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LONDON -- New Zealand broke England hearts with a last-gasp converted try to edge their gripping Rugby League World Cup semifinal 20-18 at Wembley Stadium on Saturday. Keenan Robinson Red Jersey . Tournament co-host England was 20 seconds from reaching the final until Kiwis halfback Shaun Johnson slipped his counterpart Kevin Sinfield and wrong-footed last defender George Burgess to dive across the line and make it 18-18. Johnson held his nerve to slot the conversion, his fourth goal of the game, and punched the air before he was swamped by teammates. "We always back ourselves if theres enough time on the clock," Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney said. "We were fortunate." The Kiwis will defend the title in the final against favourite Australia next Saturday at Old Trafford. The Kangaroos, who have played in every final since 1957, demolished Fiji 64-0 to repeat the semifinal results from the last cup in 2008. Jarryd Hayne, who played for Fiji in the 2008 semi, scored three of Australias 11 tries against his old team. The classy Australians didnt concede a point for a third straight game, and have conceded only 22 in five matches. "Weve got a bit of pride in our defence the last few weeks," said Johnathan Thurston, who scored 10 goals and a try against Fiji. He said revenge wont be the priority in the final against the Kiwis, who shocked the Kangaroos in Brisbane in the 2008 climax. "We wont be going in there with that attitude," Thurston said. "Well be worrying about ourselves, preparing the right way. The Kiwis are a great side, its going to be a tough night for us but were looking forward to it." The first semifinal of the Wembley doubleheader, which drew about 70,000, grew into an epic from the opening kickoff. England soaked up intense Kiwis pressure, then led 8-0 before the defending champs tied the score by halftime. New Zealand went ahead 14-8, but England came back to retake the lead at 18-14 with 13 minutes to go. England was close to putting the match away, but the Kiwis were given life in the last minute by a penalty from a high tackle on Sonny Bill Williams by George Burgess. And the individual brilliance of the Kiwis trumped Englands best team effort in years. "Were bitterly, bitterly disappointed," England coach Steve McNamara said. "Its a very cruel way to finish." England barely survived a New Zealand onslaught in the first dozen minutes, when the Kiwis were denied three tries by remarkable defence. When the English turned the pressure back on the Kiwis, the forwards delivered their first try. James Graham fed Sam Burgess, who sliced through two tackles and offloaded in another for Sean OLoughlin to go over. Sinfield converted and added a penalty for 8-0 after 25 minutes. New Zealand finally replied with a try of utter genius. Kieran Foran cross-kicked on the last tackle, and wing Jason Nightingale jumped in the left corner to keep the ball in. The ball was swept right, and Luke threw a huge over-the-top pass that appeared to be bouncing over the right sideline. But Dean Whare caught the ball in mid-air over the sideline and reverse-flicked a pass straight to winger Roger Tuivasa-Scheck, who took advantage of a stunned England to score the converted try. Johnson nailed a 46-meter penalty to tie the score at the break. The Kiwis led for the first time in the 44th when England wing Ryan Hall went to intercept Kiwis fullback Kevin Locke but missed, and Tuivasa-Scheck scored his second try of the match. Johnson couldnt convert but made a second penalty for 14-8. England showed its mettle. Right wing Kallum Watkins caught the Kiwis flat-footed to cut the deficit to two, and Sinfield also delivered the final pass for Sam Burgess go-ahead try. Sinfield converted, and it was 18-14. England had the Kiwis at their mercy twice more, but second-rower Ben Westwood dropped the ball reaching for the tryline, and Hall dropped an intercept. Late penalties kept the Kiwis hopes alive in the last five minutes, and they ended up stopping Englands campaign in the semifinals for a third straight World Cup. "Im pretty devastated," Sinfield said. "The best team lost. To lose in the last 20 seconds is a killer. I dont think by any means we had the game won but I felt we were in control." Sonny Jurgensen Jersey . -- Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson is listed as probable to return to the lineup Sunday against the New Orleans Saints after missing the past three games with a high ankle sprain. Ryan Clark Red Jersey . The Nets continued their winning ways Tuesday by sweeping a back-to-back set for the first time this season, beating the Orlando Magic 101-90 a night after routing the crosstown rival New York Knicks.CALGARY - After running for a three-yard touchdown, Jon