Category Sports News

Betfred Super League

Leeds (22) 22

Connor 5 tries Newman, Connor, and Lumb

Wakefield (6) 18

In their West Yorkshire derby, the Leeds Rhinos defeated Wakefield Trinity adamantly to move up the table and claim their sixth Super League victory.

As two of the competition’s form teams squared off at Headingley, Jake Connor recorded a personal tally of 14 points as the match became MND Awareness and the anniversary of Rob Burrow’s passing.

Both teams had already won three straight games, but Connor’s home team looked relaxed at halftime as Harry Newman and Riley Lumb added scores.

In the first half, Leeds outperformed Trinity, dominating in the backfield and looking more creative, and building a strong lead with Connor’s clinical mindset.

The Rhinos half-back then claimed his own four-pointer by throwing a dummy and avoiding a gap to extend the lead, which was well done by Newman, who collected Connor’s kick and spin out of a tackle to start the scoring.

Trinity was within touching distance when Walmsley scored its first Super League try of the year, but Leeds continued to advance as a result with Lumb’s skillful passing move and Connor’s conversion and two penalties underlined their territorial and tactical dominance.

After the break, Jowitt, the man who last season broke a new British record by scoring 500 points in Wakefield’s championship-winning campaign, took center stage if Connor had won the first half.

After Corey Hall had broken a sluggish Leeds defense, he was on hand to finish it once more after he had chased down his own grubber kick.

That enabled him to surpass Connor’s 14-point scoring total in the match by nine tries this season.

Interchanges: C. Smith, Lisone, Jenkins, and Holroyd

Wakefield includes Walmsley, Hall, Pratt, Johnstone, Jowitt, Lino, McMeeken, Hood, Faatili, Nikotemo, Griffin, Pitts, and Walmsley.

Scott, Vagana, Cozza, and H. Smith swaps.

Gallagher Premiership

Bristol (26) 52

Tries: Kloska, Batley, Ravouvou, Mata, Ibitoye (2), Grondona, Janse van Rensburg Cons: MacGinty (6)

Harlequins (12) 26

Bristol secured their Premiership semi-final at Bath in style with a superb attacking display in a 12-try epic at Ashton Gate.

The Bears needed a win to be sure of a top-four spot and made the perfect start, registering a bonus point inside 24 minutes with close-range scores from George Kloska and Joe Batley and explosive Kalaveti Ravouvou and Viliame Mata tries.

Cadan Murley’s fine first-half double reduced the gap to a 14-point lead at the break.

Gabriel Ibitoye extended the advantage to 31-12 soon after the restart but memories of the 2021 ‘Bristanbul’ comeback by Quins at Ashton Gate loomed large as the visitors notched quickfire tries from Alex Dombrandt and George Hammond to go within five points.

Noah Heward made his first Bears start at full back since January after injury while Pat Lam handed Argentina international lock Pedro Rubiolo his Bears debut.

With a semi-final spot out of reach Danny Wilson made three changes to the Quins starting XV as Jamie Benson made his first Premiership start at fly-half while Luke Northmore returned at centre and Nick David started at full back.

It took just 93 seconds for the hosts to break the deadlock as quick hands from MacGinty sent Ibitoye flying down the left wing and despite some good defence from Quins near their own line, prop George Kloska plunged over near the posts, with MacGinty slotting the extras.

The second try arrived inside five mins as lock Joe Batley stretched to touch down over the line after another powerful drive, with MacGinty again converting.

A penalty kick into the corner and a deep lineout paved the way for Luke Northmore to cross for Quins after an angled run on 10 minutes but the try was chalked-off for a forward pass from Dombrandt, who was then held-up over the line by Fitz Harding after a bulldozing run straight from the restart.

Quins got back in it on 17 minutes when Murley raced onto a clever chip forward from Benson on the 22 to catch a high bouncing ball and plunge over, allowing Benson to add two points from infront of the posts.

Bristol extended their lead just three minutes later as Harry Randall found space on the right and Fijian flyer Ravouvou raced down the whitewash to acrobatically dive over in the corner for his 11th try of the campaign, though the conversion sailed wide.

The onslaught continued and Mata produced a brilliant angled run and bulldozed his way under the posts through some rather static defence for Bristol’s fourth try and a bonus point on 24 minutes, with MacGinty notching the conversion to make it 26-7. Bears’ 16th try bonus point of the season is a new Premiership record.

Six minutes after the turnaround Quins replacement Sean Kerr almost broke away but Bears won back possession and Ravouvou’s break down the left and some fine passing across the width of the field paved the way for Ibitoye to stroll into the right corner for his 12th try of the campaign, a new club record, against his former club, though the conversion was unsuccessful.

