SPORTS SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2016 Hong Kong’s Ng on cue to storm male bastion HONG KONG: A decade after taking up the sport because she liked her father’s outfit, Hong Kong’s Ng On Yee finds herself on the brink of snooker history as she embarks on a mission to reach the main draw of the men’s world championships. Reanne Evans made an unsuccessful bid to achieve the feat last year and Ng, who ended the Englishwoman’s 10-year reign as world champion in April, will have to beat three men to get through qualifying in Sheffield, England in April. “When my coach told me this was a possibility I was very excited to compete in this best tournament,” Ng told Reuters TV. “It will be an awesome opportunity to learn more as I always wonder what really created a gap between the men and the ladies. “I’m sure ... all the top lady players, they are very excited to see that the World Snooker Association is showing signs of mov- ing away from past traditions and opening the door for more opportunities for ladies to play in different tournaments.” The 25-year-old has come a long way since she took up the sport in her early teens, in part to avoid studying. “My father was the manager of the snooker club, and he took me with him most of the time,” Hg recalled. “One day I saw him at the competition with this uniform. And I loved this uniform very much. “And I thought it would be special if I could wear the same. Then I requested my father to teach me how to play and he was delighted.” Competing at a 2006 tournament in Jordan also convinced the traveler in her that snooker could be a pass- port to a globe-trotting lifestyle. “When I saw other lady players who were representing their country, I wished I could be like CHICAGO: Dallas Stars right wing Patrick Eaves (right) celebrates with left wing Jamie Benn after scoring his them,” she said. “To become a snooker player who can travel first goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks. — AP around the world for snooker tournaments.” Ng believes her achievements are starting to change some popular misconceptions about snooker in Hong Kong. “I think in Stars win at Blackhawks to Hong Kong snooker has always been a male sport, and many parents had the impression that snooker club is a place for bad close Central gap to 1 point people to hang out,” she said. — Reuters CHICAGO: Dallas’ Patrick Eaves scored a first-period hat trick to set beat Los Angeles. Dallas’ Eaves notched his second career hat trick Vunipola applauds bonding up the Stars’ 4-2 win at Chicago on Thursday, slicing the gap and helped the Stars to a fifth win in six games. John Klingberg between the top two teams in the NHL Central Division to a single added a goal and an assist for Dallas. as England target Italy win point. The Stars quickly avenged a 5-1 home defeat by the Duncan Keith and Patrick Kane scored for the Blackhawks, who Blackhawks last weekend and are well poised to leapfrog the reign- were without forward Artemi Panarin for the second straight game MILAN: England No 8 Billy Vunipola has applauded a more relaxed ing Stanley Cup champions, as Dallas has three games in hand. due to illness. Washington’s Alex Ovechkin scored three times in approach to team bonding that has kept World Cup flops England Among other key results, Eastern Conference pacesetter the second period for his 14th career hat trick, helping the Capital on course for a Six Nations Grand Slam ahead of tomorrow’s clash Washington won at Minnesota thanks to an Alex Ovechkin hat edge Minnesota 4-3. with Italy in Rome. trick, and the New York Islanders started with a scoring burst and Ovechkin, who leads the league with 34 goals, has 13 in his past England’s failure to get past the World Cup group stages last 13 games. Nicklas Backstrom had three assists and Jason Chimera autumn prompted a change in management and philosophy that added an empty-netter for Washington, which improved to a saw the Red Rose begin this year’s Six Nations with a battling 15-9 NHL results/standings league-best 20-5-2 on the road. win over Scotland last week. Although Vunipola was widely applaud- San Jose 5, Calgary 6 (SO); Chicago 2, Dallas 4; Ottawa 3, Colorado 4; ed after a man-of-the-match display at Murrayfield, the 23-year-old Edmonton 5, Toronto 2; Minnesota 3, Washington 4; Winnipeg 2, Boston 6; 5 in