This was Chulalongkorn’s 18^th win in the annual football game between the two prestigious institutions.

As usual card displays and parades by students which mocked and satirised Thai political situation still proved the highlights of the event.

The pioneering tournament, south of Melbourne, is the only one in the world with male and female fields, playing in alternate groups on the same course and for equal prize money.

It has been co-sanctioned this year by the European Tour and US LPGA Tour for the first time.

After some low scoring during the first two days, the players were met with brutal winds and a fierce band of early rain Saturday, making life difficult around the 13th Beach Links course.

England’s Callum Shinkwin and South Africa’s Justin Harding were undeterred, shooting impressive 66s, but the round of the day went to Australia’s Matt Stieger who overcame the elements with a 65.

It left him tied for second with Shinkwin — two behind Australia’s 38-year-old Ormsby, who carded a 70 as he aims to add to his first European Tour success at last season’s Hong Kong Open, which he achieved at 264th attempt.

“We got hammered with the rain for about three or four holes there, so it was really good to get through that stretch,” said Asian Tour regular Stieger after sinking seven birdies to stay in the hunt.

“No bogeys today, which is really nice. Just stuck to my game plan out there.”

Overnight leaders Jason Scrivener and Nick Flanagan didn’t fare as well, both struggling to 76s, leaving them five adrift.

Kaufman, who is targeting her first LPGA Tour win, had a two-shot lead overnight but by the sixth hole she had been reeled in by Japan’s Haru Nomura.

The American then holed a difficult birdie from the front bunker at the short par-three seventh — known locally as ‘the postage stamp’ after the famous par-three at Royal Troon in Scotland — to regain control.

She holed further birdies at the ninth and 13th before a double bogey at the 14th tarnished her scorecard.

After a solid start Nomura’s touch deserted her on the back nine, with three bogeys leaving her three off the pace.

France’s Celine Boutier shot a 69 to put herself in contention, two behind Kaufman and alongside Australian Su Oh in second place.

 The number one goalkeeper of the Vietnamese team was paraded in front of the Thai media at his new club on Thursday.

Hundreds of Thai reporters surrounded Lâm and put questions to him relating to his three-year contract for Muangthong United.

Lâm said he was very happy to join the the club as he had been following this team for a long time and knew this was a strong team in the region.

He pledged to do his best to help the club win the Thai League this year.

Meanwhile, Muangthong United FC chief executive Ronnarit Suewaja said although the club already had goalkeepers with potential for growth, the ambition of the club meant they wanted to sign Lâm.

The decision to recruit Lâm was backed by the board of directors and coaches, he said.

Lâm believes this is the right move to help his career develop, Suewaja added.

Muangthong United FC of Thailand paid a transfer fee of VNĐ3 billion (US$130,000) to Hải Phòng FC for Lâm’s services.

The three-year deal see Lâm earn $10,000 a month. The club will also provide him with an apartment and a car.

Lam, 25, is a rising star in the region after he played key role in Việt Nam’s ASEAN Football Federation Cup triumph. He was also voted the best keeper of the tournament and was selected in the Cup’s Best XI.

“After the AFF Cup success, I received people’s attention and support and there would be good conditions if I kept playing in Việt Nam. But I don’t want to stay in the ‘safe zone’, I want to be challenged and have new experiences in my career,” Lam told zing.vn.

Thailand must win a playoff against Indonesia in Astana on Saturday to avoid sinking to their lowest status in women’s team tennis for 43 years.

The Kingdom’s team, without No 1 Luksika Kumkhum who opted to skip the Asia/Oceania tie to prepare for the American hardcourt season, finished bottom in their three-team Pool A following two straight defeats to Kazakhstan and India.

Thailand will take on Pool B third-placed finisher Indonesia in a battle to remain in group I next year and avoid being relegated for the first time since 1976.

History favours the Thais – they have won five of eight clashes with Indonesia since 1993, including the last three.

“It will be a tough tie as both nations take turns in winning and losing,” said national coach Akkasit Thepkasikul.

“Both teams have an equal chance to win. It’s good that our team has a day rest [Friday] as we had tough matches on Thursday,” said Akkasit, who rated Thailand’s chance to win the tie at 50-50 per cent.

