Sport in brief

Rugby League

David Fusitu’a scored a second-half hat-trick as Tonga produced one of the biggest upsets in Rugby League World Cup history by rallying from a 14-point half-time deficit to beat New Zealand 28-22 and secure top spot in Group B. New Zealand led 16-2 at the break but the Tongans replied with five tries and then held off a desperate late comeback by the Kiwis. The result marks the first time a so-called tier-two nation has beaten one of the sport’s three top-tier nations.

Moto GP

Marc Marquez took pole position for the Valencia Grand Prix where the defending MotoGP champion has the chance to clinch his fourth title. Andrea Dovizioso, the only rider who can challenge Marquez for the championship, will start Sunday’s race from ninth place. Marquez holds a 21-point lead over Dovizioso and takes the title if he finishes 11th or better. Dovizioso’s slim chances rest on him winning the race and hoping Marquez comes in no better than 12th.

Tennis

Belarus teenager Aryna Sabalenka defeated US Open champion Sloane Stephens to level the Fed Cup final at 1-1 after the opening singles in Minsk. Yesterday’s earlier fixture had seen America’s top-ranked Coco Vandeweghe beat Aliaksandra Sasnovich 6-4, 6-4. However, 19-yearold Sabalenka, playing as Belarus No1 for the first time this year in the absence of Victoria Azarenka, produced a battling display to defeat Stephens 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 in just over two hours to delight the partisan crowd at the Chizhovka Arena.