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SUNDAY, APRIL 23, 2017 SPORTS

Wiesberger keeps lead at Bacsinszky strikes back for Widdop re-signs Shenzhen International Swiss in Fed Cup semifinal with in NRL

SHENZHEN: Bernd Wiesberger of Austria shot a 3-under 69 yesterday MINSK: downed in straight sets SYDNEY: England international Gareth Widdop has re-signed with the to take a three-stroke lead into the final round of the Shenzhen to bring level with Belarus at 1-1 in their Fed Cup semifi- St George Illawarra Dragons for the next four Australian National Rugby International. Wiesberger, who started the third round at Genzon Golf nal yesterday. Bacsinszky took full advantage of 50 unforced errors League seasons, the club said yesterday. Club skipper and stand-off Club with a four-shot advantage, offset two bogeys with five birdies for from 19-year-old Sabalenka to win 6-4, 7-5. That canceled out an Widdop will now remain at the competition leaders until the end of the 15-under 201 overall. ìI didnít start off really well,î upset win for Belarusian against Switzerland’s 2021 season. Widdop, 28, has been an integral member of the Dragons Wiesberger said. ìI hit a couple of crooked shots and Viktorija Golubic in the opening rubber. Sasnovich’s aggressive style, since his arrival from the Melbourne Storm in 2014 and left a couple of putts out there but then, from with 36 winners to Golubic’s 22, helped her edge an almost three- became captain of the club this season. He has played when I holed the putt on seven, I felt more com- hour fight which ended 6-3, 5-7, 7-5. With former top-ranked Victoria 79 games for the Dragons and recently became the sec- fortable out there and was rolling the ball a bit ond-highest pointscorer in St George Illawarra history better.î South African Dylan Frittelli was second Azarenka taking a break to raise her first child, Sasnovich is the only member of the Belarus team ranked in the top 100, at 96. Golubic is and is now on track to surpass Jamie Soward’s record of after a 68 with a birdie-birdie finish. Frittelliís 977 points. “The Dragons have grown more and more countrymen Dean Burmester and George Coetzee 54th. Sasnovich plays Bacsinszky in today’s first reverse singles, then Sabalenka takes on Golubic. The tie will conclude with a doubles rub- since I’ve arrived. There’s a good environment here and were tied for third at 11 under, alongside Englandís it’s a good place to be so I wanted to play my part in that,” ber between Belarusians Olga Govortsova and Vera Lapko and the Ross Fisher and American David Lipsky. Wiesberger Widdop said. “At this stage of my career it certainly was has been in impressive form the last eight months, Swiss duo of Martina Hingis and . The Swiss are aiming a big decision for my family. I have three young having not missed a cut since the PGA Championship to reach their second Fed Cup final following defeat to Spain in 1998, kids, I’m very settled here and I’m enjoying my with seven top-five finishes.—AP while Belarus is in uncharted territory in its first semifinal. —AP time here. —AFP

HOCKEY Asian Ice Hockey Cup tournament begins

By Abdellatif Sharaa team will play its Indian counterpart at 10 pm. plans were made accordingly. The tourna- Meanwhile, participating teams lauded the Kuwait winter sports club is well known for Meanwhile Macao will play Oman at 6:30 pm, ment opening ceremony received good tournament’s organization and hospitality good organization and ability to deal with KUWAIT: Competitions of Asia Ice Hockey and these matches are expected to be the reviews as many people expressed apprecia- adding that all is going as planned, and they regional events, and that is evident through Cup tournament continue today at the Ice most difficult as each team wants to get closer tion of what the first day included, particularly appreciated the efforts of Kuwait winter organizing several activities. Kerr said partici- Skating Rink which was opened yesterday to winning the cup. the simple opening ceremony, since Kuwait sports club to make their participation easy. pating teams are among those at the highest under the patronage of Commerce and Kuwait’s team is going through a high state sports activities were placed under suspen- Director of Ice Hockey Game Development at level and of good history in the world of Ice Industry Minister, Acting State Minister of of concentration, bearing in mind that all sion. Large number of fans was at the Ice Rink the Asian Federation Andy Kerr lauded activi- Hockey which adds to the tournament’s Youth Affairs Khalid Al-Roudhan, as Kuwait’s technical problems were taken care of and to support the teams and witness events. ties of the Asian tournament, saying that excitement.

