B8 SUPERSPORT Monday, January 30, 2012 THE PRESS,

HOCKEY FOOTBALL FOOTBALL IN BRIEF

Head1 Kiwis held Cooper impressive ❯❯ Christchurch’s Anton Cooper again showed his exceptional to draw by Clapham’s talent in the Nelson round of the mountainbike cross- country championship on Saturday. Cooper started two minutes behind Argentina the elite field and passed all of ‘goal of the them on the way to winning the junior men’s title. Cooper won the Kevin Tutty junior title by more than 7min in 1hr 16min 7sec from Sam Gaze, of Seven-time World Player of the Cambridge. Dirk Peters, of Rotorua, Year Luciana Aymar, of won the elite men’s race, two laps Argentina, displayed all her sub- season’ seals longer than the junior race, in 1hr lime skills to help her side snatch a 36min 34sec. The women’s elite late 2-all draw with the Black race was won by Karen Hanlen, of Sticks at the Champions Trophy in Whakatane, in 1hr 30min 53sec, Rosario yesterday. 2min 59sec ahead of Rosara New Zealand turned around Joseph, of , both of poor form leading into the elite Dragons’ win whom are vying for a place on the tournament in Aymar’s home city, New Zealand Olympic team. to lead the World No 2 ranked team 2-0. But Aymar dragged her Tony Smith SCORERS Cassidy leads side back into the game. Black Sticks co-captain Emily Two Russell Kamo strikes and ‘‘a Waikato FC 0 Canterbury United 3 ❯❯ Three races, three different Naylor said the team was frus- goal of the season’’ to Aaron (Russell Kamo 2, Aaron Clapham). winners but the Toyota Racing trated not to hold on for the win Clapham fired Canterbury United HT: 0-2. Series lead remains firmly with but agreed Aymar was the critical toa3-0wintosmashtheir Other round nine results: Team racer Nick Cassidy. element in the home team’s Hamilton hoodoo. Wellington 1 (Patrick Fleming) Jordan King, Cassidy and Dutch revival. The Canterbury Dragons had Auckland City 1 (Manuel racer Hannes van Asseldonk all won ‘‘We are disappointed after not won in Waikato in their last Exposito). HT: 1-1. Waitakere a race at the third round of the TRS, being up 2-0. We put a lot of five outings, but they walloped United 5 ( 3, Ryan de held at Taupo at the weekend. A pressure on them but they came Waikato FC yesterday to move Vries, own goal) Otago United 0. fifth in the first race, a win in the back at the end of the second half within two points of ASB premier- HT: 3-0. Youngheart Manawatu 0 second and eighth in the feature and put the pressure back on us. ship leaders Auckland City. Hawke’s Bay United 5 (Tom Biss 3 race were enough to keep Nick But a point is better than nothing. Kamo struck in the seventh incl 2 pen, Sam Margetts, Hamish Cassidy well in control of the ‘‘Aymar did punish us. She minute and put the Dragons 2-0 up Watson). HT: 0-2. High achiever: Wellington Phoenix star Paul Ifill celebrates his first goal at Westpac Stadium in Wellington yesterday. championship, taking 546 points to dribbled through several times. If in the 73rd minute, but it was Photo: FAIRFAX NZ the next round at Hampton Downs you let her have space and if she’s Clapham’s 79th-minute sizzler with Damon Leitch second on 517 on fire she can do that to teams. which had coach Keith Braith- said winning in Waikato had and Josh Hill moving up to third on ‘‘I thought we managed her waite brimming with superlatives. never been easy after early starts 424 points. pretty well for the rest of the game. ‘‘He volleyed it from 20 to 25 yards at Christchurch Airport, two But she upped her ante and her out and struck it so sweetly . . . it gruelling flights and a substandard Phoenix perform for big crowd Loss ‘sickening’ team-mates looked to her a lot and was the goal of the season.’’ surface at Ngaruawahia, Wai- ❯❯ she found the holes.’’ Clapham and Kamo both kato’s former home fortress. Sam Worthington SCORERS stretchered off just as he was Sir Alex Ferguson labelled Naylor said the game was even extended their season tallies to five ‘‘But this time we had a nice, returning to form but even that Manchester United’s 2-1 FA Cup in terms of statistics. Argentina goals – one behind striker George flat surface at Porritt Stadium and The buzz is back at Westpac Wellington Phoenix 3 (Paul Ifill couldn’t wipe the smile off defeat by Liverpool as ‘‘sickening’’ had 16 circle penetrations to 10 and Slefendorfas, who scored six times the boys turned up and played Stadium, as Wellington responded 3m, 64m, 54m) bt Herbert’s face, with the initial after the champions dominated the nine shots on goal to New in the first two rounds. some excellent football.’’ to Gareth Morgan’s call to arms Melbourne Heart 1 (Alex Terra prognosis a rolled ankle. tie before being sunk by a late Dirk Zealand’s eight. Braithwaite said the Hamilton- Braithwaite’s mood was further and the Phoenix came to the party 36m) at Westpac Stadium, Said Phoenix captain Andrew Kuyt goal. Kuyt’s dramatic 88th- ‘‘We struggled the last couple of ians could not have hollered if improved when he learned leaders with three A-League points to Wellington. Crowd: 13,601. Durante: ‘‘We want to stay there minute winner dumped the record weeks, but we upped our perform- Canterbury had won ‘‘five or six Auckland had been held to a 1-1 surge to second place. Referee: Peter Green. and we’d love to finish in that top- 11-time winners United out of the ance today and played more nil’’. draw by Team Wellington, which Yesterday’s 3-1 win over Mel- two and have a crack at that grand FA Cup and left Liverpool and consistently,’’ said Naylor. ‘‘We had a lot more chances but had a double benefit for the bourne Heart in front of a season- final spot straight away.’’ manager Kenny Dalglish one step In the format being used for the their keeper [Mark Fulcher] pulled Dragons. Canterbury and cham- best Wellington crowd of 13,601 with the fans to turn out and they There are still eight games left closer to a repeat of their 2001 tournament New Zealand could off some great saves. pions Waitakere United, 5-0 con- lifts the Phoenix ahead of enjoyed a dominant Phoenix and plenty of tough work, starting League Cup and FA Cup double. The finish bottom of its pool and still go ‘‘It was an excellent team querors of Otago United, moved to defending champions Brisbane performance as Paul Ifill struck with an away trip to Adelaide fourth-round tie was the first time through to win the final. All eight performance. The boys played the 18 points, two behind Auckland, Roar and although the minor twice and Chris Greenacre once. United on Friday. the bitter rivals had met since teams at the tournament will get ball across the back with great who have a game in hand. Welling- premiership is probably out of There have been no star But the Phoenix have shaken Liverpool striker Luis Suarez was the opportunity to play for the confidence, Josh Smith came in ton slipped to fourth on 16 points, reach, a home final is now there signings but things are starting to the travel monkey off their back hit with an eight-game ban for medals after pool play. and did a great job in midfield with six ahead of the chasing pack led for the taking. happen under Morgan and co: a with two straight road wins and racially abusing United’s French The Black Sticks play South Aaron, and Ken [Yamamoto] and by Hawke’s Bay United, who ham- It is uncharted territory for the new strip and new sponsors while have momentum and experience defender Patrice Evra in a league Korea this morning in their Te [Atawhai Hudson-Wihongi] mered hapless Youngheart Mana- Phoenix, who had been written off promotion of home matches has on their side. game on October 15. But the tie second match. came close to scoring when they watu 5-0 in Palmerston North. as likely wooden spooners by gone up a level. ‘‘It’s funny, when we lose appeared to proceed without major came on. Slefendorfas hit his Canterbury survived the loss of many A-League observers after a The Phoenix get a kick out of games, people say we’re too old incident. OTHER RESULTS straps in the second half and was a two of their most incisive attack- tumultuous off-season. performing in front of big crowds and we need to get some new little unlucky [not to score].’’ ers. Andy Barton was replaced at But after taking their time to while the Heart – who have players that are younger and Coons beats Kiwi Pool A: Netherlands 3 China 1, Braithwaite said English left halftime with a pulled groin get the lay of the land, the new experienced the intensity of the fresher,’’ Durante said. ‘‘But when Great Britain 3 Japan 0. back Dan Glozier gave Canterbury muscle and Darren White, whose Welnix owners are starting to step Melbourne derby – at times looked we’re winning games, experience ❯❯ American superstar Jerry Coons Pool B: Germany 4 South Korea 2. ‘‘a bit more width and left-foot cross set up Kamo’s first goal, up their game off the pitch, just as rattled by the occasion. comes to the fore so I don’t think Jr beat Kiwi Michael Pickens in the delivery’’ on his New Zealand hobbled off before the hour-mark ’s charges are on it. The only dampener was the you can replace the experience highlight of the 35-lap feature in football debut. The Dragons’ coach after rolling his ankle. Co-owner Morgan had pleaded sight of being that we’ve got in the team.’’Fairfax NZ the opening round of the Triple Crown midget car feature at Ruapuna Speedway on Friday night. Auckland drivers Shane O’Conner SOFTBALL and Scott Buckley finished in third and fourth place respectively. Richmond pitcher impresses Title to Azarenka ❯❯ Belarusian tennis player Victoria Azarenka, 22, sank to her knees in disbelief after winning her first all-round in shutout victories grand slam singles title with a one- sided victory over Russian Maria Tony Smith They had to dig deep to beat Sharapova in the Australian Open Richmond Keas 4-3 after being final on Saturday. She bullied Pitcher Aidan Cocker turned in an outbatted by eight safe hits to six. Sharapova into submission in a 6-3 impressive all-round performance White Sox international Robyn 6-0 match lasting 82 minutes. as Richmond Keas racked up two Hall hit a triple for SK and lead-off Meanwhile, Leander Paes and convincing shutout wins in the Mikayla Werahiko had two hits Radek Stepanek upset Bob and Canterbury softball premiership. from three at-bats. Mike Bryan 7-6 6-2 to win the The left-handed hurler grabbed Canterbury outfielder Christ- Australian Open doubles title on automatic home runs in Rich- ina Paul tripled to score Tracey Saturday and foil the American mond’s big victories over Papanui Gutsell for Richmond’s first run twins’ bid for a record 12th grand (7-0) and Halswell (10-0) at Papanui and Ashlee Puckett (three from slam crown. Domain on Saturday. four) led the batting averages from Canterbury Red Sox infielder Oriana Hesp and Manawa Ruki Australian triumph Matt Holmes had two hits from both (two from four). three at-bats and batted in four Canterbury pitcher Elisha ❯❯ Australia mopped up the India runs for Richmond while Black Smith had a great day with the bat tail to win the fourth cricket test by Sox pitcher Penese Iosefo threw a Daniel Milne for Sydenham Kereru, collecting 298 runs at Adelaide on Saturday. one-hitter and nabbed eight strike- three hits from four in a crushing Batsman Rahul Dravid, previously outs and catcher Clayton Ellis got affair, with the Papanui Tigers 16-4 win over Albion Cardinals. known as ‘‘The Wall’’, who averaged two terrific pick-off outs at first totting up six runs in the bottom of Teenager Ofa Schuster under- only 24.25 in the series dismissed base. the sixth inning to win 14-11 after lined her batting power with a rumours he was about to retire. Black Sox star Daniel Milne the score had seesawed through- game-winning three-bagger in Meanwhile, Pakistan left-arm and Jamie Frisby clouted home out. Richmond Keas’ 4-3 win over spinner Abdul Rehman grabbed six runs in competition leaders PCU Sydenham Kereru consolidated Papanui. Amy Begg did a tidy job wickets as England capitulated for Devils’ 13-3 demolition of the their lead in the women’s premier- as Papanui’s starting pitcher but 72 runs, chasing 145 runs for Albion Pirates. Albion were also ship with wins over their nearest Richmond scored twice both in the victory in the second test at Abu edged out in another high-scoring rivals. fourth inning and in the fifth. Dhabi. Agencies

Christchurch High School Old Boys Rugby Football Club Just 4 days until the (Inc.) ® Est 1901 Classic 2012 HSOB RUGBY CLUB PRE SEASON TRAINING MONDAY 30 JANUARY 2012 AND EACH WEEK THEREAFTER 6PM ONWARDS BOB DEANS FIELDS NORTH HAGLEY PARK FURTHER INFO CONTACT NATHAN MAUGER RDO 021 111 6069 PHIL HUGHES CLUB CAPTAIN 0275 744 000

4341991AA Dale Mathers will be there WEBSITE www.oldboys.co.nz with his 1969 Boss Mustang OR CLUB 348 4521 ANYTIME AN OPEN CLUB WITH OUTSTANDING PLAYING AND COACHING ACHIEVEMENTS. 4341979AA