Wales flanker Aaron Wainwright says it was not "that nice" to be the victim of an elbow from France lock Sebastien Vahaamahina.

In a gripping World Cup quarter-final In Oita, Vahaamahina was sent off for the 48th-minute incident before Wales went on to win 20-19 and secure a semi-final place.

"It was a maul, and he had me by the neck to start with," said Wainwright.

"I was trying to get the referee's attention, and then the elbow came in."

Wainwright added: "I was a bit surprised the referee didn't see it to start off with, but thankfully the television match official pulled it up and it was dealt with. We put the pressure on afterwards and saw the game through.

"I am fine at the moment. It wasn't that nice at the time."

The 22-year-old back-rower and Dragons team-mate Elliot Dee have now played in 14 Tests for Wales in 2019, which is more than any other player for any other nation.

Man-of-the-match Wainwright scored his opening Test try for Wales in the first half as the Six Nations champions fought back and prevailed through Ross Moriarty's late touchdown that Dan Biggar converted.

"The ball popped up, and I can't really remember what happened apart from sprinting towards the line," said Wainwright.

"We have been building for the past 18 months, and the belief has always been there. Coming in at half-time behind, we still had belief we could get the job done.

"It is a massive achievement for the team. It's great to come away with the win and look forward to the semi-final and eyes on the final as well. To hopefully come away with a trophy at the end of it would be nice.

"Today showed we can grit it out and get the job done, even if it wasn't the prettiest."

Wainwright, sporting a moustache, explained his stag impression celebration.

"I have got a sevens team back home called the stags, so that was what the celebration was about," he said.

"With the moustache, all my mates went to Prague on a boys' holiday, and they said they were going to grow moustaches.

"They said if I grew one they would crop me into the photographs just so I didn't feel like I was missing out.

"I certainly don't feel like I am missing out now, being here."

SARVER, Pa. — Three days of racing during the Steel City Stampede at Lernerville Speedway wrapped up on Saturday with 324 cars in 15 classes having participated in the 11^th annual event.

Super Late Models
In what was one of the most action-packed Features of the night, 2016 Lernerville Speedway Track Champion Russ King pulled off an incredible pass for the win on leader Max Blair with just 11 laps remaining, then survived a green-white-checkered dash to the stripe for the second Stampede belt buckle trophy of his career.

“We just fired off and I started getting a little angry and into a rhythm,” King explained in Victory Lane. “I don’t race these things all the time, I haven’t raced in two months, so to beat Blair and those guys, it’s a big deal.”

Blair, having just climbed out of his RUSH Crate Late Model in Victory Lane in the race prior, started on the pole and led the first nine laps before 2018 Lernerville Track Champion Michael Norris got a run underneath the No. 111 and threw a big slide-job into turns three and four to take the lead at the stripe. That lead wouldn’t last long, though, as “The Crusher Kid” slipped off the edge of the banking in the very next corner, handing the lead back over to Blair.

King, stalking the leaders back in third, took advantage of Norris’ mistake and jumped into the runner-up spot down the backstretch. He then went to work on Blair, gaining on him every corner until it was time to pull the trigger on lap 14. King dove to the bottom of the track in turn one and swiped the lead away from Blair on the low side.

Holding his momentum, King led for the next 10 laps before another caution flag flew as he was getting into turn three on the final lap. This brought up a green-white-checkered, which King braved masterfully, holding off the field to earn his second win of 2019 at “The Action Track.”

UMP Modifieds
With under five laps remaining in the 20-lap UMP modified feature, it looked as though Brian Ruhlman could have just put it in cruise control and coasted to his second-ever Stampede win. Until he took the white flag.

Three-time and defending race winner Jonathan Taylor had closed the gap in a hurry and knew he was going to have one last shot at the leader, but it would have to be a last-second dive at the finish line in order to have a chance.

