England in record win over Wales

TWICKENHAM – Nick Easter scored three tries Saturday as England’s pack dominated Wales in a record 62-5 win in a rugby World Cup warm-up.

Easter became the first England No. 8 to score a hat trick of tries his first in international rugby as Wales’ experimental side had little answer to an England team that led 22-0 at halftime.”A nice solid performance, a good forward pack performance, good defensive performance,” Easter said.”There’s stuff to work on.We don’t want to be the finished article just yet.”Shaun Perry scored two tries, with one each from Steve Borthwick, Lawrence Dallaglio, Jason Robinson and Mathew Tait.Flyhalf Jonny Wilkinson had 17 points.Dafydd James scored for Wales.It was England’s largest victory over Wales, beating its 50-10 win in 2002 at Twickenham.Diaz denies Morales to win titles in 4 classes * ROSEMONT – WBC lightweight champion David Diaz refused to let Erik Morales make history at his expense, denying his bid to become the first Mexican to win world titles in four weight classes with a unanimous decision on Saturday.Morales, an almost certain Hall of Famer, announced his retirement before the decision was announced.”This is it,” he said.”I’m not going to fight anymore.I’ve taken far too many punches, particularly to the head area.Punches to the head are really beginning to bother me.Diaz is a very strong fighter.”Diaz (33-1-1) had Morales (48-6) against the ropes after a flurry late in the 12th round, but Morales countered.The crowd rose to its feet, and Diaz poured it on again, sending the challenger against the ropes and whipping the fans into another frenzy as the bout came to a finish.Gebrselassie champ in New York City race * NEW YORK – Haile Gebrselassie won the New York City Half Marathon in 59 minutes, 24 seconds yesterday, cruising away two-thirds through the race to win his eighth half marathon in eight attempts.Gebrselassie, a two-time Olympic gold medallist for Ethiopia, pulled away from Abdi Abdirahman of the United States shortly after they emerged from Central Park along with two-time Boston Marathon champion Robert Cheruiyot of Kenya.Hilda Kibet of Kenya won the women’s race in 1:10:32, outkicking defending champion Catherine Ndereba by 1.15 seconds.Nina Rillstone of New Zealand, a surprise leader until the last 500 meters when the two Kenyans passed her, was 3.75 back in third.Gronholm wins Finnish rally * JYVASKYLA – Marcus Gronholm won the Finnish world championship rally yesterday, beating Ford teammate Mikko Hirvonen by 24.2 seconds.World champion Sebastien Loeb of France was third in a Citroen, 1:09.9 behind.Gronholm increased his lead in the overall standings from nine to 13 points ahead of Loeb.Gronholm has 75 points, Loeb 62 and third-placed Hirvonen has 57 points.Gronholm finished the 360.34 kilometres of special stages in 2 hours, 27 minutes, 56.1 seconds.For Gronholm, world champion in 2000 and 2002, it was the seventh win in his eight last starts on home soil, the fast gravel roads in central Finland, 270 kilometres north of Helsinki.Per-Ulrik Johansson takes Russian Open * NAKHABINO – Per-Ulrik Johansson shot five birdies in the final round yesterday to win the Russian Open by six strokes.The Swede finished with an overall 23-under 265 after a final round 67 to win his sixth European Tour title.Robert-Jan Derksen of the Netherlands was second, shooting 69 for 17-under 271, and Alan McLean of Scotland was third with 18-under.Asashoryu nearing nervous breakdown * TOKYO – Grand champion Asashoryu, one of sumo’s top wrestlers, could be on the brink of a nervous breakdown after being suspended from two tournaments, a psychiatrist said yesterday.Mongolian Asashoryu was suspended Wednesday when it was revealed he took part in a soccer match after previously saying he would sit out the summer exhibition tournament because of injuries.Asashoryu was so distraught over his suspension that a psychiatrist visited his stable yesterday and determined that the 26-year-old wrestler was depressed and could nearing a nervous breakdown.Asashoryu will be suspended