MONDAY, MARCH 28, 2016 SPORTS

British boxer in coma Court orders Egypt Quintana wins after brain injury soccer board close Tour of Catalonia CAIRO: Egypt’s top administrative court yesterday LONDON: British boxer Nick Blackwell has been placed in an BARCELONA: Nairo Quintana of Colombia held on to his lead over Alberto induced coma after losing a domestic title fight. Saturday’s British ordered that the board of Egyptian Football Federation Contador to win the Tour of Catalonia for the first time yesterday. Quintana middleweight belt contest at London’s Wembley Arena saw be dissolved following allegations of rigging during the Blackwell stopped in the tenth round by Chris Eubank Jr, the son successfully defended his seven-second advantage over the Spaniard in yes- 2012 election of its members. terday’s final stage, an eight-lap ride through 136.4 kilometers of former world champion Chris Eubank, after the ringside doctor The judgement, which is final and can not be ruled a closed left eye meant he could not continue. The 25-year- (84.7 miles) up and down the Montjuic hill overlooking appealed, ordered Egypt’s minister of youth and sports to old Blackwell was subsequently carried out of the ring on a Barcelona. Russian rider Aleksei Tsatevich won the seventh stretcher and was still in hospital, under observation, yesterday. dissolve the board. Two candidates who had participated stage in a sprint with Primoz Roglic of Slovenia. Movistar British Boxing Board of Control general secretary Robert Smith said: in the October 11, 2012 election for the federation’s rider Quintana stayed close to Contador from the start on “I spoke to one of the doctors yesterday morning and he said there board had filed a case alleging that the results were Sunday and his lead was never in jeopardy. He finished with is a bleeding of the brain. “He’s in intensive care, he’s in an rigged at that time. Election for the federation’s next the same seven-second advantage he carried into the clos- induced coma and he is resting and being looked after by the board is scheduled for September 2016. ing stage. Quintana took the overall lead in the Pyrenees on experts. “It’s a very normal procedure. They put you in a coma The same court also ordered on Sunday the dissolu- Thursday. Daniel Martin of Ireland, the 2013 winner, fin- to get the swelling to go down. There’s no time-scale. tion of Cairo-based Al-Ahly club’s board over similar rea- ished third overall - 17 seconds behind Quintana. Now it’s just a matter of waiting and seeing.” World Defending champion Richie Porte of Australia was fourth. sons. In November, a lower court had ordered Al-Ahly’s heavyweight champion Tyson Fury tweeted his best The weeklong race in northeastern Spain attracted some of wishes to Blackwell on Saturday: “Will u all pray for board be dissolved, but an appeal was filed against that cycling’s top riders, including Tour de France champion @nickblackwell02 please ASAP as he has been taken order. Yesterday, the higher court upheld the earlier ver- Chris Froome, who finished eighth overall, 46 sec- to hospital, God be with him.” —AFP dict.— AFP onds behind Quintana. — AP Crusaders, Chiefs post victories in Super Rugby

WELLINGTON: The Crusaders ended the Sharks’ unbeaten record and the Chiefs overcame some serious travel- related obstacles to firm as favo rite s for a Super Rugby title after the week- end’s fifth round of matches. The manner of their victories was starkly different: the Christchurch- based Crusaders needed a last-minute try to beat the Sharks’ 19-14 in Durban while the Chiefs ran in seven second- half tries in Hamilton to take a bonus point from a 54-10 win over the Western Fo rce. The Crusaders’ only loss this season was to the Chiefs in the first round and their wins since over the Blues, the Kings and the Sharks have shown a steady improvement, especially in their attacking game. After beating the Crusaders, the Chiefs stumbled in a 36-32 home loss to South Af rica’s Lions, but have since achieved the immense feat of winning successive matches in South Africa, Argentina and New Zealand. Those wins have placed them atop the overall table after five rounds, a point clear of compatriots the Highlanders and two ahead of the ACT Brumbies, who recovered from last week’s loss to the Stormers with a 25- 18 win over the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein. The Chiefs face the Brumbies next weekend in a top-of-the-table clash. After their unexpected loss to the Lions the Chiefs had to travel to South Africa where they beat the Kings in Port Elizabeth, cross the Atlantic to beat the Jaguares in the first-ever Super Rugby match in Argentina, then return home to beat the Force. In the course of those matches they traveled more than 20,000 kilometers (12,000 miles) and they achieved Saturday’s win at home though they had 12 front-line players out with injury. That left them with a makeshift bench, incorporating several players who had yet to play a Super Rugby match and veteran flyhalf Stephen BUENOS AIRES: Jaguares’ full back Joaquin Tuculet (2nd-L) vies for the ball with Stormers’ centre Juan de Jongh (C), during their Super Rugby match at Jose Amalfitani stadium in Buenos Donald, recalled to the colors after a Aires, Argentina on Saturday.