12 Established 1961 Sports Sunday, May 13, 2018 Crusaders go top with stunning comeback, bag historic win

Hosea ‘Tongan Godzilla’ Saumaki scores hat-trick of tries

TOKYO: The Canterbury Crusaders produced a stun- what we knew would work and came over the top at ning fightback to regain the lead with a the end.” Waratahs captain Michael Hooper blamed 31-29 win over the NSW Waratahs, while the poor discipline which “hurt us. Two yellow cards. It’s Sunwolves thrashed the 63-28 to hard to beat these guys with 14 men”. The Crusaders, record their first win yesterday. who have not lost at home to the Waratahs since 2004, The Otago Highlanders, meanwhile, cemented their extended New Zealand’s winning streak over Australia hold on third place in the New Zealand conference to 39 matches. when kicked them home 39-27 over South African leaders Golden Lions and the Melbourne SUNWOLVES VICTORY Rebels closed the gap on the Waratahs with a come- While they celebrated their ongoing dominance and back 27-24 win over the their ninth win from 11 ACT . matches, Japan’s The Crusaders con- Sunwolves were cele- ceded 29 points to the brating their first win of Waratahs inside the first Crusaders the season and only their half hour of the clash fourth since joining the between the top New conceded 29 competition three years Zealand and Australian ago. Hosea “Tongan sides. But once they points to the Godzilla” Saumaki worked out how to cut scored a hat-trick of tries Israel Folau out of the Waratahs while flyhalf Hayden game they produced five Parker had a perfect day tries and 31 unanswered off the tee with 12 from points to snatch a nar- 12 for 36 points in Tokyo row victory and move as they thrashed the one point ahead of the Wellington on the Reds by a 35-point margin. “You have to take the good ladder. Folau was exceptional for the Waratahs in the with the bad, and we have had our fair share of bad,” opening stages and scored two of their first four tries. admitted Sunwolves coach Jamie Joseph after the But once the defending champions switched their game Tokyo-based team racked up their highest-ever points TOKYO: Reds’ scrum half Ben Lucas (C) clears the ball out of a scrum during the Round 13 Super Rugby plan to starve Folau of possession they came back with total and first victory against Australian opposition. match between the Sunwolves of Japan and the Reds of Australia at Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium in three tries in the closing eight minutes of the first half. “For me, as the coach of this team, this result wasn’t Tokyo yesterday. — AFP They added two more in the second spell while the a surprise.” After losing the first nine matches of the Waratahs were punished for ill-discipline and spent year, there was little hint of what was to follow when nearly 20 minutes down a man with Nick Phipps and the Sunwolves trailed 14-9 after 20 minutes. But a try Two tries in five minutes to Jack Maddocks and to the Highlanders in Dunedin after losing to the Reds Taqele Naiyaravoro serving time in the sin bin. by giant lock Grant Hattingh swung the momentum and Semisi Tupou then revived the Rebels, before Reece and Blues in the past two weeks. Crusaders captain Sam Whitelock said it was obvi- by half-time the Sunwolves were up 29-14 before Hodges converted a tough penalty in the 77th minute to Although they trailed the Highlanders throughout ous their opening game plan did not work but they Saumaki’s second-half rampage set up the historic vic- snatch the win and move to within a point of the they were in with a chance to snatch a late win when a were not panicked by the Waratahs’ strong start. “We tory that had loyal Sunwolves fans weeping with joy. Waratahs on the Australian table. Marnus Schoeman try narrowed the gap to 33-27 with gave them the ball back early and they really punished The Brumbies were hoping to stay in contention for Christian Lealiifano had missed an easier penalty seven minutes remaining. But Highlanders’ marksman us because of it. Once we chopped that it started to a sixth consecutive finals campaign, but their hopes just moments earlier that would have regained the lead Sopoaga, who finished with a match haul of 19 points, turn in our favour,” Whitelock said. look forlorn after they blew a 24-10 lead at home with for the Brumbies. The Lions, beaten finalists last year, landed two late penalties to put the result beyond “But we were nice and calm out there. We stuck to 20 minutes to play against the strong-finishing Rebels. suffered their third consecutive loss when going down doubt. — AFP

