoski had 17 points for Davidson (4-9), BYU in overtime and the Ducks looked more ing to the crowd as his achievement was while Tom Droney added 12 and De’Mon Brooks rested than rusty after the long layoff. Oregon, announced. Young topped the 1,000-point scored 10. Wichita State was able to salt away the national scoring leader coming in, increased plateau on a putback with 7:15 to play. It came the victory at the free throw line. The Shockers its average to 90.8 points per game and were a shortly after he stepped to the free throw line were 28 of 41 on free throws while Davidson was 3-pointer from a school-record fifth 100-point with a chance to join the club. Young clanged it just 11 of 16. Three Wildcats fouled out. Wichita game this season. The Ducks got there with a off the front rim, drawing groans from the crowd. State also had a significant advantage in points balanced and efficient scoring attack. Six players He made amends, though, a few minutes later. off turnovers, converting Davidson’s 15 scored seven or more points and Oregon shot 54 Young was one of four Florida players in double turnovers into 18 points. The Shockers had nine percent from the field overall, 7 for 15 from 3- figures. Michael Frazier II had 11 points for the turnovers, which the Wildcats turned into seven point range and 22 for 26 from the free throw Gators (10-2). Casey Prather and Scottie Wilbekin line. Young, who had three 3-pointers, was 9 for chipped in 10 points each. Jyles Smith led BRISBANE: Maria Sharapova of Russia serves during her first round match against points. The Wildcats used a 6-0 run in less than 13 from the field and Amardi made all but one of Savannah State (2-11) with eight points and eight Caroline Garcia of France at the Brisbane International tennis tournament at the 90 seconds on two running jumpers by Droney his nine shots. They Ducks led 54-30 at halftime rebounds. The Tigers have lost nine straight. It Patrick Rafter Arena, Brisbane yesterday. — AFP and a basket by Chris Czerapowicz to cut Wichita State’s lead to 45-44 with 15:34 remaining. The behind 17 points from Young and 12 from was Florida’s 22nd consecutive home win, leaving Shockers stemmed the tide with a 9-2 run.