18 Established 1961 Monday, March 16, 2020 Sports Mapimpi seals 24-14 Super Rugby victory for table-topping Sharks Super Rugby suspended after this weekend due to coronavirus DURBAN: A try by Rugby World Cup winner that Bosch converted. Makazole Mapimpi sealed a 24-14 Super Rugby The Stormers responded almost immediately victory for the table-topping Coastal Sharks over with scrum-half Herschel Jantjies scoring a try that the Western Stormers on Saturday in a South full-back Damian Willemse converted. A Bosch African showdown. His score one minute from time drop-goal in additional first-half time earned the followed two penalties by fly-half Curwin Bosch Sharks a 10-7 half-time lead they deserved given that turned a 14-13 deficit on 69 minutes into a 10- their edge in the set-pieces and aggression at the point triumph at Kings Park in Durban. breakdowns. It was the last match in the southern hemisphere Bosch widened the lead to six points with a competition to be played in the republic for the penalty before the home crowd were silenced by a “foreseeable future” because of the coronavirus try from substitute scrum-half Paul de Wet that pandemic, the organisers said. The SANZAAR Willemse converted to put the Stormers ahead. But announcement came just 80 minutes before the with a surprise win looming for a visiting team lack- kick-off and many players were unaware that Super ing injured Springbok forwards Siya Kolisi, Pieter- Rugby will be suspended after round seven. Steph du Toit and Bongi Mbonambi, Bosch and “I am not surprised by the suspension given the Mapimpi struck decisive blows. spread of the virus and Meanwhile, Super just hope the break is Rugby, the southern not too long,” said hemisphere’s premier Sharks skipper and cen- rugby union club com- tre Lukhanyo Am. “Our petition, is suspending forwards won this No option its season after this match and the goal- weekend’s games due to kicking of Curwin but to the coronavirus pan- (Bosch) contributed a demic, the organisers DURBAN: Sharks’ center Andre Esterhuizen (C) is tackled by Stormers Juarno Augustus (L) and lot to the victory.” suspend said Saturday. Scarra Ntobeni during the Super Rugby match between the Sharks of Durban and the Stormers of Stormers prop and Organisers SAN- Cape Town held at the Kings Park stadium in Durban. —AFP captain Steven Kitshoff ZAAR said they had “no said the match was a option but to suspend was cancelled just hours before the 2300 GMT uled to play ACT Brumbies at home, with New “wonderful advertise- the 2020 Super Rugby kick-off. The match, which was due to be held Zealand club Waikato Chiefs in the South African ment for South African rugby in front of a great tournament at the conclusion of this weekend’s behind closed doors, was called off to enable the city of Durban to play the Coastal Sharks. crowd”. “Both sides pitched up and we had a typical matches for the foreseeable future”. Highlanders to return to New Zealand before the Sharks displaced Crusaders at the top of the South African derby — very physical with posses- SANZAAR said it had taken its decision after the Sunday midnight deadline. table after sealing a 24-14 victory over the Western sion fiercely contested. New Zealand government announced that all SANZAAR chief executive Andy Marinos said Stormers in Saturday’s South African showdown in “The suspension is unfortunate but understand- returning travellers, including Super Rugby players, “our priority is to ensure the players currently over- Durban. able because the good health of people has to come will have to self-isolate for 14 days. Five New seas return home healthy and safely to be with their The SANZAAR announcement to suspend the before sport. Let us hope the break is short.” Zealand teams, including reigning champions families”. He said SANZAAR had not taken the competition after round seven had come just 80 Canterbury Crusaders, play in the 15-team tourna- decision to call off the game lightly, but the welfare minutes before the kick-off at Kings Park. STORMERS’ DISASTROUS START ment which also includes clubs from Australia, of players and team management was “paramount”. “I am not surprised by the suspension given the Sharks went back to the top of the combined South Africa and Argentina. Under the rules a match cancelled in these cir- spread of the virus and just hope the break is not table with 24 points after a fifth consecutive win, Crusaders played Saturday and went tem- cumstances is officially declared a draw with both too long,” said Sharks skipper and centre one point above the Canterbury Crusaders, the porarily top of the table after securing a 49-14 Jaguares and Highlanders receiving two points Lukhanyo Am. defending champions. The Stormers, the paceset- bonus point win over the Tokyo Sunwolves in apiece. Stormers