Established 1961 25 Sports Monday, March 9, 2020 Watson sparks England Triple Crown as Tuilagi sees red against Wales England keep alive their Six Nations title hopes

TWICKENHAM: Anthony Watson marked his return to Slam-chasers ahead of Les Bleus’ match away to Test rugby with a try inside four minutes as England Scotland on Sunday. beat Wales 33-30 at Twickenham on Saturday to win England led 20-9 at half-time thanks to tries from the Triple Crown and keep alive their Six Nations title Watson and full-back Daly. Both scores were convert- hopes despite a red card for Manu Tuilagi. ed by Farrell, who landed all six of his goal-kicks in a England were cruising at 33-16 ahead on the hour 15-point haul. Wales’ first-half points came courtesy mark thanks to tries from Watson, and of two penalties from full-back and Tuilagi. But five minutes from time, powerhouse centre one from fly-half Biggar. England had been 10-3 up at Tuilagi was shown a red card by referee Ben O’Keeffe the break in last year’s corresponding fixture in for a shoulder charge on as he prevented , only to lose 21-13. the Wales wing going in at the corner after replacement England forward Ellis Genge had been sin-binned. CAUGHT COLD Dan Biggar and , with his second try, And they were caught cold from the kick-off at the crossed England’s line in the closing stages but it was start of the second half thanks to a brilliant Wales all too late for the visitors, although they did secure a breakaway try finished by flanker Tipuric before losing bonus point. pulling clear again, with Tuilagi’s score leaving them in “I thought we stayed calm in key moments,” command. England captain told ITV Sport. “We England have a habit of making fast starts under were composed. Wales are a great team, they’re coach Eddie Jones — coming into this game they had always going to throw everything at us and have their scored a try in the first 10 minutes in 16 of their past 30 moments, which they did,” he added after what is like- Tests, winning 75 percent of those matches. ly to be World Cup finalists England’s last match for And it took Watson, making his first England several months, with their scheduled Championship appearance since November’s World Cup final defeat finale against Italy in Rome next week postponed due by South Africa in Japan, fewer than four minutes to to the deadly coronavirus. cross Wales’ line. North’s knock-on allowed England lock ‘TOO LITTLE TOO LATE’ to charge through as he set up a line-out deep in Welsh TWICKENHAM: Wales’ flanker Justin Tipuric (L) receives the ball to score a try during the Six Nations Defeat meant reigning Grand Slam champions territory. England won the set-piece and, with Wales international match between England and Wales at the Twickenham, west . —AFP Wales, under new coach Wayne Pivac, had suffered a braced for a driving maul, scrum-half third successive Six Nations defeat for the first time released Watson with a clever inside pass that saw the since 2007. Bath flyer dance his way through the cover. half George Ford sending Daly in at the left corner. charging Tipuric for a try between the posts. “It shows what we can do with those two tries,” said Farrell converted to take the centre past 900 points Farrell converted and his second penalty then Biggar converted and England’s lead was down to Wales captain Alun . “It was too little too for England. But Farrell was at fault when conceding a extended England’s lead before Biggar’s goal-kick 20-16. But two Wales infringement allowed Farrell and late in the end. “However you want to play, ultimately if penalty with a late challenge as England lost Jonny May reduced the arrears. Wales started the second half with Ford to calm home nerves with a pair of penalties that you don’t win it doesn’t matter. That is where we find to a head injury. a brilliant score. left England two scores ahead at 26-16. ourselves today.” Farrell and Halfpenny exchanged penalties before From the kick-off, England-born centre Nick England had their third try when Tuilagi strolled in Victory saw England, beaten by France in their England scored their second try eight minutes before Tompkins exchanged passes with returning No 8 Josh against a tiring defence only for their indiscipline to set tournament opener, keep the pressure on the Grand the break. Itoje again won line-out possession, with fly- Navidi before finding , who sent in the up a frantic finale. —AFP Hatton grabs lead but McIlroy lurks Bahrain F1 race at brutal Bay Hill to be held MIAMI: Britain’s Tyrrell Hatton fired a one-over par 73 in a brutal third round at windy Bay Hill to seize a two-stroke lead Saturday at the US PGA Arnold Palmer Invitational. without fans The 28-year-old Englishman, playing only his second DUBAI: The Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix will tournament since right wrist surgery in November, closed go ahead on March 22 without fans due to the with a dramatic 31-foot birdie putt — only the day’s third coronavirus crisis, a blow to the Gulf Arab state’s birdie at 18 — to stand on six-under 210. important tourism sector. Bahrain, which is