Bears nerved started jangling, as memories of the 28-point collapse in the 2021 semi-final against Quins returned as the visitors notched two converted tries in three minutes.

Dombrandt reduced the arrears after a slick dummy through the line from Benson created space and Quins added another from close range on 52 minutes after a break from Northmore, with Hammond diving through a crowd to touch down on the line, with Benson’s third conversion making it a five-point game.

The hosts could breathe again on 58 minutes when Grondona plunged over to end a series of goalline probes, with MacGinty adding the two points, and some lightning hands and feet from MacGinty saw the ball spread to Ibitoye on the left to jink his way to the line for try number 13, the joint most in the league this season, with MacGinty adding the extras from the whitewash to restore the 19-point lead and bring up 1,000 in his Premiership career for Bears and Sale.

As Quins wilted in the Bristol sunshine Bears were denied a penalty try for Benson’s slap into touch behind the posts, however Janse van Rensburg barged through a gap to dot down behind the posts to bring up the half-century, with MacGinty adding his sixth conversion.

Pat Lam, Bristol director of rugby, told BBC Radio Bristol:

“I am very proud of this group, this is probably one of the highlights of my time at Bristol Bears.

“We know there’s areas we can improve on. To be missing stardust players for several months at a time, the squad has really gelled together to get us through the tough times.”

[On the derby date at the Rec on Friday night] “We’re excited. Bath have only lost three games this year, and we’ve beaten them twice.

“We’ve played them 14 times since we’ve been back in the Premiership, won all of them at Ashton Gate, once at the Principality and we’ve won more at the Rec than we’ve lost.

Bristol: Heward, Ravouvou, Janse van Rensburg, Williams, Ibitoye; MacGinty, Randall; Thomas, Oghre, Kloska, Rubiolo, Batley, Grondona, Harding, Mata.

Replacements: Thacker, Woolmore, Lahiff, Owen, Luatua, Marmion, Byrne, Bates.

Harlequins: David; Isgro, Beard, Northmore, Murley; Benson, Porter; Baxter, Walker, Lamositele, J Green, Hammond, Kenningham, Evans, Dombrandt.

Replacements: Jibulu, Els, Streeter, Launchbury, Lawday, Murray, Kerr, Halfpenny.

Gallagher Premiership

Bristol (26) 52

Tries: Kloska, Batley, Ravouvou, Mata, Ibitoye (2), Grondona, Janse van Rensburg Cons: MacGinty (6)

Harlequins (12) 26

Bristol secured their Premiership semi-final at Bath in style with a superb attacking display in a 12-try epic at Ashton Gate.

The Bears needed a win to be sure of a top-four spot and made the perfect start, registering a bonus point inside 24 minutes with close-range scores from George Kloska and Joe Batley and explosive Kalaveti Ravouvou and Viliame Mata tries.

Cadan Murley’s fine first-half double reduced the gap to a 14-point lead at the break.

Gabriel Ibitoye extended the advantage to 31-12 soon after the restart but memories of the 2021 ‘Bristanbul’ comeback by Quins at Ashton Gate loomed large as the visitors notched quickfire tries from Alex Dombrandt and George Hammond to go within five points.

Noah Heward made his first Bears start at full back since January after injury while Pat Lam handed Argentina international lock Pedro Rubiolo his Bears debut.

With a semi-final spot out of reach Danny Wilson made three changes to the Quins starting XV as Jamie Benson made his first Premiership start at fly-half while Luke Northmore returned at centre and Nick David started at full back.

It took just 93 seconds for the hosts to break the deadlock as quick hands from MacGinty sent Ibitoye flying down the left wing and despite some good defence from Quins near their own line, prop George Kloska plunged over near the posts, with MacGinty slotting the extras.

The second try arrived inside five mins as lock Joe Batley stretched to touch down over the line after another powerful drive, with MacGinty again converting.

A penalty kick into the corner and a deep lineout paved the way for Luke Northmore to cross for Quins after an angled run on 10 minutes but the try was chalked-off for a forward pass from Dombrandt, who was then held-up over the line by Fitz Harding after a bulldozing run straight from the restart.

Quins got back in it on 17 minutes when Murley raced onto a clever chip forward from Benson on the 22 to catch a high bouncing ball and plunge over, allowing Benson to add two points from infront of the posts.

Bristol extended their lead just three minutes later as Harry Randall found space on the right and Fijian flyer Ravouvou raced down the whitewash to acrobatically dive over in the corner for his 11th try of the campaign, though the conversion sailed wide.

