MONDAY, MARCH 10, 2014 SPORTS

Hunt mulls Bremen future Widdop stars for Dragons Ogier leads Rally of Mexico BERLIN: Germany midfielder Aaron Hunt has admitted he is considering his SYDNEY: English international Gareth Widdop sparked St George LEON: World champion Sebastien Ogier built up a commanding lead in the Rally of Werder Bremen future despite being hailed for his good sportsmanship Illawarra Dragons to an emphatic 44-24 win over Wests Tigers in the Mexico on Saturday, winning five of the day’s special stages and finishing second in after refusing to accept a penalty decision. opening round of Australia’s National Rugby League yesterday. the remaining two. Hunt is a prime candidate for a FIFA Fair Play award after his refreshing Widdop had a hand in four of the Dragons’ seven tries and kicked Ogier took his Volkswagen into the day with a slender 26-second advantage honesty during Bremen’s 2-0 win over Nuremberg with both sides battling eight goals from eight attempts in an outstanding debut since over Nowegian Mads Ostberg, but Ostberg’s involvement came to an abrupt end switching from Melbourne Storm. to avoid the relegation places. With Bremen 2-0 up at Nuremberg on when he suffered a broken suspension in his Citroen. By the end of the day, Ogier It was the most points the Dragons have scored in a match since Saturday, the 27-year-old told referee Manuel Graefe to reverse his 75th- was a minute ahead of team-mate and world championship leader Jari-Matti they thumped Manly 48-18 in round 18 of the 2009 season. It’s been minute decision when he awarded Werder a spot-kick. Latvala of Finland. Hunt had fallen to the ground inside the area after a miserable five seasons for Parramatta fans, but the Eels’ long-suf- fering faithful were given hope of better things to come after watch- Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville was in third but was more than being challenged by Nuremberg’s Argentine defender ing their team brush aside the New Zealand Warriors 36-16 in late four-and-a-half minutes off the lead. With only Sunday to go, Javier Pinola, but insisted there had been no contact. yesterday’s other match. The Eels went into the new campaign on barring accidents Ogier looks almost certain to win the Graefe awarded a drop-ball instead. “Out of the back of successive wooden spoons and without a finals appear- race for the second year running.“We had a bit of a instinct, I wanted to provoke the penalty, but that ance since their memorable run to the 2009 grand final. scare on the 14th special, but we got away with it,” was wrong,” Hunt told Sky Sports. But it was the perfect start for new coach Brad Arthur whose side Ogier said. “I hit a rock which it was impossible to “I struggled with myself a bit (to say something), produced some exciting, free-flowing play at Parramatta Stadium avoid, but these things happen in rallying.” but we don’t want to win any games like that, even if and showed an organisation in defence that’s been sorely lacking in Ostberg’s challenge unravelled when his Citroen hit a we are in a relegation battle.” Hunt was rewarded for recent years. Jarryd Hayne has been the Eels’ go-to man ever since bank on the opening 30.33km stage and broke the rear left his honesty with a handshake from Pinola and earned he made his debut in 2006, but the NSW superstar looks to have suspension. He attempted to repair the damage but eventu- plenty of praise for his noble action. “I take my hat off some support this season. Will Hopoate, on debut, showed glimpses ally was forced to give up on his race hopes. to him,” said Pinola, while Nuremberg defender of the quality that earned him an NSW appearance in 2011 before “I took a sharp right-hand bend too fast and hit the embank- Mike Frantz added: “He showed why he’s their his two-year Mormon mission, while wingers Semi Radradra and Vai ment and broke the suspension,” a philosophical Ostberg captain”. —AFP Toutai both scored hat-tricks. —AFP explained. “It was all my own fault.” — AFP Neureuther leads German 1-2 finish at WCup slalom

KRANJSKA GORA: overcame a pre- the discipline with Armin Bittner. Olympic car crash to win a World Cup slalom yesterday, Two-time defending champion Hirscher went top of giving himself pole position in the fight for the season’s the overall standings with 1,050 points, edging Norway’s discipline title. Aksel Lund Svindal by just four points and setting up a Neureuther beat Fritz Dopfer for a German 1-2 finish, tense conclusion to the season at next week’s World Cup and overtook on top of the slalom stand- finals in Lenzerheide, Switzerland. ings by five points with one race remaining. “Something has to change over the next few days,” said On his way to Munich airport for his flight to Sochi on Hirscher, who was hoping for a larger buffer. “I have to be Feb. 14, Neureuther suffered whiplash as he lost control of able to compete at the same level as Aksel again, other- his car on an icy road and hit the barrier. wise I am lost. (Fifth) is better than skiing out but this “I was in the best shape of my life when the car acci- result is not satisfying.” dent happened,” Neureuther said. “The whole body was Hirscher admitted he was feeling the pressure. He can hurting. I couldn’t ski at my top level at the Olympics. I was become only the fourth skier, and the first Austrian, to win very disappointed. That was the most difficult time of my the overall title three years in a row. life.” Starting as a medal contender, Neureuther came “I am just not racing as easily as I usually do,” Hirscher eighth in the GS and failed to finish his second run of the said. “This was all I could do, more was impossible. I have slalom at the Olympics. “The last couple of weeks have to admit that. What the other three showed on the hill was been brutal,” the German said. “But I kept on fighting and different class. How Felix took the steep part, that was the today is the reward for that. I came back and I am very best we’ve seen all season.” Dopfer reached proud of that.” his fourth career World Cup podium but was still waiting Neureuther finished in a two-run combined time of 1 for his first win. Like teammate Neureuther, Dopfer minute, 45.50 seconds to lead Dopfer by 0.59. Norwegian bounced back from a disappointing Olympics, where he teenager Henrik Kristoffersen took third, 0.79 back. came fourth in the slalom. Olympic champion Mario Matt of , who led after “This is my medal,” said Dopfer. “My last few slaloms the first run, straddled a gate near the end of his final run have been really good and this is my reward.” Kristoffersen and failed to finish. continued his great run that started in January and saw Hirscher came 0.95 behind Neureuther in fifth. The him win his first World Cup race, an Olympic bronze DENVER: Goalie Ryan Miller No. 39 of the St. Louis Blues makes a save against Jamie McGinn No. 11 of the Austrian has 465 slalom points, just five behind medal, and two junior world titles. Colorado Avalanche at Pepsi Center. — AFP Neureuther on 470. Kristoffersen is third on 430. “It looks And Saturday, he earned his first career podium in GS. pretty good,” Neureuther said. “Henrik and Marcel are very “My main goal is for sure to get a better skier,” said the 19- Blues get past Avalanche close. It’s going to be exciting. We will all ski absolutely to year-old Norwegian, who was giving himself an outside our limits.” chance to grab the slalom title next week. “For sure, now Neureuther said that winning the slalom globe would it’s that close you want more.” DENVER: Ryan Miller stopped 26 shots, past Tampa Bay. Smith put an in-close shot BLUE JACKETS 1, PREDATORS 0 not make up for missing out on an Olympic medal. Ted Ligety, who won a record sixth on the and David Backes broke up a scoreless between the pads of Ben Bishop. Bruins Artem Anisimov scored with 6:25 “Olympics are every four years,” he said. “An Olympic same course Saturday, was 2.04 back in 16th. Former over- game in the second period, helping the St. goalie Tuukka Rask caught a break on remaining in the third period and Sergei medal is something different, winning a globe means all champion Ivica Kostelic of Croatia, who won here last Louis Blues beat the Colorado Avalanche 2- Tampa Bay’s seventh shootout attempt Bobrovsky made 28 saves to lead you’re the best skier during the whole year.” year, finished 2.98 off the lead in 27th. Yesterday’s race was 1 Saturday in a Central Division showdown. when Richard Panik hit the post. Columbus over Nashville. It was It was Neureuther’s seventh career slalom win and he the last event before the World Cup finals start in Patrik Berglund added a pivotal insurance The Bruins got regulation goals from Bobrovsky’s third shutout of the season for now shares the German record for most World Cup wins in Lenzerheide, Switzerland, on Wednesday. — AP goal early in the third period, and the Blues Daniel Paille, Carl Soderberg and Johnny Columbus, which has won four of five. The won their fourth straight. Boychuk. Ondrej Palat, Mark Barberio and Predators have lost four in a row and sev- Colorado finally solved Miller midway Valtteri Filppula scored for the Lightning. en of eight. Pekka Rinne stopped 35 shots through the final period when P.A. Boston pulled even at 3 when Boychuk while making his third consecutive start Parenteau lifted a shot over him while he snapped a 20-game goal drought 8:11 into after being sidelined since late October was trying for his first shutout in nearly two the third. The Bruins have outscored their because of an infection in his hip. years. Miller is 4-0 since being acquired opponents 78-43 during the third period from Buffalo. Avalanche forward Nathan this season. MAPLE LEAFS 4, FLYERS 3 MacKinnon had his point streak snapped at Joffrey Lupul scored 2:21 into overtime 13 games. It is the NHL’s longest streak by DEVILS 5, HURRICANES 4 for Toronto, which squandered a third- an 18-year-old player. Tuomo Ruutu scored with 6:30 to play period lead but bounced back to beat St. Louis improved to a league-best 17- against his former teammates, and New Philadelphia. 0-1 in division games. The Blues have Jersey edged Carolina after squandering a Jake Gardiner and Nazem Kadri both outscored the Avs 13-5 in taking all three three-goal lead. had a goal in the game’s first four minutes, games in the season series. Adam Henrique added two more goals, and Mason Raymond scored the go-ahead and Travis Zajac and Damien Brunner had goal in the third period for Toronto. SENATORS 5, JETS 3 the others as the usually defensive-minded Jonathan Bernier made 28 saves for his Ales Hemsky had three assists in his Devils had another lax game in their own 24th victory. Kimmo Timonen scored second game with Ottawa, and the strug- end. Martin Brodeur made 29 saves. New twice for Philadelphia, and Braydon gling Senators held off Winnipeg. It was Jersey has given up 11 goals in two games. Coburn tied the game late to force over- Hemsky’s first points for the Senators since Jeff Skinner, Jay Harrison, Nathan Gerbe time. Steve Mason, who allowed two goals he was acquired on Wednesday from and Alexander Semin scored for Carolina, on the first four shots he faced, made 32 Edmonton. He was placed on Ottawa’s top which has lost seven of eight. Gerbe and saves overall. line. Milan Michalek scored the game’s first Semin tallied in the third period to make it goal during a power play with an assist 4-4. Ruutu was acquired by New Jersey STARS 4, WILD 3 from Hemsky and center Jason Spezza, from Carolina on Wednesday. Erik Cole scored on a breakaway with who had three assists. 