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Rugby World Cup

Cardiff (10) 17

Cons: Sheedy 2 Pens: Sheedy, Adams, Grady

Scarlets (7) 21

A try double from scrum-half Gareth Davies allowed Scarlets to continue their Arms Park dominance against Cardiff in the Rugby World Cup (URC).

Former Wales scrum-half Davies, 35, scored two tries in a third successive match at Arms Park.

The Scarlets’ winning run at Cardiff’s home ground, which dates back to 2019, is extended by Centre Eddie James’ scoring.

With the yellow cards for Josh Macleod, Davies, and Johnny Williams, Cardiff dominated the territory and possession in a pulsating derby but was unable to capitalize on Scarlets’ poor judgment.

Only two tries, both by Mason Grady and Josh Adams, were made by the Blue and Blacks from more than 20 attempts into the Scarlets 22.

After Peel switched his starting lineup for the 50-21 defeat against Bordeaux-Begles, Scarlets were boosted by the return of Wales full-back Blair Murray, who had made six changes from the side that defeated Ulster.

The home team predominated the opening exchanges and a knock-on knock-on prevented a James Botham try early in the second half.

After conceding a penalty close to the line, Scarlets’ prop Henry Thomas was fortunate to avoid being sent off, but visiting captain Macleod was given a warning about how many of his teammates had acted unfairly.

The hosts were unable to exert any pressure, as the defense of Scarlets resisted the wave of attacks.

Scarlets taught their rivals a lesson in ruthlessness by giving center James the chance to stroll over with Joe Hawkins scoring from the penalty spot with eighteen Fletcher Anderson making the hard yards.

Referee Ben Breakspear issued a decision to Macleod for a ridiculous off-the-ball tackle on Sheedy, despite the number of penalties awarded.

When Davies was sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on, Scarlets were reduced to 13 men a few minutes later.

When Grady was given the ball, Sheedy converted from the touchline, to score from the left corner, Cardiff made their numerical advantage known.

When Cardiff had a two-man overlap, Murray managed to avoid being the third Scarlets player to receive a yellow card after being found guilty of a tackle.

A Sheedy penalty just before the interval gave Cardiff a 10-7 half-time lead, and the Scarlets’ obstinate defense held on unwavering ground.

Thomas and James held up Cardiff number eight Alun Lawrence over the Scarlets line in the second half, which was originally written in the same style.

As scrum-half Davies continued his Arms Park try-scoring love affair by sniping down the side, Peel’s side once more showed their opponents a clinical edge. The Scarlets had a four-point lead after converting from Hawkins.

When Adams was fortunate enough to receive a cunning Sheedy chip to expertly score in the corner, that quickly vanished.

Taulupe Faletau, who has recovered from a knee injury he sustained in October that prevented him from playing in the November Tests, made a number eight change in Cardiff.

Davies jumped up for a signature 70-meter interception after Scarlets refused to leave.

A sharp Faletau break, which was followed by a third Scarlets yellow card for center Williams for a professional foul at a ruck, kept the tie at a tumultuous pace.

Before Murray was fouled in the 78th minute, Cardiff was unable to score any points on the extra player.

The first of five festive derbies in Wales took place on December 26 and January 1 with two more games taking place on January 26.

At the end of the year, it remains to be seen how the local derby scene will look.

The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) has proposed to cut one of its four professional sides, making it uncertain at this time in Wales’ domestic game.

The governing body of Welsh rugby has proposed to grant three professional men’s clubs a license.

One in Cardiff, one in the east, and one in the west could lead to a Swansea-based Ospreys and Scarlets survival battle.

Cardiff was temporarily put in administration in April, but the WRU eventually decided to take control of the business, with the governing body anticipating a new year’s sale to new investors.

Another way the governing body could get its wish of losing a men’s professional side has been linked to the owners of Ospreys, Y11 Sport &amp, Media.

Ospreys or the club’s owners have so far not commented on the rumors about Cardiff, which have sparked concern among supporters for their side’s future.

Replacements: Beetham, Barratt, Wainwright, Thornton, Mann, Faletau, Mulder, and E Lloyd.

Murray, Rogers, James, James, J Williams, Anderson, Mee, Hawkins, G Davies, Mathias, Elias, H Thomas, Lousi, Ball, Douglas, Macleod (capt).

Van Der Merwe, Hepburn, H O’Connor, T Davies, Taylor, A Hughes, Price, and J Roberts are the replacements.

Sin-bin: Macleod 26, G Davies 28, J Williams 60.