The onslaught continued and Mata produced a brilliant angled run and bulldozed his way under the posts through some rather static defence for Bristol’s fourth try and a bonus point on 24 minutes, with MacGinty notching the conversion to make it 26-7. Bears’ 16th try bonus point of the season is a new Premiership record.

Six minutes after the turnaround Quins replacement Sean Kerr almost broke away but Bears won back possession and Ravouvou’s break down the left and some fine passing across the width of the field paved the way for Ibitoye to stroll into the right corner for his 12th try of the campaign, a new club record, against his former club, though the conversion was unsuccessful.

Bears nerved started jangling, as memories of the 28-point collapse in the 2021 semi-final against Quins returned as the visitors notched two converted tries in three minutes.

Dombrandt reduced the arrears after a slick dummy through the line from Benson created space and Quins added another from close range on 52 minutes after a break from Northmore, with Hammond diving through a crowd to touch down on the line, with Benson’s third conversion making it a five-point game.

The hosts could breathe again on 58 minutes when Grondona plunged over to end a series of goalline probes, with MacGinty adding the two points, and some lightning hands and feet from MacGinty saw the ball spread to Ibitoye on the left to jink his way to the line for try number 13, the joint most in the league this season, with MacGinty adding the extras from the whitewash to restore the 19-point lead and bring up 1,000 in his Premiership career for Bears and Sale.

As Quins wilted in the Bristol sunshine Bears were denied a penalty try for Benson’s slap into touch behind the posts, however Janse van Rensburg barged through a gap to dot down behind the posts to bring up the half-century, with MacGinty adding his sixth conversion.

Pat Lam, Bristol director of rugby, told BBC Radio Bristol:

“I am very proud of this group, this is probably one of the highlights of my time at Bristol Bears.

“We know there’s areas we can improve on. To be missing stardust players for several months at a time, the squad has really gelled together to get us through the tough times.”

[On the derby date at the Rec on Friday night] “We’re excited. Bath have only lost three games this year, and we’ve beaten them twice.

“We’ve played them 14 times since we’ve been back in the Premiership, won all of them at Ashton Gate, once at the Principality and we’ve won more at the Rec than we’ve lost.

Bristol: Heward, Ravouvou, Janse van Rensburg, Williams, Ibitoye; MacGinty, Randall; Thomas, Oghre, Kloska, Rubiolo, Batley, Grondona, Harding, Mata.

Replacements: Thacker, Woolmore, Lahiff, Owen, Luatua, Marmion, Byrne, Bates.

Harlequins: David; Isgro, Beard, Northmore, Murley; Benson, Porter; Baxter, Walker, Lamositele, J Green, Hammond, Kenningham, Evans, Dombrandt.

Replacements: Jibulu, Els, Streeter, Launchbury, Lawday, Murray, Kerr, Halfpenny.

Gallagher Premiership

Leicester Tigers (14) 42

Tries: Liebenberg, Bassett, Kata, Heyes, Rogerson, Hassell-Collins Cons: Pollard 4, Volavola 2

Newcastle Falcons (6) 20

Leicester Tigers secured a second-placed Premiership finish and a home play-off semi-final against Sale by beating Newcastle Falcons.

It took until the 17th minute for Tigers to grab their first try through Hanro Liebenberg thanks to fellow South African Pollard’s fast hands, just a minute after Brett Connon put bottom side Falcons ahead with a penalty.

Substitute Louis Brown’s sin-binning halfway through the first period did not help Newcastle but the visitors repelled Tigers’ attacks up until the 31st minute when Josh Bassett raced down to score in the corner.

Leicester needed just one point to finish in the top four and knew a win would secure second place as they faced the Premiership’s bottom side, who have won just twice this season.

Newcastle still made life difficult for Tigers in the first-half. Leicester had more than double the amount of carries and line breaks than Falcons but were unable to get any fluid attacking momentum.

Following a strong Tigers scrum, Ollie Chessum went over but was held up by Ollie Leatherbarrow’s strength to be denied the opening points.

Connon kicked over a penalty to give Falcons the match’s first points of the afternoon but South African back row Liebenberg was then given space to run in from close range to put Leicester in front.

Brown’s yellow card gave the Tigers a numerical advantage and Bassett collected a delightful pass from Liebenberg to run in his 10th try of the season unchallenged on the right wing.

Connan kicked another three points just before half-time to keep Falcons within eight points on the scoreboard and they were buoyed further after the break when full-back Freddie Steward saw a Tigers try disallowed, and Hassell-Collins was also sin binned for making an illegal fend-off.

