Category News

Premiership Rugby Cup semi-final

Newcastle (15) 29

Tries: Hearle, McCallum, Stevenson 2 Cons: Connon 3 Pens: Connon

Bath (19) 41

Bath booked their place in the Premiership Rugby Cup final after edging a thrilling and high quality semi-final against Newcastle Falcons at Kingston Park.

If a match-up between the Premiership leaders and the division’s whipping boys might, on paper, have looked a one-sided affair, this offering was always close and entertaining.

But Johann van Graan’s side ultimately had too much in the locker for the Falcons, who led early and fought back from 19-8 to lead by three until just before the hour mark.

Two tries and a penalty from Bath from there to the final whistle delivered a scoreline which scarcely did justice to Steve Diamond’s beaten side.

Bath will learn their opponents for the final on Friday, 14 March when Exeter Chiefs and Ealing Trailfinders meet in the second semi-final at Sandy Park on Saturday.

If victory for Bath delivered the chance to lift a first piece of silverware since their European Challenge Cup win in 2008, defeat for Newcastle Falcons after a sterling campaign in this competition should bring hope.

Despite their struggles in the league, Newcastle have been superb in this competition, and it continued with Ben Stevenson’s solo try-scoring effort on 51 minutes the highlight of the night.

The hosts started hard and fast and left both Bath and the spectators at Kingston Park wondering whether the Premiership table was not the wrong way round.

A penalty on 18 minutes put the Falcons 8-0 up but, with the smelling salts starting to work, Bath shook off their lethargy to respond with three tries before half-time.

Ethan Staddon was on the end of a flowing move out right, Alfie Barbeary wriggled through on the left just before the half-hour mark, and Austin Emens pounced on Max Ojomoh’s grubber kick to score.

However, just as Bath had looked to have re-established the natural order, Newcastle hit back with a converted try to make it 15-19 at the break, Arnold again flattening a route through and Murray McCallum driving over.

Four minutes into the second period, Falcons were in front again when quarter-final hat-trick hero Jamie Blamire played a pass inside for Ben Stevenson to finish.

The night’s best moment came next – Stevenson took a high ball deep in his own half, hoisted it into the night sky, and collected his kick just over halfway before running it home.

Falcons coach Steve Diamond speaking to BBC Radio Newcastle:

“On the night probably a fair result in that they did the basics better than us, but the competition has been good for us and has built some momentum.

” We have a few days off and then we have two of the biggest games we’ll ever have.

Bath hooker Tom Dunn speaking to TNT Sports:

“This cup would be fantastic to win but I must pay a lot of credit to the boys who played in the group stages.

” Any silverware, you are not going to turn your noses up at, and to win silverware here would be fantastic.

Replacements: Fletcher, Rewcastle, Palframan, de Chaves, Leatherbarrow, James Elliott, Wilkinson, Spencer.

Bath: Emens, Cokanasiga, Ojomoh, Butt, McConnachie, Donoghue, Carr-Smith, Caldwell, Dunn, Verden, Richards (capt), Molony, Green, Staddon, Barbeary

Replacements: Spandler, van Wyk, Griffin, Cuckson, Reid, Le Roux, Hennessey, Coetzee.

Betfred Super League

Castleford (6) 22

Tries: Horne, Mustapha, Rimbu Goals: Hoy 5

Salford (6) 14

Castleford Tigers earned their first Super League win of the season as they beat Salford Red Devils in an entertaining match at The Jungle.

In a battle between the league’s bottom two clubs, Judah Rimbu’s try five minutes from time won the match for the hosts.

Five kicks from Tex Hoy as well as tries from Liam Horne and Muizz Mustapha helped the Tigers earn their first two points of the campaign.

Following an error-ridden first 20 minutes, Salford captain Watkins was sent to the sin-bin for a late shot on Daejarn Asi.

Within a minute, Salford’s 12-man resistance was breached when debutant Daniel Okore handed off a tackle and supplied Horne, who found a gap to dart over and open the scoring.

The visitors rallied, however, and after his return to the field, a stunning offload from Watkins found Brierley who weaved inside Fletcher Rooney’s despairing dive to score only the Red Devils ‘ second Super League try of the season.

Salford – whose players have now been paid for the month of February – ended the half the stronger and after Sneyd delivered a majestic kick to earn a 40-20, Kai Morgan was held up just before the whitewash on the last tackle.