Taylor drove the car hard into turns three and four, pulling up beside Ruhlman and drag racing him to the line. But the effort went unrewarded, as Ruhlman hung on by .062 seconds to lead all 20 laps and pick up the win.

“[Taylor] had me pinned in behind some lap cars, and I didn’t know how much of a lead I had, but he’s a good guy. He’ll run you clean, so it was a good one,” Ruhlman said in Victory Lane.

Pulling double duty at the Stampede this weekend, Ruhlman then headed pit-side to prepare for his second Feature event of the evening, piloting his RUSH Wingless Sprint Car to a runner-up finish in the 20-lap contest.

Big-Block Modifieds
On paper, it would have been so fitting for the newly crowned eight-time Lernerville Track Champion Brian Swartzlander to cap his terrific season off with the third Stampede belt buckle of his career.

But in reality, it was 2014/2018 Track Champion Rex King Jr.’s turn to win his third belt buckle trophy on Saturday night. He charged from his sixth-place starting spot to the lead around Swartzlander on lap 3 and never looked back, leading each of the remaining 28 laps en route to his third Big-Block Feature win at Lernerville in 2019.

This win made it back-to-back Features for the King family on Saturday night. It’s a family affair for them in competition in different classes, and that was certainly on display in Rex’s Victory Lane interview.

“I was going for the win either way, and I don’t have to prove anything to [Russ]. I’m better than him anyway,” Rex jokingly replied to Track Announcer Eric Westendorf’s question about brother Russ winning the Super Late Model Feature right before.

Open Pro Stocks
Sometimes, it’s difficult to be the opening act in a large show of entertainment. But that was no challenge for the Lernerville Speedway veteran Chris Schneider, as he led the 24-car field to the green in the first Feature event of the evening.

The 4-time and defending Stampede winner, behind the wheel of his #55 Pro Stock, put on another dominating display of driving ability and car control though 20 laps to win his fifth belt buckle in nine years.

“I just have a belt buckle fetish, that’s all it is,” Schneider joked.

Leading every lap, Schneider battled through numerous restarts due to several caution flags en route to Victory Lane. But like all veteran talents do, he persevered and held off the tough competition behind him, which included the likes of Alan Dellinger, former track champion Corey McPherson and Jackson Humanic.

Schneider was very appreciative of everyone who contributed to his win in Victory Lane, mentioning a few people and groups that the DIRTcar Racing family would like to extend their personal thanks to as well.

“I’ve got to thank the Tomsons for keeping this racetrack running,” Schneider said. “[My engine builder], who put another great motor together out of a bucket of junk. The old faithful car, that’s now about 16 or 17 years old. And all of the fans for coming out.”

Now in the Stampede’s 11th year of completion, the entire staff at DIRTcar Racing would just as well like to thank the Tomson family, all of the Lernerville Speedway staff, management and safety crew, all of the competitors who took part in this giant event, and of course, the loyal fans who came out to spend the weekend at the track in support of dirt track racing’s finest.

BECHTELSVILLE, Pa. — The 30th anniversary season of the NAPA Auto Parts Thunder on the Hill Racing Series finished in fine fashion on Saturday night at Grandview Speedway, with a Triple Thunder Thriller of racing action.

Jeff Strunk won the 22nd annual Modified Traffic Jam in commanding style as Brian Hirthler claimed the Sportsman victory, and Kevin Nagy won the MASS Sprint Car Series 25-lap feature.

A super-fast racing surface saw track records being established throughout the night.  Three of the four 10-lap modified heat races inked new track records.
Strunk’s victory in the Big-Block vs. Small-Block Modified challenge was his third NAPA Auto Parts Thunder on the Hill Racing Series win of the season.

“We had some great racing tonight,” Strunk said in Grandview Speedway victory lane. “The starting spot helps, and we had a close scare almost getting in an accident – you have to be quick on your toes.”

Strunk started sixth on the 24-car field and moved passed Brian Hirthler in lapped traffic on the sixth circuit.

