SUNDAY, MARCH 29, 2015 SPORTS Waratahs win drab game

SYDNEY: kicked defending Wingers and Rob champions Horne were denied further tries in the back into ’s top six in a 23-11 space of 15 minutes. As the hosts lost their win over the in yes- sparkle and intensity, Auckland fly-half Dan terday. Bowden, in his first Super Rugby start in Two second-half penalty goals from fly- five years, landed two penalty goals to half Foley and a late try to replacement reduce the Tahs’ lead to one point at the winger saved the Waratahs’ break. blushes in a drab victory over the last- The Blues briefly snatched a four-point placed Blues. advantage 15 minutes into the second half The Waratah forwards edged their New when powerful centre Francis Saili crashed Zealand counterparts in a bruising over. encounter with South African Jacques But Foley had the final say, his two Potgieter standing out five days after being penalties and the conversion of Betham’s fined by the Australian for try was enough to secure NSW’s fourth win making homophobic slurs in the Waratahs’ from six outings. The Blues were forced to heated derby win over the . defend for much of the match but stayed in Skipper Dave Dennis, who finished the touch with some resilient defence. game in the blood bin, and barnstorming But an inspired defensive effort was ulti- lock Will Skelton also led the way for the mately of little comfort for the visitors as home side. they fell to their sixth straight defeat of the There was no sign of the dour spectacle campaign. to follow when Waratahs scrum-half Nick “That’s what we’ve been looking for over Phipps scored under the crossbar in the the years-to get the crowd into the game,” eighth minute after a short pass from Waratahs coach said. “Over to Michael Hooper from a the last year or two, that’s been happening lineout win. Hooper’s last pass to Phipps more and more and we enjoy it.” Blues looked a touch forward but the video refer- coach John Kirwan rued having Jerome ee cleared it and Foley’s conversion made it Kaino in the sin bin for the last nine min- 7-0. utes and Cheika agreed the visiting captain and Beale had plenty of was unlucky to have been yellow-carded, touches and looked sharp while the for- saying it was a head clash with Dave wards were carrying and hitting with ven- Dennis. The win pulled the Waratahs to two om as the Waratahs appeared up for the competition points behind Australian con- contest. ference leaders the Brumbies. —AFP

Highlanders blow HONG KONG: Australia’s Con Foley (right) fights for the ball with Chris Dean of Scotland (center) during a second day match at het Hong Kong away Sevens rugby tournament. —AP

DUNEDIN: The Otago Highlanders banked “The Fijian brothers out wide did some very New Zealand beat Australia a crucial bonus-point as they ran in five good work. The forwards played really well tries in a substantial 39-21 victory over the and matched it with the big, physical Western Stormers in Dunedin yesterday. Stormers pack.” in Hong Kong Sevens clash After the Stormers scored first, the After the Stormers’ opening try, the Highlanders replied with 31 unanswered Highlanders struck back with Aaron Smith HONG KONG: Defending champions New “We obviously got it together against a good England, who were pushed to a 21-21 draw by a points to have the game secure before the dotting down against the front of the right- Zealand beat Australia in the most anticipated Australian team,” he added, praising Ioane.”He strong USA side. South Africans found the line again. hand upright when his way to the tryline second-day clash of the Hong Kong Sevens yes- scores important tries when you need them and England are placed fifth in the series and beat Waisake Naholo scored twice and his fel- was blocked. terday, as the arch-rivals prepare to take each every game I feel he’s going to get better and Kenya 17-7 in their other group match. USA will low Fijian wing Patrick Osborne also Lima Sopoaga landed the conversion, a other on in the cricket World Cup. better.” meet Samoa in their quarter-final. A qualifier touched down along with Aaron Smith and penalty and then two more conversions as All Blacks coach Gordon Tietjens said before Australia lie fourth in the World Series stand- tournament runs alongside the main event with Dan Pryor. Naholo ran in