THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2015 SPORTS Castleford bid for a bit of Giant-killing

LEEDS: Castleford face their biggest game of the tions. However, Solomona is adamant he and his slide. But they will face a Leeds side who won the against Hull FC on Sunday to retain any hope of season so far today and, despite a less than ideal teammates are ready for their most important last weekend and are looking to making the top four and after a fortnight off, Tony preparation, Denny Solomona insists the Tigers are stretch of the season and remain unaffected by complete an unprecedented treble in the club’s Smith is adamant his side will show improvement. ready to show their claws. the Carney situation. “The boys are fine, we will do history. And Brett Delaney is confident the Rhinos “It was an opportunity to freshen them up Solomona will return from an ankle injury that our best to go out there on the day and do the have learned from last season when they lost all over the weekend,” the Wolves head coach said. kept him out for the best part of a month as best we can,” said the 21-year-old former four games after their victory at Wembley to finish “These guys don’t get too many opportunities to Castleford - presently fifth in the Super 8s table - flyer. sixth in the table and crash out of the play-offs at have much of a break and they got a couple of head to a Huddersfield Giants side two places and “This is our biggest game of the season, it’s do the first hurdle. Delaney, who became the first days off. only two points above them. or die for the boys really if we want to get in the Australian to play in five Challenge Cup finals, says “It’s pretty much business as usual apart from Only the top four in the Super 8s will progress top four but we are up for the challenge. there is a determination to avoid a repeat of that that.” Also in the Super 8s, host to the play-off semi-finals and after a fourth-place “We have lost to Huddersfield twice already this anti-climactic finish to the season Catalans Dragons while in the Qualifiers unbeaten finish last season, Daryl Powell’s Tigers are desper- season by making too many errors, if we can cut “We set a goal at the start of the season to win Hull KR will look to bounce back from their ate to get back there this time. down on that then we can beat them. It will be all three trophies and that’s one of three,” said Wembley disappointment against Wakefield. But with star winger and former Brisbane tough though, they are a good defensive team.” Delaney. “But the job’s not done yet. We’re back in Also on Sunday host Widnes and Bronco Justin Carney suspended last week with Elsewhere in the Super 8s, defending champi- next Friday and we’ve got to kick on. Last year our Sheffield travel to Leigh, while the day before sees immediate effect pending an internal investiga- ons St Helens head to table-toppers form dropped and we don’t want to do that again.” Halifax welcome a Salford Red Devils side in des- tion - the club have had to battle off-field distrac- knowing they badly need a victory to halt their Meanwhile, must win perate need of a win. — AFP Hamilton to pick up speed at Italian GP

MONZA: New father Nico Rosberg has plenty to be happy about right now but Mercedes team mate Lewis Hamilton intends to be smiling just as much after this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix. Sunday’s race, at a super-fast track that faces an uncertain future despite its historic status as a temple to Ferrari, could see Hamilton accelerate ever closer to his third Formula One world cham- pionship. “At the moment it doesn’t look like it is possible to beat Hamilton,” said retired triple champion Niki Lauda after the Briton won last month’s Belgian Grand Prix to go 28 points clear of Rosberg with eight races remaining. “If Lewis does not make a mistake in the next AUCKLAND: Delegates and guests celebrate after the South African city of Durban couple of races, it will be hard for Nico,” said the was named as the host city for the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Auckland. — AFP Mercedes team’s non-executive chairman. A dramatic, high-speed blowout in practice at Durban named as ‘historic’ Spa, coupled with a similar one on race day for Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, did little for Rosberg’s first African host of Games peace of mind ahead of the birth of his daughter last Sunday. Any sleepless nights since then will AUCKLAND: Durban was officially named ball, cricket and rugby union World Cups. have been more to do with his home life, howev- as host of the 2022 Commonwealth Games Asked if the Durban Games could be a pre- er, with Pirelli’s post-Belgium enquiry expected yesterday, making it the first African city cursor to an Olympic bid, South African to exonerate their tyres from any structural fail- ever to stage