LE MANS? BRING ON LE GIRLS
24-HOUR RACE
SOPHIA FLORSCH will feature in an all-female team at the Le Mans 24-hour race – less than two years after cheating death.
The German racer suffered a fractured spine in a spectacular 170mph crash at the Macau Grand Prix. But she not only survived, but she has since thrived and was recently given the Laureus World Comeback of the Year award (left) at the world sports event in Berlin for her amazing recovery from serious injury. Florsch will line up with Alfa Romeo F1 test/development driver Tatiana Calderon and Briton Katherine Legge. The first all-female line-up to compete in the race finished 39th last year and the German said: “Ready to rumble, girls.”
ISRAEL FOLAU marked his controversial first Super League appearance in England with a famous comeback victory.
The Catalans Dragons’ high-profile centre only had one moment of magic, but it was crucial in the French side’s unlikely success.
Folau’s brilliant onehanded take of James Maloney’s short restart two minutes from time was key to Maloney touching down moments later to complete a great escape.
“Izzy was solid without being spectacular,” said coach Steve McNamara as the Perpignan side hit back from 28-10 down in the final quarter. “But he did come up with a really big play to give us a last chance. I thought we under-used him, but it was a special catch.”
Much had been made of the dual-code star’s return to England for the first time since he scored two tries for the Wallabies at Twickenham in November 2018.
But Folau, whose social media post about gay people has made him a hate figure, hardly had to r un th e gauntlet.
A number of gay rights flags were waved before kick-off by home fans, who included some of the city’s first gay male-inclusive rugby team.
There were also boos when Folau took his first pass. But there was no animosity on the pitch.
And he was embraced at the end by several Hull FC stars, including two-try winger Mahe Fonua.
Fans were more dismayed by the final result and a third successive defeat.
Fonua’s double and further touchdowns
SUPER LEAGUE TABLE
LFfrom Carlos Tuimavave, Jamie Shaul and Manu Ma’u, plus five Marc Sneyd goals gave FC an 18-point cushion.
That lead was wiped out in nine minutes as Ben Jullien, Josh Drinkwater and Samisoni Langi crossed and Maloney, who finished with 14 points, kicked a hat-trick of conversions.
Sneyd’s 40-metre drop goal edged Hull back in front only for Folau to launch his brilliant response.
Hull boss Lee Radford said: “I thought that we had done enough to win the game twice.”
Of Folau’s moment of inspiration, he added: “Unfortunately, we don’t have anyone who is 8ft 2in in our team or can jump that high.”