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Scotland Secure Convincing Calcutta Cup Victory Over England
Scotland rebounded from their Six Nations loss to Italy the previous week, earning a bonus-point victory over England in a thrilling Calcutta Cup match at Murrayfield.
The scoring breakdown was as follows: Jones scored two tries, while Ritchie and White each added one. Russell successfully converted four and also kicked a penalty.
England's points came from tries by Arundell and Earl, with Ford converting one and kicking two penalties.
Following their Six Nations loss to Italy the previous week, Scotland rebounded with a bonus-point victory over England in the Calcutta Cup at Murrayfield, in a match that was both intense and thrilling.
Led by the exceptional Finn Russell, Scotland played with a relentless intensity that left England struggling to cope.
Despite facing criticism prior to the match, Gregor Townsend's team made a strong start, taking a 17-0 lead within the first quarter of an hour.
Russell kicked a penalty, and Jones, Ritchie, and White scored tries, while England's response consisted of a converted try by Arundell and a penalty by Ford.
Arundell's match was marked by two yellow cards in the first half, resulting in England playing with 14 men for 30 minutes, during which time Scotland scored 14 points.
At halftime, Scotland held a 24-10 lead, which Ford narrowed early in the second half with a penalty, before Jones scored his second try after a charged-down Ford drop goal attempt.
Unlike in previous matches, Scotland maintained their intensity and did not let their lead slip, as they effectively countered England's pressure with strong defense and counterattacks.
Although Earls scored a late try to reduce the deficit, it had little impact on the outcome, as Murrayfield celebrated a convincing Scottish victory.
The loss marked a significant setback for England, who had been seeking their 13th consecutive win and first victory in Edinburgh since 2020.
Finn Russell played a crucial role in Scotland's win, demonstrating his skill and vision throughout the match.
After a disappointing performance in Rome, Scotland delivered a strong reaction, showcasing their intensity, accuracy, and ruthlessness from the outset.
The match began with Russell kicking an early penalty, which set the tone for Scotland's dominant start, as they played direct and physical rugby that England struggled to match.
Arundell's first yellow card, received within 10 minutes, proved costly for England, as Scotland capitalized on the numerical advantage, with Russell orchestrating the attacks.
Russell's clever playmaking created a try-scoring opportunity, which Jones exploited by sprinting past Maro Itoje after receiving a one-handed pass from Russell.
The Scottish fly-half extended the lead to 10-0, and his team continued to build momentum, addressing the lack of ruthlessness that had hindered them in Rome.
In their next attack, Scotland demonstrated their speed and skill, as Sione Tuipulotu's long pass found Ritchie on the left wing, and the blindside scored with ease.
Russell's conversion made it 17-0, and England, who had been heavy favorites, found themselves reeling from the intense Scottish start.
England eventually gained some traction, with their dominant scrum and powerful runners allowing them to penetrate Scotland's 22, and Arundell scored a try after a delayed pass from Ford.
Ford reduced the deficit to seven points with a penalty, but Scotland quickly responded with their third try, sparked by Russell's inventive play.
The Scottish fly-half's ingenuity created an opportunity, as he evaded several defenders and kicked the ball while falling, and Ellis Genge's error allowed White to score a try.
Russell's conversion extended the lead to 14 points, and Arundell's second yellow card, received just before halftime, further compounded England's difficulties.
The wing's indiscretion, which resulted in a 20-minute red card, left England facing an uphill task in the second half.
England's scrum superiority allowed them to narrow the gap early in the second half, with Ford kicking a penalty, but Scotland's defense held firm.
As England applied pressure, Scotland's defense remained solid, and Ford opted to take a drop goal, which backfired when Fagerson charged down the kick.
The loose ball was scooped up by Fagerson, who fed Jones, and the Scottish center scored his second try, securing a bonus point for his team.
Russell's conversion extended the lead to 18 points, and England's attempts to reduce the deficit were ultimately unsuccessful.
Although England emptied their bench and introduced several heavy hitters, they could only manage a late try by Earl, converted by Ford, which reduced the deficit to 11 points.
The final score reflected Scotland's dominant performance, as they secured a well-deserved victory, with the home fans celebrating a memorable win.
The Scotland team consisted of: Jordan, Steyn, Jones, Tuipulotu, Dobie, Russell, White; McBeth, Turner, Z Fagerson, Brown, Cummings, Ritchie, Darge, Dempsey.
The replacements were: Cherry, Schoeman, Millar-Mills, Williamson, M Fagerson, Horne, Hastings, Graham.
The England team was: Steward; Roebuck, Freeman, Dingwall, Arundell; Ford, Mitchell; Genge, Cowan-Dickie, Heyes, Chessum, Itoje, Pepper, Underhill, Earl.
The England replacements were: George, Rodd, Davison, Coles, Pollock, T Curry, Spencer, F Smith.
The match was refereed by Nika Amashukeli from Georgia.
