RUGBY UNION Barty Backs Aussies to Clinch Fed Smith’S Cup Glory
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MONDAY APRIL 23 2018 SPORT 25 MONDAYntnews.com.au/sport RUGBY UNION Barty backs Aussies to clinch Fed Smith’s Cup glory ASHLEIGH Barty believes Australia can break a 45-year big haul Fed Cup title drought after pi- loting the one-time tennis superpower back into the World Group for the first time since 2015. Barty’s back-to-back singles wins over Quirine Lemoine spot on and Lesley Kerkhove led Aus- tralia to a 4-1 victory over the Netherlands in their World Group playoff in Wollongong. Daria Gavrilova sealed Australia’s return to the eight- nation elite with a 6-3 6-2 de- for Crocs feat of Lemoine that gave the hosts an unbeatable 3-1 lead after Barty outclassed Kerk- JACK HISLOP way through the second half hove 6-4 6-2 in yesterday’s first against a Pirates outfit that was reverse singles match. PALMERSTON bounced reduced to 14 men, Dragons Gavrilova and Destanee back from its first loss of 2018 found an extra gear in the clos- Aiava added the icing on the to beat Casuarina at Rugby ing stages at Uni Oval. cake with a 6-3 6-2 win over Park 2 on Saturday night Coach Puru Westrupp said Kerkhove and Demi Schuurs thanks to a 17-point haul from once his players returned to in the dead doubles rubber. Dan Smith. playing direct football, they Barty (pictured), though, The Crocs fullback was the cashed in. was the star for Australia. only man wearing blue, white “Because (University) were Living up to her status as and red to trouble the scorers, down a man, we were trying to the indoor hardcourt tie’s bagging two tries, two conver- get on the outside of them, highest-ranked sions and a penalty in a seven- when really we made more in- player, the 21- point win. roads going straight down the year-old im- The tri-colours didn’t seal middle,” Westrupp said. proved her victory until the final stages “We actually scored all our record in the when Smith crossed for his points making breaks down competition to second meat pie, a crucial mo- the middle. At the end of the 11-2 — and 6-1 in ment in the Crocs’ season fol- day we were probably lucky to singles — with her eighth- lowing their one-point loss to get a win at the end there, al- straight Fed Cup win. University in Round 9. though we probably had more Now the world No.19 craves “I don’t like it to be too long opportunities than they did.” a crack at the title that has between drinks,” Palmerston Meanwhile, Souths skipped eluded Australia since 1974. coach Les Pearson told the NT to their eighth-consecutive “It’s been a bit of a tricky News. victory with a 54-19 win over spot for us the last couple of “It was good to get back on Swampdogs at Fred’s Pass. years, when we’ve been in the winner’s list, it was a very Fijian flyer Abele Atunaisa World Group II,” Barty said. NTRU STATS physical sort of game. It was crossed for a hat-trick, with “We’ve known it’s been a really important to hit straight Frazer Suffren, Rawiri Wilson work in progress to get back Ladder: South Darwin 40, back. The boys were disap- and Gordon Pirret also playing into the World Group and Palmerston 36, University Pirates pointed with the way we lost key roles for the Rabbits. now we’re in a perfect position 20, Darwin Dragons 16, Casuarina (against University).” SCOREBOARD - Round 10 to put ourselves in with a Cougars 13, Swampdogs 11 Casuarina proved it is again Palmerston 17 (Smith 2 tries; chance for a shot at the title Round 11 - Saturday: Swampdogs v a force to be reckoned with, Smith 2 con; Smith pen) d Casuarina next year.” Darwin Dragons at Rugby Park No 1 challenging Palmerston Cougars 10 (Nurse try; Phillips con; With Barty and Gavrilova (6pm) - Live stream on YouTube, throughout the 80 minutes Phillips pen) entrenched in the world’s top University Pirates v Casuarina with bruising defence despite Darwin Dragons 34 (Seubert 2, 25 and grand slam champion Cougars at Rugby Park No 1 (7.30pm) being understrength. Maher 2, Tobin, Larkin tries; Maher 2 Samantha Stosur — who’s also - Live stream on YouTube, South However it was not enough con) d University Pirates 28 (Taylor 2, a former world No.1 doubles Darwin v Palmerston at Rugby Park to claim a third-straight win, Ley, Wauchope tries; Ley 2 con; Ley exponent — another singles No 2 (7.30pm) with Dragons’ 34-28 victory pen) option for captain Alicia over University landing a dou- South Darwin 54 (Atunaisa 3, Pe- Molik, Australia can “absol- ble blow for Cougars, pushing netito, Joyes, Kuka, Wanahi, Wilson utely” lift the trophy in 2019 Casuarina Cougars fly-half Dwight Shepherd doing his best to elude a Palmerston defender during them out of the top four. tries; Wilson 7 con) d Swampdogs 19 according to their spearhead. Saturday’s NTRU premiership clash at Marrara’s Rugby Park Picture: GLENN CAMPBELL Having fallen behind mid- (Vakacegu 3 tries; Bativou 2 con) Rafa at home in Monte Carlo General and Specialist DEFENDING champion Ra- in an hour and 31 another title yet, I just want to fael Nadal remains on course minutes and ex- think about the way I have to Equipment Hire for an 11th Monte Carlo Mas- tended his run of play and try to be ready for it.” ters title after beating Bulgar- consecutive sets Nishikori fought back from ia’s Grigor Dimitrov 6-4 6-1 in won on clay to a set down to beat Germany’s the semi- finals. 34. Alexander Zverev 3-6 6-3 6-4 It looked a straightforward Nadal needs to win the to reach his first Masters final afternoon for the 31-year-old Masters 1000 tournament to since 2016 in Montreal. Spaniard — the winner of a retain the No.1 ranking ahead Third seed Zverev looked in staggering 10 French Open ti- of Roger Federer, and faced control when he claimed the tles — when he clinched the Japan’s Kei Nishikori, a former opening set but Nishikori (pic- first three games but Dimitrov US Open finalist, in the final tured) fought back to claim worked his way back with a overnight. four-straight games in the sec- • Earthmoving Equipment • Compressors & Pumps quick break to make it 3-3. “Every year is different and ond to force a decider. • Access Equipment • Welders & Generators Nadal edged the opening equally special,” Nadal said Each player saved two set in the 10th game with a blis- after beating Dimitrov for the break points in their first ser- • Tippers & Trailers • Compaction Equipment tering forehand, before he 11th time in 12 career meetings. vice games of the decider be- • Pressure Cleaners • Ladders & Scaffold and much more! raced into a 5-0 lead in the sec- “So I’ll just focus on doing fore Nishikori steadied himself ond to stamp his authority on the things that I have to do to to convert a match point in the Come in and see Glenn & Ryan Your Local Hire Experts the match. give me another chance. 10th game and book a place in He wrapped up the victory “I don’t want to think about the final. 142 Coonawarra Rd, WINNELLIE V1 - NTNE01Z01MA.