SPORTS SATURDAY, APRIL 26, 2014

Moon keen for Leeds to shine against Saints

MANCHESTER: Joel Moon and his team- said. “The is a very important competi- here to Wigan really,” said Sarginson. mates are licking their lips at the prospect of taking on tion for us and I have not lifted a trophy at Leeds yet so I “We know we’ve had an easier draw than some other St Helens in the marquee tie of the Challenge Cup fifth want to put that right. teams, obviously Leeds Rhinos and St Helens coming up round. The Rhinos overtook the previously unbeaten “It’s going to be a huge test for us but we will be at against each other is good for us, but we can’t wait for Saints at the top of the table during a home and it is those little things that can make all the the weekend. “We’ve looked at them on video but busy Easter period. difference in the big games.” The Rhinos have a 100 per there’s always the thought that a big side might go in Indeed since Tommy Makinson’s last-gasp score cent home record this season, the last-gasp defeat underprepared. We won’t do that, we’ll prepare fully gave Nathan Brown’s side victory over Leeds at the end against Saints last month coming at Langtree Park. just as we would for any team we come up against. of last month, the Rhinos have been on a tear. Four wins Defending champions have them- “Hopefully we’ll do well this weekend and kick on from four have seen Moon and Leeds rack up at least 30 selves only lost once at home, in their season opener into the quarter-finals.” Elsewhere in the fifth round points in each victory while their defence has been against Huddersfield and that record is unlikely to Bradford host Catalan Dragons this weekend and Bulls watertight, only conceding one try in every match. change this weekend. They host Hunslet Hawks, who prop Jamal Fakir is excited about taking on his former The Rhinos have dominated Super League over the top the table in Championship One, two levels below employers. “I have settled in very well at Bradford, it last decade but it has been 15 long years since they last Super League, with a quarter-final place on the line. was a good move for me,” said Fakir, who has joined the lifted the Challenge Cup and Moon admits they are des- But Perth-born Dan Sarginson insists there is no Bulls in a deal which runs until the end of the season. perate to set the record straight. chance of the Warriors taking their opponents lightly “I am very excited to be facing Catalan in the “Saints is going to be a tough game, there is no despite their lower-flight status. “There’s no better club Challenge Cup tomorrow. They are a good team but I doubt about that but we want to win this trophy,” he to be at to win trophies and that’s exactly why I’ve come know that if we play well we can beat them.” — AFP