the sporting spectacular, officials in Auckland said “we’re ready” to ure. sparking big celebrations. host the world biggest sporting event but Safety will still be a prime concern at the South Africa’s third largest city was the would concentrate for the next seven years fastest track on the calendar, with the paddock only candidate for the 2022 hosting rights on making 2022 a success. community mourning the death in America last after Canada’s Edmonton withdrew in “We are very confident that in years to week of British IndyCar driver and former F1 rac- February, citing cost concerns. But the vote come we will bid (for the Olympics),” South er Justin Wilson. Vettel, furious after his scare at still sparked joy in Durban, where television African Olympic chief Gideon Sam told Spa, will be setting his sights on coming back pictures showed large crowds waving the reporters. South African’s government said with a different kind of bang in his first race at South African flag. last week that the Durban Games would Monza in Ferrari’s red overalls. “I’m excited, the city is excited!” Durban use infrastructure from the 2010 football A victory in front of the passionate home 2022 bid chairman Mark Alexander said World Cup, including the 85,000-seat fans, at the circuit where he took his first F1 vic- Lewis Hamilton celebrates in this file photo. from Auckland, where the official Moses Mabhida Stadium, to keep costs tory with Toro Rosso in 2008, would make Vettel six of the last seven races and take his second supremo Bernie Ecclestone sure to take place announcement was made at the 71-nation down. The Games will open on July 18, the first since Stirling Moss in the 1950s to win title. This time, he arrives on the back of 10 poles over the weekend. Commonwealth Games Federation’s (CGF) 2022, a national holiday marking the birth- the Italian Grand Prix with three different teams. in 11 races and six wins to Rosberg’s three. If he For Hamilton, as much as any Formula One general assembly. Newly elected CGF presi- day of South African icon Nelson Mandela, The four times champion cannot be ruled wins at Monza on Sunday for the third time in his fan, a calendar without Monza would be dent Louise Martin, who led a commission who died in 2013 aged 95. The Games will out, with Ferrari likely to be Mercedes’ closest career, Hamilton will become the first driver to unthinkable. “It’s an awesome track-so fast and that backed Durban’s bid after examining it run for 12 days. rivals given that Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo and take successive Italian Grand Prix victories since with some of the most passionate fans you’ll see in fine detail, expressed delight the Games They will be a watershed not only for Daniil Kvyat are expected to take engine penal- his compatriot Damon Hill with Williams in 1994. anywhere in the world,” said the Mercedes driver. would finally be held in Africa after 85 South African sport but also for the Games ties, but Hamilton remains the clear favourite. Monza’s own future will also be in the spot- “Racing in Italy brings back a lot of good memo- years. “A historic decision for all of us and themselves, after CGF delegates voted to Last year he won from pole position and set light, with the circuit still to agree a new contract ries for me and I’d love to add to those this week- one that my commission completely overhaul an event critics say has been slid- the fastest lap at Monza before going on to win after 2016 and more talks with commercial end.” — Reuters endorses,” she said. ing into irrelevancy. An ambitious plan, Organisers, campaigning under the slo- called “Transformation 2022” involves gan “Ready to Inspire”, said 90 percent of increasing the number of compulsory the facilities were already in place, with sports from 10 to 16 and setting a maxi- most of them within two kilometres (1.2 mum quota of 4,500 athletes. miles) of the city centre. The idea is to give greater stability to the They have described the event as a Games programme to attract more host “game-changer” that is expected to boost city bids. tourism and jobs in the Indian Ocean city of Martin, who earlier Wednesday ousted more than three million people. Malaysia’s Prince Tunku Imran to become The four-yearly, multi-sport event was the CGF’s first woman president, has been a first staged in 1930, when it was known as strong advocate for change. the British Empire Games. Britain has host- The Briton, who was involved in the ed six editions, Australia and Canada four widely praised Glasgow Commonwealth apiece, New Zealand three, and Jamaica, Games last year, told the assembly she want- Malaysia and India one each. ed to increase corporate sponsorship and Africa has always missed out but sports restore the event’s prestige. “I want to make officials have been buoyed by South sure the best athletes in the