Allgemeines » Buffalo designated him as a franchise player

DUNEDIN, New Zealand -- Flyhalf Lima Sopoaga kicked 25 points as the Highlanders beat the Hurricanes 35-31 in Super Rugby on Friday. Sopoaga hit the upright with his first shot at goal from 15 metres. He then kicked nine goals in succession -- two conversions and seven penalties -- before being replaced in the 62nd minute, three points short of the Highlanders record for most points in a match. All Blacks flyhalf Beauden Barrett scored 26 points for the Hurricanes, four shy of the Wellington teams points-scoring record. He had two late tries as his team rallied from 35-12 down with 19 unanswered points. Barrett also kicked two conversions and four penalties but his efforts were only good enough to earn the Hurricanes a consolation bonus point. The Hurricanes have just one win from five games, which should put even more pressure on embattled coach Mark Hammett now that the teams playoff hopes are almost gone with less than a third of the season completed. The Highlanders won their opening match against the Auckland-based Blues before dropping close games to the Chiefs and the Western Force. Fridays win was their second in four games, lifting them to second behind the Chiefs in the New Zealand conference at the start of the sixth round. "We played a good first half and we really put them under pressure," Highlanders captain Nasi Manu said. "But I think when we came out in the second half we were guilty of defending the lead and not playing much rugby and, like a dangerous Hurricanes side, they almost caught us." Sopoagas outstanding kicking performance helped give the Highlanders an 18-9 lead in the first half. Phil Burleigh and Patrick Osborne then scored second-half tries to give the Highlanders a 35-12 lead after 56 minutes. "It was a tricky first half in which penalties ruled the day and we couldnt get into it," Hurricanes captain Conrad Smith said. "But we felt pretty good and then we just got caught chasing the game again. We coughed up a try and there were a few 50-50 moments but good sides respond better than that." ------ Highlanders 35 (Phil Burleigh, Patrick Osborne tries; Lima Sopoaga 2 conversions, 7 penalties), Hurricanes 31 (Beauden Barrett 2, Ben Franks tries; Beauden Barrett 2 conversions, 4 penalties). Halftime: 18-9. Nike React Australia . Radulov scored the lone goal in the shootout, and the Predators edged the Minnesota Wild 2-1 on Tuesday night to reach 100 points for the second time in three seasons and fourth in seven. Nike React Sale Australia . At a news conference Tuesday where it was thought that the fiery Schallibaum may be shown the door after a dismal finish to the Major League Soccer season, team president Joey Saputo said no decision has been made on whether the Swiss Volcano will be back in 2014. http://www.wholesalenikereactaustralia.com/ .com) - The St. Nike React Clearance . -- Canadian womens amateur golf champion Brooke Henderson is a little less starstruck as she prepares for her second career appearance at an LPGA Tour major event. Nike React Womens Australia . Ghoulam has put pen to paper on a four and a half year deal, tying him to Napoli until 2018. The 22-year-old Algeria international, who played for France at Under 21 level, has made 87 league appearances in four seasons at Saint-Etienne. LANDOVER, Md. -- Kevin Kolb left the game with concussion-like symptoms, leaving the Buffalo Bills with an undrafted rookie as their only healthy quarterback. Even a rookie NFL head coach can figure out what to do next. "I think well be looking at bringing some quarterbacks in," coach Doug Marrone said. Thats right. Theres a team even more quarterback-depleted this preseason than the Washington Redskins, who are making do without Robert Griffin III and Kirk Cousins. Third-stringer Rex Grossman threw for 171 yards as the Redskins beat the Bills 30-7 Saturday, but nearly all of the focus was on the players who either left early or didnt play at all. Kolb was hurt in the first quarter after he was kneed in the back of the helmet at the end of an 8-yard scramble. He remained in the game for four more plays until the drive ended with a 2-yard touchdown run by C.J. Spiller. With first-round pick EJ Manuel nursing a knee injury, Kolbs departure left Jeff Tuel from Washington State as the last Bills QB standing. He completed 10 of 17 passes for 63 yards. If Tuel had gone down, Marrone said he would have put either receiver Brad Smith or running back Fred Jackson under centre. Kolb regained the inside track in Buffalos quarterback competition after Manuel hurt his left knee in the Bills previous game. Manuel was ruled out for the rest of the preseason, and Kolbs status will be in question given his history with concussions. Kolb lost the Eagles starting job in 2010 when he was sidelined by a concussion in the season opener. He spent the past two seasons in Arizona, where he failed to secure the starting job because of an assortment of injuries, including a concussion in 2011. Marrone didnt have an update on Kolbs injury. "Im just waiting to hear from the doctors," the coach said. Still, with the regular season opener coming up Sept. 8, the coach is looking beyond Plan B. Or C. Or D. "It is a concern," Marrone said. "Im not going to sit here and say everythings fine and dandy." While the Redskins wont utter "fine and dandy" until Griffin is back, they certainly have a better backup-to-the-backup plan than the Bills. Grossman, entering his 10th season and a one-time Super Bowl starter with the Chicago Bears, completed 11 of 21 passes, including a 7-yard touchdown to Pierre Garcon. "It was fun to start the game and go with the ones and be in that huddle again," Grossman said. ";Just even preparing and going to bed last night knowing Im starting.dddddddddddd Going through that whole routine again was fun." There was one major setback for the Redskins: Punt returner Richard Crawford hurt his left knee and is out for the season. Washington, unlike Buffalo, is carrying four quarterbacks in the preseason, so Grossman didnt have to play the entire game. Pat White took his turns under centre and went 7 for 14 for 96 yards and scored on a 14-yard run. Griffin isnt playing in the preseason as he works his way back from major knee surgery. On Saturday, the 2012 Offensive Rookie of the Year dressed to impress the NFL, showing up in his full uniform more than two hours before kickoff, thus avoiding the type of dress code violation that got him fined a few days earlier. Griffin wore a T-shirt with the words "Operation Patience" before the Redskins game Monday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The league declared it "unauthorized apparel" and fined him $10,000. Griffins backup, Cousins, missed the game after spraining his right foot against the Steelers. Also on the sideline was Jairus Byrd, wearing a white Bills T-shirt, white baseball cap and blue shorts, having rejoined the team Thursday night after a contentious off-season. The two-time Pro Bowl safety was hoping for a big payday this year, but Buffalo designated him as a franchise player, and the two sides couldnt work out a deal. Byrd missed all of the off-season practices and training camp before finally signing a one-year, $6.9 million franchise tender. Byrd was not made available to reporters after the game. Spiller started despite a report that a relative was involved in a shooting rampage Saturday morning in North Florida. Three people were killed and two injured before the gunman shot himself; Gainesville TV station WCJB identified the gunman as Spillers step-grandfather. After the game, a Bills representative stood at Spillers locker and said the running back would have no comment. "I have no idea of what is true and what is going on," Marrone said. "As far as I know, he knew something was happening personally, but we didnt have any information prior to the game." NOTES: The Bills also had two defensive backs injured in the first half. DaNorris Searcy, who started in place of Byrd, suffered a head injury. Starting cornerback Stephon Gilmore left with a wrist injury. Marrone had no update on either player. ' ' '