hosting “It was extremely tough out there,” Hatton said. “You the second round of the Formula One season at the could be made to look pretty silly at times without hit- Sakhir circuit outside Manama, has reported 83 ting too bad a golf shot. It was just amazing how much cases of the virus, mostly linked to people who firmer the greens got throughout the day.” travelled to Iran. Top-ranked Rory McIlroy was hot on his heels after a “Bahrain has made the decision to hold this difficult day in Orlando where the scoring average year’s (race) as a participants-only event,” organ- soared to 76. “It felt like a US Open out there, so yeah, it isers said yesterday. “Convening a major sporting was a good test,” McIlroy said. “I’m trying to enjoy it as event, which is open to the public and allows thou- much as I can.” sands of international travellers and local fans to Four-time major winner McIlroy, seeking a sixth con- ORLANDO: Tyrrell Hatton of England plays his second shot on the first hole during the third round of the Arnold interact in close proximity would not be the right secutive top-five finish, shot 73 to share second on 212 Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard at the Bay Hill Club and Lodge in Orlando, Florida. —AFP thing to do at the present time,” they added. with Australian Marc Leishman. Another stroke back “To ensure that neither the sport, nor its global were South African Christiaan Bezuidenhout, South supporter base, is unduly impacted, the race week- “Even though I tapped that putt it was probably going 16th. He tapped in for birdie to share the lead only to Korean Im Sung-jae, New Zealand’s Danny Lee and end itself will still go ahead as a televised event.” about eight feet past. It was scary how quick that thing stumble at 18, finding left rough and rocks right of the American Harris English. None cracked par. Bahrain is the second F1 race casualty of the virus. was.” Hatton chases his first US PGA title but owns four green en route to a bogey. “I don’t think anyone enjoyed that today,” Hatton said. The Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai scheduled for European Tour victories, the most recent at last “I feel good with my game,” McIlroy said. “Tomorrow “It was just so hard.” Hatton opened with a bogey but April 19 has already been postponed. Racing with- November’s Turkish Airlines Open. it’s all about keeping the big numbers off your card and answered with a birdie at the third on a 22-foot hole-out out fans will be a first for the sport, although for- “There’s doubles and triples just around the corner, so trying to play as conservative as possible and pick up from the fringe. Hatton stumbled with a three-putt dou- mer commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone once that two-shot lead can go extremely quickly,” Hatton some birdies on the par-5s if you can.” ble bogey six at the ninth after finding a greenside mooted the idea of a ‘VIP grand prix’ at France’s said. “So for me there’s nothing to get excited about.” Leishman, who won his fifth US PGA title in January bunker, sank a 28-foot birdie putt at the par-4 13th then Le Castellet circuit with only invited guests. at Torrey Pines, birdied the par-5 sixth and 12th holes fell back again with bogeys at 14 and 15. A Bahrain International Circuit spokesman said Leishman climbs while making bogeys at the par-4 10th and 15th. “Most of the holes were crosswinds, so it was just so accredited media would attend as usual. Concerts McIlroy, who defends his Players Championship title “Today’s is probably as hard as I’ve seen this place hard to get close,” Hatton said. “When the greens are as featuring DJ’s Afrojack and Don Diablo over the next week, found a bunker at the par-3 second and missed play, which I enjoy,” Leishman said. “It felt like I shot firm as they are, you’ve got no chance getting anywhere race weekend have been cancelled. “We know how a five-foot par putt. But the 30-year-old Northern Ireland 65 not 72.” near some of the pins.” A tap-in birdie after a 33-foot disappointed many will be by this news...but safety star rescued par from 18 feet at the third after blasting out Lee made an astonishing birdie at 12 after finding a eagle putt miss at the par-5 16th and the dramatic clos- has to remain our utmost priority,” the circuit said. of a greenside bunker and salvaged another par from the bush left of the green with his second shot. He took a ing putt lifted Hatton into the lead, which matched the Bahrain has suspended flights to some destina- sand with an eight-foot putt at 11. penalty drop on the 13th tee then holed out from 208 highest score to lead entering the final round in 42 years tions over concerns of the rapidly spreading virus. McIlroy, seeking his second Bay Hill title in three sea- feet, lofting a shot over a tree onto the green and into at Bay Hill. It has also asked people entering the country who sons, was just short on a 30-foot eagle bid at the par-5 the cup. —AFP “I was very happy that dropped,” said Hatton of 18. have recently visited Italy, South Korea, Egypt and Lebanon to isolate themselves for two weeks.

