The Western Force kept their Super 14 finals hopes alive by thrashing the hapless Queensland Reds 39-7 on Friday night.
Aside from the first 15 minutes of the game the Force dominated the Reds, scoring the first five tries of the match, and six in total, against their arch-rivals en route to one of their biggest wins in four years of Super rugby.
The Force led 17-0 at halftime and put the seal on a memorable win with a try to Haig Sare after the final buzzer to cap a miserable night for the Reds, who also conceded 50 points last weekend.
The loss was the fourth from as many away matches for the Reds this season and they haven’t won in their last 19 games away from Brisbane in a drought stretching back to 2006.
It was another dirty night for the Reds, their hopes all but gone when Scott Higginbotham was sin-binned for punching the Force’s Josh Valentine in the 53rd minute, just moments after he’d come off the bench with his side down 20-0.
The Force sealed the Reds’ fate in the 60th minute, David Pocock handing off to Tamaita Horua for the Force’s third try, with Matt Giteau’s conversion giving the home side a match-winning 27-0 lead that was extended by another five points when Ryan Cross scored his first try of the season in the 72nd minute.
The Reds couldn’t capitalize on their opportunities and three times appeared to have breached the Force line for their opening try, including youngster Blair Connor twice in the space of a couple of minutes in the second half, only to be denied by the officials each time, before Connor finally produced a consolation try in the 74th minute.
There was an early hint of things to come for the Reds when Berrick Barnes missed a long drop goal attempt in the 11th minute.
Former Force star Digby Ioane, who tried valiantly to lift his side throughout, broke the defensive line a couple of minutes later and threatened to set up a try, but Connor couldn’t hang onto the pass.
The Reds had the early initiative, but the Force quickly changed that, with Giteau opening the scoring in the 18th minute via a penalty, before exciting teenager James O’Connor burst through a Mark McLinden tackle in the 20th minute to score the game’s first try, which Giteau converted for a 10-0 lead.
In the 31st minute Drew Mitchell, tipped to join the Reds next season, scored under the posts as the Force skipped clear.
The Reds were plagued by ball handling errors in the first half and to add further insult, Ioane was just centimeters away from a try when he was held up over the line after the halftime buzzer.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely