~~**NEWS**~~ » fter being on the 15-day disabled list since Jun

LE HAVRE, France -- France ended a four-match losing streak by defeating Tonga 38-18, with both sides reduced to 14 men soon after halftime on Saturday. France always had the match in hand with four tries to two, however Tonga humbled the home defence frequently with all the breaks it made but couldnt make any links to support. Tonga prop Alisona Taumalolo and France lock Yoann Maestri were ejected in the 41st minute for trading punches. It hardly mattered as France was in command at 21-6. "We made small mistakes but the most important thing is to regain confidence with a victory," France fullback Brice Dulin said. "Maybe we got carried away at times. We wanted so much to do well and score tries. We were sometimes a bit messy, but that will boost our morale." After an early penalty, winger Sofiane Guitoune, the Top 14s top try-scorer making his test debut, collected a high ball from Morgan Parra to score an unconverted try in the right corner in the fifth minute. Parra punished more Tonga indiscipline with penalties in the 17th and the 29th for 14-0. The visitors came close to a try in the 22nd, but flanker Sione Kalamafoni ignored two free teammates to his right and lost possession. France started feeling Tongas physical impact at the breakdown. Flanker Thierry Dusautoir failed to roll away after a tackle and Fangatapu Apikotoa landed a penalty from 45 metres in the 31st. The Tonga flyhalf capitalized on a Frenchman offside in the 37th to cut the deficit to 14-6. "We were a bit on the backfoot in the first half," Dusautoir said. "We didnt manage to be well organized. They are very strong and we missed a lot of first tackles." On the stroke of halftime, France lock Sebastien Vahaamahina was stopped five meters from the line. Tonga lost its nerve as scrumhalf Taniela Moa was sent to the sin-bin for elbowing hooker Dimitri Szarzewski. No. 8 Damien Chouly relied on Frances powerful scrum to score a converted try for 21-6. The break did not help to cool tempers. Seconds after the restart, Maestri and Taumalolo were red-carded for trading head punches. Maestri, teary-eyed, had words with Taumalolo as he walked off. Guitoune sent Dulin in for another converted try but despite the growing deficit, Tonga kept fighting and created space with a multi-phase buildup that stretched the France defence. A big miss-out pass freed winger Fetuu Vainikolo to slide over in the left corner. Vainikolo conceded the next penalty which Parra goaled, then another rolling maul drove in replacement Benjamin Kayser to secure Frances first win after four defeats to New Zealand. In the last minute, Vainikolo escaped a tackle from a cramping Guitoune to smack the left corner flag as he touched down for his ninth career try. France faces South Africa next Saturday, while Tonga, after a second straight loss in Europe, visits Wales on Friday. Puma Online Sale Australia .2 million deal for the upcoming season with right-hander Garrett Richards.The person spoke on condition of anonymity Saturday because the announcement hadnt been made. Puma Wholesale Australia . Spains victory rendered Frances 3-0 win against Finland meaningless as Spain needed just one point to secure passage to Brazil. Franck Ribery and Karim Benzema scored either side of Joona Toivios own-goal as France advanced to the playoff among the eight best second-place finishers. http://www.pumaaustraliawholesale.com/. Just ask Arsenal fans. However, Arsene Wenger has repeatedly told anyone willing to listen that finishing in that spot is more important than winning a cup competition. Puma Shoes Australia Online . Tottenham claimed top spot in Group K by winning 2-0 at Tromso after defender Adnan Causevic scored an own goal before Mousa Dembele put the result beyond doubt. Valencia made sure it will finish first in Group A with a 1-0 win at Swansea thanks to an early goal from Dani Parejo. Puma Shoes Clearance Australia . -- The NFL Players Association wants to determine if the Tampa Bay Buccaneers leaked information about quarterback Josh Freeman being in the NFLs substance abuse program. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Rays latest defeat had a little different twist -- four late runs and six hits that left them one run short of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Andrew McCutchen drove in two runs, Jeff Locke pitched into the eighth inning and the Pirates beat the Rays 6-5 on Tuesday night, handing Tampa Bay its 20th loss in 28 games. "The moral victories are not what were looking for right now; were looking for the actual victories," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "I love the idea that the winning run came to the plate. ... Theres a lot of good things to draw from tonight, but we cant continue to lose this type of game." Russell Martins fourth home run gave the Pirates a 6-1 lead, but Evan Longoria hit a two-run home run off Locke in the eighth. Singles by Logan Forsythe, Desmond Jennings and Brandon Guyer produced two more runs off closer Mark Melancon in the ninth, but Longorida flied out to end it. "We were maybe a hit away or something, but it happens," said Guyer, who scored on Longorias 10th home run in the eighth. "We just have to bring the momentum into the game tomorrow and try to get a win." The Pirates have the NLs best record (27-18) since May 6, and moved above .500 (39-38) for the first time since starting the season 7-6. McCutchen had an RBI single during a three-run third inning that put the Pirates ahead 4-0. The 2013 NL MVP had two RBIs in Pittsburghs 8-1 win Monday night over the Rays. Locke (1-1) allowed three runs and eight hits over 7 1-3 innings. His night ended with Longorias homer. Melancon got his 13th save. Chris Archer (4-5) gave up five runs and seven hits in seven innings for the Rays. "We lost. We got an L, but we played hard and I dont know that there was much more we could do, other than me not walking two leadoff hitters," Archer said. "That ultimately was the difference in the game." Pirates left ffielder Starling Marte left in the fifth inning with concussion-like symptoms after a head-first slide during a failed stolen base attempt.dddddddddddd He made contact with Rays second baseman Sean Rodriguez on the play. Gregory Polanco started the game with a walk, stole second and advanced to third on catcher Jose Molinas throwing error, and scored to make it 1-0 on a grounder by McCutchen. Polanco has reached base in all of his 14 games since being recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis on June 10. Tampa Bay got within 4-1 in the fifth when Forsythe hit a two-out triple and Jose Molina followed with an RBI double. Molina, who has two RBIs in 43 games this season, is 2 for 34 with runners in scoring position. Marte hit a run-scoring single and Neil Walker had a sacrifice fly in the third, a three-run inning which started with a walk to Pedro Alvarez. Walker returned after being on the 15-day disabled list since June 9 because of an appendectomy. NOTES: Kevin Kiermaier pinch hit for Rays SS Yunel Escobar in the eighth, partly because of a sore right shoulder than will keep Escobar out of the lineup for Wednesdays series finale. ... Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle should announce Wednesday when RHP Gerrit Cole (right shoulder fatigue) will return to the rotation. Cole threw a simulated game Monday, which lines him up to start this weekend. ... Tampa Bay C Ryan Hanigan was scratched due to neck stiffness. ... Maddon said RHP Jeremy Hellickson (right elbow surgery) will need at least one more minor league start before returning. ... NASCAR driver Aric Almirola took batting practice and gave Maddon a Rays racing helmet. ... Tampa Bay LHP David Price (5-7) and Pirates RHP Charlie Morton (4-8) are Wednesdays scheduled starters. Price, the subject of trade speculation, said he has thought about the situation and its the reason why hes been in a "bad mood" recently. ' ' '