Castleford thought they had retaken the lead within 60 seconds of the restart, but following a review from video referee Ben Thaler, Mustapha was adjudged to have knocked on before Nimbu dotted the ball down.

Three minutes later, the Tigers were not to be denied as the same two combined when Nimbu found Mustapha, who burst through to dive over next to the sticks.

Hoy’s third successful kick extended the Tigers ‘ lead, but they were pegged back soon after when Morgan’s super linebreak created the simplest of chances for Watkins to score and reduced the deficit to two points after Sneyd’s useful kick from the right side.

Following more great work from Rimbu, Josh Simms thought he scored in the corner but replays showed the Tigers winger was unable to ground the ball, instead hitting the ball against his leg.

After Salford’s second successful captain’s challenge in as many minutes, Sneyd’s third successful kick levelled the scores at 14-14 – a kick which also meant he surpassed 2, 500 Super League points in his career.

Castleford Tigers coach Danny McGuire told BBC Radio Leeds:

On his first win in charge:

“Probably a bit of relief to be honest. I’m really pleased for the players, seeing what they’ve put themselves through in pre-season.

” They kept working for each other and that’s what we’re trying to bring to the club.

“Salford have got some really good players and they threw caution to the wind at the end so I’m really happy we’ve got the win”.

Salford Red Devils coach Paul Rowley told BBC Radio Manchester:

“I’m very grateful to the team. To get through this weekend was the main thing and to get through with some dignity, effort and do the badge proud.

” Never ever was it going to be a polished performance. We can’t do because we haven’t practised.

Interchanges: Horne, Rimbu, Mustapha, Namo.

Salford: Brierley, Hankinson, MacDonald, Marsters, Cross, Atkin, Sneyd, Ormondroyd, Morgan, Sangare, Chan, Watkins, Hill.

Interchanges: Foster, Wilson, Bullock, Wright.

Sin-bin: Watkins

Britain’s Caroline Dubois was taken the distance by Bo Mi Re Shin but claimed victory by majority decision to retain her IBF lightweight title at the Royal Albert Hall.

Dubois, 24, showed great shot selection and neat footwork to come through her second defence of the belt on the all-female card to mark International Women’s Day on Saturday.

The scorecards read 98-93 98-92 to Dubois, with one judge seeing it as a 95-95 draw.

“It was very rough and tough. Watching her fights previously with the team, that’s what she does. Charges in, head down and swings. She did exactly what I expected”, Dubois told Sky Sports.

“I feel like I need to learn how to fight on the inside. It’s one thing doing it in sparring, but it’s another thing doing it in the ring. The crowd, the lights, the judges, it’s important to master that. I tried to do it, I don’t know if I was successful but I tried”.

Dubois was upgraded to world champion after Katie Taylor vacated her belt. Her first defence, against Jessica Camara in January, ended in a technical draw after a clash of heads.

Underdog Shin was on a three-fight winning streak since losing a close decision to former world champion Delfine Persoon in May 2023.

The contest was chief support to the welterweight unification world-title fight between Natasha Jonas and Lauren Price, which takes place later on Friday.

Shin looked game in the opening round, landing a left hook as Dubois attacked the body, but the champion proved far too slick and sent the challenger stumbling across the ring with a right hook of her own.

Dubois invested in shots to the body early and showed great agility to create angles before resetting and coming again.

Shin was rocked twice in the fourth, initially by a three-punch combination before a Dubois right hook drew a reaction on the bell.

Trainer Shane McGuigan urged Dubois to take her time before round six and she responded by picking her shots more carefully.

South Korean Shin, who has not lost inside the distance in 23 previous fights, showed durability – even if she was unable to match the output of her opponent.

Dubois was stung with a straight right in the ninth and looked reckless in the final round as both fighters let their hands fly for a highly entertaining two minutes.

Karriss Artingstall made easy work of Raven Chapman, winning by unanimous decision to become the inaugural women’s British featherweight champion.

Artingstall landed a straight left in round two to send Chapman down to the canvas and fought smartly at range with her jab throughout.

Chapman’s corner stressed that she needed to “empty the tank” when sending her out for the final round, but the Norfolk fighter was unable to close the distance and land clean.