Cornish breathed a sigh of relief. Cornishs touchdown helped seal a 32-20 win for the Calgary Stampeders over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Saturday night, their first home victory of the season. The Stampeders (4-2) trailed the Ticats 20-13 at half time before rallying in front of 29,307 fans at McMahon Stadium. "It was a big deal because the fans come out and they support us every game," Cornish said. "We had almost 30,000 people out tonight. Losing at home is not a fun feeling so coming out and contributing to the win, thats a big deal for me. Its something that Im always happy to do for this team." Cornish also commended fellow Calgary running back Joffrey Reynolds for urging him to get into the game late in the fourth quarter. "He really hooked me up on that last touch because it was his rotation," said Cornish, who finished with 19 rushing yards on four carries and 44 more yards on two receptions. "He let me have that last touchdown." Reynolds, who scored on a one-yard plunge into the end zone in the third quarter, said he had his bell rung on the previous play and was happy to let Cornish take his turn out on the field. "On the play before I had hit the ground pretty hard," said Reynolds, who finished with 41 yards rushing on 10 carries and 47 more yards on four receptions. "I was kind of seeing stars a little bit. Jons very capable. We have a good working relationship. He understands when I want the ball. Hes a young guy and he wants to get some balls thrown his way too." Calgary quarterback Henry Burris praised both Cornish and Reynolds for their willingness to take their turns on the field. "Whether it was the run or the pass, Cornish and Joffrey were effective in many ways," said Burris, who completed 27-of-39 passes for 341 yards to move past Tom Clements and into eighth spot all-time in CFL passing. "When it was time to run, those boys pounded it up in there and got some very important yards for us." Larry Taylor caught a touchdown pass in the first quarter, Rene Paredes kicked three field goals and a single, while Burke Dales added a single for the Stamps. Dave Stala caught a touchdown pass for the Ticats (3-3), whose winning streak ended at three games. "We came out flat in the second half," Stala said. "Our offence looked dead, our whole team looked dead. We didnt put anything up. Weve got to hellp out our defence and score some more points. Ryan Kerrigan Gold Jersey. " Avon Cobourne had a rushing touchdown, while Justin Medlock kicked a pair of field goals. Hamilton quarterback Kevin Glenn, who went 20-for-34 for 211 yards, referred to the setback as very frustrating. "Our defence pretty much gave us a chance all the way to the end until they scored that last touchdown," Glenn said. "We should have taken advantage of some of the opportunities that were given to us and we didnt, but youve still got to give them credit because they won the game. "Its frustrating. I dont necessarily think its a setback, its just something we can learn from." On Calgarys first possession, Burris engineered a five-play, 75-yard drive culminating in a 25-yard touchdown pass to Taylor. After Medlock connected on an impressive 52-yard field goal, Burris marched the Stamps into scoring territory once again and appeared to toss a 28-yard touchdown pass to Jabari Arthur. Hamilton coach Marcel Bellefeuille threw his challenge flag and the play was subsequently overturned forcing Paredes to kick a 35-yard field goal to put the Stamps up 10-3. Stala then capped off a six-play, 75-yard drive for Hamilton by catching a seven-yard pass from Glenn in the end zone to tie the contest. Early in the third quarter, Glenn marched the Ticats on an eight-play, 80-yard drive that was capped off by a six-yard TD run by Cobourne. After Paredes kicked a 21-yard field goal, Medlock responded with a 42-yarder as time wound down in the half to give Hamilton a 20-13 lead. At 5:32 of the third quarter, Reynolds plunged into the end zone from one-yard out to cap off a seven-play, 74-yard Calgary drive to tie up the contest. The Stamps then took a 24-20 lead after Dales booted a 72-yard single and Paredes kicked a 35-yard field goal. Paredes added a single in the fourth quarter before Cornish ran for his TD to round out the scoring. "The offensive line came off and blew those guys off into the end zone and Cornish just found a hole and ran it behind the guys," Burris said. Notes: Backup quarterback Drew Tate returned to Calgarys lineup after being sidelined for the first five games of the season with a shoulder injury. ... All of Calgarys first five games were decided by five points or less. ... The Stamps and Ticats will also play on Sept. 25 in Moncton, N.B., for Touchdown Atlantic 2011. ... The Ticats didnt record a single first down in the third quarter. ' ' ' |