a row credits new coach Eddie Jones with instilling a new, more sociable NY Islanders 5, Los Angeles 2; Philadelphia 5, Buffalo 1; Columbus 4, The Capitals won their fifth consecutive game and became the approach to rebuilding England’s confidence. Anaheim 3 (SO). first team to reach 40 victories this season. Charlie Coyle, Ryan Vunipola says England are benefiting from being allowed to Eastern Conference Suter and Mikael Granlund scored for the Wild, but Minnesota lost socialize more than under the previous regime run by Stuart Atlantic Division Lancaster, when players were told not to drink. “I respond to the love W L OT GF GA PTS for the 12th time in its past 13 games, including seven in a row at Florida 32 16 6 155 123 70 home. The New York Islanders scored three times inside the first 14 and compassion Eddie shows the boys, me especially. He is very per- Detroit 28 18 8 137 135 64 minutes to set up a 5-2 win against Los Angeles. sonable,” Vunipola said. “We have had a few bonding sessions. It’s Boston 29 19 6 163 149 64 John Tavares had a goal and an assist, Johnny Boychuk, Casey important for me to know what someone else is about, what moti- Tampa Bay 29 20 4 142 130 62 vates them, whether that be their family or scoring tries. “It works MontrÈal 27 24 4 151 146 58 Cizikas and Anders Lee all scored in the first period and Travis Ottawa 25 25 6 161 177 56 Hamonic added an empty-netter in the third to help the Islanders better when you have a relationship with someone rather than just Buffalo 21 28 6 126 155 48 win their third straight overall and third in a row at home. Kyle rocking up and playing for England.” Australian Jones is expected to Toronto 19 25 9 127 154 47 Clifford and Milan Lucic scored for the Pacific Division-leading reshuffle England’s pack for the visit to the Eternal City after releasing Metropolitan Division Gloucester openside flanker Matt Kvesic and Wasps centre Elliot Daly Washington 40 9 4 178 121 84 Kings, who had won their previous three home games. NY Rangers 31 18 5 156 137 67 Colorado snapped a four-game skid with a 4-3 win at Ottawa. from his training squad earlier this week. NY Islanders 29 18 6 154 134 64 Jarome Iginla had two goals and an assist to reach 15 goals in a At the same time, he included Saracens flanker Maro Itoje and fel- Pittsburgh 27 19 7 139 138 61 season for the 17th time. Blake Comeau had a goal and an assist low back-row forward Josh Beaumont of Sale. Jones hinted England New Jersey 27 21 7 124 129 61 may require greater speed up front, which could open the door to Philadelphia 24 20 9 129 143 57 and Nathan McKinnon also netted for the Avalanche. Mark Stone, Carolina 24 21 9 130 144 57 Mike Hoffman and Chris Neil had goals for Ottawa. Boston extend- Harlequins back-rower Jack Clifford, who made his debut from the Columbus 22 28 6 144 176 50 ed it run of away wins to five with a 6-2 victory at Winnipeg, led by bench at Murrayfield. Western Conference two goals from Patrice Bergeron. Pacific Division ‘Faster pitch’ Chicago 36 18 4 161 134 76 Brett Connolly had three assists, Brad Marchand had a goal and Dallas 35 15 5 180 149 75 two assists, Loui Eriksson and Jimmy Hayes each had a goal and an “The playing conditions will be considerably different. They will St. Louis 30 17 9 136 134 69 assist, and David Pastrnak also scored for the Bruins. Bryan Little be warmer, a faster pitch, different referee so I am anticipating we Colorado 28 25 4 154 158 60 and Nikolaj Ehlers netted for Winnipeg. will be able to get our attack going a lot quicker than we did against Nashville 25 21 8 141 145 58 Scotland,” said Jones. “I’ve said it’s going to be a faster game so we Minnesota 23 21 10 133 136 56 Calgary scored four goals in the first period but was still forced Winnipeg 24 27 3 140 159 51 to a shootout, when Juri Hudler scored to deliver a 6-5 win against could pick a faster pack.” Come tomorrow afternoon, England’s Central Division San Jose. Columbus’ Alexander Wennberg and Cam Atkinson each thoughts will be focused on how to beat a promising-looking Italy Los Angeles 32 18 3 148 126 67 scored in the shootout to give the Blue Jackets a 4-3 victory over side. Italy coach Jacques Brunel has made only two changes from the San Jose 28 20 5 156 145 61 side that gave France a scare in a 23-21 defeat at the Stade de France Anaheim 26 19 8 122 128 60 Anaheim.