FOOTBALL
NFL debuts kick-off rule
The NFL’s new one-year trial kick-off format was debuted on Thursday in a pre-season opener halted early by a storm. The Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio, ended with the Chicago Bears 21-17 winners over the Houston Texans after play was suspended with 3 minutes, 31 seconds remaining in the third quarter and did not resume. Under the new rule, kickers struck the ball at their 35-yard line while the other players lined up on the opposition 40 and 35-yard lines except for two receiving players in the reception zone between the goal line and the 20-yard line. Players are not allowed to move until the ball is touched by a receiver. If the ball hits the ground or is downed in the end zone, the receiving team take possession at their own 30-yard line. As a result, kickers must now aim to put the ball in a 20-yard landing zone rather than smash it beyond the back of the end zone. In the first half, five kick-offs under the new rule saw an average return of 20 yards, with average starting position being just beyond the 25-yard line. Former Chicago star Devin Hester was shocked that the format did not produce breakaway runbacks. “I’m surprised we’re not seeing no big runs. It’s shocking,” Hester said. “This is the first season, first game, so I’m figuring a lot of coaches are going to evaluate this game and try to figure out what they can do to utilize and get some more big plays in there.”
Photo: AFP
TENNIS
Taiwan’s Wu makes semis
Wu Fang-hsien of Taiwan on Thursday won in the women’s doubles quarter-finals at the Washington Open. Wu and partner Jiang Xinyu of China defeated Yana Sizikova and Anastasia Potapova of Russia 6-4, 7-6 (7/5) on the hard courts at the William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center. The win earned them a match against Aldila Sutjiadi of Indonesia and Japan’s Miyu Kato at the US$2,100,230 event, with their semi-final to be played after press time last night.
RUGBY UNION
Perenara to go to Japan
All Blacks scrumhalf T.J. Perenara is to leave New Zealand Rugby (NZR) and the Wellington Hurricanes at the end of this year after signing a three-year deal with Japan League One side Black Rams Tokyo, NZR said yesterday. The 32-year-old debuted for the All Blacks in 2014 and lifted the Rugby World Cup a year later. Perenara has earned 81 Test caps over a decade and is set to play in the Rugby Championship for six Tests against Argentina, South Africa, and Australia. “I’m grateful for every opportunity in the black jersey and as long as I can I’ll keep competing and contributing to the All Blacks,” Perenara said in a statement. “It’s an exciting time to be involved with a new coaching group and the motivation to represent New Zealand is as strong now as it was when I made my debut.” New Zealand are to begin their Rugby Championship title defense with two matches against Argentina on Saturday next week and Aug. 17.
STILL IN THE HUNT: Rasmus Hojlund took his goal tally for SSC Napoli to nine as the champions cruised to a win at US Cremonese and stayed two points behind the leaders Inter on Sunday stayed at the Serie A summit after beating Atalanta BC 1-0 to maintain their slender lead over local rivals AC Milan. Lautaro Martinez netted the only goal of the game in Bergamo for Inter, who lead Milan, 3-0 winners against Hellas Verona thanks to Christoper Nkunku’s first Serie A goals, by a single point at the top of the division. The Argentina striker has scored in four consecutive league matches to end what has been a tricky year in positive style. “I ended last season in a lot of pain... I kept going during the Club World Cup and international
Hosts Morocco on Friday were held to a 1-1 draw by Mali at the Africa Cup of Nations, ending their world record run of wins and leaving them still to make sure of progress to the next stage. Midfielder Brahim Diaz tucked away a penalty in stoppage-time at the end of the first half, but Mali equalized from the spot midway through the second half through Lassine Sinayoko. Both penalties were awarded after video reviews in a tempestuous clash at the end of a busy day of action at the tournament. Morocco were atop the Group A standings with four points, while Zambia,
An astounding 20 wickets fell on a frantic first day of the fourth Ashes Test yesterday, with Australia all out for 152 before storming back to dismiss England for 110 and leave the clash on a knife-edge. England skipper Ben Stokes won a key toss on a green track and his quicks feasted after sending in the hosts under overcast skies in front of 94,199 fans at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. It was the biggest cricket crowd ever at the cavernous arena, exceeding the 93,013 who watched the 2015 World Cup final, and they witnessed the home side collapse with Josh Tongue
Algeria on Sunday became the third country after Egypt and Nigeria to qualify for the knockout stage of the Africa Cup of Nations by edging Burkina Faso 1-0 in Rabat through a Riyad Mahrez penalty. Defending champions Ivory Coast failed to join the trio after drawing 1-1 with Cameroon in a lively showdown in Marrakesh. Elsewhere, Mozambique ended a 39-match wait for a first victory by beating Gabon 3-2, while Sudan got back into contention for a last-16 slot by beating Equatorial Guinea 1-0 in Casablanca. Captain Mahrez converted from the penalty spot midway through the first half and Algeria then held on
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