RUGBY UNION
Wellington defeat Stormers
Ngani Laumape scored two late tries, one that began deep inside the Wellington Hurricanes’ territory, as the home side secured a scrappy 41-22 victory over the South Africa-based Stormers at Wellington Regional Stadium yesterday. Laumape’s second try was the result of an audacious chip-pass from All Blacks flyhalf Beauden Barrett about 15m from his own line and with flanker Brad Shields in the sin bin. Fullback Jordie Barrett also crossed twice, while Julian Savea, Cory Jane and Beauden Barrett grabbed tries for the home side. Stormers’ replacement hooker Ramone Samuels scored the visitors only try, with S.P. Marais and Robert du Preez kicking the rest of their points.
CRICKET
BCCI faces pressure
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is coming under increasing pressure to name a squad for the Champions Trophy, with Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid joining calls for the board to quit stalling. The BCCI missed a deadline last month for announcing a team and is to hold a special meeting tomorrow to discuss a potential withdrawal from the 50-over international tournament. It is facing mounting criticism over its tactics, which stem from a dispute with the International Cricket Council over changes to revenue sharing.
CRICKET
Billings touts England form
England wicketkeeper Sam Billings has returned home from the Indian Premier League (IPL) carrying with him the message that rivals are “petrified” of his team ahead of next month’s Champions Trophy on home soil. Billings said his interaction with players during IPL Twenty20 matches convinced him of a newfound respect for his nation’s limited-overs prowess. “The best thing about the IPL is you share a dressing room with these guys and previously in this country we haven’t made one-day cricket a priority as such, but people are petrified of our side now,” Billings told British media.
CYCLING
Bardiani-CSF riders banned
Two riders from the Italian team Bardiani-CSF have been kicked out of the Giro d’Italia on the eve of the nation’s biggest race after testing positive in an out-of-competition doping test. The UCI, the sport’s governing body, on Thursday said that Nicola Ruffoni and Stefano Pirazzi returned positive tests for growth hormone-releasing peptides in samples collected last week. The riders have the right to have their B samples tested, but have been provisionally suspended from competition. That means neither were to be at the Giro’s start line yesterday on the island of Sardinia.
RALLYING
Timo Makinen dies, aged 79
Finnish legend Timo Makinen, known for his hat-tricks of international victories, has died aged 79, local media said yesterday. Makinen, who was was nicknamed “The Flying Finn” of motor rallying among several other prominent Finnish athletes, won the RAC Rally — now named Wales Rally GB — three times in a row from 1973 to 1975 in a Ford Escort. Born in Helsinki on March 18, 1938, Makinen’s death was announced by his son on Facebook late on Thursday, Finnish newspaper Ilta-Sanomat reported, without specifying the exact cause.
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
Taiwan’s Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan on Saturday won the men’s doubles bronze medal at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China, after they were bested by the hosts in their semi-final. The Taiwanese shuttlers lost to China’s Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang, who advanced to yesterday’s final against Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzudin. The Chinese pair outplayed Lee and Yang in straight games. Although the Taiwanese got off to a slow start in the first game, they eventually tied it 14-14, before Liang and Wang went on to blow past them to win 21-17. In the second game, Lee and