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Home , Aaron Rowe, Adam Beard, CJ Stander, Gareth Anscombe, Gethin Jenkins, Jacob Stockdale

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SUNDAY, MARCH 17, 2019

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Wales thrash Ireland to win Six Nations Anscombe kick 20 points to help beat an ill-disciplined Ireland

CARDIFF: ’ lock Alun (C) holds up the trophy after being crowned Six Nations rugby champions after beating Ireland at the Principality Stadium in , south Wales, yesterday. — AFP

CARDIFF: Wales claimed a record third Six Nations We have a habit of winning. It’s a special group and we Anscombe’s dink over the top to touch down within two Ireland’s ill-discipline of coach ’s reign yesterday worked hard for each other. breath-taking minutes, the fly-half converting. Sexton spurned a shot at goal himself after a rare as kicked 20 points to help beat an “For me it’s a day and weekend to remember for Kiwi-born Parkes, who made his debut spell of Irish pressure, but launched him- ill-disciplined Ireland 25-7. Welsh rugby.” alongside Anscombe for the Auckland before self into the attacking Irish maul off the line-out, Justin The stunning victory extended Wales’ winning Wales captain admitted the team relocating to Wales in 2014, was then on hand to pro- Tipuric isolating Irish skipper and forcing a streak to 14 matches, moving them to second in the had “just put a big target” on their backs going into the duce a superb try-saving tackle on Stockdale in what knock-on. standings and handing Gatland’s team a World Cup, adding that there was “still potential in us”. turned out to be a disappointing Ireland’s best chance Things weren’t going Ireland’s way, experienced No massive psychological boost looking ahead to this Ireland captain Rory Best called Wales “a very of the game. 8 CJ Stander then losing control of a quick tap and go year’s Rugby World Cup in . determinded side and hard to beat here”. World Rugby player of the year Johnny Sexton to lose all momentum, coach Joe Schmidt left holding The Grand Slam was the 12th achieved by Wales, “We couldn’t get footing in the game. Our set-piece caught the Welsh defence flat-footed with a clever rak- his head in despair. who opened this campaign with a 24-19 victory over wasn’t up to the standard that we expect. They put a lot ing cross-kick, Stockdale expertly gathering and shrug- Anscombe increased the home side’s lead to 16 France before following up with wins over Italy (26-15), of pressure on us and we struggled to respond.” ging off Gareth Davies as he steamed down the line points with two further penalties just before half-time, England (21-13) and Scotland (18-11). The tone of what turned out to be an electrifying before Parkes hauled him down with the line beckoning. ironically the same lead France held over Wales after It was the third under Gatland in his 50th and final start was set from the off. Influential playmaker made an earlier- the first 40 minutes in the opening match of this Six Wales game in European rugby’s showcase tournament Gargantuan winger followed up on than-expected entry after North went off with an Nations campaign. following Grand Slams in 2008 and 2012, and a first Six Anscombe’s kick-off, catching in pos- injured left wrist, Anscombe slotting in at full-back with Alun Wyn Jones, equalling as the Nations title since 2013. session and driving him into touch. Liam Williams moving to the wing. most capped Welshman of all-time with 134 caps Anscombe, who scored six penalty goals and a con- The crowd, barely in their seats after stirring When Sexton was pinged for a ruck infringement in (including nine matches for the British and Irish Lions), version, said: “It’s hard to put into words what this anthems, were quickly galvanised as peeled the 18th minute, Anscombe made no mistake with the was to the fore as the go-to line-out jumper and means, we’ve worked incredibly hard over the last year. off the attacking line-out, gathering penalty to stretch Wales’ lead. around the park with ball in hand. — AFP

finished yet and he struck again in the final seconds with a Huddersfield move header from Felipe Anderson’s cross. At Turf Moor, Burnley’s survival bid was dented as they were rocked by City come from Leicester. Leicester defender Harry Maguire was sent off closer to relegation in the fourth minute for a trip on Johann Berg Gudmundsson as the Burnley midfielder ran clear on goal. two goals down : Huddersfield slipped closer to Premier It was the fastest red card in four years, League relegation as the bottom club blew a two-goal but Leicester weren’t fazed as James Maddison opened to reach last four lead in their 4-3 defeat at West Ham, while Burnley are in the scoring with a superb 33rd-minute free-kick. LONDON: Premier League leaders Manchester deep trouble after losing 2-1 against 10-man Leicester Burnley’s teenage forward Dwight McNeil equalised yesterday. Jan Siewert’s side looked to have kept alive City recovered from two goals down to beat with a fine finish in the 38th minute. But Leicester Championship side Swansea City 3-2 at the Liberty their faint hopes of beating the drop as they raced into a snatched the points in the 90th minute when defender 3-1 lead in east London. But a second-half collapse culmi- Stadium yesterday to progress to the FA Cup semifi- Wes Morgan struck after Youri Tielemans’ cross deflected nals. Having secured a last-eight spot in the nated in Javier Hernandez’s last-gasp winner for West into his path. Ham, leaving Huddersfield 16 points from safety with only Champions League to go with their League Cup title, Burnley are one place and two points above the relega- City made a strong start as they looked to continue seven games remaining. tion zone, with third-bottom Cardiff holding a game in Mark Noble put West Ham ahead with a 15th-minute their quest to become the first side to win all four hand. In the day’s other game, Matt Ritchie’s last-gasp major trophies in an English season. penalty after 18-year-old Aaron Rowe, making his first equaliser rescued Newcastle in their 2-2 draw at professional start, brought down Manuel Lanzini. However, they were opened up after 20 minutes Bournemouth. by Connor Roberts who drew a foul from Fabian SWANSEA: Manchester City’s German midfielder Ilkay Huddersfield were level just two minutes later when Salomon Rondon blasted Newcastle into the lead with Gundogan (left) vies with Swansea City’s Welsh mid- headed in from Aaron Mooy’s corner for Delph in the penalty area and Matt Grimes converted his 10th goal of the season, this one a powerful free-kick from the spot to give Swansea the lead. Nine minutes fielder Daniel James during the FA Cup quarterfinal the Terriers’ first away league goal since Boxing Day. on the stroke of half-time. However, Josh King equalised match at The Liberty Stadium yesterday. — AFP Karlan Grant gave Huddersfield the lead with a close- later it was two as former Manchester City youth with 48th-minute penalty awarded for Federico player Bersant Celina finished off a flowing Swansea range finish in the 30th minute and the January signing Fernandez’s foul on Nathan Ake. from Charlton scored again in the 65th minute with a fan- move to stun his former employers. Kristoffer Nordfeldt after substitute Sergio Aguero’s King’s second goal arrived in the 81st minute after The Premier League side struggled to break 77th-minute penalty had come back off the post lev- tastic 20-yard strike. But Angelo Ogbonna reduced the good work from Dominic Solanke, but Ritchie had the last deficit with 15 minutes left and Hernandez completed West Swansea down after the break, but Bernardo Silva’s elled the tie. Aguero missed a glorious chance to word with a fierce half-volley. today, Liverpool can goal in the 68th minute got City back in the match. score seven minutes from time, but the Argentine Ham’s gritty fightback with an 84th-minute header from replace Manchester City on top of the table if they win at Samir Nasri’s cross. From then on in it was all Manchester City and an striker had the final say when he headed the winner Fulham, while Chelsea look to improve their top four own goal off the back of Swansea goalkeeper two minutes from time. — Reuters Former Manchester United striker Hernandez wasn’t prospects at Everton. — AFP