prop and captain Steven Kitshoff com- ters for four rounds, slipped to seventh on 17 Brisbane. The Canterbury-based side will be able Sunday’s all-Australian match between ACT mented: “The suspension is unfortunate but under- points, behind the Wellington Hurricanes on points to return home to New Zealand before the mid- Brumbies and NSW Waratahs at 0505 GMT will standable because the good health of people has to difference. night Sunday deadline. now be the last game to go ahead before the sus- come before sport. Let us hope the break is short.” They made a disastrous start with flanker Johan “SANZAAR completely understands the direc- pension comes into place. The tournament was The coronavirus pandemic has rocked world du Toit yellow-carded after 12 seconds for a dan- tive issued by the New Zealand Government given already facing obstacles with fans barred not only sport. Football leagues have been suspended gerous tackle on Sharks scrum-half Louis concerns globally over the COVID-19 virus and the from the game in Argentina but also Australia from across the globe and cricket has been deeply Schreuder, who had to go off injured. But the hosts primary aim to reduce exposure and spread of the next weekend. affected with England’s tour of Sri Lanka aban- did not capitalise on their 10-minute numerical virus,” the organisers said. doned and the lucrative Indian Premier League advantage and only scored well into the first half Saturday’s game between Jaguares of Argentina ‘UNFORTUNATE BUT UNDERSTANDABLE’ announcing it will suspend play from March 29 to when full-back Aphelele Fassi went over for a try and New Zealand side Highlanders in Buenos Aires Next weekend, the Auckland Blues were sched- April 15. —AFP continue to amaze us and make history!” Biles takes aim Former national gymnastics team doctor Nassar was jailed for life for abusing more than 250 ath- letes, including stars of the United States’ 2012 and India duo ready to put at USA Gymnastics 2016 gold medal-winning Olympic teams. A US Senate investigation found that “multiple Olympic dream ahead in birthday tweet institutions” failed to adequately respond to credi- ble allegations against Nassar, but Biles has said of coronavirus concerns LOS ANGELES: Four-time Olympic gold medallist that USA Gymnastics and the US Olympic and Simone Biles wants more than good wishes from Paralympic Committee still owe his victims, includ- NEW DELHI: Indian shooter Mairaj Ahmad USA Gymnastics. The US federation wished Biles a ing herself, more answers and a framework to Khan and javelin thrower Shivpal Singh say happy 23rd birthday on social media on Saturday. ensure such abuses won’t occur again. competing at this summer’s Tokyo Olympics is Biles — who also owns 19 world titles and is “Wish they BOTH wanted an independent inves- their top priority despite concerns about the expected to be among the stars of the Tokyo tigation as much as the survivors & I do,” she Simone Biles health risks to athletes from the coronavirus Olympics — used their tweet as a chance to tweeted earlier this month. As Biles and other elite outbreak. demand an independent investigation into the Larry gymnasts ramp up their preparations for Tokyo, The number of coronavirus infections in Nassar sex abuse scandal. USA Gymnastics in January offered a $215 million was able to abuse athletes for years. Japan rose to 1,484 yesterday, increasing by a “how about you amaze me and do the right thing (194 million euros) settlement to victims of Nassar Attorney John Manley, who represents more than faster pace than the previous day, public ... have an independent investigation,” Biles snapped to settle legal claims — a plan a lawyer for more 180 clients with active claims against USA broadcaster NHK reported. More than on Twitter after the federation’s birthday tweet. than 200 women called “unconscionable.” Gymnastics, said the settlement offer releases too 150,000 people have been infected around the “HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the most decorated Olympic gold medallist Aly Raisman, who is now many people from further claims, including the world and 5,800 have died, according to a gymnast of all time, @simonebiles!” USA retired, called the settlement offer “offensive” and USOPC, former USA Gymnastics chief Steve Penny Reuters tally. The outbreak has brought elite- Gymnastics wrote, posting a video of Biles in accused the federation of attempting to prevent and former national team directors Bela and Marta level sport to a standstill and sparked fears that action in a floor exercise. “We know you will only release of details which would show how Nassar Karolyi. —AFP the 2020 Olympics may have to be postponed or cancelled. be interesting to see how the game However, skeet shooter Khan says he would tion.