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.
Jonas Vingegaard on Tuesday claimed the overall Vuelta a Espana lead while Jay Vine earned the stage 10 victory for his second triumph of the race. Two-time Tour de France winner Vingegaard overhauled Torstein Traen’s lead to head the general classification by 26 seconds from the Norwegian, with Joao Almeida third and trailing the Dane by 38 seconds. Vine put in an unmatchable performance on the final climb to finish ahead of Spanish Movistar riders Pablo Castrillo and Javier Romo. “Back in red, I’m happy with it, it’s a beautiful jersey,” Vingegaard said. “I’m happy with how the day went,
Australian Alex de Minaur reached the second week of the US Open for the third year in a row with little fanfare on Saturday and said he intended to keep winning until the tournament organizers were forced to give him better billing. Despite being the eighth seed and a quarter-finalist last year at Flushing Meadows, De Minaur’s third-round match against German Daniel Altmaier was scheduled for Court 17 — the smallest of the four stadium venues in the precinct. “It is a little bit of a headscratcher for me. I’m not gonna lie,” he told reporters after progressing 6-7 (9/7), 6-3, 6-4,
RIVALRY: Carlos Alcaraz lost his previous two matches against Serbia’s Novak Djokovic, in the Australian Open quarter-finals this year and Paris Olympics final last year Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz on Tuesday dazzled at the US Open to make the semi-finals before Novak Djokovic of Serbia danced his way through to book a New York showdown with the Spaniard that would mark the latest chapter in their generational rivalry. Former champion Alcaraz produced yet another entertaining display at Flushing Meadows to dismantle 20th seed Jiri Lehecka 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 at a sunbathed Arthur Ashe Stadium, securing his place in the last four without dropping a set this year. “Sometimes I play a shot that I should not play in that moment, but it’s the way I love
Spain are in danger of not getting out of EuroBasket Group C after losing 67-63 to Italy on Tuesday, but the defending champions still control their destiny. Marco Spissu put Italy in front for good at 64-63 with two free throws with 31 seconds left and made two more with 14 seconds remaining. Giampaolo Ricci converted one of two free throws with eight seconds on the clock. Spain, which in 2022 won their fourth title, are tied with Georgia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina at 2-2 each. Greece and Italy have clinched two of the group’s four spots in the round-of-16,
RSS