Commonwealth Africa’s successful hosting of the world’s make the Games the cornerstone of their three biggest single-sport events, the foot- calendars,” she said. — AFP Froome’s hopes of glory all but go up in smoke ANDORRA: Chris Froome’s hopes of becom- in Astana’s fortunes after their team leader ing only the third rider to win the Tour de and 2014 Tour de France champion Vincenzo France and Spain’s Vuelta in the same year Nibali was expelled from the race last week faded yesterday after he was cut adrift on the for getting a tow from a team car. 11th stage. “Aru has struck a huge blow in terms of the Astana rider Mikel Landa, third in this overall standings, one hopes he can go all the year’s Giro d’Italia, won the stage at the sum- way,” purred Landa. Two-time Tour de France mit of Cortals d’Encamp in Andorra in the champion Froome, who had started the day in Pyrenees, as his team-mate Fabio Aru seized eighth place overall, 1min 18secs adrift of the the overall lead. lead, was dropped in the mountains and his Aru, 25 and second in the Giro, attacked hopes of winning a second Grand Tour this on the final ascent of the daunting 138km year look to be dead in the water. ride through Andorra to take the overall The 30-year-old Kenyan-born rider started leader’s red jersey from Dutchman Tom the day badly when he fell and things steadily Dumoulin. It represented quite a turnaround got worse as he lost contact with the lead group 40km from the finish and lost about seven minutes by the time he crossed the line. Sky rider Froome is now 15th overall, 7min 30secs behind Aru. The other two cyclists who Xerox Corporate Golf Challenge filled the podium spots at the Tour de France also struggled, Alejandro Valverde coming in over a minute in arrears of Aru and Nairo Quintana, the runner-up to Froome in France, to host 8th qualifying round losing over three minutes. Landa, 25, was part of the initial breakaway group and went ABU DHABI: Xerox Corporate Golf Challenge 1pm on the day of the qualifier, for the chance Prestige Wealth Solutions (PWS - the Dubai- clear on his own on the final first-category (XCGC), the successful corporate golf tourna- to win a place to play in the grand finals at the based firm of financial advisors), long-term climb of the Queen stage of the race. ment with multiple qualifiers across the GCC end of the year in Ras Al Khaimah, United partner Ecco, RAK Tourism, and first-time Earlier in the stage, Portuguese rider states and South Africa, is holding its eighth Arab Emirates. sponsor, Aramex. Sergio Paulinho was taken to hospital after qualifying round on Thursday, September Andrew Horne, General Manager, Xerox Further information about the Xerox being knocked over, according to his team Tinkoff-Saxo, by a motorbike carrying a TV 10th, at Abu Dhabi Golf Club’s National Emirates, said: “The National Course in Abu Corporate Golf Challenge, including registra- cameraman, just as had happened to his Course, home of the annual Abu Dhabi Golf Dhabi is one of the region’s most challenging tion to play in each qualifying round, is avail- team-mate Peter Sagan in the eighth stage. Championship. and enjoyable courses to play. We look for- able at www.xeroxcgc.com. The tournament’s Paulinho had to have 17 stitches inserted The Par 72, 27-hole Championship National ward to bringing the eighth round of the announcements and action can be followed in a leg wound. A furious team owner Russian Course was designed by Peter Harradine. It Xerox Corporate Golf Challenge to the UAE’s on social media through #XCGC2015. oligarch Oleg Tinkov threatened to pull the opened in 2000, and features 162 hectares capital, where two more teams will earn their The top two teams in the invitation-only team out of the race. with 7 lakes and 90 bunkers. Play is described place in the grand final later this year. Taking eighth qualifying round will earn spots in the “Believe you or NOT? But Sergio Paulinho as tough-but-fair and challenging, across 18 part is about more than just winning though - Xerox Corporate Golf Challenge Grand Final. SPAIN: Movistar’s Spanish cyclist was hit today by TVE motorcycle and end up holes of lush fairways with strategically placed our golf series offers a superb opportunity for To be held over 2 days in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, Alejandro Valverde crosses the finish at hospital w 17 stitches. What a messy and line during the 11th Stage of the 2015 shallow race!...” the 47-year-old former brew- bunkers and generous greens. networking with peers.” in late 2015, the Grand Final will see 41 teams Vuelta Espana cycling tour. — AFP ing magnate tweeted. —AFP Two-player teams are invited to join the Sponsors that are supporting the Xerox participate from around the region and from Xerox Corporate Golf Challenge, and tee off at Corporate Golf Challenge this year include South Africa.