Saracens boss wary Teen whizz Guan eyes of Sivivatu threat Asian Games, long haul LONDON: New Zealand’s Sitiveni Sivivatu is the danger- man Saracens must contain in their European Cup semi- final with Clermont at Twickenham today, according to SHENZHEN: Masters sensation Guan Tianlang said he hopes However the Guangzhou schoolboy is confident he’s on coach Mark McCall. Although it is nearly three years since to represent China at this year’s Asian Games but pledged not the right path, and he will play fewer professional tourna- Sivivatu won the last of his 45 All Blacks caps, the 32-year- to play too many big events in 2014 as he focuses on building ments this year as he carefully plots his road to success. old Fiji-born wing remains one of the most potent attacking a long-term career. “I think definitely I’m making the right progress,” said Guan threats in European rugby. The 15-year-old amateur shot a disappointing 76 in the at the Genzon Golf Club in Shenzhen. “You wouldn’t concentrate on one person but if some- Volvo China Open second round yesterday to miss the cut by “Last year I had a great tournament (at the Masters) and one is going to pull a rabbit out of a hat it’s going to be three shots, a far cry from his Masters exploits a year ago. lots of great experiences and this year I didn’t want to play too Sivivatu,” said McCall. Last April at Augusta, Guan earned rave reviews when he many tournaments at first because it’s still not the right time. “He is amazing. He’s got the most metres and offloads in the Heineken (European) Cup and he pops up where you became the youngest player to make the weekend in a major “Last year I played maybe 10 to 12. I played in a couple of least expect him. “If you switch off for just one second and championship, aged just 14 years and five months. He fol- really big ones so I got great experience from that,” he added. you don’t stay alive and in the moment, he will hurt you. lowed that by reaching the final rounds at his next PGA event, Guan appears comfortable in the spotlight and he was a star “They (Clermont) have got a few players like that, but the Zurich Classic in New Orleans, but a missed cut at attraction at the 20th edition of China’s national champi- he’s the one who can hurt you big-time.” December’s Hong Kong Open ended a breakthrough 2013 on onship, a $3.2 million event co-sanctioned by the European Two years ago Clermont arrived at Saracens’ then home a quiet note. Tour and OneAsia. ground in Watford and thrashed their opponents 22-3 in a He opened with a solid one-under-par 71 on Thursday but lopsided European Cup quarter-final. struggled on the greens in round two, missing short putts for McCall was also in charge of the side for that match and par at 18 and two and finishing with a four-over 76 to leave hasn’t forgotten the experience. “We would hold our hands him at plus three. up and say that day was a little ‘men against boys,” he “I’m a little bit disappointed, the swing just wasn’t there,” recalled. “We felt we were playing with one hand tied he said, adding that perhaps the lack of recent tournament behind our back, we were a bit lightweight and we practice was a factor. But the great hope of Chinese golf is changed a lot after that.” happy to bide his time, saying he has no immediate plans to Nevertheless, French clubs have proved something of a turn professional and no target for when he’d like to break thorn in the side of Saracens, currently nine points clear at into the world’s top ranks. the top of the English Premiership. “I’m focusing back on my school and my body,” the slight youngster said, referring to his attempts to bulk up so he can Rougerie out for Clermont hit the ball further. “I don’t have any plans for a timetable yet. Last season they lost 24-12 to eventual European cham- To keep playing in those high-level tournaments is wonderful pions Toulon in the semi-finals, with England great Jonny Wilkinson kicking all of the French team’s points. so I don’t start thinking about it yet.” And this term they were twice beaten by Toulouse in the pool stages. However, defiant former Ireland centre McCall ‘Chinese major champion’ said: “The Toulon semi last year, they didn’t score a try that Guan has stopped using a long-handled putter, which will day, and we had an opportunity after half-time. “We defi- be banned from 2016, and says he feels “confident” with the nitely had progressed from the Clermont game to that, and conventional length. China is yet to have a truly recognisable we feel we are in a much better position 12 months later golfing superstar-its highest players in the rankings currently now. are Liang Wenchong at 137 and Wu Ashun at 144. “I know how far we’ve come. It’s obvious. It was men But at the China Open, top players Henrik Stenson and Ian against boys last time (against Clermont); it’s not going to Poulter said it won’t be long before that changes, with the be like that this weekend.” world number three Swede singling out Guan for praise. Clermont have won an astonishing 76 consecutive “When I first came here the local players were at the bot- home games but have proved far more fallible away from tom of the results list, but over the past few years the local their Parc des Sports Marcel Michelin fortress, having lost players’ results are getting better and better,” Stenson said. nine away matches in the French Top 14 alone this season. “We had a 14-year-old Chinese player making the cut at “Domestically they are like other teams, they have lost last year’s Masters. If you had put me out at Augusta at the six or seven in a row away,” said McCall. “But look at their age of 14 I think 90 would have been a good score for me. It is European record away, it’s pretty special. They have trav- very impressive in a short period of time.” Poulter said: “There elled well and they bring their A-game to these occasions.” will be a Chinese major champion. I am not saying that will be However, like Saracens, Clermont-who lost by just a SHENZHEN: In this photo released by OneAsia, Guan in two years or five years or 10 years but it is happening.” point to Toulon in last season’s final-have yet to win the Tianlang of China plays a shot during the second round of European Cup. “Clermont have been in the knockout the Volvo China Open at Genzon Golf Club in Shenzhen, Guan hopes he will eventually be that champion, but for this stages of this competition for seven years and have never southern China yesterday. Fifteen-year-old Guan, a year year he’s focusing on playing for China at the Asian Games in won it,” said McCall. “And they’ve only won the Top 14 once removed from his breakout performance at the Masters, South Korea in September. “I really wish I can play with my (in 2010). —AFP failed to make the cut at the China Open, shooting a 76 to home country,” he enthused. I’m not sure if I’ll be selected but finish at 3-over 147. — AP I’m hopeful.” — AFP