good for the team. Now we want to get Lewis Hamilton the one-two we deserved in Baku...” Vettel said he was happy with his lap. Kuwait Disabled Sports Club hold “I was feeling good too and I looked at takes pole for the tower and then I saw my name didn’t go up - but, then, we expected sports festival with US Embassy the Spanish Mercedes to be strong. “Let’s see what happens now tomorrow. I hope everyone will enjoy it!” The Q1 session began in Grand Prix mild conditions with rain threatening and soon produced drama. After being accused of “sand bag- BARCELONA: Lewis Hamilton roared ging” by Hamilton, Ferrari quickly back to form and secured a stunning showed they had more pace than pole position for today’s Spanish Grand expected by rising to the top of the Prix when he delivered a record-break- times with Vettel outpacing Raikkonen. ing qualifying lap yesterday. The New Zealander Brendon Hartley of defending four time world champion and Toro Rosso was not among the runners current series leader broke the track lap following his huge accident at the end of record with a series of laps that culmi- final practice, which left the rear end of nated in him clocking 1:16.173, 0.040 his car wrecked after spinning into the seconds ahead of his team-mate Finn barriers at high speed. He will have to Valtteri Bottas as Mercedes locked up ask the race stewards for permission to the front row of the grid. take part in Sunday’s race even if his car It was Hamilton’s second pole this is repaired and he can prove his fitness. season, after the season-opening race in He was classified 20th and was eliminat- Australia, his third straight in Spain and ed along with German Nico Hulkenberg, the 74th of his career. It broke Sebastian who suffered fuel problems with his Vettel’s streak after three straight poles. Renault, Swede Marcus Ericsson of German four-time champion Vettel was Sauber and Russian rookie Sergey third fastest for Ferrari ahead of his Sirotkin and his Williams team-mate team-mate 2007 champion Finn Kimi Canadian teenager Lance Stroll. Raikkonen and the Red of The second qualifying session began Dutchman Max Verstappen and with the top four delivering record- Australian Daniel Ricciardo. breaking laps as both Mercedes and Dane Kevin Magnussen of Haas was Ferrari scorched around the circuit, seventh ahead of two-time champion Vettel topping them off with a 1:16.8 to and home hero Fernando Alonso of go quickest. Hamilton tested a set of US Ambassador Lawrence Silverman McLaren, fellow-Spaniard Carlos Sainz super-softs before the session ended of Renault and Frenchman Carlos Sainz with Belgian Stoffel Vandoorne of of Renault. McLaren, Frenchman Pierre Gasly of By Abdellatif Sharaa Silverman, General Steven R and Colonel the past ten years, during which several visits The top four were separated by only Toro Rosso, the Force India pairing of Geoffrey H, along with KDASC treasurer, and and festivals were made and held. He thanked 0.132 seconds at the end of the session - Frenchman Esteban Ocon and Mexican KUWAIT: Kuwait Disabled Sports Club held a President of Asian Wheelchair Basketball the American Ambassador and American Army joint sports festival with American Embassy and which promises a close race on Sunday Sergio Perez, and Frenchman Charles Association Saad Al-Azmaa and Director of command for their presence and their keenness army, which continued for two days in wheel- at the Circuit de Catalunya. “I needed Leclerc of Sauber eliminated from the Teams Mohsen Al-Ajmi. to ensure the event’s success. He said the this pole - I’ve not had one for a while,” chair basketball, fencing, table tennis and bocce. Al-Azmaa said he was happy with the suc- American ambassador assured him this will be final round. The top ten all went out on The closing ceremony was attended by said Hamilton who leads Vettel in the cess of the festival and commended the cooper- an annual event and expand its activities follow- super-softs at the start of Q3 with American Ambassador to Kuwait Lawrence ation with the American Embassy in Kuwait for ing the success and positive returns. drivers’ title race by just four points after Hamilton smashing the records again in four races. “And it’s a Mercedes one- 1:16.491 to run three-tenths clear of two which is great here. There is always nearest rival Verstappen as Red Bull a great atmosphere here with loads of mounted a stunning fight-back. British fans and even Spanish fans sup- Ferrari, unexpectedly, were pushed Annahar to hold Ramadan soccer porting us, which is great too!” back to fifth and seventh, 0.7 and 1.7 Bottas said: “It was close, like it has seconds adrift respectively with been all week. I ruined my first run in Q3 Ricciardo third for Red Bull before the tournament for newspapers, TV so I really only had one chance. It is a final runs when Hamilton delivered his shame it is only four-hundredths, but it is stunner. — AFP KUWAIT: A press conference will Emad Bukhamseen said the tourna- be held about Annahar Second ment is held for the second time Ramadan soccer tournament for following the success of the first Newspapers, Magazines, TV one last year. He said this is an won the medal in 110m hurdles, in Channels and sites at Crowne Plaza opportunity for journalists to stay Kuwait garners 14.17 seconds. On Friday, Kuwait’s Hotel. A draw will be held for the away from daily pressure, in addi- Ibrahim Al-Dhefeeri came second in tournament which starts on tion to strengthen ties between all shot put, Ali Al-Sebagha won silver in Ramadan second under the patron- those in media. He said there will more silver pole vault and Khaled Al-Subaiee in age of Information Minister, State be valuable prizes for top winners the triple jump. Minister for Youth Affairs in addition to prizes for fans by a in Malaysia Kuwait is participating in the Mohammad Al-Jabri. draw during the tournament. three-day tournament that kicked off Matches will be played at the Bukhamseen thanked Minister yesterday, with nine athletes compet- hall of sports complex of Public Al-Jabri for patronizing the tourna- Mohammad Al-Jabri Dr Emad Bukhamseen Authority for Applied Education ment which shows the govern- KUALA LUMPUR: Kuwait yesterday ing in the 100m sprint, 110m hurdles, and Training, as two matches will ment’s keenness on supporting 1,500m and 5,000m races. They also won a fourth silver medal at Malaysia be played per day starting at 4:00 media. 16 teams representing Alrai, Alsabah, Alkuwaitiya, Kuwaitiya Alaan are also participating. Teams Open Athletics Championship. Athlete compete in long jump and hammer pm and 4:30 pm. Alqabas, Alanba, Alseyassa, and Annahar news papers, Bareeq will be in two groups 8 each and Yaqoub Al-Yoha came second and throw. — KUNA Annahar Editor-in-Chief Dr Aljareeda, Alshahed, Alwaseet, Al-Dana, KTV, Adalah, Koora and will be knock out matches.