Hirthler chased Strunk for the lead for the first half of the event before Duane Howard moved in the second position. Howard, Grandview’s Modified track champion’s chase for the lead didn’t last long breaking just past the halfway point.

Twentieth-place starter, Mike Gular, charged into the second spot in the closing stages of the event, battling back-and-forth swapping the runner-up spot with Brian Hirthler.

Strunk walked away with the 40-lap win — his 16th Thunder on the Hill win, Gular finished in the second spot, Brian Hirthler finished in third, Richie Pratt Jr. finished in fourth, and Rick Laubach finished in fifth.

Brian Hirthler hopped out of his third-place Modified finishing No. 4* machine and jumped right into his Sportsman car, where he started on the pole of the 25-lap feature event.

Hirthler held off a hard charge from second-place starter Jared Umbenhauer, with duo battling in and out of lapped traffic.

Hirthler dominated to pick up the win, Umbenhauer settled for second-place, Ryan Lilick finished in third, Mike Mammana finished in fourth and Brad Brightbill completed the top five.

Kevin Nagy led flag to flag in the MASS Sprint Car Series feature event, despite a mid-race challenge from second-place starter Eddie Wagner.

Nagy picked up the Mid Atlantic Sprint Car Series win, Tim Tanner rallied from an 11th place starting position to finish second, Eddie Wagner finished in third, Larry McVay finished in fourth, and Jon Haegele finished in the fifth position.

MOTEGI, Japan — Marc Marquez wrapped up the MotoGP constructors’ championship for Honda with a dominant ride during Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix at Twin Ring Motegi.

It was the 10th victory of the season for Marquez aboard a Repsol Honda.

Launching perfectly off the line, Marquez went around the outside of his competition to lead through the first corner. Fabio Quartararo tried to respond to the pace of the eight-time World Champion, but within just three laps Marquez had an advantage of over one second and followed it up with successive flying laps. By lap 13 the gap had grown to two seconds and the reigning world champion switched his attention to managing the race.

Crossing the line 0.870 seconds ahead of Quartararo after easing his pace in the closing laps, the Repsol Honda Team rider continued his perfect record of top-two finishes in 2019.

The victory is the tenth 2019 and his fourth in a row, the first time Marquez has achieved four-straight wins in the premier class since 2014.

Taking his 54th win in the premier class, Marc Marquez draws level with the legendary Mick Doohan as the most successful premier class Honda rider. The 14 podiums, 13 of them in succession, of 2019 also move Marc Marquez to 350 World Championship points, just 33 points shy of Jorge Lorenzo’s all-time premier class points record of 383 with 75 points still to play for.

“It wasn’t an easy race. I was pushing from the beginning, the strategy was clear – I had to try to open a gap,” Marquez said. “I felt strong and with the team we had calculated a pace of 1’46 low but then I was able to ride in 1:45 high – good news for me but I had to slow down a little bit. I worked on riding as smooth as possible and I was able to open the gap to two seconds but in the final two laps we were getting a little low on fuel because Motegi is always very demanding. There was a little bit of pressure to win the Constructors Championship in Japan, but I love the pressure and it is great to win it here for Honda because everyone works so hard. All the Repsol Honda Team did a great job to find the best setting and strategy for this race.”

Andrea Dovizioso finished third for Ducati, with Maverick Vinales fourth for Monster Yamaha and LCR Honda rider Cal Crutchlow rounded out the top five.

Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman has a clause in his contract which would allow him to leave if Barcelona came in for him, a KNVB director said.

Koeman, whose goal won Barca their first-ever European Cup in 1992, has enhanced his reputation as a manager since taking over the Dutch national side.

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He led them to the UEFA Nations League final, following successive major tournaments for which they failed to qualify before he arrived, and his team's impressive performance has led to strong links he could return to Camp Nou as manager.