Referee: Wales’ Ben Breakspear

Assistants: Ben Whitehouse & Ben Connor (Wales).

Daryl Gurney, the 22nd seed, lost in a deciding set at Alexandra Palace in the first round, just short of becoming the second woman player to win a match at the PDC World Championship.

The Doncaster-born 21-year-old was hoping to emulate Fallon Sherrock, who won two matches at the 2020 tournament and made history.

The first four sets were played against the throw, with Gurney twice winning the set before being pegged back with the final leg.

In the second set, Greaves needed just 37 darts to win three straight sets, with a 128 checkout on the bullseye sealing a 12-dart throwback and a 10-darter to bring the match level at one set.

Gurney made it one more leg of victory by scoring a stunning 144 checkout in the decider shortly after Greaves had only a few inches to extend the game’s lead to a close second.

She is the best female darts player on earth, according to Gurney, a two-time major champion and Northern Ireland World Cup winner in June.

He stated on stage that if a darts player could win the World Championship or any major, they should be that person. What a player.

Greaves’ participation in the World Championships, which came to an end in 2025, was high on the adage.

She won the Women’s Series title, helped by her 86-game winning streak at the end of the campaign, made it to the World Youth Championship final, and received a PDC tour card for the following year as a result of her performances on the Development Tour.

Gurney, 39, continued, “She’s going to be a force to be reckoned with next year.” She will be successful in PDC competitions.

In her only previous appearance at the World Championship in December 2022, Greaves fell to William O’Connor with a 3:0 loss. In each of the following two years, she turned down invitations and instead chose to compete in the WDF Women’s World Championship, which she won both times.

Nathan Aspinall, the former World Matchplay champion, rallied to win 3-1 and seal victory with a 170 checkout after dropping the first set in his match against Lourence Ilagan of the Philippines.

Leonard Gates, who defeated Mickey Mansell 3-2 earlier in the day, will face English 15th seed Aspinall in round two.

Josh Rock of Northern Ireland opened his campaign with a 3-1 victory over Gemma Hayter of England.

Rock, 24, is the tournament’s 11th seed, has qualified for the semi-finals of the World Matchplay, World Series Finals, and UK Open this year, and has won the World Cup alongside Gurney, making him one of the favorites to win the world title.

Hayter pulled a set back after falling 2-0 behind after Rock’s poor finishing in the third set, which included only one of his 11 doubles attempts.

As the match progressed, her level increased, and she ended up in the final set with a set of 81 to win. In round two, Rock will face Australian Joe Comito.

As a nine-day first-round match-up came to an end, Kevin Doets, Ryan Meikle, and Keane Barry were the other winners.

From 12: 30 GMT:

From 19: 00 GMT:

Aviva Stadium for the United Rugby Championship

Leinster 24 (7)

Trys: Byrne, Prendergast, Lowe, Lowe, Lowe, Sheehan

Ulster 20 (17)

In the first of the festive interprovincial derbies in the United Rugby Championship, champions Leinster defeated Ulster by overcoming a 10-point half-time deficit at Aviva Stadium.

Leo Cullen’s side used a strong bench to fend off their eager fans in Dublin, who were once more at their best.

Richie Murphy’s side had a lead after Werner Kok scored twice, and Tom Stewart scored a try, but Leinster’s bench was stretched to the point where their superiority was revealed in the second half.

With five minutes left, replacement hooker Dan Sheehan scored the winning try from a maul, Joshua Kenny and James Lowe, who had brought the hosts back into contact.

Ulster exploited Leinster’s lack of discipline to work the opening score.

A precise cross-field kick from Jack Murphy, who was playing at the time with penalty advantage after a Leinster offside, was drilled over Ciaran Frawley’s head with Kok on hand to capitalize on the fortuitous bounce and score.

Robert Baloucoune appeared to have doubled the lead right away, but a loose Sam Prendergast pass made it easy for the covering Lowe to catch his kick.

Rieko Ioane, who made his first URC appearance with a score, instead gave Leinster the lead 14 minutes before half-time.

After the hosts’ eliciting a spell of genuine patience, Prendergast accidentally threw a miss-pass that the All Black awkwardly juggled before gathering and heading over the line.

Before half-time, Leinster were pressing to increase their lead, but Nathan Doak hacked an offload that Harry Tector compelled into opposition territory. Kok is the one who capitalizes and scores once more.

Ulster’s quick defense was successful despite conceding six penalties in the opening period.

Leinster finally reached the outside with a penalty 15 minutes after the restart, and Kenny scored in the corner.

