Established 1961 25 Sports Monday, November 11, 2019 World Cup stars shine as Toulouse hammer Clermont Late Belleau penalty denies Cruden a winning send-off in final French league game

PARIS: France’s Rugby World Cup stars shone on move which included a no-look pass from Yoann their return to the as champions Toulouse con- Huget on the halfway line and Medard scored in the vincingly beat Clermont 34-8 in a re-run of last sea- corner as Thomas Ramos slotted two conversions son’s final on Saturday. Les Bleus’ , and a penalty goal. Despite the superb start, the best Maxime Medard, and try of the half was saved for the 24-minute mark. all scored in their first appearances since the quarter- Australian fly-half chipped over the final defeat by Wales in October, as the French top high Clermont defence before centre Ntamack flight returned after a fortnight’s break. caught the ball and smoothly side-stepped two Toulouse’s named five players in his defenders with ease to slide over. starting lineup who featured at the World Cup, The away side’s only response in the opening 40 including Ntamack who was named World Rugby minutes was a penalty goal. Parra was Young Player of the Year last weekend but South key in setting up his side’s first touchdown of pro- Africa’s , who lifted the Webb Ellis tro- ceedings, feeding Lopez who off-loaded with one phy, is only expected to be back later in the month. hand for winger Raka to go over in the corner six “It’s good to get back with Toulouse, my mates, minutes after the break. the jersey, I could not have dreamt of a better After Ramos slotted his second three-pointer of return,” Ntamack told Canal+. “Certainly it’s a the game on the hour mark, substitute Gillian Galan great pleasure to win something individual but it’s sneaked over with a pick and go to claim the bonus a group effort, be that with France or my club, so I point for Toulouse to guarantee only their fourth win owe it to them.” of the season. Clermont coach Franck Azema also welcomed Earlier on Saturday, a late Anthony Belleau penal- back individuals who had been away at the tourna- ty denied ex-New Zealand fly-half Aaron Cruden a ment including France pair Raka and , winning send-off in his final French league game as who took the place of the league’s top point scorer Toulon drew 19-19 with Montpellier. Cruden, 30, Jake McIntyre at fly-half. leaves France after two seasons and will to return to “We’re disappointed, it was a slap in the face. We former franchise the Chiefs ahead of the new Super went missing in the contact area, in every aspect Rugby campaign. actually,” Lopez told Canal+. The home side raced The 50-time All Black international was joined in the into a 17-0 lead within the opening quarter of an starting line-up by France World Cup squad members hour as they replicated the swashbuckling play which and , who both retired TOULOUSE: Toulouse’s French scrum half Sebastien Bezy (R) passes the ball during the French Top 14 rugby led to lifting the title in June with two superb tries from Test rugby after the tournament. On Sunday, Stade union match between and ASM Clermont Auvergne at the Municipal Stadium in Toulouse, despite greasy conditions. Francais and Racing 92 meet in the Parisian derby with southern France. — AFP Centre Guitoune finished off a sublime long-range both clubs in the relegation zone. — AFP

Haney makes first defence of WBC Momota defends title Fuzhou crown for

LOS ANGELES: Unbeaten Devin Haney successfully defended his WBC lightweight title for the first time 10th title of 2019 with a unanimous decision over Alfredo Santiago on Saturday night. American Haney, who turns 21 on AHANGHAI: Kento Momota won his 10th title of a November 17, knocked Santiago down in the fifth remarkable year as Japan’s world number one round of a surprisingly close fight at defeated Chou Tien-chen to retain his Fuzhou Arena in . China Open crown yesterday. Home hope Chen This was Haney’s first defence of the 135-pound title Yufei similarly successfully defended the women’s which was given to him after it was vacated by top- title with a gritty victory over Japan’s Nozomi ranked Vasiliy Lomachenko who was then awarded new Okuhara. title of WBC “franchise champion”. Reigning two-time world champion Momota Haney won every round on the judges’ scorecards battled past Taiwan’s world number two Chou 21- but Santiago made him work for the victory. All three 15, 17-21, 21-18 in a repeat of last year’s final. The judges scored it 120-107 for Haney, who was the 29-year-old Chou is in the unusual position of not heavy favourite going into the bout but couldn’t give having a coach and instead relies on his longtime the American boxing crowd the they were physio to guide him courtside during matches. craving. Haney said after the fight that he thought he dislo- Chou saved one match point but handed cated his right shoulder in the fight but couldn’t Momota the title by hitting into the net. The Japanese player fell onto his back and screamed in remember in which round. “It was bad the whole fight,” LOS ANGELES: Devin Haney poses with his WBC lightweight title. he said of the shoulder. “I am not sure what round but celebration, his fists clenched. The peerless he was on the ropes and I threw a right hand. Momota, 25, has had another hugely successful “He was very crafty. I went in there and got the win. Haney at a distance. Santiago, who was making his US at unified lightweight champ Lomachenko. year, his haul of titles in 2019 including another We received this opponent on a week notice.” Santiago debut, suffered his first defeat and is now 12-1, with Haney and Santiago had to fight on the undercard of world crown and the prestigious All England Open. was knocked down by a right uppercut late in the fifth four . a main event novelty fight between a pair of YouTube The women’s final was a similarly gruelling affair round but got up at the count of eight and survived the Santiago is from the Dominican Republic but fights entertainers, American Logan Paul and Olajide William and likewise went to three games. China’s Chen lost final 13 seconds of the round. out of Puerto Rico. He was coming off a technical Olatunji, also known as KSI. the first game 21-9 to Okuhara but recovered to lift Haney was unable to carry that momentum over into knockout of Diego Contreras in June. Despite strug- England’s KSI won the battle to see who is the king the Fuzhou title for the second year in a row by the sixth round as Santiago recovered and kept most of gling against an unknown late replacement, Haney of social media with a split decision six-round victory winning the next two 21-12, 21-18. It was more dis- the rounds close by using his reach advantage to keep hopes he did enough to strengthen his case for a shot over Paul. —AFP appointment for Okuhara, who has now lost all six finals she has contested this year. — AFP Luke Zhao secures victory at Turkish Australian boxer Airlines World Golf Ritchie dies in Cup Grand Final sparring accident

