SUNDAY, MAY 10 2015 SPORTS

Ennis-Hill back on track Force upset NSW Waratahs Adams’ threat to career LONDON: Olympic gold medallist Jessica Ennis-Hill finished third in the SYDNEY: The Western Force snapped a 10-match losing PARIS: World athlete of the year shot putter Valerie Adams told Friday how she “freaked” as she returned to the track for the first time in almost streak yesterday, upsetting defending Super rugby cham- out with worry that her career may be over after operations on her shoulder and elbow last two years in Manchester yesterday. pions New South Wales Waratahs 18-11 at Perth Oval. year. The 30-year-old New Zealander, a double Olympic champion and four time world Ennis-Hill, who took time off from athletics to become a mother, won The Force held their nerve in a tense finish, despite champion, said she will probably only return to competition in July because of the recuper- the 2012 Olympic and has set her sights on defending that being a man down for the last 10 minutes when their skip- ation. “Three months ago it was really hard for me to throw a shot put. It started playing on title in Rio next year despite her lengthy absence. per Matt Hodgson was sin-binned, to register just their sec- my mind whether or not I would be able to throw a shot put like I did before,” Adams told a The 29-year-old Briton took the first step towards that goal at the Great ond win of a frustrating season. Their only other win was telephone press conference ahead of the IAAF’s Diamond League season opener in Doha CityGames by clocking a time of 13.14 seconds. Ennis-Hill was racing on a also against the Waratahs in the opening round. Since on May 15. purpose-built track in front of her nine-month-old son Reggie and hordes then, they have lost 10 in a row, while the Waratahs had The Kiwi star had operations on her shoulder and on a nerve problem in of spectators, who gave her a huge cheer when introduced to the crowd won seven of their last nine. her elbow in October because of pain that mounted all through the 2014 sea- for the first time in 22 months. On that occasion, in the Anniversary Games “I asked the boys to aim up physically this week and son. “Muscles and ligaments, I have had it before, but with the they responded,” Hodgson said. “Hopefully we can use the at London’s Olympic Stadium, Ennis-Hill recorded a time of nerves it is something else, the pain definitely kills you,” she last few games to build up some momentum into the last 13.08sec, so she was encouraged by her return performance said. The surgeons moved the nerve and “then they cut a few games and next season.” in cold conditions and into a headwind. “It was really good hole through a muscle in my forearm to thread it through” The Waratahs picked up a bonus point for losing by less to be back,” said Ennis-Hill, who finished behind Tiffany because the nerve was brushing a tendon, Adams Porter, who claimed a dominant victory in 12.86sec, and than seven to inch ahead of the ACT Brumbies at the top of explained. But Adams remained in pain even weeks after second placed Lucy Hatton. “I feel like it’s a starting point the Australian conference standings but with both teams the operations. “I really lost feeling in my ring finger and my now. I feel like I can build on that. “I’m always going to be level on points with five matches each to play. pinky finger on my right hand for a very long time and that disappointed. I know I am capable of running a lot faster, but I “I’m disappointed in the performance more than the scared me,” she said. “I couldn’t pick my phone up or any- hit a hurdle. I feel like I’m lacking race sharpness. “I’m hap- result,” said NSW captain Dave Dennis.”The urgency in our thing like that. “ and my career are one thing, py to come away with that, I can build on it.”—AFP attacking ruck and overall intensity was poor.” —Reuters but my life was another thing. It freaked me out.”—AFP Rangers stay alive with OT win

NEW YORK: The New York Rangers were Fast kept the puck in the Washington end less than two minutes away from seeing and sent a pass to Derek Stepan in the left their season end before coming up with circle. Instead of shooting, Stepan hesitated two goals to beat Washington 2-1 in over- and found McDonagh coming late down time on Friday and stay alive in the NHL the middle. His shot flew into the net and Stanley Cup playoffs. set off a second loud celebration at Going into the game trailing 3-1 in the Madison Square Garden. Earlier, Kreider best-of-seven series, the Rangers’ season scored the late tying goal from the top of looked over before Chris Kreider tied the the left faceoff circle. He took a pass from game with 1:41 left and Ryan McDonagh Stepan and fired a shot quickly to the far netted 9:37 into overtime to trim the series corner that Holtby never saw. deficit to 3-2. In the day’s other game, The goal came seconds after Lundqvist Anaheim won 4-2 at Calgary to go 3-1 up in left his net for a sixth skater. Until the goal, that series. The Rangers continued their it seemed that the Capitals were going to uncanny knack of staving off elimination in win on Holtby’s second shutout of the home games at Madison Square Garden. series and another winning goal by one of They have won each of their past nine Washington’s unknowns. home playoff games when facing elimina- Joel Ward had the winner in the opener. tion, dating back to 2008. Jay Beagle and Andre Burakovsky had the “We are still alive,” Rangers goalie Henrik winners in Washington and Glencross Lundqvist said after a 28-save performance. seemed destined in Game 5. He broke “Being in their shoes, we’ve been there. through with 9:06 left in regulation, scoring Going home now there is a lot of pressure on a breakaway after being sent in all alone for them. I know for sure they don’t want to by defenseman Matt Niskanen. come back here for another game. So we’ll Lundqvist actually stopped the break- try to use that to our advantage.” away attempt, but Glencross chipped the The Capitals lead the series 3-2. Game 6 rebound over the prone netminder. is Sunday in Washington, and there is Anaheim’s Matt Beleskey broke a tie on a bound to be pressure on the Capitals. Since power play early in the third period and the 1985, they have lost nine series in which Ducks went on to victory at Calgary. they led either 2-0 or 3-1. That includes a Anaheim leads the series 3-1 and can first-round loss to the Rangers in 2013 in close it out at home today. Jakob which they led 2-0 and 3-2. Silfverberg, Andrew Cogliano and Patrick “Of course you want to close out the Maroon also scored for the Ducks, and series,” said Capitals captain Alexander Frederik Andersen made 25 saves. Ovechkin, who is still looking to reach his Sean Monahan and Micheal Ferland first conference final. “You have to forget scored for Calgary, and Karri Ramo stopped about it and move forward.” Goaltender 25 shots. Anaheim was 2 for 4 on the power Braden Holtby made 41 saves for play. Calgary failed to score on a two-man Washington, and Curtis Glencross scored. advantage for 56 seconds in the third, fin- The overtime winner came when Jesper ishing 0 for 2. —AP

DETROIT: Tigers right fielder JD Martinez beats the tag of Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez during the second inning of a baseball game. —AP Tigers edge Royals to take AL Central lead

DETROIT: Detroit scored the winning run on a duced six workmanlike innings, giving up six times up and drove in five runs. Harper has 10 wild throw in the ninth inning to beat Kansas hits and remains unbeaten. The Los Angeles home runs this season, along with those 10 City 6-5 on Friday and leapfrog the Royals to Dodgers won 2-1 at Colorado in a game called RBIs in his last two games. the top of the American League Central divi- off in the sixth inning due to rain. L.A. starter Danny Espinosa also connected twice for sion. Brett Anderson (2-1) allowed no earned runs the Nationals. San Diego’s Will Venable home- The other AL divisional leaders had mixed in five innings in his first appearance against red and then singled in the go-ahead run in fortunes, with Houston being blanked by Los his former team. He spent last season with the the seventh inning to lift the Padres to a 6-5 Angeles Angels ace Jered Weaver, and the Rockies but was limited to eight starts due to victory over Arizona. Toronto notched the New York Yankees holding on to edge injury, Adrian Gonzalez had an RBI double and 3,000th win in Blue Jays history by defeating Baltimore, while majors-leading St. Louis beat threw out a baserunner at home plate. Boston 7-0, with Josh Donaldson and Chris Pittsburgh to make it 10 wins in 11 games. Philadelphia’s Ryan Howard homered and Colabello hitting solo home runs. NEW YORK: Washington Capitals left wing Marcus Johansson (90) and New York Kansas City reliever Yohan Pino, called up drove in two runs to help the Phillies defeat Tampa Bay’s Nathan