"I hope that we can work together for a very long time, because I think it is going very well," Nico-Jan Hoogma told FOX Sports NL. "But Ronald has long indicated that he wants to be a Barcelona coach someday.

"Let's see what will happen. Success at Oranje will certainly help him, just like everyone else helps us. But again: I hope the trajectory continues up to and including the World Cup in Qatar."

Asked whether there was a specific Barcelona clause, Hoogma added: "Agreements have been made about that. They have to pay for that."

Koeman was named Netherlands boss in February 2018 following the failure to qualify for that summer's World Cup, and his contract will take him up to Qatar 2022.

Barca boss Ernesto Valverde came under pressure over the summer after giving up a three-goal first leg lead to crash out of the Champions League for a second successive season before suffering defeat to Valencia in the Copa del Rey final.

Koeman was among the names linked as a potential replacement, but Valverde stayed.

Ex-Ajax, Benfica and Valencia boss Koeman played for Barca from 1989 to 1995, where he won four successive La Liga titles as well as the 1992 European Cup.

Canada 176 for 5 (Kumar 83, Perchard 2-21) beat Jersey 123 all out (Jenner 56, Gordon 3-14) by 53 runs

Nitish Kumar's rapid 36-ball 83 helped Canada reach a comfortable total, following which their fast bowlers Dillon Heyliger and Jeremy Gordon scythed through the Jersey line-up to wrap up a 53-run win in their opening game at the Tolerance Oval in Dubai. Jersey collapsed around Jonty Jenner's 32-ball 56 as they were skittled out for 123, losing their last four wickets in a space of 11 balls.

Asked to bat first, Canada's openers Rodrigo Thomas and Navneet Dhaliwal brought up a brisk 50-run stand but they lost their wickets soon after, within a space of four balls. Kumar and Nicholas Kirton then combined to steady their innings, with Kumar playing the role of an aggressor, bringing up his fifty in 25 balls.

After Julius Sumerauer dismissed Kirton on the first ball of the 17th over, Kumar took him for two sixes and a four in the same over and followed it up with a couple of more big hits in the next over. He fell 17 short of his maiden T20I century, after being stumped off a wide in the 19th over, but his innings helped Canada to a competitive total.

In response, Jersey faltered in the 177-run chase, losing two wickets for 13 within the second over. Jenner, at No. 4, tried to resurrect their innings although wickets kept falling at the other end. He fell in the 14th to Nikhil Dhaliwal, leaving Jersey requiring 70 off 38 balls with four wickets remaining. But after Anthony Hawkins-Kay became Heyliger's third in the 16th over, Gordon returned for his second spell in the next over to leave Jersey nine down in a space of three balls, before the run-out of Dominic Blampied next ball sealed a comfortable win for Canada.

Rohit Sharma had scored three double-hundreds in international cricket before this one in Ranchi, but this was a different experience. This was in a Test match, and when India reached the 50-over mark, he had only scored 107. He got to 200 with an utterly characteristic shot, a pulled six well in front of square off Lungi Ngidi, but he had had to wait a while to play that shot. He spent the entire lunch break on 199, and then had to see off a maiden after play resumed.

"That's the nature of the game," Rohit said on the time he spent waiting for his 200th run, after the second day's play. "You can't do anything about it. I wouldn't say it's frustrating. It's just the laws of the game. The time [a session] has to finish, it has to finish on that time.

"From my side, I wasn't thinking about that at all. Because I knew the time will come and whenever it's supposed to happen, it will happen. I was just trying to be positive, think positive at that particular time. I know it can be frustrating at times but there's nothing you can do about it. I just went back happy [at lunch], you know, 199 not out, I'd take that any day."

This was Rohit's sixth Test hundred, and in the short, stop-start career he's had so far in the format, he rated this one as his most challenging innings yet. "I haven't played much, I have played only 30 Test matches. Yes, in terms of what was thrown at me in this particular Test match, I would definitely say that it was probably the most challenging one."