It is a second successive defeat for Chapman after falling short against WBC featherweight champion Skye Nicolson in October.

Artingstall, who beat Nicolson on her way to winning a bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, has won all seven fights since turning professional.

The 30-year-old is targeting a world title fight later this year with Nicolson and IBF champion Nina Meinke in her sights.

“I’d love to go back and speak to my team to see what they think is next”, Artingstall told Sky Sports.

“I believe Nina Meinke has got a world title. I believe if I can get that off her then it makes for a perfect fight against Skye Nicolson. I’d love to get that fight at the end of the year.

” I think if I get a world title off Meinke, why shouldn’t that happen? It would be a cracking fight, give her a chance at getting revenge from the Olympics. “

Earlier in the night, Francesca Hennessy extended her perfect record to six with a unanimous decision win over Gemma Ruegg.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says he will judge players like Jack Grealish solely on what they do “on the pitch”, and not what they do in their spare time.

Earlier this week, pictures were shared on social media of forward Grealish at a social club with friends, with further reports published on Mail Online of him on a night out in Newcastle on the same evening.

Both events were said to have been on Sunday, the day after City’s FA Cup fifth-round win over Plymouth, when England international Grealish played the full 90 minutes.

Mail Online said Grealish spent time speaking to locals, posing for pictures and put money behind the North East social club bar to pay for other customers ‘ drinks.

Last month the £100m signing – who has started just one Premier League game since 4 December – was filmed leaving a London hotspot.

Asked about the images of Grealish, Guardiola said: “A day off is a day off.

” They have private lives to do whatever they want. I’m not going to control what they do in their private life.

Guardiola brought in four new players during the winter transfer window, including Egypt forward Omar Marmoush from Eintracht Frankfurt for £59m.

Further additions are anticipated in the summer as City look to reset after disappointing Premier League and Champions League campaigns.

Grealish’s contract expires in 2027 and there are question marks over his future heading into a World Cup year, after he missed out on selection for Euro 2024.

“It’s so good to have a dream to play in the World Cup and Euros with his national team”, said Guardiola. “I’m not bothered with that.

” What happens in terms of Jack, in terms of everyone, they will be treated at the end of the season.

Real Madrid willing to pay for early Trent Alexander-Arnold arrival, Arsenal lead Tottenham in Benjamin Sesko pursuit and Viktor Gyokeres wants to leave Sporting.

Real Madrid are ready to pay Liverpool a fee to sign England right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, 26, before the Club World Cup in June. (Sun)

Arsenal are leading Tottenham in the race to sign Slovenia striker Benjamin Sesko, 21, from RB Leipzig. (Football Insider)

Sweden striker Viktor Gyokeres, 26, has signalled his desire to leave Sporting this summer. (Record – in Portuguese)

Liverpool and Arsenal could afford to sign Alexander Isak, 25, in the summer without breaching financial rules, despite Newcastle valuing the Sweden striker at £150m. (Football Insider)

Liverpool are determined to sign Hungary left-back Milos Kerkez, 21, from Bournemouth in the summer, while Real Madrid are also looking at a potential deal. (Teamtalk)

England midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, 19, is minded to reject a new contract offer from Manchester United and move abroad, with the club open to selling him for about £70m. (Guardian)

Harry Kane could return to the Premier League this summer with Bayern Munich considering allowing the England striker, 31, to leave if a club meets his £67m release clause. (Sun)

Newcastle could sign Porto and Spain forward Samu Aghehowa for a lower amount than his £82.5m release clause this summer, with Arsenal, Aston Villa and West Ham all thought to be monitoring the 20-year-old’s situation. (Football insider)

Liverpool are keen on a move for Stuttgart and Germany midfielder Angelo Stiller, 23. (Bild via the Daily Briefing – in German)

Manchester United are actively looking for opportunities to part with Brazil midfielder Casemiro, 33, who wants to be more than a bit-part player. (Teamtalk)

Canada forward Jonathan David, 25, is keen on a move to England this summer when his contract expires at Lille, with Manchester United, Tottenham, Chelsea and Newcastle all interested. (Caught Offside)

Juventus are considering a move for Atalanta trio Brazil midfielder Ederson, 25, Nigeria forward Ademola Lookman, 27, and Italy striker Mateo Retegui, 25. (La Gazzetta dello Sport – in Italian)