4:49 to play, and the Dallas Stars rallied to Defensemen Jared Cowen and Eric CAPITALS 3, COYOTES 2 defeat the Minnesota Wild. Dallas goalie Gryba, and Kyle Turris and Mike Hoffman Troy Brouwer scored a power-play goal Kari Lehtonen was injured in a collision also scored for Ottawa, which had lost two off a rebound to cap a rally from a two-goal with the Wild’s Erik Haula at 6:37 of the straight and four of five. deficit in the third period as Washington third period. Newly acquired goalie Tim Turris’ goal was his 21st of season, and beat Phoenix. Thomas earned the win in his Stars debut Hoffman netted his first. Both players also After failing to score in the first 49 min- in relief. Haula was given a major penalty had an assist. Craig Anderson stopped 46 utes against Mike Smith (30 saves), for charging and was ejected. Tyler Seguin shots for the Senators. Bryan Little scored Washington tallied three times in a span of scored during the 5-minute power play to his 20th of the season, and Tobias Enstrom 5 minutes, 2 seconds. Karl Alzner started tie the game 3-3. Four minutes later, Cole and Dustin Byfuglien also had goals for the surge with a goal at 9:45. Just 32 sec- picked up a loose puck at center ice and Winnipeg, which has dropped three onds later, Brooks Laich tied it on a feed beat goalie Darcy Kuemper. straight (0-21). Ondrej Pavelec started in from Jason Chimera. It was a successful Jamie Benn and Alex Chiasson also goal but was replaced in the second period Washington debut for goalie Jaroslav scored for Dallas. Before the game, the by Al Montoya after giving up five goals on Halak, who made 31 saves. Halak, acquired Stars retired Mike Modano’s No. 9 in front 20 shots. from Buffalo on Wednesday, helped of a Dallas-record crowd of 19,109. Washington snap its three-game losing BRUINS 4, LIGHTNING 3 streak. Brandon McMillan and Radim CANUCKS 2, FLAMES 1 Reilly Smith scored the lone shootout Vrbata scored for Phoenix, with Keith Yannick Weber scored the go-ahead goal in the seventh round to lead Boston Yandle assisting on both. goal early in the third period, helping the Vancouver Canucks break a four-game los- ing streak with a win over the Calgary NHL results/standings Flames. Darren Archibald also scored for the struggling Canucks, who entered the game having lost 11 of their last 12. Brian Ottawa 5, Winnipeg 3; St. Louis 2, Colorado 1; Toronto 4, Philadelphia 3 (OT); McGrattan had the only goal for Calgary, Boston 4, Tampa Bay 3 (SO); New Jersey 5, Carolina 4; Washington 3, which had won its last two and three of its Phoenix 2; Columbus 1, Nashville 0; Dallas 4, Minnesota 3; Vancouver 2, last five. It was the first meeting between Calgary 1; San Jose 4, Montreal 0. the teams since a fierce line brawl broke out 2 seconds into a game on Jan. 18 that Western Conference Eastern Conference saw 150 penalty minutes assessed. Pacific Division Atlantic Division Boston 41 17 5 199 141 87 W L OTL GF GA PTS SHARKS 4, CANADIENS 0 Montreal 35 24 7 166 166 77 Anaheim 43 14 7 207 157 93 Toronto 34 23 8 193 198 76 Tommy Wingels scored two goals and San Jose 41 17 7 199 157 89 Tampa Bay 34 24 6 183 167 74 Antti Niemi made 27 saves to shut Montreal out for the second time this sea- Los Angeles 36 22 6 155 135 78 Detroit 29 21 13 171 176 71 Ottawa 28 25 11 182 209 67 son in the San Jose Sharks’ victory over the Phoenix 29 24 11 177 185 69 Florida 24 32 7 154 201 55 Canadiens. Matt Nieto also scored and Vancouver 29 27 10 153 174 68 Buffalo 19 36 8 127 186 46 Logan Couture had a goal and two assists Calgary 25 32 7 150 191 57 Metropolitan Division for the Sharks, who have won seven Edmonton 22 34 8 160 208 52 Pittsburgh 42 17 4 201 157 88 straight home games against Montreal since last losing here to the Canadiens in Central Division Philadelphia 33 24 7 183 188 73 NY Rangers 34 26 4 168 162 72 1999. Peter Budaj was knocked out after St. Louis 43 14 6 208 143 92 Columbus 33 26 5 186 178 71 allowing two goals in less than 22 minutes Chicago 37 13 14 221 171 88 Washington 30 25 10 191 197 70 as Montreal lost for the third time in four Colorado 41 18 5 196 170 87 New Jersey 28 24 13 161 167 69 games on a road trip to Arizona and Minnesota 34 22 7 156 154 75 Carolina 27 28 9 160 184 63 California. The Canadiens hope to have NY Islanders 24 33 9 181 224 57 Dallas 31 23 10 185 179 72 gold medal-winning goalie Carey Price Note: Overtime losses (OTL) are worth back from a lower-body injury on their Winnipeg 30 28 7 180 189 67 one point in the standings and are not upcoming homestand that begins Nashville 26 28 10 152 191 62 included in the loss column (L). Wednesday night against Boston. — AP