On the first morning, Rohit watched from one end as India slipped to 39 for 3, with Kagiso Rabada leading a testing South African effort with the new ball. He was then joined by Ajinkya Rahane, and the two resurrected India's innings and put them in command with a fourth-wicket partnership of 267.

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Rohit singled out Rahane's positive approach after lunch on the first day as a key factor in India regaining the momentum.

"Our plan was very simple," Rohit said. "When we knew there was something in the pitch for the bowler, we just wanted to respect that spell, and we knew the time will come for us to get those runs in the second session, so we just wanted to play the first session out cautiously, and then see where we stand [at] lunch.

"Once we got out in the middle after lunch, it was Ajinkya who started taking that momentum, and it was he who actually got us the momentum. If I'm not wrong, he was batting on 40 off 43 balls just around the first drinks after lunch, which means we capitalised on the loose balls, we got those singles as well, so the rotation of strike was happening every now and then, which is always good for a batsman.

"When you keep changing strike, it doesn't allow the bowler to keep bowling there, because different batsmen, different style of play, the bowlers have to adjust their length as well, so I think we did that pretty well, particularly Ajinkya. He came out and started playing his shots, and from there he never looked back. The partnership after that kept growing."

Rahane made his 11th Test hundred, and Rohit was all praise for his mate's ability under pressure.

"We've seen Ajinkya for so many years, the way his Test career has progressed, and whenever the team has been in a difficult situation, he's come and rescued us," Rohit said. "And this isn't something he's done just once or twice, he's done it in many innings. This shows how strong he is, mentally, and how much hunger he has, to be able to steer the team out of bad situations.

"We've seen it outside India, we've seen it in India as well, so Ajinkya's Test graph, it's climbing one step at a time, and there can't be anything better for the team, because if your middle order is strong, whatever situation comes, you're confident that one guy will always put his hand up and take the team forward.

"The partnership Ajinkya built with me at that moment, it was very crucial from the team's point of view. We've played together quite a bit, so we have a good understanding, which singles to steal, which runs we shouldn't go for, we had quite a bit of communication going on those things, and I'm happy that he's made a hundred, he was really looking forward to making a big score, and he's done it now. There was no doubting his ability at any given stage, and again, carrying from where he left in the West Indies, he's in great form and it just augurs well for the team."

Bad light ate away most of the post-tea session on day one, and India's approach on day two was influenced by the knowledge that the same could happen again. It panned out exactly that way, and India, having declared at the stroke of tea, got just five overs to bowl to South Africa, in which they dismissed both openers.

"In India, if you want to win the Test match, you've got to bat five sessions, get as many runs as possible, so that was the idea," Rohit said. "[Rahane and I] wanted to bat long and see where we stand the next day, which is today, during lunch, and then we can take the game forward.

"Considering the weather, after tea here it doesn't look that great, so we wanted to press, and we wanted to get as many runs as possible, and the weather, also the bad light, it's going to keep happening every day, I assume, so we wanted to get as many runs as quickly as possible today, and then give South Africa to bat little, and see what we can do. I'm happy that we got two wickets."

PORTSMOUTH, Ohio – Brandon Sheppard captured the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series-sanctioned 39th annual Rhino Ag Dirt Track World Championship presented by Optima Batteries Saturday night at Portsmouth Raceway Park.

Sheppard earned $100,000 for his third career DTWC victory and 25th overall win this year.

Sheppard was one of four different race leaders in the 100-lap event. Mike Marlar finished in second, with Eibach Rookie of the Year Tyler Erb coming home third.

Rounding out the top five were two-time DTWC winner Josh Richards and Dennis Erb Jr.

Richards was in position to become the first driver in the 39-year history of the race to win the crown jewel three years in a row, and kept himself in the hunt for the entire distance.

