SUNDAY, MAY 22, 2016 SPORTS Crane swoops into Byron Nelson lead World number two shoots 65; Spieth one back TEXAS: Hometown favorite Jordan Spieth struggled with his iron play but drained two lengthy birdie putts to move within one stroke of leader Ben Crane after the second round at the weather-hit AT&T Byron Nelson in Texas on Friday. The US Open champion kept errors to a minimum as he followed his opening 64 with a five- under-par 65 at the rain-softened TPC Four Seasons Resort in Irving. He ended the round equal second with Spaniard Sergio Garcia (66) and Americans Brooks Koepka (64) and Bud Cauley (65), while Crane (63) set the halfway pace at 12-under 128. Spieth, who missed the cut at last week’s Players Championship in his first PGA Tour start since his shocking collapse at last month’s Masters, was happy to make “limited mistakes” but acknowledged need for improvement. “Again, I just took advantage of the easier holes,” the 22-year-old told reporters. “Had a couple of longer putts go in today and found both the par-fives in two Jarryd Hayne to two-putt and tap in for those two birdies. “So very limited mistakes. I have three-putted 13 twice and that’s really the only mistakes that I have made this week, even not quite feeling like I have my best iron Hayne makes World play right now.” Spieth, a seven-time winner on the PGA Tour who is known for his brilliant putting, said he felt Rugby Sevens debut much more in control of his game on the green than with an iron in his hand. “You’d certainly like to feel like you have full control LONDON: Jarryd Hayne made his debut for Bowen capitalising on a speculative offload over the ball every time you step over it but that’s not Fiji in the World Rugby Sevens in London to seal a comfortable 31-10 victory for the on Saturday in the latest Olympic twist to home side. Fellow cross-code import reality in golf,” the American world number two smiled. the Australian-born back’s star-studded Sonny Bill Williams, who made his name in “I’d like to have a bit more. “I don’t feel like I am tied for code-crossing adventure. Hayne last week rugby league before going on to win two the lead right now, it’s not the feeling I have when I abandoned playing NFL with the San World Cup titles with the All Blacks, was in stand over an iron shot but when I stand over my putter Francisco 49ers to pursue a spot on Fiji’s no doubt when asked if he’d given Hayne right now, it’s back to where we like to have it.” Crane sevens squad for this year’s Rio Games.The any advice. “Work on your fitness!” said flew into the lead with an eight-birdie sortie that includ- 28-year-old’s run out for Fiji at Twickenham Williams, before adding that Hayne “would ed a 70-foot bunker shot that rolled deliciously into the was his debut in rugby union, having previ- be fine”. Nick Cummins, who is also pursu- middle of the cup at the third hole. The 40-year-old has ously starred for Parramatta Eels in the ing hs Olympic dream with the Australia been missing in action since he won in Memphis two Australian NRL, during which time he won sevens team after winning 15 Wallaby caps, years ago, a slump he puts down to too much tinkering 12 caps for the Kangaroos and four for Fiji, added: “Old Hayney’s not a bad rooster, is with his swing. “As a pro golfer you just want to get bet- from where his father hailed. he?!”He’s a special athlete and he’ll have ter. Changing stuff isn’t always the answer,” said the five- TEXAS: Ben Crane lines up a putt on No 5 during the second round of the Byron In London, Hayne, who played 20 times quite an impact for the Fijian side, I reckon time PGA Tour winner.— Reuters Nelson golf tournament at TPC Four Seasons on Friday, May 20, 2016. — AP for New South Wales at full-back or centre he’d be good.” in the State of Origin, started on the bench Former New Zealand captain Karl Te for the reigning series champions and cur- Nana, now a respected television commen- rent series leaders. But England bucked the tator, added: “It’s always going to be tough, Rampant Japan demolish script, Dan Norton, Alex Gray and Alex you try to get involved. He needs some time Davis crossing for three long-distance first- in the saddle, it’s great to see him get on the half tries before Stade Francais winger field at least. “The game had