As Tigers’ pressure heaped on the Falcons defence however, Kata burst through to extend their lead.

Replacement prop Heyes barged over to stretch the lead to 28-6 and while Leatherbarrow pulled one back for the Falcons, it proved a blow-out towards the end as Rogerson scored Leicester’s fifth.

Leicester Tigers: Steward; Bassett, Kata, Woodward, Hassell-Collins; Pollard, Youngs; Smith, Montoya, Cole, Henderson, Chessum, Liebenberg, Reffell, Cracknell.

Replacements: Clare, Cronin, Heyes, Rogerson, Ilione, van Poortvliet, Volavola, Brown.

Sin bin: Hassell-Collins (50)

Newcastle Falcons: Obatoyinbo; Redshaw, Hearle, Arnold, Pepper; Connan, Stuart; McCallum, Blamire, de Bruin, Hawkins, de Chaves, Neild, Gordon, Lockwood.

Replacements: Byrne, Rewcastle, Hancock, Usher, Leatherbarrow, Davis, Spencer, Brown.

Gallagher Premiership

Leicester Tigers (14) 42

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Newcastle Falcons (6) 20

Leicester Tigers secured a second-placed Premiership finish and a home play-off semi-final against Sale by beating Newcastle Falcons.

It took until the 17th minute for Tigers to grab their first try through Hanro Liebenberg thanks to fellow South African Pollard’s fast hands, just a minute after Brett Connon put bottom side Falcons ahead with a penalty.

Substitute Louis Brown’s sin-binning halfway through the first period did not help Newcastle but the visitors repelled Tigers ‘ attacks up until the 31st minute when Josh Bassett raced down to score in the corner.

Leicester needed just one point to finish in the top four and knew a win would secure second place as they faced the Premiership’s bottom side, who have won just twice this season.

Newcastle still made life difficult for Tigers in the first-half. Leicester had more than double the amount of carries and line breaks than Falcons but were unable to get any fluid attacking momentum.

Following a strong Tigers scrum, Ollie Chessum went over but was held up by Ollie Leatherbarrow’s strength to be denied the opening points.

Connon kicked over a penalty to give Falcons the match’s first points of the afternoon but South African back row Liebenberg was then given space to run in from close range to put Leicester in front.

Brown’s yellow card gave the Tigers a numerical advantage and Bassett collected a delightful pass from Liebenberg to run in his 10th try of the season unchallenged on the right wing.

Connan kicked another three points just before half-time to keep Falcons within eight points on the scoreboard and they were buoyed further after the break when full-back Freddie Steward saw a Tigers try disallowed, and Hassell-Collins was also sin binned for making an illegal fend-off.

As Tigers ‘ pressure heaped on the Falcons defence however, Kata burst through to extend their lead.

Replacement prop Heyes barged over to stretch the lead to 28-6 and while Leatherbarrow pulled one back for the Falcons, it proved a blow-out towards the end as Rogerson scored Leicester’s fifth.

Replacements: Clare, Cronin, Heyes, Rogerson, Ilione, van Poortvliet, Volavola, Brown.

Sin bin: Hassell-Collins (50)

Newcastle Falcons: Obatoyinbo, Redshaw, Hearle, Arnold, Pepper, Connan, Stuart, McCallum, Blamire, de Bruin, Hawkins, de Chaves, Neild, Gordon, Lockwood.

Replacements: Byrne, Rewcastle, Hancock, Usher, Leatherbarrow, Davis, Spencer, Brown.

Great Britain’s Olivia Mathias finished third as Cassandre Beaugrand claimed victory in the World Triathlon Championship Series in Alghero.

Beaugrand crashed out on the bike leg of the previous race in Yokohama but the Frenchwoman bounced back to win the third race of the series in Italy.

The reigning Olympic and world champion was chasing Wales ‘ Mathias and Bianca Seregni of Italy on the second lap of the swim before bridging the gap on the bike.

The leaders then distanced themselves from the likes of Lisa Tertsch and GB’s Beth Potter in the chase pack and built an unassailable lead on the 10km run.

Beaugrand, 28, clinched victory in 1 hour 55 minutes 55 seconds – 38 seconds before Seregni in second, with Mathias 31 seconds further back in third.

It was a first series win of the year for the 2024 champion while both Seregni and Mathias, 26, earned a spot on the series podium for the first time, with Potter in eighth.

Brazil’s Miguel Hidalgo won the men’s race in 1: 44: 05, crossing 28 seconds ahead of Australia’s Matt Hauser, who was the winner in Yokohama.