Shane Clanton took the lead at the start of the race and led the first five laps until former DTWC winner Jimmy Owens passed him for the top spot. Owens then held the point for several laps before yielding the point to Sheppard.

Sheppard briefly gave up the lead to Richards on lap 68, but the very next lap Sheppard regained the point for good.

He withstood a caution with 10 laps to go and then controlled the last 10 laps of the race by distancing himself from both Marlar and Tyler Erb for his third six-figure win of the year.

In LOLMDS victory lane for the fourth time this year, Sheppard thanked his team for a special season.

“The year we have had has been unbelievable. My guys are the best of group of guys I have ever worked for and they are the best at what they do,” noted Sheppard. “They give me the best equipment night in and night out. I just go do my job with it.

“Thanks to Mark Richards, Steve Baker, and all of my crew … Austin Hargrove, Joel Rogers, and Danny White. It’s been a dream year,” he added. “It looks like they had a heck of crowd and to do it in front of them is special.”

Sheppard’s other six-figure victories this season came in the Dirt Late Model Dream at Eldora Speedway ($125,000) and the Dirt Million at Mansfield Motor Speedway ($101,000).

“I want to thank everyone who helps me, especially my family back home, dad, and grandpa. Without them, I wouldn’t be where I am at today. When I started my career, I never thought I would be a three-time Dirt Track World Champion.”

Marlar was seeking his first win in the famed event but came home in second.

“I got my car a little looser than I wanted to. I tightened it up more than I was last night, but I was a little loose,” said Marlar. “Honestly, I was on a softer left rear tire than Sheppy. Earlier in the race when I could tell that I was in a little disadvantage when it came to tires. My best chance was to take it easy on the tires to be there at the end.”

Erb claimed the Eibach Rookie of the Year Award by finishing on the podium. He ended the year with six series wins.

“I was a little behind where I wanted to be early in the race, because I started ninth. Those other guys put themselves in a better starting position,” explained Erb. “I am very happy with the finish tonight and this year. I broke Randall’s streak of three wins in a row tonight, but it has been an awesome year for us at Best Performance. To come out of this season with the Rookie-of-the-Year championship is fantastic, and I can’t wait for our team to build on that next year.”

Polesitter Chris Ferguson was never a factor in the race and came home 15th. Series champion Jonathan Davenport found early issues and finished last in the 26-car field.

In other action, Dale McDowell won the Jim Dunn Memorial Non-Qualifiers Race by holding off Jared Hawkins for the win.

Brandon Overton led early in the race, but he tangled with a car that he was trying to lap, and was knocked out of the race lead. McDowell then led the rest of the race.

Hawkins tried to make it close but just couldn’t overtake McDowell as the checkers waved. He finished in second, followed by R.J. Conley, Doug Drown, and Brandon Fouts.

The finishes:

DTWC Feature (100 laps): Brandon Sheppard, Mike Marlar, Tyler Erb, Josh Richards, Dennis Erb Jr., Bobby Pierce, Scott James, Scott Bloomquist, Hudson O’Neal, Kyle Bronson, Devin Moran, Jason Covert, Billy Moyer Jr., Shanon Buckingham, Chris Ferguson, Jimmy Owens, Jacob Hawkins, Earl Pearson Jr., Don O’Neal, Steve Casebolt, Shannon Thornsberry, Tim McCreadie, Ricky Weiss, Shane Clanton, Stormy Scott, Jonathan Davenport.

Non-Qualifiers Race (25 laps): Dale McDowell, Jared Hawkins, R.J. Conley, Doug Drown, Brandon Fouts, Rod Conley, Chub Frank, Zack Dohm, Rick Eckert, Justin Rattliff, Colton Flinner, Jason Jameson, Jackie Boggs, Brandon Overton, Austin Rettig, Lee Logan, Allen Murray, J.T. Conley, Delmas Conley, Kirk Phillips, Kody Evans, Eric Wells, Boom Briggs, Drake Troutman.