The Wellington-based Hurricanes ensured this season would be their best-ever in Super Rugby so far when they beat the Hamilton-based Chiefs 22-18 yesterday to likely clinch first place in the New Zealand conference.
The win was the Hurricanes’ 11th in 12 matches this season, topping the franchise record of 10 wins in a season. It took them 14 points clear of the Chiefs in New Zealand and on the overall championships table.
In Sydney, flyhalf Bernard Foley capped off a productive night with a clinching try in the final minute to give defending champions the New South Wales Waratahs a 33-18 win over the Durban, South Africa-based Sharks.
Foley’s 17th Super try from a Sharks turnover was in addition to his 18 points from four penalties and three conversions.
Waratahs center Adam Ashley-Cooper opened the scoring after just 52 seconds following a set move from a lineout. An inside ball from Foley had Michael Hooper in open space and the flanker raced 30m before putting Ashley-Cooper over.
The win moved the Waratahs into first place in the Australian conference, although the ACT Brumbies could retake the lead if they were to win over the Lions in Johannesburg later last night.
Center Ma’a Nonu scored a try in each half for the Hurricanes, the second of which was his 50th in Super Rugby — a record for an active player. His double also marked his milestone 50th appearance in midfield in combination with his All Blacks teammate Conrad Smith.
Nonu’s first try, in the ninth minute, gave the Hurricanes an early 7-0 lead and they were ahead 10-6 approaching halftime until a converted try to Charlie Ngatai put the Chiefs 13-10 in front at the interval.
The Chiefs entered the match depleted by injuries and lost two locks to injuries and a player to the sin-bin during the second half. Despite those disadvantages, they hit back with a 74th-minute try by Sam Cane, which cut the lead to four points and clinched a consolation bonus point.
They then seemed to have stolen the match with a try to Augustine Pulu two minutes from fulltime, but the video referee determined there had been a knock-on in the scoring movement.
“It was probably the first time we’ve been put under that sort of pressure in the first 40 minutes and it took us a little while to react,” Hurricanes stand-in captain Jeremy Thrush said. “That was a good test for us to see what it feels like to be in the playoffs. The Chiefs are a never-say-die team and that’s why they’ve won two championships.”
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
NO DOUBT: Spurs star Wembanyama was unanimously selected as NBA Rookie of the Year, winning all 99 votes to become the first Frenchman to capture the honor The Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night produced a dominant defensive display to seize a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a 106-80 road victory. The third-seeded Timberwolves harassed Denver relentlessly to claim a second straight win over the NBA champions as the series heads back to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards scored 27 points apiece, but the star of the show was Minnesota’s suffocating defensive effort, which knocked Denver out of their stride almost from the tip-off. The Timberwolves finished with 11 steals and 12 blocks, in sharp contrast to
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
Playing soccer and competing for trophies is the best way that many transplanted Hong Kongers and Macanese have found to stay in touch, and to interact with Taiwanese society, said officials at the Taiwan-Hong Kong-Macau Football Friendship Cup, which was held on April 13. Twelve clubs, mostly of players and coaches originally from Hong Kong and Macau, took part in the tournament in New Taipei City. The event is sponsored by the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) and the Taiwan-Hong Kong Economic and Cultural Co-operation Council. Participating teams were from the wider Taipei area, Hsinchu, Taichung, Kaohsiung and other areas. They divided into two