—AFP five-year absence. EARLY PENALTY Jones braced for rough ride in Australia Al Attiyah flies to The bench still made an impact in the second half. American-born winger BAGSHOT: Eddie Jones is expecting a hard Australian media as a potential ‘traitor’, Jones with what they will see as a resurgent England Algeria to head Tony Pulu scored a try with his first time from his Australian compatriots when he replied: “I am a target here (England) so it is team. touch in Super Rugby and Donald returns in June aiming to lead England to not going to make much difference! “Australia had France out there two years FIA meeting - MENA kicked the last conversion. “I suppose a more success. “That’s part of the game. If it does help ago and, to be quite honest, the three Tests couple of weeks around the wo rld with But the tough-talking Tasmanian, who led take some of the pressure off the players then were quite morbid. They weren’t great. France KUWAIT: Nasser Al Attiyah - FIA Vice President heads a pretty tough travel schedule bonds the Wallabies for four years including a home that can only be a good thing. It doesn’t both- didn’t front up at all. They were pretty poor today for FIA meeting - MENA. The meeting will be the boys together,” captain Sam Cane World Cup final defeat by England before er me. events and the crowds were poor. attended by the presidents of federations and clubs of said. being ousted, is relishing the “intense” atmos- “I think they will be respectful about what “But they are going to see an England side MENA, the meeting is expected to discuss many issues All Blacks captain Kieran Read phere of a tour down under and trying to we have done regarding the Grand Slam. Well, full of energy, full of life, that wants to play related to mechanic sport and the agenda of the 3 scored the try in the 71st minute which build on England’s recent Grand Slam success. as respectful as Australians can be! “It defi- positive rugby and is going to take it to the days meetings hosted by Algeria, in addition to a num- clinched the Crusaders’ win over the Jones knows all too well that while getting nitely sets things up for a fantastic series on Aussies. It is going to be a tough and intense ber of workshops pertaining the motorsport activities. Sharks in Durban. The Crusaders had England to complete a Six Nations clean June 11 (the date of the first Test, in Brisbane), tour but it will also be an exciting one.” About the nature of the meeting, Al Attiyah praised sweep in his first season in charge was a fairly and that’s very important.” With his England players back at their been stung by two intercept tries to the prominent role displayed by El Hady Weld Ali- difficult hill to climb, overcoming Australia in Jones, who took over after hosts England respective clubs for the run-in to the English winger Lwazi Mvovo but took control Minister of Youth & Sport - Algeria and Chihab Baloul - the first-ever three Test series there between were knocked out of last year’s World Cup in Premiership season, Jones’ biggest worry is president of FASM - and the members of FASM for facil- of te rritory and possession and pro- the two nations will be considerably harder. the pool phase following a 33-13 defeat by avoiding any sort of injury crisis between now itating all possibilities in order to have a successful ceeded to wear down the Sharks. Asked if he expects to be targeted by the Australia, added: “It’s nice to go down there and the end of May when the squad fly out. event, which is considered the first of its kind in North The Brumbies opened a 17-point Despite a first Grand Slam in 13 years, and Africa, such event would highlight the prominent role lead over the Cheetahs but tired in the installing a clinical winning attitude in a short displayed by MENA federations and clubs to push the last quarter and just held on to win as time, Jones will not be happy unless he turns wheel of motor sport in the region. the home side, with a try to Sergeal Waratahs edge past England into the global game’s dominant Al Attiyah said that such a meeting is considered Petersen and a late penalty, took a los- force. the first of its kind in North Africa and also considered ing bonus point. Brumbies coach arch-rivals Reds one of the most important meetings in MENA, such as Stephen Larkham hailed the contribu- HARTLEY WARNING the meeting held before in Qatar, Jounieh and Kuwait, One man he both praises but warns is its importance lies also in the attendance of Jean Todt - tion to the win of flanker and Wallaby BRISBANE: The New South Wales Waratahs opening stages of yesterday’s match. England