THE GAMES IN BRIEF

RUGBYUNION Israel won gold for the first time at a Maccabiah after crushing defending champions Australia 13-0 in the final at Wingate Stadium. In the region of 2,500 witnessed history being made as Israel followed up their semi-final win over GB with a flawless performance.

Ori Abutbul put Israel ahead with a penalty and a converted try from Daniel Palma allowed the hosts to go into the break with a 10-0 advantage. A second-half penalty from Abutbul completing the scoring in a memorable competition for home fans who saw Misha Eli win the Most Valuable Player of the tournament.

Israel captain Yonatan Kaplan said: “Our team always surprises me with new amazing accomplishments.

BASKETBALL USA pipped Argentina to gold in the Men’s Open Basketball competition. Brad Grinberg’s troops bounced back from defeat against the Argentines earlier in the competition to run out 87-76 victors.

Andres Berman was Argentina’s star performer. He registered 31 points, with three assists and three rebounds, while Danny Rubin was the best player in the final for the USA.

GOLF Laetitia Beck won double gold in the Ladies competition, finishing nine-under, 15 strokes ahead of the next competitor at the Caesarea Golf Club. Beck, who is from Caesarea and a has taken her game to a new level at Duke University in North Carolina, shot three consecutive rounds of 69 to finish with a combined score of 207. Portland Rosen of the United States, who goes to Duke’s NCAA league rival University of Virginia, took silver with 222.

SQUASH Israel’s Daniel Poleschuck won gold with a 3-1 victory over Albert Shoihet from Canada in the Men’s Open final. All three squash finals ended with the same scoreline, with Yarden Odmak winning an all-American Women’s final against Jenny Schort, while Israel’s Tzemach Meir proved too strong forCurt Kohlberg of America.