MONDAY, APRIL 11, 2016 SPORTS Simon Amor have fingers crossed for Olympics HONG KONG: Great Britain coach Simon Hong Kong quarter-finals, gave a bitter which wraps up in London in May. said. “I think it’s bothering other people because of sevens’ fitness and technical Amor said he was hopeful of making a laugh when asked if he would have liked The expanded Olympic squad will more than it’s bothering us at the demands. strong showing at the Olympics despite to have had a longer build-up. “I’m sorry, gather the following week, with the final moment. “To be honest, it’s going to be “It’s a combination of guys we’ll be a tough build-up with the squad still I thought you were doing that as a bit of group of players not expected to be exciting to get into a totally brand new looking at right through the season, undecided and only coming together in a joke,” he told reporters. “Of course it named until mid-July-about three weeks environment, something that’s never from the England, Scotland and Wales May. Amor, speaking at the Hong Kong would, the longer you can get guys before the Games. been done on the world series or within sevens specific teams,” Amor said. Sevens, said the situation was “complex” together, the better. Wales coach Gareth Williams, who sevens, and we’ll see where we go with “And we’re also trying to get some of for Great Britain, which can only get its “But that’s the difficulty that we face, will be Amor’s assistant for the British it.” Amor said he had his “fingers crossed” the 15-a-side guys that have really players together after the sevens world it’s a complex situation. But what’s amaz- team, said he was unconcerned despite that some of Britain’s 15-a-side special- ripped it up for their international teams series. Officials are also still negotiating ing is the desire from all the unions to the challenges ahead. “It is a challenge, it ists would be available, although negoti- and their clubs over the last season. the release of top 15-a-side players, really give it our best.” Great Britain will is different from what each and every ations are still ongoing. Other teams “It’ll be an exciting blend, it’ll be a meaning the make-up of the eventual be made up of players from England, other nation have the opportunity to do such as New Zealand, South Africa and challenging one but an intense pro- team remains very much up in the air. Wales and Scotland, who are all compet- but we’ve got a number of tournaments Australia have already started integrat- gramme gives us a good opportunity to Amor, who coached England to the ing on the 10-stop sevens world series which we’ll use to develop the group,” he ing 15s players, a difficult process give it our very best.” —AFP Fiji blow away Kiwis to stake Olympic claim HONG KONG: Reigning world series cham- encouraged by a much-improved display pions Fiji fired a clear Olympic warning as by All Blacks star Sonny Bill Williams, who they blitzed rivals New Zealand 21-7 to win finally looked on the pace and produced a the Hong Kong Sevens in convincing fash- string of trademark offloads. ion yesterday. Fiji, the form team at the But the Kiwis were always second Olympics’ unofficial dress rehearsal, favourites after being taken to double outscored New Zealand three tries to one extra-time by South Africa in their thrilling to stretch their championship lead to five 12-7 semi-final win. “Our goal like all the points over the Kiwis. other teams is the Olympics at the end. So The clinical victory will further raise you learn from these losses and we were hopes of Fiji’s first-ever Olympic gold beaten by a very good Fijian team today medals in August in Rio, where rugby will that played better than us,” Tietjens said. feature at the Summer Games for the first Earlier South Africa claimed third place time in 92 years. “We made no bones about it, we said this was a mini-peak (before the with a narrow 14-12 play-off win over Olympics),” said Fiji’s coach Ben Ryan. “We Australia, who missed a do-or-die, post- wanted to do well, we wanted to put the hooter penalty kick. England, still senti- pressure on. mental favourites in the ex-British colony, “It’s another three-day tournament, Rio’s lifted the plate trophy with a 19-0 win over a three-day tournament. The last four the United States, after they lost 14-5 to three-day tournaments, Fiji have won every Australia in the Cup quarter-finals. single one of