Karns held Texas Rangers defenseman Dan Boyle (22) race after the puck during the second period of earlier in the day from the minor leagues, the New York Mets 3-1. Phillies starter Cole scoreless through seven innings and led the Game 5 in the second round of the NHL Stanley Cup hockey playoffs. —AP gave away the winning run by throwing wild- Hamels (2-3) gave up one run in seven Rays to an 8-2 win. San Francisco’s Casey ly toward first base, allowing Anthony Gose to innings, striking out eight, and outperformed McGehee hit the third grand slam of his career dash home to end the game. Gose led off the Mets ace Matt Harvey (5-1), who allowed as the Giants beat Miami 6-0. ninth with a double on Pino’s first pitch, and three runs in six innings for his first career loss Minnesota’s Torii Hunter went 4 for 4, NBK sponsors Futsal on the next delivery, Ian Kinsler bunted down before June and first in seven starts against including a solo homer, and drove in four the third-base line. Pino (0-1) fielded the ball Philadelphia. runs, leading the Twins past Cleveland 9-3. but his throw went astray. The hard-throwing right-hander was 10-0 Chicago nearly squandered a four-run lead Championship Detroit won despite starter David Price in 16 starts in April and May. Washington’s and hung on for a 7-6 win at Milwaukee, tak- allowed a career-worst 13 hits before leaving Bryce Harper hit two home runs, giving him ing victory thanks to four home runs, includ- KUWAIT: Within its activities, The National Concluding the championship, the social Bank of Kuwait (NBK) recently sponsored security director, Hamad Meshari Al- the game in the seventh inning in a bizarre five in two games, to power the Nationals past ing one by rookie Jorge Soler. the Futsal Championship held by the public Humaidhi presented a special trophy to accident as he injured his ankle when step- Atlanta 9-2. Seattle’s Logan Morrison homered on the authority for social security employees. NBK’s deputy CEO, Shaikhah Al-Bahar. ping on a discarded bat. Harper drove in five runs with three hits. first pitch of the 11th inning to give the Los Angeles’ Jered Weaver pitched a On Wednesday, he homered his first three Mariners a 4-3 win against Oakland.—AP shutout for his belated first victory of the sea- son, guiding the Angels to a 2-0 win against Houston. MLB results/standings Weaver (1-4) didn’t allow a runner to reach second base during an outstanding perform- NY Yankees 5, Baltimore 4; Washington 9, Atlanta 2; Philadelphia 3, NY Mets 1; St. Louis 8, Pittsburgh 5; Toronto 7, ance. He didn’t walk a batter and retired 19 of Boston 0; Detroit 6, Kansas City 5; Tampa Bay 8, Texas 2; Minnesota 9, Cleveland 3; Chicago Cubs 7, Milwaukee 6; LA his last 21, receiving a standing ovation. Dodgers 2, Colorado 1 (6 Innings); San Diego 6, Arizona 5; LA Angels 2, Houston 0; Seattle 4, Oakland 3 (11 Innings); San Francisco 6, Miami 0. Carlos Perez had an RBI single for the Angels. New York catcher Brian McCann hit an American League National League early two-run homer to help the Yankees Eastern Division Eastern Division W L PCT GB NY Mets 18 11 .621 - edge Baltimore 5-4. NY Yankees 19 11 .633 - Washington 15 15 .500 3.5 New York (19-11) survived yet another Tampa Bay 16 14 .533 3 Atlanta 14 15 .483 4 short start by Adam Warren. Dellin Betances Toronto 15 15 .500 4 Miami 14 16 .467 4.5 (4-0) retired four straight batters for the win Boston 13 16 .448 5.5 Philadelphia 11 19 .367 7.5 Baltimore 12 15 .444 5.5 Central Division and Andrew Miller, New York’s fifth pitcher, Central Division St. Louis 22 7 .759 - got three straight outs against his former Detroit 19 11 .633 - Chicago Cubs 15 13 .536 6.5 team to remain perfect in save opportunities Kansas City 18 11 .621 0.5 Minnesota 17 13 .567 2 Cincinnati 14 14 .500 7.5 this season. Pittsburgh 13 16 .448 9 St. Louis’ Matt Holliday and Kolten Wong Chicago White Sox 10 15 .400 6.5 Cleveland 10 18 .357 8 Milwaukee 9 21 .300 13.5 hit three-run homers to power the Cardinals Western Division Western Division to an 8-5 win at Pittsburgh. Holliday sent a Houston 19 11 .633 - LA Dodgers 19 10 .655 - towering shot to left-center in the third inning LA Angels 14 16 .467 5 San Diego 16 15 .516 4 and Wong put it away with a drive over right Seattle 12 17 .414 6.5 San Francisco 15 15 .500 4.5 Texas 12 17 .414 6.5 Arizona 13 15 .464 5.5 field in the seventh. Oakland 12 19 .387 7.5 Colorado 11 16 .407 7 St. Louis starter Michael Wacha (5-0) pro-