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maltatoday, SUNDAY, 1 FEBRUARY 2015 Sport 37 TENNIS - AUSTRALIAN OPEN RUGBY Serena Williams outmuscles Maria Sharapova to claim 19th grand slam Serena Williams won her 19th Grand Slam singles title - and her sixth at the Australian Open - by beating Maria Sharapova in straight sets in Melbourne WILLIAMS shrugged off a cough- ing fit and lengthy rain delay in the opening set and fired down 15 aces in the second to battle to a 6-3 7-6 (7/5) victory in an hour and 51 min- utes on Rod Laver Arena. The hard-fought win means Wil- liams has now won one more Slam singles title than Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova and is just three behind the Open-era record of 22 held by Steffi Graf. Navratilova was on hand to present the trophy to Williams, who said: "Growing up I wasn't the rich- est but I had a rich family in spirit and support. Standing here with 19 championships is something I never thought would happen. "I went on the court with just a ball, a racket and a hope and that's all I had. It's inspiring for you guys that want to be the best you can be, you never give up because you nev- er know what can happen and who you can inspire and inf luence. "I have to congratulate Maria who played a wonderful match. She re- ally pushed me tonight. She played so well." Sharapova, who had lost 15 times in a row to Williams since beating her in November 2004, got off to the worst possible start, serving a double fault to lose her serve in the opening game of the match. Williams held serve comfortably to move 3-2 ahead and was serv- ing at 30-30 when rain forced the retractable roof to be fully closed, leading to a 12-minute delay. Sharapova remained on court during that time but Williams left and was on her way back when a coughing fit delayed her return further, although the top seed promptly served an ace and hit a forehand winner to hold. Williams then made it six points in succession to claim a second break and although she promptly lost her own serve, she responded by breaking Sharapova for a third time to take the set in 47 minutes. Sharapova had to come up with some impressive serves, including two aces, to save two break points at the start of the second set, but Williams was not to be outdone in the serving stakes. The American hammered down 11 aces in four service games and shrugged off the loss of a point for prematurely celebrating what she thought was another one, Shara- pova somehow getting a backhand return back into court. That 'hindrance' call led to a break point for Sharapova in the seventh game but Williams accept- ed it without question and went on to hold serve to keep her nose in front. Serving second, Sharapova was under intense pressure in each service game and had to save a match point at 4-5, producing a forehand winner right into the cor- ner that even had her opponent ap- plauding. A tie-break was required to de- cide the outcome and after losing the first point, Williams took the next four in succession before two unforced errors brief ly gave Shara- pova a lifeline. A forehand return winner then gave Williams two more match points and after Sharapova had saved the first, Williams thought she had served an ace on the sec- ond, only for a let to be called. Williams managed a rueful smile before composing herself and thumping down her 18th ace of the match to seal victory. Sharapova, who had saved two match points in the second round against Alexandra Panova, said: "I have to congratulate Serena on cre- ating history and playing some of her best tennis. It's an honour play- ing against her. "I've not beaten her in a really long time but I love stepping on the court every time because she has been the best and you always want to play the best. "I was almost down and out in the second round so feel I gave myself a second life in this tournament. It was not quite enough today but I am proud of my effort. I had some of my best moments on this court but also some of my toughest losses but that's the life of a tennis player." Serena Williams of the US holds the trophy as she celebrates after victory in her women's singles final match against Russia's Maria Sharapova on day thirteen of the 2015 Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne Stompers storm their way to a win against Kavallieri BRYAN CORLETT ON a day with blue skies but with a strong cross wind blowing Kavalli- eri kicked off in this Cisk Lager Di- vision 1 game, with the wind blow- ing over their shoulder. Stompers were busy with their forward run- ning game all day and from the out- set looked to run the ball from all positions on the field, including all penalties. Camilleri burst upfield from the Stompers 22 and off loaded to Dra- gan Cerketta running hard he is tackled, from the ruck the ball goes left and Ellul busts his way over the line to score in the first 10 minutes of the game. Borg converts and it is Stompers 7 Kavallieri 0. Kavallieri are kicking long from the kickoff but Stompers are using their big forward runners to force their way upfield. From the first scrum of the game Stompers are penalised with a prop not pushing straight and Edmunds from 40 metres judges the wind perfectly to score, Stompers 7 Kav- allieri 3. From a scrum Edmunds grubbers the ball through and fellow Welsh- man Aled Griffiths dots the ball down close to the dead ball line. Kavallieri 10 Stompers 7. From the restart Griffiths breaks down the middle, as he is checked he kicks for the corner spotting Ka- wara sprinting down the touchline, but it beats him into touch. Cerket- ta steams down the touchline and off loads to Ed Attard he outsprints the cover and scores 10 metres in from touch, no conversion. Stomp- ers 12 Kavallieri 10. For a time play seesaws with both teams losing scoring opportuni- ties as the ball is dropped, the pass wayward or intercepted. But both teams are trying to play with the ball in hand. Holliday busts upfield but the move dies as he doesn't pass to the winger on his shoulder, op- portunity lost. Luke Debattista weaves his way upfield and off loads to Ellul who bursts through the last line of de- fence to score under the posts. Borg converts. Galea taps and feeds Debattista who again weaves left and right and goes over under the posts, he's hav- ing a blinder, playing his first game at inside centre. The last movement of the half has Edmunds cross kicking but a cruel bounce takes the ball away from his team mates. The second half has Borg scoring from a scrum close to the Kavallieri line and he converts his try. Stomp- ers 26 Kavallieri 10. Another try to Stompers after some crash ball and then passing wide, with Jeremy Debattista scor- ing Borg converts. Their tails are up and their confidence is allow- ing them to chance their arm with some off loads in the tackle. Stomp- ers 33 Kavallieri 10. Kawara, the smallest guy on the pitch, is involved in everything as the runners try to go down his wing, he tackles everything that comes his way. Kavallieri are trying to get into the game but their moves are dying for lack of support and maybe due to a lack of onfield communica- tion, but it's not for want of trying. Stomper's defence is resolute and does not allow Kavallieri from get- ting over the gainline. Stompers sweep again upfield with some sweet passing putting their winger Brunn in at the corner. Stompers 38 Kavallieri 10. The game finishes with Kavallieri on attack with Edmunds kicking cross field to a sprinting Blyton but once again the ball beats him into touch in goal. Referee Sam Ramage blows for fulltime. Women's Rugby results: Kavalleri 37 Overseas 0 Kavallieri 7 Falcons 0. Falcons 41 Overseas 0