them.” In a tense start to the And Japan booked a place at next year’s final, New Zealand’s Pita Akhi opened the event when they beat hosts Hong Kong 24- scoring with a searing run down the right, 14 in the final of the concurrent qualifying in which he outstripped one Fijian defend- tournament. Fiji’s players, who mostly er and sidestepped another. come from the Pacific country’s impover- Fiji hit back and made it 7-7 at half-time ished villages, have an unpleasant surprise NEW YORK: Jimmy Howard #35 and Niklas Kronwall #55 of the Detroit Red Wings defend against Kevin Hayes #13 of the New York Rangers at when Jerry Tuwai took a quick penalty near in store after organisers scrapped prize Madison Square Garden on Saturday in New York City. The Rangers defeated the Red Wings 3-2. — AFP the line and dived over before the New money this year-a fact that Ryan said they Zealanders could react. Substitute Kitione were not yet aware of. “The boys don’t play Taliga put Fiji 14-7 ahead in the second half when he sold a dummy and accelerated for prize money, but they also don’t come Red Wings still reach playoffs through the slimmest of gaps in the Kiwi from very wealthy backgrounds so it would defence. And Semi Kunatani scored have made a big difference,” said the coach. beneath the posts after Fiji out-muscled “But I’m sure (the tournament organisers New Zealand in a ruck and passed their have) got good reasons for doing it.” despite 3-2 loss to Rangers way through a scattered defensive line. Hong Kong is the biggest and most high-profile event on the 10-stop sevens NEW YORK: Despite ending the NHL regular season Rangers or New York Islanders in its playoff opener wins in a single season as the Washington Capitals PRIZE MONEY SURPRISE world series, making it a vital part of teams’ with consecutive losses, the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday. Panthers goalie Roberto Luongo defeated the St. Louis Blues. In his third try, Holtby New Zealand coach Gordon Tietjens was preparations for the Rio Olympics. —AFP found a way on Saturday to make the playoffs for a earned his 35th win, tying the franchise record he earned his 48th win to match the record set by New remarkable 25th consecutive season. The Red Wings set in 2005-2006. Luongo is one win from tying Jersey’s Martin Brodeur in 2006-07. The Capitals play lost to the New York Rangers 3-2, but they advanced Jacques Plante (437) for sixth place on the NHL their final game of the regular season Sunday, but to the postseason when the Ottawa Senators beat career win list. Holtby (48-9-7) is not expected to play. Ovechkin the Boston Bruins 6-1. Detroit clinched third place in completed his second hat trick of the season 10:35 the Atlantic Division and will play the Tampa Bay DEVILS 5, MAPLE LEAFS 1 into the final period. All three of his goals were Lightning in the first round. Antti Raanta, starting in Adam Henrique scored two goals to lead the New assisted by Nicklas Backstrom, giving him 50 assists goal for Henrik Lundqvist, made 31 saves for the Jersey Devils to a 5-1 win over the Toronto Maple for the season. Rangers, who finished the regular season with 101 Leafs. New Jersey also received goals from Patrik Elias, points and still don’t know who they will meet in the Kyle Palmieri and Devante Smith-Pelly. Henrique and STARS 3, PREDATORS 2 playoffs, which start on Wednesday. The Rangers Palmieri each finished with 30 goals to lead the Jason Spezza scored his seventh career hat trick have a chance to finish in third place in the Devils. It was the 408th career goal for Elias. Pierre- and Antti Niemi stopped 28 of 30 shots for the Metropolitan Division, in which case they would Alexandre Parenteau scored for the Maple Leafs. Dallas Stars in a 3-2 win over the Nashville Predators. play the Pittsburgh Penguins. If they remain the first Dallas (50-23-9), which has won nine of its last 11 wild card in the Eastern Conference, they would play CANADIENS 5, LIGHTNING 2 games (9-2-0), clinched the top spot in the Western the Florida Panthers. Either playoff series would start Alex Galchenyuk scored twice and added an Conference and the Central Division title. It is the on the road. The Bruins lost starting goalie Tuukka assist to lift the Montreal Canadiens to a 5-2 win Stars’ first time finishing atop the West since 2002-03 Rask 90 minutes before the faceoff to illness, and over the Tampa Bay Lightning.