“We have to admit that Indonesia has its strongest team while we don’t. Their No 2 player [Aldila Sutjiadi] is quite dangerous as she won the Asian Games mixed doubles last year.”

The 630th-ranked Sutjiadi and mixed doubles partner Christopher Rungkat edged out Thailand’s Sonchat Ratiwatana and Luksika Kumkhum in the gold medal match in Jakarta last year.

“To win the tie, we need to finish them off in the singles rubbers. If we have to play in the doubles, it will be even tougher for us,” Akkasit warned.

The coach does, however, have full faith in his singles players, Peangtarn Plipuech and Nudnida Luangnam, as both fought hard in the loss to India.

“Nudnida is playing at the top of her game while Peangtarn came up with some impressive form,” he added. “They did a good job against India in the decisive doubles but only a few points made the difference. They’ll have to maintain that level to beat Indonesia.”

The Thai women went into the India tie needing to salvage national pride after being demolished 3-0 by the Kazakhstan hosts. They got off to a great start when Nudnida  upset the 211st-ranked Thandi Karman Kaur before India levelled when the 165th-ranked Anika Raina beat Peangtarn.

In the decisive doubles, Nudnida and Peangtarn served for the match against Kaur and Raina at 5-4 but the Indian pair broke back and went on to win 6-4 6-7 (6-8) 7-5 in an exhausting showdown that lasted nearly three hours.

Jason Scrivener of Australia 

The event, co-sanctioned by the European Tour and the US-based LPGA Tour, is the only one in the world with male and female fields playing, in alternate groups, on the same course and for equal prize money.

Scrivener carded six birdies in his six-under-par 66 on day two while fellow Australian Flanagan, a former US amateur champion, shot a 68 to go with his opening round 62.

“It’s been two solid days’ work,” said Scrivener, who continued his strong early season form which has been rewarded with three top-10 finishes on the European Tour.

“It’s just patience really, I think knowing there’s a lot of birdies out there helps. If you try to rush them, you can make mistakes, so just plodding your way around and being smart about it.”

James Nitties, who sank a world record-equalling nine birdies in a row on Thursday at the 13th Beach Golf Links south of Melbourne, could only manage one in his round of 74, which was marred by a double bogey on the 18th.

Kaufman, who has never won on the LPGA Tour, positioned herself for the weekend with her second 66 in a row — including a birdie-birdie finish — to be two ahead of Japan’s Haru Nomura.

“I just kind of did the same thing as yesterday. With all the par 5s out there, everything’s just pretty solid. Just been fun,” said Kaufman, who added that she had been keen to play the male-female event.

“Last year was when I kind of heard about it and I’ve been pretty outspoken about coming down here,” she said. “It’s lived up to every expectation, which has been great.”

England’s Felicity Johnson, the first round leader, could only muster a second round 74 to be seven off the pace.

One of the day’s biggest movers was veteran Karrie Webb, who stroked a 65 to be six behind Kaufman.

After posting a perfect record of 16 straight wins against opposition outside the top six to start the season, back-to-back 1-1 draws against Leicester and West Ham have opened the door to City and third-placed Tottenham to prolong Liverpool’s 29-year wait to win the title.

Only Manchester United can boast more league titles than Liverpool’s 18, but Jurgen Klopp’s men must find a way of harnessing the desperation to end a drought of nearly three decades positively, rather than letting the nerves of what promises to be a thrilling run-in become a hindrance.

Tension is already apparent in the stands as much as on the pitch after the unexpected slip-ups of the past week.

“You get that feeling as well from the crowd and I think it’s not really necessary at the moment,” said talismanic defender Virgil van Dijk after the first of those points were dropped at home to Leicester.

“Obviously everyone wants to win so bad and that’s what we want as well but sometimes you need to be very patient.”

Klopp also admitted after being held at West Ham on Monday that his side need to “enjoy” the ride rather than fearing the consequences of missing out.

“It’s not about pressure, it’s about enjoying the situation you are in,” said Klopp.

“We have 62 points, have lost one game in the whole season so far, which is very positive.”

