Ireland edge Wallabies thriller to win rare series

Ioane treble as New Zealand whip France in 7-try spree Kuwait Swedish Cricket Team set a record

SYDNEY, June 23, (Agencies): Ireland clung on in a titanic battle to down the Wallabies 20-16 and win their first Test series in Australia in 39 years in Sydney on Saturday.

Star fly-half Johnny Sexton kicked a pressure penalty a minute from fulltime to clinch victory after Australia had fought back from eight points down in the second half.

Ireland held on to win a three-match series for the first time in the southern hemisphere, to add to their Grand Slam Six Nations victory earlier this year.

Ireland, who trail only world champions New Zealand in the international standings, hadn’t won a series in Australia since they swept a two-Test tour in 1979.

But Joe Schmidt’s team fought back from losing the opening game 18-9 in Brisbane to win the final two Tests in

Kuwait Swedish Cricket Team, Winners of Kuwait Cricket Desert Edition II Tournament (Division E). The team also made a record in

Winners celebrate after winning the Kuwait Cricket Desert Edition II Tournament. Kuwait Cricket History by scoring 303/0 in 20 Overs. The prize distribution was organized at Doha Entertainment City Cricket Ground. The ceremony was attended by Mahmood Bastaki, Board Member, Kuwait Cricket, Mohammed Abdul Asad Aleem (Asad Khan) General Manager — Managing Partner/Kuwait Swedish, Sajid Ashraf, Director General, Kuwait Cricket.

Kazuki Himeno added a third try for the Brave Blossoms, who were never seriously threatened by the visitors.

In Suva, Fiji, the boot of Sonatane Takulua and a late try by Dan Faleafa sealed an upset 27-19 win for Tonga over Pacific Nations Cup champions Fiji in Lautoka on Saturday.

The match settled unfinished business between the two sides after they finished first and second without playing each other in the recent two-round Nations Cup tournament, also involving Samoa and Georgia.

Fiji coach John McKee had said his side could not consider themselves true champions unless they beat Tonga, and with 20 minutes remaining they led 19-14 and appeared on their way to victory.

But ill discipline proved costly as Takulua slotted two penalties, Fiji went down to 14-men when Vereniki Goneva was yellow carded and Faleafa crossed for his try.

Tonga had set the early pace with a converted try to Agen hooker Paul Ngauamo, and Frank Lomani levelled for Fiji at 7-7 with a try just before half-time converted by Ben Volavola.

Immediately after the start of the second half, Tonga pulled away again when Castres lock Sitiveni Mafi scored.

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Winger Junior Rau scored two tries to lead Papua New Guinea to a 26-14 upset win over Fiji in a rugby league international on Saturday.

In a later match of the Pacific International doubleheader at Campbelltown Stadium in western Sydney, Tonga kept up its strong recent form with a seven-try, 38-22 win over Samoa. Tonga led 30-6 at halftime.

Despite giving up more than 500 games of National Rugby League experience to its rivals, Papua New Guinea led 26-4 at halftime and held on for the win.