captain Dylan Hartley, who must con- FIA president, and the volume of files to be discussed David Pocock. edged past arch-rivals Queensland Reds 15-13 They won a series of scrum penalties on tinue to prove his worth if he wishes to keep in the meeting especially in this critical time and the in a dour Super Rugby clash in Brisbane yes- the NSW line before New Zealand referee Ben “I thought David Pocock had a his place as the team’s first-choice hooker. hard circumstances that the region is currently wit- terday. O’Keefe eventually lost patience and awarded tremendous game, one of the best Hartley must first complete his post-con- nessing. The Waratahs scored two tries to one but the home side a penalty try 10 minutes into games I’ve seen him have,” Larkham cussion protocol following the bang on the Al Attiyah added that there will practical discus- trailed the Queenslanders until 12 minutes to the match. The Reds tried to push home the said. “Both his wo rk at the breakdown head that meant he missed the closing min- sions for the regulatory rules and articles of these go when Wallabies fly-half Bernard Foley advantage but Waratahs fullback Israel Folau and in the contact area was outstand- utes of England’s 31-21 Slam-clinching win events which are organized in MENA, aiming at better kicked a penalty to put his side in front. narrowed the gap with a try in the corner fol- against France in Paris on March 19 before he future for the motorsport, such discussions are mainly ing.” The win means the Waratahs stay in touch lowing a superb break up the middle from returns to club action with Northampton. The based on FIA regulations. It is worth saying that Egypt, The Highlanders had their second with runaway Australian conference leaders Waratahs No 8 Jed Holloway. straight win in Australia, producing a New Zealand-born front row missed the World Yemen, Sudan, Oman and Qatar have apologized for ACT Brumbies, but they had to use all their Cup completely after former coach Stuart superb defensive perfo rmance to beat attending the meeting. experience to see off a brave Queensland side FOLEY SEALS IT Lancaster kicked him out of the squad for the that is yet to have a win this season. The Reds looked like taking a 7-5 lead into the Melbourne Rebels 27-3. latest in a long line of disciplinary offences, The Reds have improved each week since half-time only to switch off while in attack and Japan’s Sunwolves were again nar- only for Jones to make him captain. they sacked coach Richard Graham and, on lose the ball at the back of the ruck. rowly denied their first win in Super “As a player he has been adequate but he the back of a superior scrum and line-out, Foley gathered the ball and set sail for the Rugby, losing 30-27 to South Af rica’s has got to improve and keep improving,” said they almost pulled off an upset. Queensland line. He was eventually brought Bulls in Singapore, two weeks after los- Jones. “He’s done very well as captain. It’s not “It was a really tough grind,” Waratahs cap- down but NSW moved the ball quickly and ing 32-31 to the Cheetahs at the same how well he speaks or what school he went to tain Michael Hooper conceded. “We did some Folau strolled over untouched to give the visi- venue. or can he write poetry. That has got nothing to really good things but we were falling back on tors a 12-7 lead at the break. The Reds contin- do with leadership. It is all about the ability to The Hurricanes led by only two some poor things we’ve done previously. ued to play through their forwards in the sec- influence people. points at halftime, 19-17, before going “We’re rolling on but hopefully we can get a ond half and caused some problems, but on to take a bonus point from a 42-20 snowball effect and go from there.” whenever they moved the ball to the backs “When I took up the job, I spoke to people win over the Kings, who remain win- Hooper said the Waratahs had adapted to the movement broke down. Jake McIntyre about Dylan and the captaincy and the gener- less after five rounds. the conditions better than their opponents. booted two penalties to put Queensland in al consensus was that he would be a positive The Stormers took over in the South “We changed our game plan which worked front, but the experience of a NSW side featur- choice. Af rican conference lead with a 13-8 really well for us-kicking to the corners and ing a host of Wallabies proved enough, and “It was obvious England missed Dylan a lot win over the Jaquares, handing the playing for position.” when the Reds forwards were penalised for during the World Cup. “He’s not the greatest player in the world but he plays with his heart new Argentinian side its second home The Reds have had a dominant scrum all failing to release a tackled player, Foley on his sleeve and people follow him.” — AFP Nasser Al Attiyah loss in a row at Buenos Aires. — AP season and they quickly took control in the stepped up and made no mistake.—AFP