two tries in the countdown the sevens that the Black Caps’ thrilling semi- ings and take on series leaders in the winner becoming a top-ranked “core” team scored two for the to half-time. final victory over South Africa in the cricket the quarters. “I thought we defended exception- next season. Stormers with one for Michael Rhodes. It For his first try, Naholo intercepted a de Tuesday was a “huge motivation” for his rugby ally well,” said Australia coach Geraint John. Hong Kong missed out on a hoped-for place was a disappointing start to a tough Jongh pass and ran 60 metres to the line, team. “It’s a big game tomorrow.” will after losing to Russia in their quarter-final. Australasian road trip for the Stormers and and for his second he crashed over New Zealand take on Australia in the cricket for the first time feature at the Summer Zimbabwe, Spain and Papua New Guinea join took the gloss off celebrations for Stormers fullback , who is final today, also finals day at the sevens. It was Olympics in Rio de Janeiro next year, with the Russia in the qualifier semis. Springbok great making his much shorter and 17 kilograms (37.5 not a good start for the rugby side Saturday with top four teams at the end of the Sevens World Fans from around the world flew in for the 100th Super appearance for the Stormers. pounds) lighter. Osborne scored the bonus a shock 24-24 draw with Portugal. But teen star Series securing a berth in Brazil. three-day event and filled Hong Kong Stadium’s The South Africa franchise, who next point try early in the second half to put the Rieko Ioane, who turned 18 two days ago, twice South Africa are currently five points clear of famous South Stand from early morning, face the unbeaten Wellington Highlanders up 31-7 before Rhodes replied broke through the Australian defence to seal a New Zealand in the series standings. The Hong dressed as everything from Roman centurions to and then defending champions NSW for the Stormers. 14-5 victory. Kong Sevens-which is celebrating its 40th edi- North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un. Waratahs, needed points to get their jour- With the gap down to 17 points and 20 New Zealand topped their group with tion this year-is the sixth of the nine tourna- Disco legends Village People sang out “YMCA” ney off on the right foot. minutes left the opportunity was there for Australia second. Both go through to today’s ments in the series. South Africa eased through under blue skies and as the sun beat down, fans They made the best possible start when the Stormers to stage a comeback. But a quarters. “We were pretty disappointed with this to the quarters Saturday, beating Japan 27-0 and were warned not to use alcohol as a “mechanism de Jongh, leading the side in place of the sustained attack was held up by a deter- morning’s performance against Portugal... we France 29-7. for hydration” by the tongue-in-cheek announc- rested , scored first to fin- mined defence before the Highlanders defended really badly,” said Tietjens, whose team Third-ranked took Belgium 38-7 and er. HKRFU said three people had been taken to ish a long Stormers build up. broke out for Dan Pryor to score their fifth will now face Argentina. Canada 40-5 for their place and will meet hospital yesterday. —AFP But as the Stormers dominated the set try. De Jongh replied with his second try pieces and operated in the right areas of but by then the game was well beyond the the field, the breaks went the Highlanders’ Stormers and replacement fly-half Marty way. “We took the most of our opportuni- Banks had the final say for the Highlanders ties,” Highlanders captain Ben Smith said. with a penalty on fulltime. —AFP Walker leads Texas Open

SAN ANTONIO: Local favorite Jimmy Walker Pressel joins Lee atop fired a five-under-par 67 to take a one-stroke lead at the halfway stage of the US PGA LPGA leaderboard Tour’s Texas Open here Friday. Walker’s six-under-par total of 138 put CARLSBAD: Morgan Pressel fired record- Walshe, who carded a 67. Pressel described him one in front of overnight leader Charley equalling eight-under par 64 on Friday to her sparkling effort as “stress free.” Hoffman, who posted an even-par 72 and join Lee Mi-Rim atop the leaderboard after “I hit almost every fairway, and I think I was joined on 139 by Australian Aaron two rounds of the LPGA Kia Classic. hit 16 or 17 greens and just had a chance Baddeley, who shot a 71. America’s Pressel had eight birdies with for birdie on almost every hole,” she said. “I It was a further stroke back to another no bogeys in a round that matched the just hit it where I wanted to hit it today. It’s Texan, Jordan Spieth, who carded a 69 and course record at Aviara Golf Club. Her 10- been a while since I’ve been confident was tied on 140 with Kevin Na, who shot a under par total of 134 tied her for the knowing where the golf ball would go, and 68. halfway lead with South Korea’s overnight so it was nice to swing freely out there Walker, pleased to be playing in front of leader Lee, who signed for a second-round today and have the result that I did,” added family and friends, took advantage of 69 that included six birdies and three the American, who won the most recent of improved weather to grab two birdies in his bogeys. her two LPGA titles in 2008. “It’s hard to win first five holes before his only bogey of the They were one stroke in front of out here,” Pressel said. “Sure, you would like day, at the par-four 17th. Americans Alison Lee, who climbed up the to win more. But I’ve put a lot of time and He responded with a birdie at 18, and leaderboard with a 66, and Cristie Kerr, who hard work in.” closed strong with three birdies on the trot carded a 68. Ko, the 17-year-old sensation who at six, seven and eight-a run that included a Spain’s Maria Hernandez also posted a became number one in the world in 19-foot birdie putt at the par-three seventh. six-under 66 to grab a share of fifth place February, has made winning look easy in “I was just kind of around the hole, didn’t on eight-under 136. She was tied with her short, spectacular career. Her 26th make anything, and then finally got one to Japan’s Sakura Yokomine (67), South straight under-par round has her closing in go on six,” Walker said. Korean Kim Hyo-Joo (68) and American on Swedish great Annika Sorenstam’s LPGA “I hit a good iron shot, just got it on top of Brittany Lang (68). World number one Lydia record of 29 set in 2014. “I don’t know all the ridge there on seven and made that putt. Ko of New Zealand headed a group on 137, the records and all the details on that, but “And that 12-footer I made for birdie on the firing a two-under 70 for her 26th straight like I always say, I’m going to try and have par-five (the eighth), that was a nice little fin- LPGA Tour round under par. fun,” said Ko, who has two wins worldwide ish,” added Walker, who is seeking his second She was tied with world number three this year. “If I play good golf and break title of the season after his win in the Sony Stacy Lewis, who shot 69, and Alison some records, great.”—AFP Open. The late burst let Walker overtake Hoffman, who was three-under for the day through his first nine holes but had three bogeys coming in to fade. Baddeley also teed off on 10 and shook off a double-bogey at the par-four 15th, making five birdies and two bogeys the rest of the way. Walker said a win at TPC San Antonio would be special. “A win anywhere means a lot,” he said. “But being at home, you get to have parents, in-laws, friends, best friends, distant family. It would be cool. It doesn’t put any more pressure on you, I think. If anything you’ve got a nice support crew out there and you’ve got good vibes and good mojo - and I believe in all that stuff.” Walker’s fellow Texan, Spieth arrived in San Antonio off a dramatic playoff victory in the Valspar Championship in Florida-his third victory in five months. For Na, TPC San Antonio will always be linked to the 16 he recorded on the par-four ninth in 2011, but he’s hoping to add some new, better memories to his history here. “I really like this course and played well today,” Na said. Five-time major winner Phil Mickelson, tuning up for the first major of the year at the Masters in a fortnight, fired an even-par 72 to head a group on 142. He was joined by another former Masters champion CARLSBAD: Morgan Pressel tees off during Round Two of the LPGA KIA Classic at the in Zach Johnson along with Brendan Steele, SAN ANTONIO: Jimmy Walker lines up a putt on the fifteenth green during the Valero Texas Open Aviara Golf Club. —AFP Chris Kirk and Billy Horschel. —AFP golf tournament. —AP