RUGBY UNION
Fiji overtake Tonga at home
Fiji came from behind to beat Tonga 30-22 in a bone-jarring Pacific Nations Cup encounter in Suva yesterday. In a clash full of direct running and big tackles, Tonga led 22-16 going into the last 15 minutes before their high error count caught up with them. There were three tries apiece, with Fiji scoring two of theirs as they controlled the closing stages to make a positive start to the 10th edition of the tournament. In the only game of the tournament to be played in the Pacific, with the remainder in the US and Canada, Tonga rocked the 2013 champions with a punishing start. Nili Latu and Taniela Moa led a straight-up-the-middle approach, pinning Fiji deep in the own territory for most of the first quarter. Exeter wing Fetu’u Vainikolo dotted down first. Moa started the move when he plowed through a floundering defense before Latu fired a long pass out to Vainikolo who scored in the corner. Fiji hit the front when Henry Seniloli scored after a big run down the right wing by Lepani Botia who swatted would-be defenders aside with ease. Tonga regained the lead after halftime with a try to Telusa Veainu, converted by Lilo, and after Volavola put Fiji back in front 16-15 with two further penalties, Tonga again gained the initiative when Sonatane Takulua scored. However, Fiji were not done and came back with tries to Waisea Nayacalevu and Peni Ravai to seal the match.
SOCCER
Bolivian boss arrested
Police in Bolivia have arrested the president of the nation’s soccer federation for alleged corruption. The prosecutor’s office issued a brief statement on Carlos Chavez’s arrest that offered no details beyond saying it was part of an “investigation of presumed corruption” in managing state resources. Chavez was arrested after eight hours of questioning and ordered jailed in Sucre, where the prosecutor’s office is located. The coach of one club in Bolivia’s soccer league accused Chavez of embezzling funds from the national federation. Chavez said on Friday morning as he submitted to questioning that there was no proof to the accusations.
SOCCER
Miami stadium planned
Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado said on Friday that a group led by former English soccer star David Beckham has confirmed plans to build a stadium near the city’s downtown next to the Miami Marlins baseball park. The Beckham group previously spurned the proposed site for the Major League Soccer franchise they announced in Miami last year. One of Beckham’s partners, Sprint CEO Marcelo Claure, tweeted that the group had “presented ... our intentions” for the new stadium to the mayor on Friday morning.
RUGBY UNION
Break ends Naholo’s season
All Blacks winger Waisake Naholo suffered a broken leg during his Test debut against Argentina on Friday and has been ruled out of contention for this year’s World Cup. Fiji-born Naholo, who scored 13 tries for the Dunedin-based Highlanders during the Super Rugby season, made a strong debut before leaving the field midway through the second half of the Rugby Championship Test with what was thought to be a sprained ankle. He was omitted yesterday from the All Blacks’ 31-man squad for the Championship match against the Springboks in Johannesburg next weekend. X-rays revealed Naholo had suffered a cracked fibia and he will not have recovered in time to play at the World Cup, which starts in Britain in September.
Shohei Ohtani and Clayton Kershaw on Friday joined their Los Angeles Dodgers teammates in sticking their fists out to show off their glittering World Series rings at a ceremony. “There’s just a lot of excitement, probably more than I can ever recall with the Dodger fan base and our players,” manager Dave Roberts said before Los Angeles rallied to beat the Detroit Tigers 8-5 in 10 innings. “What a way to cap off the first two days of celebrations,” Roberts said afterward. “By far the best opening week I’ve ever experienced. I just couldn’t have scripted it any better.” A choir in the
The famously raucous Hong Kong Sevens are to start today in a big test for a shiny new stadium at the heart of a major US$3.85 billion sports park in the territory. Officials are keeping their fingers crossed that the premier event in Hong Kong’s sporting and social calendar goes off without a hitch at the 50,000-seat Kai Tak Stadium. They hope to entice major European soccer teams to visit in the next few months, with reports in December last year saying that Liverpool were in talks about a pre-season tour. Coldplay are to perform there next month, all part of Hong Kong’s
Shohei Ohtani, Teoscar Hernandez and Tommy Edman on Thursday smashed home runs to give the reigning World Series champions the Los Angeles Dodgers a 5-4 victory over Detroit on the MLB’s opening day in the US. The Dodgers, who won two season-opening games in Tokyo last week, raised their championship banner on a day when 28 clubs launched the season in the US. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts shuffled his batting lineup with all four leadoff hitters finally healthy as Ohtani was followed by Mookie Betts, then Hernandez and Freddie Freeman in the cleanup spot, switching places with Hernandez. “There’s a Teoscar tax to
Marcus Rashford’s first goals for Aston Villa on Sunday inspired a 3-0 win against Preston North End that sent his side into the FA Cup semi-finals for the first time in 10 years. Rashford struck twice in the second half at Deepdale to end Preston’s stubborn resistance before Jacob Ramsey wrapped up Villa’s long-awaited return to the last four. Villa are to face Crystal Palace — 3-0 winners at Fulham on Saturday — in the semi-finals at Wembley Stadium in London. Revitalized since joining Villa on loan from Manchester United during the January transfer window, Rashford is beginning to show the form that
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