shaking hands and wearing surgical masks, while a ITALIAN TEAMS Simsby clinches Sumo tourney begins ceremonial visit to a local shrine was cancelled. Italy has ordered a virtual lockdown across a The viral outbreak across Japan and dozens of swathe of its wealthy north, including financial Malaysia golf win other countries has fuelled concerns about the capital Milan, in a drastic attempt to try to contain in empty arena Summer Olympics, which open on July 24. a rapidly growing outbreak of coronavirus. The KUALA LUMPUR: Trevor Simsby of the United States won On Wednesday, Tokyo 2020 organisers said they Maranello base of Formula One’s oldest and most a thrilling playoff yesterday against Australia’s Andrew Dodt amid virus fears may have to scale back the torch relay and limit spec- successful team Ferrari is within the affected area. and fellow American Jarin Todd to clinch victory in the tators because of concerns over spreading the virus. Ferrari and Red Bull-owned AlphaTauri, who are weather-shortened Malaysia Open. TOKYO: Sumo’s spring tournament began behind based in Faenza, will still race in Bahrain because All three golfers ended their final round with a total of 13- closed doors yesterday, the latest big event in Japan TEMPERATURE CHECKS they will be coming from Australia which hosts the under-par 203, leading to a sudden-death playoff at the to be hit by the coronavirus less than five months International Olympic Committee president opening race in Melbourne next weekend. Kota Permai Golf and Country Club. Todd was out of con- before the Tokyo Olympics. The Japan Sumo Thomas Bach, however, insisted that the nightmare “Depending on where they flew through on the tention after the first playoff hole, which saw Simsby and Association said last week spectators would be scenario of either cancelling or postponing the Tokyo way from Melbourne, there is a process that you Dodt both make birdies. barred the tournament in Osaka from yesterday until Olympics was not discussed at a key meeting last go through,” the circuit spokesman said of the Simsby then stormed to victory on the second hole by March 22, as the virus has infected at least 454 peo- week. Italian teams. Formula One has discussed arranging a special sinking a four-foot birdie putt, spelling defeat for Dodt who ple across Japan and been linked to seven deaths. The no-spectator sumo tournament comes after charter for Italians working in Formula One to had looked dominant at the start of the tournament. The On Sunday, public broadcaster NHK carried two the government’s request to operators of sports and avoid transit through airports in countries affect- American said he was “ecstatic” at the biggest win of his hours of live programing from the tournament. “This entertainment venues to consider cancelling or post- career and his first Asian Tour title. “The turning point came tournament without spectators would be an extreme- ed by the virus. Organisers will refund fans who poning mass gatherings to help prevent the spread of had bought tickets, whose sales were suspended when I was walking off the 15th hole,” said Simsby. “My cad- ly hard one for sumo wrestlers as they struggle to the virus. last week. die was saying we were still in it, and I really didn’t think so. focus their minds,” Sumo Association chairman All wrestlers will have their temperature checked And then I birdied the 16th, and I knew we had a chance.” Bahrain’s biggest global sporting event reported Hakkaku said in his welcoming address. twice a day, sumo association board member Koichi Dodt said it was “disappointing to finish like that, but all a three-day crowd of 97,000 in 2019, a record for “Even so, all wrestlers I’m sure will perform their Oguruma said. Before the tournament, yokozuna the event, with 34,000 yesterday. That attendance in all a solid week and well done to Simsby”. A competitive best,” he added. Viewers could hear sounds usually field saw a trio of golfers including Thailand’s Kosuke grand champion Kakuryu said: “I can’t imagine what is small compared to other races, with 202,146 the drowned out by spectators, including that of the it’s like” to perform without spectators. average Formula One three-day crowd in 2019. Hamamoto, Japan’s Rikuya Hoshino and South Korean wrestlers slapping their bellies and wiping their feet Charlie Wi finish one shot behind the leaders after 18 holes. “I’ll do my best, thinking many people are cheering Tourism is an important contributor to Bahrain’s in the ring. The event was reduced to 54 holes from the usual 72 after in front of TV,” he added. Takakeisho, a lower-ranked economy, which in recent years has been in deficit Some sumo rituals were also amended, including stormy weather led to play being abandoned on Saturday. wrestler added: “A sumo wrestler’s performance is and sought bailouts from its wealthier Gulf Arab The $1 million competition has made a return following a the traditional ladle of water that a winning wrestler made (in part) of cheers by spectators. “But I have to neighbours, and the race brings global exposure four-year absence, even as many sporting events are can- offers to the next in the ring. Sumo stars have already win in this environment,” he said before clinching his with millions of viewers. —Reuters celled worldwide due to the coronavirus outbreak. —AFP been taking precautions at fan events, refraining from first bout. —AFP