from the September and November tournaments and will receive a 30 percent pay cut for four months.Nampa-AP8 to score a hat trick of tries his first in international rugby as Wales’ experimental side had little answer to an England team that led 22-0 at halftime.”A nice solid performance, a good forward pack performance, good defensive performance,” Easter said.”There’s stuff to work on.We don’t want to be the finished article just yet.”Shaun Perry scored two tries, with one each from Steve Borthwick, Lawrence Dallaglio, Jason Robinson and Mathew Tait.Flyhalf Jonny Wilkinson had 17 points.Dafydd James scored for Wales.It was England’s largest victory over Wales, beating its 50-10 win in 2002 at Twickenham.Diaz denies Morales to win titles in 4 classes * ROSEMONT – WBC lightweight champion David Diaz refused to let Erik Morales make history at his expense, denying his bid to become the first Mexican to win world titles in four weight classes with a unanimous decision on Saturday.Morales, an almost certain Hall of Famer, announced his retirement before the decision was announced.”This is it,” he said.”I’m not going to fight anymore.I’ve taken far too many punches, particularly to the head area.Punches to the head are really beginning to bother me.Diaz is a very strong fighter.”Diaz (33-1-1) had Morales (48-6) against the ropes after a flurry late in the 12th round, but Morales countered.The crowd rose to its feet, and Diaz poured it on again, sending the challenger against the ropes and whipping the fans into another frenzy as the bout came to a finish.Gebrselassie champ in New York City race * NEW YORK – Haile Gebrselassie won the New York City Half Marathon in 59 minutes, 24 seconds yesterday, cruising away two-thirds through the race to win his eighth half marathon in eight attempts.Gebrselassie, a two-time Olympic gold medallist for Ethiopia, pulled away from Abdi Abdirahman of the United States shortly after they emerged from Central Park along with two-time Boston Marathon champion Robert Cheruiyot of Kenya.Hilda Kibet of Kenya won the women’s race in 1:10:32, outkicking defending champion Catherine Ndereba by 1.15 seconds.Nina Rillstone of New Zealand, a surprise leader until the last 500 meters when the two Kenyans passed her, was 3.75 back in third.Gronholm wins Finnish rally * JYVASKYLA – Marcus Gronholm won the Finnish world championship rally yesterday, beating Ford teammate Mikko Hirvonen by 24.2 seconds.World champion Sebastien Loeb of France was third in a Citroen, 1:09.9 behind.Gronholm increased his lead in the overall standings from nine to 13 points ahead of Loeb.Gronholm has 75 points, Loeb 62 and third-placed Hirvonen has 57 points.Gronholm finished the 360.34 kilometres of special stages in 2 hours, 27 minutes, 56.1 seconds.For Gronholm, world champion in 2000 and 2002, it was the seventh win in his eight last starts on home soil, the fast gravel roads in central Finland, 270 kilometres north of Helsinki.Per-Ulrik Johansson takes Russian Open * NAKHABINO – Per-Ulrik Johansson shot five birdies in the final round yesterday to win the Russian Open by six strokes.The Swede finished with an overall 23-under 265 after a final round 67 to win his sixth European Tour title.Robert-Jan Derksen of the Netherlands was second, shooting 69 for 17-under 271, and Alan McLean of Scotland was third with 18-under.Asashoryu nearing nervous breakdown * TOKYO – Grand champion Asashoryu, one of sumo’s top wrestlers, could be on the brink of a nervous breakdown after being suspended from two tournaments, a psychiatrist said yesterday.Mongolian Asashoryu was suspended Wednesday when it was revealed he took part in a soccer match after previously saying he would sit out the summer exhibition tournament because of injuries.Asashoryu was so distraught over his suspension that a psychiatrist visited his stable yesterday and determined that the 26-year-old wrestler was depressed and could nearing a nervous breakdown.Asashoryu will be suspended from the September and November tournaments and will receive a 30 percent pay cut for four months.Nampa-AP