ISTANBUL: After two days of competition, Luke : Australia’s boxing community was in shock Zhao came out on top with a two-round combined yesterday after middleweight Dwight Ritchie collapsed score of 93 points to become the 2019 Turkish and died aged just 27, reportedly while sparring. Airlines World Cup Overall Champion. Although Sydney’s Daily Telegraph said he took a body shot on topping their categories Tomohiro Uemura from Saturday, walked back to his corner and collapsed. He Tokyo, Japan, and Aysen Erdogan from Istanbul, could not be revived. Turkey came so close to winning. The leading gross It said he was sparring in with Michael winner of the tournament, Sachin de Silva from Zerefa, who is preparing for a rematch with , a Colombo, played some spectacular golf and won former WBO welterweight champion. Ritchie’s promot- the trophy with a total score of -3 for his two er Jake Ellis confirmed the news on Facebook. rounds. The Nearest the Pin competition on day “It is with great sadness and shock to announce that one on the 12th hole was won by Mariano the fighting cowboy Dwight Ritchie sadly passed away Rodriguez for the men and on 3rd hole was won by today doing what he loved,” he said. “As Dwight’s pro- Christine Ochola for the ladies and on day two was moter and friend it’s unbearable to accept the tragic won by Roberto Fabris for the men and Christine news that’s just surfaced.” Ochola once again for the women. Richie, nicknamed “The Fighting Cowboy”, held a The Grand Final, which featured 101 players from 19-2 record. He last fought in August, losing to Tim 70 countries around the world was played at the Tszyu by a unanimous decision for the IBF Australasian Cornelia Golf Club, Antalya, Turkey. Contestants super welterweight title. “I am truly saddened by the were the winners from the 101 Turkish Airlines passing of Dwight Richie,” Tszyu said on Instagram. World Golf Cup qualifying events. The winners went “Only fighters understand the bond shared between on to progress to the Turkish Airlines Open Pro-Am them, especially those who shared a ring together. Rest to play with the world’s elite golfers to acquire a In Peace to a true champion.” Ritchie’s death comes less once-in-a-lifetime experience. than a month after American boxer Patrick Day died Turkish Airlines Chairman of the Board and the after suffering a serious brain injury during his knock- Executive Committee, M. Ilker Ayci said of the tour- out defeat to Charles Conwell in Chicago. nament; “We are delighted to maintain our commit- exciting every year. We are already looking forward ships including Turkish Airlines Open, Turkish He was the third boxer to die from injuries sustained ment to golf as the seventh staging of the Turkish to see the next finals’ excitement, and congratulat- Airlines EuroLeague, European Professional in the ring this year. Argentina’s Hugo Santillan died in Airlines World Golf Cup Amateur Series is conclud- ing this year’s new champion Luke Zhao.” Club Rugby and 2016 UEFA European July following a bout in San Nicolas, just north of ed after a great spectacle and competition. As one The support shown by Turkish Airlines to golf Championships are playing an important role in Buenos Aires. His death came just two days after of the world’ best corporate golf tournaments, along with other sports such as basketball, rug- Turkish Airlines’ commitment to creating an out- Russian fighter Maxim Dadashev died from brain Turkish Airlines World Golf Cup is becoming more by and football among others with key partner- standing sporting legacy. injuries sustained in a fight in Maryland. — AFP