SUNDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2014 SPORTS

SYDNEY: The racing yacht Loyal leaves the heads of Sydney Harbor during the start of the Sydney Hobart yacht race, Friday Dec. 26, 2014. Loyal was sitting in fourth before being forced yesterday to retire from the race due to reports of a damaged hull. — AP Wild Oats XI overtakes for Hobart lead

HOBART: Seven-time champion Wild Oats XI opened up a 30-nautical-mile lead over the lar. “Yesterday this time we were all smiles, we super maxi Rio 100. Sally Fitzgibbons, former world champion edged ahead of American super maxi American boat, with both yachts completing had a great beat on the coast. But even was earlier sitting in fourth boxer Danny Green and Olympic sailor Tom Comanche on the second day of the annual nearly half of the 628-nautical-mile race to though our dream weather turned into a place before being forced to retire due to a Slingsby among its crew, returned to its home Sydney to Hobart yacht race, with Comanche Hobart, the capital of the island state of nightmare, there’s no quit on this boat, so damaged hull - the first of the five super max- club at Sydney’s Rose Bay. “We’re not exactly skipper Ken Read calling it a “very frustrating Tasmania. we’ll see.” The leading yachts were looking to is in the race to retire and one of eight yachts sure how it happened,” Slingsby said. “We day.” Comanche, which was launched in “We’ve had better days, that’s for sure,” finish the race late Sunday, well outside the to pull out following a rough first night at sea. were coming off some big waves but we also October and is being tested in race conditions Read said in a telephone interview with The race record of 1 day, 18 hours, 23 minutes, 12 Perpetual Loyal skipper Anthony Bell could have hit something during the night for the first time, led defending champion Associated Press. “It’s been increasingly frus- seconds that Wild Oats XI set in 2012. decided to withdraw early Saturday after the when we were falling off these waves.” Wild Oats XI for much of the race since its trating. There are troughs that moved over Ragamuffin, another super maxi and skip- boat started taking on water while off Eden , the 1997 champion, also retired start Friday in Sydney Harbour. top of us and sucked us all in instead of mov- pered by 87-year-old Syd Fischer, was in third on the New South Wales state south coast. from the original 117-yacht fleet with rudder But by late afternoon yesterday, Wild Oats ing us ahead. But the boat has been spectacu- place, followed by another American entry, The boat, which includes professional surfer problems. — AP Wenger facing up to Giroud blow