News
Hodgkinson Eyes World Record After Setting New Benchmark
At the UK Athletics Indoor Championships in Birmingham, Keely Hodgkinson expressed her intention to pursue a world record, having recently shattered the British 800m record.
In a dominant display, Keely Hodgkinson finished nine seconds clear of the field in the 800m event at the UK Athletics Indoor Championships in Birmingham.
Following her record-breaking performance at the UK Athletics Indoor Championships, Keely Hodgkinson has set her sights on achieving a new world record in the 800m event.
The 23-year-old Olympic gold medalist from 2024 delivered an impressive time of 1:56.33 in the heats, surpassing her own British record by nearly one second.
This achievement marked the fastest women's 800m time in 24 years and the third-fastest in history.
Although she had announced prior to the event that she would not participate in the final due to her upcoming appearance at the Hauts-de-France Pas-de-Calais Trophee in France, Hodgkinson viewed the run as an opportunity for personal growth.
She explained that her primary goal was to qualify for the upcoming world championships in Poland, which is why she only participated in one round.
Hodgkinson considered the experience a valuable test, given that it had been three years since she last competed indoors, and she recognized the need to maintain her focus.
While not initially intending to set a world-leading time, Hodgkinson started strongly and managed to sustain her pace, resulting in a pleasant surprise and a strong overall performance.
When questioned about her ambition to break Jolanda Ceplak's indoor world record of 1:55.82, set in 2002, Hodgkinson expressed her determination, stating that she has long been vocal about her desire to claim the record.
Hodgkinson emphasized that she believes the record is within her reach and intends to make a serious attempt to break it.
On the first day of the championships, Dina Asher-Smith delivered a remarkable performance, winning the women's 60m title with a time of 7.05 seconds, narrowly edging out Amy Hunt by a tenth of a second and establishing a new championship record.
In a post-event interview, the 27-year-old Asher-Smith mentioned that she had been feeling strong throughout the indoor season, noting that sometimes patience and race sharpness are essential for achieving fast times.
Asher-Smith's winning margin over Amy Hunt was a mere tenth of a second.
Jeremiah Azu, the 24-year-old world and European indoor champion, successfully defended his UK title in the men's 60m, achieving a season's best time of 6.56 seconds.
Molly Caudery regained the women's pole vault title by clearing a height of 4.65m, while Owen Heard secured the men's title with a jump of 5.55m.
Lucy Hadaway emerged victorious in the women's long jump with a leap of 6.45m, and Tito Odunaike took the men's triple jump title with a distance of 15.45m.
Abigail Pawlett won the women's 60m hurdles with a personal best time of 8.05 seconds, and Daniel Goriola claimed the men's title with a season's best of 7.78 seconds.
Madeline Down finished first in the women's para 60m final with a time of 8.24 seconds, and Kevin Santos won the men's title with a time of 6.93 seconds.
News
Hull edge out Bradford in Super League comeback match
Hull FC narrowly defeated Bradford Bulls 27-20 at the MKM Stadium, thwarting the latter’s bid for a comeback win in their Super League return.
A try from Harvey Barron contributed to Hull FC's win over the Bradford Bulls.
The scoring breakdown for Hull FC included tries from Batchelor, Barron, Litten, and Cust, with Pryce making five goals and adding a drop goal.
Bradford's scoring consisted of tries by Blake and two from Wynne, with Milnes converting four goals.
Bradford Bulls' return to Super League after an 11-year absence ended in a narrow 27-20 defeat to Hull FC, who secured the win in the final minutes of the match at the MKM Stadium.
Following York Knights' one-point upset over reigning champions Hull KR just 48 hours prior, Bradford Bulls found themselves on the losing end of another thrilling season-opening match.
The Bulls put up a strong fight, with the score tied and only three minutes remaining in regular time, making it a closely contested match until the end.
A drop goal by Hull FC's Will Pryce gave his team the lead, and Cade Cust sealed the victory with a try in the 79th minute.
The Hull FC lineup consisted of Pryce, Barron, Hardaker, Litten, Martin, Kemp, Sezer, Knight, Bourouh, Hill, Batchelor, Romano, and Aydin.
Hull FC's interchange players were Cust, Fash, Lisone, and Sao.
The Bradford team included Aekins, Okunbor, Marsters, Blake, Wynne, Keyes, Milnes, Sutton, Ackers, Lewis, Russell, Fulton, and Mellor.
Bradford's interchange players were Souter, Scurr, Doro, and Chamberlain.
The match was refereed by Marcus Griffiths.
News
Shearer calls for Digne dismissal over reckless challenge
Alan Shearer, Wayne Rooney, and Dion Dublin weighed in on whether Aston Villa’s Lucas Digne deserved a red card for his high challenge on Norwich City’s Jacob Murphy.
A debate is underway regarding Aston Villa's Lucas Digne, with former footballers Alan Shearer, Wayne Rooney, and Dion Dublin weighing in on whether his high challenge on Jacob Murphy warranted a red card for Aston Villa.
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