as unhappy about three calls against his defense on the drive capped by Gordons go-ahead score. I thought they were really poorly officiated, he said. That didnt lose the game, but they need

The Lions rise to the top of the Super Rugby may have caught the competition off guard, but Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd says the Johannesburg are deserved leaders.And the second-year Super Rugby coach says the debilitating effect travel can have during the play-offs could play into the hands of the red-hot South African side.The Lions have won seven of their last eight games to lead by a point from the four Kiwi outfits on the overall ladder. The Chiefs, Crusaders, Hurricanes and Highlanders are all a point behind each other from second to fifth.Under competition rules, only the top-qualifying New Zealand side can host a quarter-final with the three others - if they maintain their lofty perches - forced to travel to Australia or South Africa.There will be some hellish travel involved if the Lions host a semi-final and/or the final, Boyd said.People keep talking about how good the NZ conference has been but the Lions deserve to be top, he said.Theyve only lost three games. Theyre a very tough team to play and you add on the hostile environment of Ellis Park in Johannesburg and its a real tough contest.The Lions are favoured to keep top spot, with their last two regular season games against the lowly Kings and Jaguares.In the last 15 years of Super Rugby, the top-qualifying side has won the title on 12 occasions. The runners-up have done it twice while the Highlanders broke the mould last year by winning from fourth.Boyd said the Highlanders achievement was exceptional - capped by beating his team in the decider - but he noted they didnt have to contend with a draining trip to South Africa in the play-offs.Cheap Authentic Air Max 90 . Defenceman Yannick Weber scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period and the Canucks breathed a sigh of relief with a 2-1 win on Saturday night. Wholesale Air Max 90 . With his new coach and six-time Grand Slam singles champion Boris Becker watching him during an official match for the first time, Djokovic appeared tentative early against the Slovakian player, who often appeared content to keep the ball in play. http://www.wholesaleairmax90canada.com/ . Olli Jokinen, Mark Scheifele, and Bryan Little each had a goal and an assist as Winnipeg won 5-2, handing Calgary its record-setting seventh consecutive loss on home ice. Air Max 90 Canada Sale .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. Cheap Air Max 90 Free Shipping . -- San Francisco 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks was fined $15,570 by the NFL on Wednesday for his hit on Saints quarterback Drew Brees last Sunday.SAN DIEGO -- Melvin Gordon is quickly making people forget his disappointing rookie season.The San Diego Chargers second-year back rushed for a career-high 196 yards and scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 1-yard run to lead the Chargers to a 43-35 victory Sunday against Marcus Mariota and the Tennessee Titans, who still havent won in San Diego since 1990.Gordon leads the NFL with 11 touchdowns, nine rushing. He has three 100-yard games, including two straight.During a frustrating rookie year, he failed to score and had no 100-yard games.Whenever you have a running back with that kind of potential, and see him realize it, its cool, right tackle Joe Barksdale said. You feel good for Melvin, you feel good for the team.Gordons performance was so big that it drew a few animal references.We all know hes our bell cow back there, coach Mike McCoy said. Were going to give him the ball and let him roll.A week ago in Denver, the Chargers had a first-and-goal at the 2 and Gordons number wasnt called once. Philip Rivers threw four straight incomplete passes and the Chargers lost 27-19.Cornerback Brandon Flowers, who intercepted Mariota and returned it 33 yards for a touchdown, understands how Gordon can wear down a defense.Thats why we try to get three-and-outs so often because were feeding our horse right now, Flowers said. Melvin Gordon is playing outstanding football right now. Weve just go to keep feeding our horse.Unlike some games earlier this year, the Chargers (4-5) sealed the deal.Were just working hard, he said. Thats been our goal since OTAs, training camp to now, and that is just to finish. Finish, finish, finish the game.BALLOT BOWL: The Chargers won two days before the team will ask San Diegans to approve a ballot measure that would provide $1.15 billion via an increase in the hotel occupancy tax to help fund a $1.8 billion stadium and convention center annex downtown. The measure needs a two-thirds supermajority to pass. Polls show it might not get 50 percent. Team chairman Dean Spanos will then have to decide whether to negotiate a new deal withh Mayor Kevin Faulconer or move to L.ddddddddddddA.MARIOTA: The Titans second-year QB threw for 313 yards and three TDs for the Titans (4-5). Mariota, who led the Titans to a 21-19 lead by guiding two quick scoring drives on either side of halftime, helped the Chargers surge to a 12-point lead when he fumbled late in the third quarter. Dwight Lowery picked up the ball ran 43 yards for a touchdown and a 33-21 lead.They made a couple of great plays, Mariota said. Obviously, I cant fumble and thats going to put us in bad situations.With the Chargers up by eight -- and with a propensity to blow late leads this year -- Flowers jumped a route, intercepted Mariota and returned it 33 yards for a 43-28 lead with 4:51 left.Running the two-minute drill to perfection, Mariota threw a 7-yard scoring pass to Rishard Matthews with 14 seconds left before halftime. The Titans got the second-half kick and Mariota quickly moved them down the field, finishing the drive with a 14-yard run on which he held out the ball to touch the pylon.SAN DIEGO BUMMER: The Titans (4-5) have lost seven straight in San Diego since 1993, when they were the Houston Oilers. The franchises last victory in San Diego was in 1990.REF-RIPPING: Titans coach Mike Mularkey was unhappy about three calls against his defense on the drive capped by Gordons go-ahead score. I thought they were really poorly officiated, he said. That didnt lose the game, but they need to be held accountable like we are.RIVERS-TO-GATES: Rivers 13-yard touchdown pass to Antonio Gates in the first quarter was the 81st time theyve connected, the most in NFL history between a quarterback and a tight end. It was also the 108th career TD catch for Gates, leaving him three shy of matching Tony Gonzalezs NFL record for a tight end. Rivers also threw a 6-yarder to Tyrell Williams in the second for a 16-0 Chargers lead.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '