Three first-half tries by fullback Amiria Marsh propelled defending champion New Zealand to a 50-0 victory over Samoa at the Women's Rugby World Cup on Monday.
Also, France brought Australia to earth with a 24-10 win, England overwhelmed South Africa 74-8, Scotland outlasted Kazakhstan 32-17, the US rebounded from an opening loss to England by defeating Ireland 24-11, and Canada spanked Spain 79-0.
Only New Zealand, France, England and Scotland remain unbeaten after two rounds. With semi-final berths at stake in Friday's last preliminary round, key matches include England vs. France and Australia vs. US, with points difference likely to be needed.
PHOTO: AFP
Most of Samoa's squad play in New Zealand but its knowledge was no help as the Black Ferns posted eight tries following a 10-try rout of host Canada last Friday.
Beside the expert support of Marsh, the other tryscorers were winger Victoria Blackledge, captain Rochelle Martin, her replacement No. 8 Rachel Makata, flanker Melissa Ruscoe, and replacement fullback Anna Richards.
Their defense held out the Samoans, who had prolonged periods of attack in the second half.
PHOTO: AFP
"We feel that with Canada and Samoa as our first two matches we have gotten our two solid and physical matchups out of the way," said New Zealand coach Jed Rowlands.
France captain Estelle Sartini set up a sixth-minute try for winger Catherine Devilliers, then took advantage of Australian Paige Butcher's sinbinning to put over No. 8 Delphine Plantet.
Devilliers' second touchdown made it 17-0 at halftime, and center Dalila Boukerma's converted try made it 24-0 before Australia finally answered through replacement flanker Kim Wilson.
"We defended very well," Sartini said. "The Australians were very big and could have bullied us but we didn't let that happen and we took the game to them."
England captain Sue Day scored four of its 12 tries against South Africa, and flyhalf Shelley Rae contributed a try and seven conversions.
The US took advantage of their forward might and drove over flanker Phaidra Knight and lock Erin Carter for converted tries and a 14-3 halftime lead. Flyhalf Kristin Baja scored within two minutes of the restart, but while Knight was yellow-carded Ireland crossed through prop Gillian McAlister. Knight returned to claim a vital bonus-point try.
Scotland appeared to have victory in hand when it led 25-5 but two late tries lifted Kazakhstan within eight, and it took a last-second try by Scotland winger Rhona Shepherd, in her 50th cap, to seal the result.
Winger Maria Gallo notched five tries for Canada in a 13-try demolition of Spain, which played without Ines Alberdi Etxegibel, who was suspended for one match for stamping in the previous game against Scotland.
Shohei Ohtani on Wednesday homered for the fifth consecutive game, tying a Los Angeles Dodgers franchise record. Yankees star Aaron Judge was the last player to homer in five consecutive games, accomplishing that feat last year. Ohtani, who leads the National League with 37 home runs, homered in the first inning off Minnesota Twins starter Chris Paddack. He hit a slow curveball 134m to center. He carried the bat midway down the first-base line and then did a bat flip. He did not hit a home run later in the game with the Dodgers trailing, but his presence was felt. With two outs
US top seed Taylor Fritz dropped an early yesterday morning marathon to Alejandro Davidovich-Fokina of Spain, while the UK’s Emma Raducanu and Canada’s Leylah Fernandez reached the semi-finals of the ATP and WTA DC Open. World number four Fritz, two points from victory in the ninth game, dropped the last five games in falling to the 26th-ranked Spaniard 7-6 (7/3), 3-6, 7-5 after three hours and five minutes in a match ending just before 2am. Davidovich-Fokina advanced to the semi-final against US fourth seed Ben Shelton, who beat sixth-seeded hometown hero Frances Tiafoe 7-6 (7/2), 6-4. Fritz, who had 20 aces and six
Taiwan’s world No. 6 shuttler Chou Tien-chen yesterday defeated India’s H.S. Prannoy to advance to the quarter-finals of the China Open in Changzhou. It was former world No. 2 Chou’s eighth win in 14 matches against Prannoy, who had earlier this week lamented the age divide between him and up-and-comers, although he is only two years younger than 35-year-old Chou. The Taiwanese, who is seeded sixth at the tournament, rebounded from a close 21-18 loss in game 1 on Court 2 at the Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium. He bounced back to take the next games 21-15, 21-8 and set up a tough quarter-final
Ben O’Connor won Thursday’s monster Alpine stage to the ski resort of Courchevel as three-time Tour de France champion Tadej Pogacar responded to attacks from Jonas Vingegaard and dropped him to cement his grip on the yellow jersey. With just three stages left before the race ends in Paris, Pogacar looks poised to retain his title, with a comfortable lead of more than 4 minutes over Vingegaard, a two-time champion. Stage 18 featured three extremely difficult ascents, including the 26.4km climb of the Col de La Loze to the finish. At 2,304m, La Loze is the highest summit in this year’s Tour. Two
RSS