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THURSDAY, JUNE 8, 2017 SPORTS

Spalletti agrees to take Olympic hurdler Harris charged Former Rangers owner over as Inter coach with approaching teen for sex Whyte cleared of fraud

MILAN: Former Roma coach Luciano Spalletti said Tuesday he has agreed LOS ANGELES: Danny Harris who won Olympic 400m hurdles sil- GLASGOW: Former Rangers owner Craig Whyte walked free from court on to take over at Inter Milan as he flew to China to meet the Serie A club’s ver in 1984, was charged Tuesday with allegedly sending inappro- Tuesday after a jury delivered a not guilty majority verdict on two charges owners ahead of his imminent appointment. Spalletti, who led Roma to priate sexual messages to an underaged girl. Harris, 51, pleaded of fraud in the takeover of the Scottish club. It took the jury just two hours runners-up spot behind Juventus in Serie A last week, is expected to be not guilty to contact with a minor for a sexual offense, child abuse to clear the 46-year-old Scottish businessman-who was charged following officially named as the successor to sacked Stefano Pioli in the coming and to two misdemeanor counts of child annoyance. The mes- an investigation into his purchase of the club in May 2011, after which the days. The 58-year-old Italian told media at Milan’s Malpensa airport he sages were sent to a student at Gabrielino High School in the Los Glasgow giants entered administration. “You have been acquitted had “shaken hands” on a deal with Inter and would soon put pen to paper Angeles suburb of San Gabriel, where Harris had been an assistant and are free to leave the dock,” the trial Judge told Whyte at the on what is expected to be a three-year contract. “I’m happy to be the athletics coach. He was relieved of his coaching duties in May. The court in Glasgow. He thanked the judge and jury before leav- coach of Inter,” Spalletti said. “The signature? Everything’s in Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office said the alleged mes- ing the courtroom, bringing the curtain down on a six-week order. We’ve done things the old fashioned way and shaken sages were sent between April and May, and were discovered by a trial and a saga that had dragged on for six years. A small hands on it.” In his second spell in charge of Roma, Spalletti relative of the girl. Harris, who was arrested on Friday, is due back group of people booed as Whyte left the court. Questioned by failed to break the Serie A stranglehold of northern rivals in court on June 16 for a hearing to determine if there is enough reporters as he walked to a car, he said: “I’m just delighted Juventus, who finished four points ahead for a record sixth evidence to require him to stand trial. Harris finished second in the with the outcome.” The prosecution alleged Whyte consecutive scudetto. But the former Zenit St 400m hurdles at the 1984 Olympics behind hurdling great Edwin pretended to then-owner Sir David Murray funds Petersburg coach did secure a place in the group stages Moses. In June of 1987, he ended Moses’ 122-race winning streak in were “immediately available” on an “unconditional of the Champions League, a goal Inter will be hoping he the event, but again finished runner-up to Moses at the World basis” to make all required payments for a control- can match with them next season. —AFP Championships later that year. —AFP ling and majority stake in the club.—AFP Back to basics works wonders for Wakefield

LEEDS: have dramatically they prepare to travel to league leaders turned their season around over the past Castleford Tigers on Sunday, coach Tony month and Bill Tupou credits a focus on the Smith has urged his team to be tougher. basics. “We need to recover and we need to do Wakefield will be seeking to make it sev- it quickly; confidence is down but we need en successive wins on Saturday against to work hard,” said Smith. Leeds Rhinos-just one place above them in “We need to go there and not be bullied the standings. Auckland-born centre Tupou about. “We were down on confidence early admits the game means more than most. in the season and we worked our way back “We’re definitely looking forward to it,” into a position where we were grafting out said the former and some wins. star. “They beat us at their “We need to go through that process home the first time round (38-14 back in again. “We’ve got to toughen up and do March), so we’ve been working hard all this some hard work over the next couple of week to get the result. weeks.” Meanwhile, Salford Red Devils vice- “It’s a Yorkshire derby, so it’s a bit differ- captain Mark Flanagan has signed a new ent to the other games because of the fans. deal with the club until the end of 2019. “They make it more interesting-they’re Flanagan is set to play his 17th game of louder and get behind you even more. the campaign when Salford welcome Hull “After not a good start, the boys have FC to the AJ Bell Stadium on Friday. learned from those games, come together Head coach Ian Watson admits the 29- and worked hard and now we’re seeing year-old, signed from St Helens in 2015, has results. “We’re going over the basics again been crucial to his side’s rise to second in and again, so it’s locked in our head and we the table this term. know automatically what to do on the “His form would have attracted interest field.” While Wakefield have turned things from elsewhere but he’s a really important round, Warrington Wolves are still languish- part of what we do,” said Watson. ing in the lower reaches of the standings- “He is one of our main leaders, he’s currently tenth with just five wins from 17 uncompromising in defence and he’s a real- games. They were thrashed 44-4 by ly good ball-playing loose forward. He’s Huddersfield Giants last week, following part of the glue that holds this team heavy defeats to Salford and Leeds, and as together.” — AFP

AUCKLAND: Auckland Blues player Sonny Bill Williams watches as British & Irish Lions players clear the ball during their game at Eden Park in Oklahoma defends softball Auckland, New Zealand, yesterday. The Blues defeated the Lions 22-16. — AP title with win over Florida RUGBY OKLAHOMA CITY: Even as defending the seventh. “Paige Lowary came in, and champions, it seemed for most of the sea- she was hot,” Gasso said. “She was ready. I son that Oklahoma was unlikely to repeat. don’t know how hard she was throwing, The Sooners earned just a No. 10 seed in but it looked like 100 miles an hour. The Sonny Bill magic, late the NCAA Tournament. They lost their adrenaline was there and she was hitting NCAA opener to North Dakota State before her spots just so confident.” rallying, then had to go to Auburn and win Florida (58-10) did not allow an earned a super regional. run in three games to reach the champi- Even when they recovered at the onship series, but the Sooners were able to try give Lions the Blues Women’s College World Series and reached break through against what statistically the championship round, they faced No. 1 was the nation’s best pitching staff. seed Florida and its two All-American pitch- Florida pitcher Kelly Barnhill, USA AUCKLAND: Ihaia West’s spectacular late try, momentum on attack and the Lions allowed the when Munster’s CJ Stander drove over. ers. In the end, Oklahoma found a way. Softball’s National Collegiate Player of the created by double World Cup-winning All Black New Zealanders to offload too easily from the Halfpenny converted and added a penalty to Shay Knighten hit a three-run double in the Year, did not play Tuesday. Florida coach Sonny Bill Williams, condemned the British and tackle. All Blacks coach Steve Hansen watched put the Lions 10-5 up before Williams sensation- second inning, and the Sooners defeated Tim Walton went with No. 3 pitcher Alesia Irish Lions to first tour defeat as the Auckland from the stands and saw two-time World Cup ally stole the lead back on the stroke of half- Florida 5-4 on Tuesday night to win it all Ocasio (8-2), and she got the loss. Delaney Blues triumphed 22-16 yesterday. The tourists, winner Williams score a try and emphatically lay time. Perofeta’s penalty goal attempt struck the again. The Sooners (61-9) took both games Gourley allowed the double to Knighten in especially in the forwards, were much improved claim for a return to the All Blacks squad. post and Williams was quickest to react as Lions from Florida in the best-of-three series to relief. “It just wasn’t our tournament,” on their lacklustre 13-7 win against the Provincial Blues winger Rieko Ioane also continued to winger Jack Nowell knocked the ball back earn their third NCAA title in five years. Walton said. “You look at the statistics, it’s Barbarians but the backs struggled with the press his case for selection with his seventh try behind his tryline under pressure. “I still cannot believe that this hap- eerie how close the games were statistical- speed and cutting edge of the New Zealanders’ in six matches. pened, with where we started and where ly. So I think that you’ve got two evenly attacking game. The Blues, who have the worst Prior to kick-off, there was a minute’s silence LIGHTNING PACE we finished,” Oklahoma coach Patty Gasso matched teams. One just found a way to hit record this season of New Zealand’s five Super to honour victims of the London terror attacks, The former international darted said. “There’s so many stories. The journey the ball over the fence more than we did, Rugby teams, scored three tries to one with the then the Blues performed a haka specially com- between two defenders to get a hand on the was unbelievable. I think if you looked at us and give them a lot of credit.” Lions needing three penalties and a conversion missioned for the occasion. ball first under the posts. Perofeta converted and in February and March, even parts of April, Oklahoma’s Nicole Mendes homered on from the flawless boot of full-back Leigh The Lions came out of the blocks hard, domi- suddenly the Blues were 12-10 ahead. you would never imagine us sitting here Ocasio’s third pitch of the game to give the Halfpenny to keep them in the match. nating possession creating early attacking The Blues began to stretch the Lions’ defence right now with trophies in front of us.” Sooners a 1-0 lead. Sophia Reynoso The tour will only get more difficult for coach opportunities. Jared Payne came close twice in after the break and the tourists’ task was made Knighten, who hit a three-run homer in responded with a solo shot for Florida in Warren Gatland’s men, who face the table-top- the first half. First he failed by a fingertip to more difficult when replacement centre Liam the 17th inning to help win Game 1 on the second. ping, undefeated Canterbury Crusaders in catch up with the ball after a kick through, and Williams was sinbinned for dangerous play. Monday, was selected the World Series’ With the bases loaded and two outs in Christchurch on Saturday. Gatland said he was later was just dragged into touch by Stephen But the Lions worked their way tirelessly back Most Outstanding Player. the top of the second, Ocasio singled to unfazed by the loss with his main focus on the Perofeta as he grounded in the corner. into the game, drawing two penalties which Oklahoma freshman Mariah Lopez (18- knock in Justine McLean, then Kayli Kvistad three-Test series against the world champion All Skipper Ken Owens said he was “hugely dis- Halfpenny kicked to edge the Lions into a slen- 1) got the win in relief of Paige Parker. walked with the bases loaded to score Blacks which begins on June 24. “Having a really appointed” that the Lions had failed to take der 16-15 lead. But Williams produced his Though Parker has an 8-0 career World Amanda Lorenz and make it 3-1. tough game is going to be great preparation for more of their chances.”I think we’re going to moment of magic to seize the advantage back Series record, she struggled on Tuesday Knighten’s big hit in the bottom of the the Test matches,” he said. have to tidy up on our discipline and be a little with six minutes remaining, breaking the line and lasted just 1 2-3 innings. She threw 108 second put Oklahoma up 5-3. “Being in bit more clinical,” the Welsh hooker admitted. and offloading behind his back to West. The pitches in the 51/2-hour game on Monday those moments, I’ve just got to keep myself LIONS MUST ‘BE MORE CLINICAL’ Blues fly-half Perofeta set up the opening try, replacement fly-half’s lightning pace took him night. “I think Paige probably could tell you calm, just stay relaxed and just kind of not “I honestly don’t believe there’s going to be a turning the Lions defence with a cross-field kick through a gap, past four defenders and under she didn’t have her best stuff, but she is the think about what if, just kind of go for it,” massive amount of difference between some of then sending out a long-range pass to put Ioane the posts as he raised his finger in joyous cele- reason why we’re sitting here right now, she said. “And it paid off.” the Super Rugby sides and the All Blacks through on the wing. bration. West kicked the conversion himself to and she knows that. I know she knows Florida’s Chelsea Herndon came back because there’s so much depth in this country.” The tourists were patient in response and, make it 22-16 and despite the Lions throwing that,” Gasso said. “To be able to give Mariah with a solo blast in the third to cut The Lions conceded 13 penalties and Gatland after twice turning down a kickable penalties in everything into attack during the final minutes (Lopez) the ball, a freshman who’s been Oklahoma’s lead to 5-4. The pitchers took said the lack of discipline halted his team’s favour of lineouts in the corner, were rewarded they could not find a breakthrough. — AFP waiting patiently, and for her to step up over from there. and do what we asked her to do in that set- “Just a hard-fought two games,” Walton ting was another reason why we’re sitting said. “Wish we could have pushed it to a RACING here with a trophy. It’s another reason why third, and give us a chance. But I thought we’re here, period.” overall our players - really proud of our team.” Oklahoma had just one senior in its Horsey McHorseface CONFIDENT lineup and has no senior pitchers. Gasso Paige Lowary stepped in and threw two said her team will be focused again next innings of perfect relief for her nation-lead- season. “We learned a lesson,” she said. “We wins first race ing 11th save. With a one-run lead, she are good at learning lessons. We’re not retired Florida’s Nos. 2-4 hitters in order in going to let this get in our way.” —AP SYDNEY: Young gelding Horsey McHorseface, named in tribute to Britain’s Boaty McBoatface, has broken through for his first win. The New Zealand-bred horse, a cult favourite with its own Twitter account, galloped to victory at Cessnock in Australia, Sky Racing reported. “He’s done it! The people’s horse Horsey McHorseface breaks through for his maiden win at #Cessnock,” it tweeted. Trained by Bjorn Baker at Sydney’s Warwick Farm racetrack, the three-year-old’s name is a play on Boaty McBoatface, the joke moniker that the public backed when British authorities sought a suggested name for a new polar research ship. Not surprisingly, authorities opted instead to name the ship the Sir David Attenborough after the legendary wildlife presenter. Racing authorities usually weed out obscene or risque sugges- tions but there is a long history of mischievous names designed to give fast-talking racing commentators a hard time. Former Liverpool football players Robbie Fowler and Steve McManaman owned a thoroughbred called Some Horse, then bought a second and named it Another Horse, according to the OKLAHOMA: The Oklahoma team celebrates after defeating Florida in the second game BBC. The website greatbritishracing.com lists a variety of names, CESSNOCK: This handout photograph taken on June 5, 2017 and provid- of the best-of-three championship series in the NCAA Women’s College World Series in including Star Wars-themed Maythehorsebewithu, Passing Wind, ed to AFP on June 6, 2017 by Jack Bruce shows race horse Horsey Oklahoma City, Tuesday. Oklahoma won the game 5-4, and the championship. —AP Hoof Hearted and the piratical AARRRRRR. —AFP McHorseface after winning its first race in Cessnock. — AFP