been lost by Waisea Nayacalevu pulled one back for Fiji. then, but now he’s got the feel of it, he’s into S Korea in nine-try romp Norton scored a splendid second try the tournament and hopefully the next before Hayne was introduced for the final game and going forward he’ll get more INCHEON: Japan all but secured their second Korea, with three changes to their starting 15 South Korea’s cause was made tougher four minutes. game time.” Hayne will no doubt have fur- consecutive Asia Rugby Championship in from last week’s 34-27 defeat by Hong Kong, when Youn Kwon-Woo found himself in the sin Masivesi Dakuwaqa went over for Fiji’s ther opportunities at England’s rugby union Incheon yesterday with a 60-3 nine-try mauling showed more fight than in their 85-0 loss to bin after 16 minutes, allowing Japan to further second before Hayne finally touched the headquarters when Fiji cross swords with of South Korea. While Hong Kong can still Japan in the regional championship opener drive home their advantage. A penalty try and ball after the hooter had sounded, Tom pool rivals Wales and Australia later.—AFP mathematically level the series with two games but were never in the game. They started the a brace from Ryohei Yamanaka saw Japan pull remaining, three bonus-point wins leave the match with the assistance of a strong breeze away and take a 29-3 lead into the half-time Brave Blossoms with one hand firmly on the and made use of it in the opening minutes-fly- break. It was all Japan after the restart and cup. Japan entered the match with a 23 that half Oh Jim-Yeong launching a successful South Korea were again a man down when Kim Bonus try puts Chiefs on included five debutants and a host of changes penalty kick from halfway to give his side an Hyun-Soo was yellow-carded after 53 minutes. from their last match. Interim coach Ryuji early 3-0 lead. Japan responded soon after A second try to Sakate was followed by scores top rung of Super ladder Nakatake said he was pleased with the victory, through a try to hooker Atsushi Sakate and from Kentaro Kodama, Naohiro Kotaki, Takuhei but also highlighted South Korea’s effort. they took the ascendancy when captain Yasuda and Hajime Yamashita, and a strong WELLINGTON: A blunt assessment of their where Tamanivalu wrong-footed Mitch “Korea have high pressure on defense and Keisuke Uchida split the home defence to defensive effort ensured Japan are yet to con- shortcomings paid off for the Waikato Inman and Reece Hodge to cross handy to particularly on the breakdown,” he said. South make it 10-3. cede a try in the tournament.— AFP Chiefs who went top of the Super Rugby the posts. table with a bonus-point 36-15 victory over The Rebels were outplayed in every the Melbourne Rebels in Hamilton yester- department in the opening exchanges as day. On a wet night, the Chiefs scored five the Chiefs corrected all the errors that had tries to move to 42 points, one ahead of the slipped into their game. After forward pow- Canterbury Crusaders, while the Rebels er set up the first try, the second came from remain on 23 points and with their play-off a delicate Aaron Cruden chip kick behind hopes slipping away. Chiefs captain Sam the Rebels defensive line which hooker Cane said there had been some serious Nathan Harris pounced on for the five- soul-searching after losing to the Otago pointer. With the Rebels falling off tackles, Highlanders in their last outing and, with a Toni Pulu came off his wing to score the bye last week, they returned a fresher and bonus point try in the 23rd minute when a more focused side. But of concern for the dummy pass from scrum-half Brad Weber Chiefs was how they went off the boil after opened a hole close to the ruck. chalking up 26 points in the first half hour. But, after Cruden scored to put the Chiefs They put away the backline enterprise up 26-3, the Rebels enjoyed 10 minutes of that caused much of the early damage, dominance through to half-time without their control of the breakdown was diluted converting possession into points. Three and it took 40 minutes before they scored times skipper Nic Stirzaker turned down again with a late flurry. “The way we started shots at goal in favor of an attacking lineout the game, the first 30 minutes were urgent. and each time they came up empty handed.