LONDON: Arsene Wenger admits losing “He knows he made a mistake and I Upton Park, especially with the aerial bom- Oliver Giroud once again is a body blow to know him well enough to think that he will bardment West Ham put teams under with Arsenal’s Champions League push. Giroud not do it again. “He told me he was pushed Andy Carroll in their ranks. is facing three games out after his red card in the back and projected against the Much will rest on the shoulders of Alexis in the 2-1 Boxing Day win against QPR. The ‘keeper. Maybe the injury he had played Sanchez, who scored and then created Frenchman was sent off for a headbutt on on his mind and he was scared to be Tomas Rosicky’s goal in another man-of- Nedum Onuoha and his lack of discipline injured again. Usually he is a guy in control the-match showing. “Sanchez has shown will see him first sit out today’s London der- of his response. his ability to create chances and his com- by at West Ham. “You never need that - that’s for sure. In mitment to the side, which has made such Having made a major impact since his my job you have to deal with it with the a difference for us this season,” said return from ankle surgery that sidelined strengths and sometimes the mistakes of Wenger. him for three months, Giroud’s absence is people.” “He is a guy full of confidence and play- the last thing the Arsenal manager needs Wenger might have celebrated his 400th ing with some real style.” Despite the win, at this pivotal stage of the season. “Olivier Premier League win in charge of Arsenal Arsenal are still 15 points behind leaders touched him (Onuoha) and he should not but he won’t be raising a glass to Giroud. Chelsea and Wenger added: “We find our- have done it,” said Wenger. The striker’s physicality will be missed at selves detached from the teams above us at the moment, with a bit of ground to make up. “We can’t get too carried away with trying to make up that ground at the moment, just to concentrate on what we’re doing. “I don’t give importance to the table at the moment. There’s 20 games to go. It’s very tight and it’s down to consistency now. We know every game now is down to consistency and reproducing the perform- ances.” After a record-equalling nine straight away defeats in the Premier League, QPR will be thankful to return to home soil when they face another London derby in Crystal Palace on Sunday. Harry Redknapp will go head-to-head with Crystal Palace manager Neil Warnock, the man who helped QPR win promotion in 2011 but was sacked just months later. “He did a great job, didn’t he, at QPR?,” said Redknapp. “You can only do with what Jacoby Brissett you have got. “If you can go out and buy the best NC State wins Bitcoin Bowl players you will have the best teams. If you have a small budget it’s a different game. ST. PETERSBURG: Jacoby Brissett threw for a touchdown and Rutgers beat North Carolina “But I think Palace are a good side and he is 262 yards and one touchdown and Matt Dayes 40-21 in the inaugural Quick Lane Bowl at Ford Arsene Wenger doing a good job now.”— AFP scored on runs of 24 and 15 yards to help Field. North Carolina beat Central Florida 34-27 in Gary Nova threw for 184 yards and two the Bitcoin Bowl on Friday night at Tropicana touchdowns, and Robert Martin ran for 100 Field. Brissett tossed a 37-yard TD pass to yards and two scores to help the Scarlet Warnock sacked by Palace after dismal run Johnathan Alston to put the Wolfpack ahead Knights cap their first Big Ten season. for good in the second quarter. Running back Rutgers led 40-7 before the Tar Heels scored LONDON: Premier League strugglers longer first-team manager,” Palace said on an 11th-place finish against the odds last Shadrach Thornton got NC State going early twice in the final 7 minutes. Houston Bates had Crystal Palace ended manager Neil their website (www.cpfc.co.uk). season, departed two days before the start with an 18-yard scoring pass to Jaylen 4 1/2 sacks against his former team to help Warnock’s brief second spell in charge yes- “The club would like to put on record its of the current campaign. Samuels. Louisiana Tech beat Illinois 35-18 in the Heart terday following a dismal run of one win in thanks to Neil for all his hard work and Warnock left Palace in 2010 after they Brissett was 15 of 26 with no interceptions, of Dallas Bowl at the Cotton Bowl. Bates gradu- 12 games, the club said in a statement. energy over the past four months.” The went into administration, joining Queens completing passes to eight receivers. Thornton ated from Illinois with a year of eligibility A 3-1 home defeat by Southampton on London club have lost three and drawn Park Rangers and taking them into the rushed for 96 yards on 17 carries and Dayes fin- remaining and transferred to Louisiana Tech to Friday left Palace in the relegation zone, three of their last six games, their last win Premier League before being sacked eight ished with 78 yards on 13 attempts to key a finish his college career close to home. third from bottom on 15 points from 18 coming against Liverpool on Nov. 23. months later, in January 2012. ground attack that produced 188 yards. Kenneth Dixon scored one of his two games. Warnock, appointed in August, is Palace make the trip across London to face The following month he was appointed UCF’s Justin Holman threw for 291 yards, touchdowns on an 80-yard reception, and the first Premier League manager to lose Queens Park Rangers on Sunday with Keith manager of Leeds United, only to be fired including TD passes of 6, 14 and 2 yards to Xavier Woods returned an interception 69 his job this season. “Crystal Palace Football Millen taking charge as caretaker manager. just over a year later. Warnock has man- Josh Reese, who had six receptions for 75 yards for a score for the Bulldogs. Dixon Club can today confirm that Neil Warnock Warnock, 66, returned to Selhurst Park aged 13 clubs, starting in non-League foot- yards. Reese’s second touchdown cut it to 34- became Louisiana Tech’s career rushing leader, has been relieved of his duties and is no after Tony Pulis, who had steered them to ball almost 35 years ago. — Reuters 20 with 11 minutes remaining. finishing with 63 to push his three-season At Detroit, Josh Hicks ran for 202 yards and total to 3,410. — AP