The arrival of Paddy McCarthy, Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong, and Joe McCarthy was a major boost to the Leinster bench’s momentum.

However, James Ryan received a yellow card for a dangerous clearance, which appeared to have stopped Leinster’s progress.

With just a quarter of an hour left, Leinster would win the sin-bin with 14 men thanks to Lowe’s try. However, a Doak penalty gave the penalty.

Referee Andrew Brace ruled that David McCann’s knock-on was deliberate, and Ulster were given a yellow card for it while still holding on to a three-point lead.

The visitors would lose the game if the back row’s transgression occurred in the 71st minute and was too difficult to hold on to win.

The pressure finally came to an end when Sheehan and his fellow forwards drove over the line for the winning try with a penalty knocked into the corner after five minutes of Ulster’s disdiscipline.

Andrew, Crean, Wilson, Hopes, Ward, McKee, Flannery, and McIlroy were the replacements.

McCann receives a yellow card.

Leinster: Frawley, Kenny, Ioane, Tector, Lowe, Prendergast, McGrath, Boyle, G McCarthy, Slimani, Deeny, Ryan, Soroka, Penny, Conan (capt.).

Sheehan, P. McCarthy, Furlong, J. McCarthy, Deegan, Gunne, Byrne, Moloney, and replacements.

Ryan receives a yellow card

Aviva Stadium for the United Rugby Championship

Leinster 24 (7)

Trys: Byrne, Prendergast, Lowe, Lowe, Lowe, Sheehan

Ulster 20 (17)

In the first of the festive interprovincial derbies in the United Rugby Championship, champions Leinster defeated Ulster by overcoming a 10-point half-time deficit at Aviva Stadium.

Leo Cullen’s side used a strong bench to fend off their eager fans in Dublin, who were once more at their best.

Richie Murphy’s side had a lead after Werner Kok scored twice, and Tom Stewart scored a try, but Leinster’s bench was stretched to the point where their superiority was revealed in the second half.

With five minutes left, replacement hooker Dan Sheehan scored the winning try from a maul, Joshua Kenny and James Lowe, who had brought the hosts back into contact.

Ulster exploited Leinster’s lack of discipline to work the opening score.

A precise cross-field kick from Jack Murphy, who was playing at the time with penalty advantage after a Leinster offside, was drilled over Ciaran Frawley’s head with Kok on hand to capitalize on the fortuitous bounce and score.

Robert Baloucoune appeared to have doubled the lead right away, but a loose Sam Prendergast pass made it easy for the covering Lowe to catch his kick.

Rieko Ioane, who made his first URC appearance with a score, instead gave Leinster the lead 14 minutes before half-time.

After the hosts’ eliciting a spell of genuine patience, Prendergast accidentally threw a miss-pass that the All Black awkwardly juggled before gathering and heading over the line.

Before half-time, Leinster were pressing to increase their lead, but Nathan Doak hacked an offload that Harry Tector compelled into opposition territory. Kok is the one who capitalizes and scores once more.

Ulster’s quick defense was successful despite conceding six penalties in the opening period.

Leinster finally reached the outside with a penalty 15 minutes after the restart, and Kenny scored in the corner.

The arrival of Paddy McCarthy, Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong, and Joe McCarthy was a major boost to the Leinster bench’s momentum.

However, James Ryan received a yellow card for a dangerous clearance, which appeared to have stopped Leinster’s progress.

With just a quarter of an hour left, Leinster would win the sin-bin with 14 men thanks to Lowe’s try. However, a Doak penalty gave the penalty.

Referee Andrew Brace ruled that David McCann’s knock-on was deliberate, and Ulster were given a yellow card for it while still holding on to a three-point lead.

The visitors would lose the game if the back row’s transgression occurred in the 71st minute and was too difficult to hold on to win.

The pressure finally came to an end when Sheehan and his fellow forwards drove over the line for the winning try with a penalty knocked into the corner after five minutes of Ulster’s disdiscipline.

Andrew, Crean, Wilson, Hopes, Ward, McKee, Flannery, and McIlroy were the replacements.

McCann receives a yellow card.

Leinster: Frawley, Kenny, Ioane, Tector, Lowe, Prendergast, McGrath, Boyle, G McCarthy, Slimani, Deeny, Ryan, Soroka, Penny, Conan (capt.).

Sheehan, P. McCarthy, Furlong, J. McCarthy, Deegan, Gunne, Byrne, Moloney, and replacements.

Ryan receives a yellow card