Klopp and Van Dijk have been vital to the turnaround in the club’s fortunes over the past year, but they remain outsiders who have not been scarred by the near-misses over the years that have left Liverpool supporters even more fearful they could throw it away again this season.

Twice in the past decade Liverpool led at Christmas only to fall short in 2008/09 and 2013/14.

– ‘Everyone needs to relax’ –

However, the fact most of the current Liverpool team have no experience of the failures of the past could ultimately be a good thing. Of the squad that lost out to City just five years ago only captain Jordan Henderson and fringe players Simon Mignolet and Daniel Sturridge remain.

“I wouldn’t say nerves are showing. Did anyone say that when City dropped points against (Crystal) Palace and Leicester? I don’t think they did,” insisted Liverpool left-back Andy Robertson.

“It’s no different for us. People talk about pressure because we’ve not been in this position but it’s February.

“Everyone needs to relax and try and enjoy the run-in. If you’re fans, or if you’re from another club, you can watch many other clubs who want to be in the position we’re in just now.

“Nerves aren’t showing in the changing room, it’s been two poor results and poor performances.”

Injuries also have not helped Klopp’s case of late. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Henderson and Georginio Wijnaldum missed the trip to West Ham, but could return this weekend after training on Thursday.

And Liverpool could hardly have asked for better visitors to try and right the ship as Bournemouth have lost all of their last seven away games in the Premier League stretching back to October.

Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) got within just 0.067 of Jorge Lorenzo’s fastest ever lap of Sepang on Day 2 of testing, with the 1:58.830 set by Lorenzo last season – although not an official lap record – now surely under threat on Day 3. Viñales had been hovering in third for much of the latter part of the day and left his vie at record breaking late as the final few minutes saw time attacks light up the timesheets. More than three tenths up before the final sector, the Spaniard eventually crossed the line 0.527 ahead of nearest rival Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar), setting both a supreme lap and a serious benchmark.

That built on a positive first day on the timesheets for Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP and Valentino Rossi in sixth added to the good vibes. The veteran Italian did 51 laps and was only two tenths off second, although the distance to his teammate stretched out from there. The Iwata marque confirmed they have a busy agenda, with different winglets and chassis items on the menu. Happy with progress since November, Team Director Massimo Meregalli says the biggest focus from Sepang is the last part of the corner and specifically, acceleration.

Petronas Yamaha SRT’s Fabio Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli ended the day in P14 and P15 respectively – and the Frenchman had a 2019 bike as he made that key step forward. They both did 58 laps.

Alex Rins was the man who lost his top spot to Viñales after seeming set to end the day fastest, but the Spaniard’s 1:59.424 was nevertheless an incredible laptime and he did 61 laps on Thursday. Team Manager Davide Brivio said it’s going well and they have different swingarms, new aerodynamics with both riders and some different combinations; engine mapping, clutch, “things like that” – as well as an exhaust to try on Day 2. The Italian said their focus is fitting together the “puzzle” correctly for the first race, and the timesheets seem to bode well for Rins despite the Hamamatsu factory losing their concessions in 2019. Rookie teammate Joan Mir ended the day in P21 after 64 laps.

On Rins’ tail was the fastest Ducati on Day 2 and once again it was an Independent Team rider – this time Jack Miller (Alma Pramac Racing). The Australian was a late mover like those above him and was only a tenth off Rins by the end of play, putting in 49 laps. Just behind him came Andrea Dovizioso, who was the fastest Mission Winnow Ducati and looked set to top the day’s action until the late flurry of fast laps saw him pushed down to fourth. Initially the number 04 was working on frames, and Team Manager Davide Tardozzi confirmed that teammate Danilo Petrucci was focused on finding a better connection between the throttle and the rear tyre – working on the electronics and engine. Roles were then reversed, and Tardozzi also confirmed the Borgo Panigale factory also had some work on aero planned. That’s expected tomorrow. Today, it was two red machines in tandem as the two were on track together on some longer runs in the afternoon, with Petrucci saying he has “more to learn” than his teammate and ending the day in ninth. Tito Rabat (Reale Avintia Racing) pipped him on his GP18 to end Thursday in P7, with Francesco Bagnaia fastest rookie in P12 for Alma Pramac Racing.

Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) put in a good showing on Thursday to take fifth overall and end the day as fastest Honda. The Brit is returning from a badly broken ankle sustained at Phillip Island last season but managed 53 laps to end the session within just 0.004 of Dovizioso. He also suffered a crash; Rider OK.

Next up for Honda was eighth placed Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team), who downed tools early once again and put in 37 laps on Day 2 – although some of those were a longer run in the afternoon. The team confirmed they’re on schedule despite the lighter lap load for the reigning Champion, too – with Marquez routinely having done over 90 laps per test day last season – and were working on the new bike, new engine and electronics, with a lot to get through including some different fairings. Crutchlow’s teammate Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) took P10 after 60 laps, with Stefan Bradl (Honda Test Team) taking P16 after 59 laps.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing saw some tables turned on Day 2 as Johann Zarco ended the day as fastest Austrian machine for the first time since his switch to the marque. He said he outstripped his expected progress for the day and it made him smile to dip below the 2 minute mark for the first time, and he ended the day in P11 after 58 laps. Teammate Pol Espargaro was P17 and just over three tenths off the Frenchman. KTM test rider Mika Kallio was a couple of places back, and just pipped Red Bull KTM Tech 3 rookie Miguel Oliveira. Malaysian Hafizh Syahrin had a tougher day, outside the top twenty.

Aprilia Racing Team Gresini, meanwhile, had a race simulation fairly early on Day 2 for Aleix Espargaro as Andrea Iannone remained focused on adaptation. Bike balance, electronics and torque control were a focus for the Noale factory. Espargaro ended the day in P13 after 54 laps, Iannone in P18 after 39. Romano Albesiano, Technical Manager, also confirmed that it’s not just the immediate future the marque are working towards, with plans made to make some big changes in testing in order to set up some more radical development later in the season.

Jazz continued to underline his status as one of the rising stars of the game when he defeated a host of world-class players including Sergio Garcia, Paul Casey and Davis Love III for his third Asian Tour victory in Singapore last month.

But he has since moved on from that win and is determined to put up another good showing at the Lake Karrinyup Country Club when the Asian Tour, European Tour and ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia tri-sanctioned event is played there from February 14-17.

“That win in Singapore was pretty exciting. I got back home to Hua Hin and everyone threw me a party. But it’s straight back to business and the grind of practising after that,” said Jazz.

“This will be my third time playing at Lake Karrinyup and I feel like I’ve got to know the course a lot better now. I haven’t played much match play events and the first time I got to play in such a format in my professional career was at the Friendship Cup late last year where I won all my matches. So I hope to get into the shootout on Sunday and see what happens,” added the 23-year-old.

Jazz’s victory in Singapore played a huge role in breaking him into the top-100 on the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) for the first time in his career.

While the young Thai is pleased with his achievements which will set him up for bigger playing opportunities, he knows how cruel the sport can be and why it is important for him to stay on top of his game.

“There has been lots of ups and downs in my career. You are only as good as your last event. So you got to try to be as good as you can every week. I didn’t think I would be able to break into the world’s top-100 so fast. But now that it has happened, I’m aiming higher and want to break into the top-50. It’s a step-by-step process,” said Jazz.

Jazz was just 14 when he played his way into the history books by becoming the youngest ever player to make the halfway cut at an Asian Tour event in 2010.

He missed the grade at the Asian Tour Qualifying School in 2017 but bounced back remarkably with his breakthrough victory in Bangladesh the same month.

Jazz dared to believe he can turn things around and sometimes it takes failure to bring out success.

“I made peace with pressure. I’ve learnt how to handle the pressure somehow and I guess those setbacks helped in my game,” said Jazz.

Jazz will be part of a strong Asian Tour field that also features Order of Merit champions Gavin Green of Malaysia and Australia’s Scott Hend. Other marquee players expected to headline the event include Thomas Pieters, who is one half of the ISPS HANDA World Cup of Golf winning Belgium team, Australian Lucas Herbert, New Zealander Ryan Fox, Spaniard Jorge Campillo and Japan’s Yusaku Miyazato.