Munster to honour Foley RUGBY in European semi-final Highlanders, , DUBLIN: Munster return to Dublin’s Lansdowne Road for the first time since the death of Anthony Foley determined to again honour their late coach in a European Champions Cup semi-final against title- holders Saracens. win in Irish province Munster, one of ’s best-supported teams, have been riding an even greater tidal wave of emotion following the shock death of Foley on the eve of a Champions Cup pool match in : Winger scored three four minutes suggested the Highlanders were in for a give up and dominated the final quarter, scoring tries Paris in October. The former Munster and Ireland back-row forward first-half tries as the Christchurch-based Crusaders convincing win but the proved competitive through Willie Britz and Rahboni Warren Vosayaco. was 42. A week earlier, he’d been at Lansdowne Road, a ground overwhelmed ’s Stormers 57-24 yesterday for long periods, holding at least even shares of posses- “It wasn’t perfect and at times we probably threw a where he made more than 30 appearances as a player, to see Munster to stretch their winning start to the Super Rugby sea- sion in both halves. few miracle balls and didn’t show them respect,” Smith lose 25-14 to Irish rivals Leinster in the Celtic League. son to eight matches. After the Stormers managed only Luck played a part in the Highlanders taking a 21-3 said. “They made us pay at times so there’s a bit to work “The last game we played here, where Anthony was in charge of a penalty from a period of early dominance, Bridge lead to halftime. The Sunwolves had a try to Will Tupou on.” The Chiefs eked out a scratchy 16-7 win over the the team, he was the head coach, it was the last time we were in that scored his hat trick between the 13th and 32nd min- disallowed by the television match official while the in Perth to complete another clean changing room, he was with us in the changing room and then the utes, during a spell in which the Crusaders showed sub- Highlanders were awarded a try to Liam Squire from sweep for teams. The scored lime handling and passing skills. All Blacks captain what seemed to be a forward pass. 42 unanswered points in the second half Friday to beat next week he passed away,” Munster director of rugby , who played only 40 minutes before being Scrumhalf Aaron Smith touched down just before the ACT 56-21 after trailing 21-14 at halftime. told reporters on Friday. “I just know the private conversations we subbed, also scored two tries as the Crusaders opened the break to boost the Highlanders’ halftime advantage. The Auckland-based had a bye. The Chiefs need- had after that loss against Leinster, I know what I would tell him and I an insurmountable 36-3 lead by halftime. Faddes scored immediately after the resumption from a ed three penalties from , the only points know he would smile but it wouldn’t be something I could say in front The Stormers came back strongly in the second half brilliant angled run and again in the 50th minute from of the second half, to see off the Force after the teams of you guys (the media) now,” the South African added. with tries to wingers and an intercept to give the Highlanders a 35-3 lead and had been tied 7-7 at halftime. scored an “I just think he would be really proud, because the guys carry him which cut the lead to 36-17 but the Crusaders were put the match beyond doubt. Captain early try for the Chiefs and they seemed set to domi- in our hearts every day. “We talk about him, he’s part of our daily train- able to monopolize possession and added further tries scrambled over four minutes later and, at 40-3, the nate but Matt Hodgson replied with a try from a lineout ing and I think that would put a smile on his face and hopefully we to Mike Alaalatoa, Pete Samu and Manasa Mataele to match was all but over. But the Sunwolves refused to drive for the Force, who defended stoutly.— AP can make him proud tomorrow.” Although Munster are two-time post their highest-ever score against the Stormers. European champions, they’ve made pool stage exits in each of the They have made an 8-0 start to the season for only last two seasons and their 2014/15 European campaign included a the third time in their history - having previously done 33-10 group phase defeat by London club Saracens, also the reigning so on the way to championships in 2002 and 2006 - and English champions. remain unbeaten in 10 home matches against the Saracens boss Mark McCall was full of admiration for the way Stormers. “I thought the first half we came out and tried Munster had transformed their playing fortunes while mourning to show our intent,” Crusaders captain Foley. “It’s been remarkable, it’s been a master-class in how they dealt said. “But credit to them, they came back in the second with something so terrible,” said McCall, himself a former Ireland cen- half, scored straight after halftime as a great side does tre. “I don’t know how they did it but they did. They have shown some and put the pressure right back on us.” real class in the weeks and months after that tragedy.” Two of the Crusaders’ tries - to Samu and Mataele - But McCall stressed that sentiment alone could not have taken came from intercepts but otherwise they were intri- cately constructed and relied on an outstanding ability Munster, ferocious in defence, this far in Europe. “Man and ball is a big to offload under pressure. The best was likely Read’s strength, their kicking game’s good, their kick chase is good,” he first which began with a long attack down the right explained. flank and ended with the No. 8 scoring in the left-hand “You’ve said their defence. I think the exceptional thing is how hard corner. “When we did get our hands on the ball, we they work. “Of all the teams we’ve analysed this year, I don’t think used it well and it was great to see the boys using their there’s a team who work as hard and fight for each other the way they heads and playing smart,” Whitelock said. do, which is why they come out the right end of a lot of results this Earlier, center Matt Faddes scored two second-half year.” He added: “I think they’ve got a really smart coaching team. tries to help the Dunedin-based Highlanders to a flat- “We’ve got to be adaptable and flexible on the day and they might hit tering 40-15 win over Japan’s Sunwolves. The us with some things that we’ve got to be able to deal with. “Having Highlanders, coming off a bye, struggled for much of said that, we’ve got to match their work-rate, their intensity on the the match to subdue the Sunwolves before emerging day.” —AFP with a bonus point for a win by six tries to two. CHRISTCHURCH: Stormers makes a run at Crusaders defender Michael Alaalatoa, left, A try to All Blacks center after only during their super rugby match in Christchurch, New Zealand, yesterday. — AP