FOOTBALL
Coaching great dies
Former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Chuck Noll, the only coach in NFL history to win four Super Bowl titles, has died at the age of 82, US media reported on Friday. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that Noll died at his home in Sewickley, Pennsylvania. He had been in ill health for several years, battling Alzheimer’s disease, a heart condition and back problems. Noll, leader of Pittsburgh’s vaunted “Steel Curtain,” began his coaching career as a defensive assistant with the Chargers, and also worked for the Baltimore Colts before taking charge in Pittsburgh in 1969. He coached the Steelers for 23 years. The Steelers won Super Bowl titles in 1974, 1975, 1978 and 1979 under Noll’s guidance.
FIELD HOCKEY
Australia make final
Defending champion Australia have beaten Argentina 5-1 at the field hockey World Cup and are to face host nation the Netherlands in the men’s final. The result was never in doubt as Australia scored early and often in Friday’s semi-final, with Kieran Govers drag-flicking in the first at 4 minutes, Jeremy Hayward scoring twice and Jacob Whetton once. With the score at 5-0, Argentina’s Gonzalo Peillat pulled one back for Argentina. The Netherlands beat England 1-0 on a first-half penalty corner and are to play their first World Cup final since winning their third title at home 16 years ago.
RUGBY UNION
Fiji thrash Tonga
Fiji center Nemani Nadolo scored a try among his 20 points as the hosts beat Tonga 45-17 yesterday in their opening match of the Pacific Nations Cup. Wingers Watisoni Votu and Sireli Bobo scored two tries each, and captain Akapusi Qera scored another as Fiji piled on six tries to two in a comprehensive performance. Fiji led 24-3 at halftime, but Tonga rallied midway through the second half with two tries in two minutes to replacement Viliami Fihaki. Fiji closed out the match with tries to Bobo and Qera.
RUGBY UNION
Carter plays club game
Flyhalf Dan Carter made his return to rugby after a six-month layoff at a tiny club ground yesterday, to which hundreds of All Blacks fans made pilgrimage. Carter, who played the most recent of his 100 Tests at the end of last season, has been on a “sabbatical” designed to prolong his international career at least through to next year’s World Cup. Carter ran out for Southbridge in a minor leagues match against Glenmark. He played only 40 minutes, but in that time set up two tries to give his team a 20-5 halftime lead.
ATHLETICS
Fiji runner shot in US
A runner from Fiji was killed in a gang shooting in Northern California just weeks before he was set to attend the University of Louisiana, friends and authorities said. Roy Ravana Jr and another man, Kevin Ohta, were shot on Monday in Sacramento County by two juveniles who opened fire with two handguns and a rifle on behalf of the Norteno street gang, prosecutors said. Ohta, 21, is expected to survive, the Sacramento Bee said. Suspects 17-year-old Elias Guevara and 16-year-old Rozco Gutierrez have been charged as adults with murder and attempted murder. They were arraigned on Wednesday, but did not enter pleas, Shelly Orio, a spokeswoman for the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office said. The exact circumstances of the shooting were unclear.
After letting another big lead slip with an error-strewn performance at the French Open on Wednesday, top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka felt like getting as far away from the courts as possible. “Just want to quit tennis right now,” Sabalenka said after wasting a lead of a set and two breaks in a 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 loss to Diana Shnaider in the women’s singles quarter-finals. “We’ll see in few days. Hopefully I’ll get back on track mentally.” Sabalenka’s wait for a first French Open title continues despite the four-time major winner leading 4-1 in the second set and being two points from victory while
BIG NAMES GONE: Zverev is the clear favorite for a maiden Grand Slam title, reaching semi-finals for the fifth time in six years and finishing second on three occasions Alexander Zverev on Tuesday breezed past Rafael Jodar to stay on course for an elusive Grand Slam title at the French Open, while Jakub Mensik halted Joao Fonseca’s scintillating run in the quarter-finals. Zverev, the highest-ranked player left in the men’s draw, put an end to Spanish teenager Jodar’s impressive Roland Garros debut, easing into the semi-finals with a 7-6, (7/3), 6-1, 6-3 win. The 29-year-old Zverev is the clear favorite for a maiden Grand Slam title. He has finished runner-up on three occasions, including at the 2024 French Open. “I want to win the matches that are ahead of
Liverpool are in advanced talks with former AFC Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola as they seek a replacement for Arne Slot, reports said on Tuesday. Iraola has emerged as Liverpool’s top target to replace Slot, who was sacked on Saturday last week after a turbulent second season in charge. Liverpool have reportedly agreed a deal in principle to bring the Spaniard, who left Bournemouth at the end of this season, to Anfield. Sporting director Richard Hughes was heavily involved in hiring Iraola during his time at Bournemouth and is again spearheading the recruitment of the highly rated coach. The Reds are
KNICKS TAKE LEAD: San Antonio put on a 9-0 run to be up 95-94 with just over 2 minutes to play, but the rest of the game belonged to the New York Knicks It was past five minutes through the third quarter of Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday and the New York Knicks’ 11-game winning streak was in major jeopardy. The Knicks missed nine of their first 10 shots in the early part of the period and trailed the San Antonio Spurs by 14 points. They were floundering. Then something crazy happened. The Knicks found new life from an unlikely source: The Spurs. New York rallied to tie the game by the end of the period, gave up the lead briefly late in the fourth quarter, and pulled away late for a 105-95
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