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Gloucester-Hartpury beat Bristol to reach PWR final

Published in Rugby
Sunday, 02 March 2025 09:09

Defending champions Gloucester-Hartpury will face Saracens in the Premiership Women's Rugby final after they defeated Bristol Bears 36-20 at Queensholm.

Zoe Aldcroft and Emma Sing were among Gloucester-Hartpury's five try scorers, and they also kicked four of the conversions to none from the visitors.

American superstar Ilona Maher marked her final appearance for the Bears with one of their four tries, after joining the club in January.

Gloucester-Hartpury, who topped the league table again, will now look to secure a record third consecutive title in the final at the StoneX Stadium on 16 March.

"That game was an outstanding advert for women's rugby," Gloucester-Hartpury head coach Sean Lynn told BBC Radio Gloucestershire.

"You had it all - ball in play, the physicality, the territorial, the tactical game, it was outstanding and I'm hoping that we keep people coming to watch these games."

'Never say never' on future PWR return - Maher

Published in Rugby
Sunday, 02 March 2025 12:31

Maher won bronze at the Paris Olympics last summer as part of the USA side and joined Bristol to switch back to playing XVs ahead of the World Cup in August.

She said her focus now for the next few months will be to continue playing, with the American Eagles facing Australia and New Zealand in May as part of the Pacific Four Series.

"We start with the Pac Four with USA 15s and I hope I've proven myself in this space to vie for a roster spot in the USA team and I hope I'll be selected for that," Maher said.

"It'll be a lot of continuing to learn the game and put myself in the position to make a roster for the World Cup but also be the best player I can be in the World Cup."

Bristol head coach Dave Ward and assistant coach Tom Luke were instrumental in bringing Maher to England and she said she was now a "Bear for life".

"I'm proud to have been part of this team, a special programme they have here," Maher said.

"The girls were so welcoming and made me part of the team and I got to play with some of England's best players and Wales and Scottish, so it just set me up to be more successful at the World Cup.

"I'll be playing against them - I wish I was playing with them but it was amazing."

Its Swanson In Childrens Dream Fund 50

Published in Racing
Sunday, 02 March 2025 06:03

INVERNESS, Fla. Kody Swanson was the driver to beat in Saturdays Childrens Dream Fund 50 at Citrus County Speedway.

Wheeling the No. 50m, Swanson withstood challenges from Bobby Santos III to score his third win in his last five starts in a winged pavement sprint car.

Kody Swanson on track at Citrus County Speedway. (Jim DenHamer Photo)

Completing the podium finishers was Kaylee Bryson.

Aaron Willison, Jeff Montgomery, Daniel Miller, Joe Ligouri, Johnny Gilbertson, Arie Luyendyk Jr. and Billy Boyd completing the top 10.

Twenty two cars started the 50-lap feature.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. Florida teenagers have swept this weekends Andersen Interior Contracting Grand Prix of St. Petersburg with Max Garcia claiming an emphatic victory on Sunday for Pabst Racing.

Building upon his second-place finish yesterday, the young man from Coconut Grove, Fla., who is still two weeks shy of his 16th birthday, overtook opening round winner Alessandro De Tullio (Turn 3 Motorsport), from Miami, Fla., immediately after a restart to cement an early advantage in the USF Pro 2000 Presented by Continental Tire championship chase.

Canadian Mac Clark finished a strong second for Exclusive Autosport, followed by Garcias teammate Jacob Douglas, from Auckland, New Zealand, who rebounded impressively following an incident in the first race of the weekend.

De Tullio once again started at the head of the field after securing his second Continental Tire Pole Award, and for the second straight day, he was flanked by Garcia for the rolling start.

De Tullio continued to hold the upper hand despite a couple of early full-course cautions, but for the fourth year in a row, the winning team from the opening race of the season was unable to back up that success in Race Two. The jinx continues.

Yesterday, Garcia had attempted on several occasions to oust De Tullio from the lead by braking a little later on the outside line into Turn One. This time, he tried something different. When De Tullio left a small opening on the inside following a restart on Lap 10, Garcia immediately filled that gap and squeezed through under braking for Turn One. He never looked back.

Last years USF2000 Presented by Continental Tire champion maintained his advantage after two more full-course cautions during an incident-packed 25-lap race. Garcia then pulled away from the field in the final couple of laps to ensure a clear victory his third on the challenging 1.8-mile restart after sweeping both USF2000 races in 2024.

Clark, who made up three positions on the opening lap, further profited from an early clash in Turn Two between second-row starters Elliot Cox (Turn 3 Motorsport), from Indianapolis, Ind., and Michael Costello (Pabst Racing), from Naples, Fla. Already up to third after having started eighth, Clark then opportunistically followed Garcia past De Tullio to move into second.

VRD Racings Max Taylor, from Hoboken, N.J., also managed to find a way past De Tullio a couple of laps later, and shortly afterward De Tullio missed his reference marker under braking for Turn Four and slid off into the barriers. His day was done.

Taylor later was ordered by Race Control to cede a position to Douglas as a penalty for an over-zealous protection of his position, moving the Kiwi up to third.

Up front, Clark was unable to match Garcias pace but was still able to fend off the attentions of Douglas. Taylor also finished close behind in fourth, just ahead of French-domiciled Vietnamese teammate Owen Tangavelou and TJ Speed Motorsports Jace Denmark, from Brownsburg, Ind.

Jorge Garciarce, from Guadalajara, Mexico, claimed the Tilton Hard Charger Award after rising from 18th on the grid to ninth. It marked the second straight day a DEForce Racing driver had taken the honor after his Brazilian teammate Nicholas Monteiro did so on Saturday.

The PFC Award as the winning car owner went to Augie Pabst.

Hauger Dominates For First Indy NXT Win

Published in Racing
Sunday, 02 March 2025 11:09

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. There are big expectations surrounding Dennis Haugers first season of INDY NXT by Firestone with Andretti Global.

So far, so good.

Hauger completed a dominant weekend with his first victory in his first start in the IndyCar development series, taking the checkered flag in the No. 28 Rental Group car under caution. Hauger, who started from the pole, led every lap and turned the fastest lap of the race. He became the first driver since Linus Lundqvist in 2021 to win in his Indy NXT by Firestone debut.

Norwegian driver Hauger joins Indy NXT by Firestone this season after winning the FIA Formula 3 Championship in 2021 and earning five wins and 13 podium finishes in FIA Formula 2 the last official ladder step before Formula One in the last three seasons.

That was fun, Hauger said. First proper race on this course for me, as well. We had a good rhythm. The car was really good, and the team did an amazing job all weekend long to be up there with us. Super happy. Good start to the season and definitely a confidence boost for us.

Fellow rookie Lochie Hughes gave Andretti Global a 1-2 finish in the No. 26 McGinley Clinic/USF Pro Championship machine. Caio Collet, the top returning driver in the series, rounded out the podium finishers in the No. 76 HMD Motorsports car.

Myles Rowe tied his career-best result in Indy NXT by placing fourth in the No. 99 Abel Motorsports/Force Indy car. Salvador de Alba rounded out the top five in the No. 27 Grupo Indi car fielded by Andretti Global.

Jordan Missig continued his breakthrough weekend by finishing a career-best sixth in the No. 48 Abel Motorsports car. Missig, who also qualified a career-best ninth, recorded a best finish of ninth in five Indy NXT starts last season for the Abel team.

The only thing that slowed Hauger was four caution flags that forced the race, originally scheduled for 45 laps, to instead become a 55-minute event. He held off teammate Hughes on all three restarts, on Laps 2, 14 and 25, and eased away.

With 10 minutes remaining, Hauger led Hughes by 1.3 seconds. That gap expanded to 2.4 seconds and was growing when Jack William Miller hit the barrier in Turn 9 while running fifth in the No. 40 Abel/Miller/Vinatieri Motorsports car with two minutes, 15 seconds left in the race. That triggered the fourth and final caution period and ended the race.

Female rookie teammates Sophia Floersch and Hailie Deegan finished 12th and 14th, respectively, in their respective series debuts for HMD Motorsports.

Palou Hangs On To Win IndyCar Opener In St. Pete

Published in Racing
Sunday, 02 March 2025 13:36

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. Alex Palou begins the 2025 NTT IndyCar Series season in the same place he finished 2024 first in the championship points race.

Palou drove a masterful race on the streets of St. Petersburg on Sunday, leading the final 26 laps to score his 12th IndyCar Series victory of his career in the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.

It was also a 1-2 finish for Chip Ganassi Racing as teammate Scott Dixon passed Team Penskes Josef Newgarden on the final lap as Newgardens No. 2 PPG Chevrolet ran out of fuel.

Palou is a three-time IndyCar Series champion, including two-straight in 2023 and 2024. The last time the defending IndyCar Series champion won the first race of the season was 2011 when Dario Franchitti won on the streets of St. Petersburg. Franchitti went on to win his third-straight IndyCar Series championship later that season.

Palou is attempting to become the first driver to win three-straight IndyCar Series Championships in 2025.

Franchitti scored all three of his Chip Ganassi Racing IndyCar championships in the No. 10 car. He also won the 2007 IndyCar Series Championship when he was driving for what is now known as Andretti Global.

Palous three IndyCar Series titles, including the 2021 championship, have been in the No. 10 CGR entry.

The numbers are looking good for Palou this year.

I couldnt be happier, Palou said. Its been a long off-season and a tough off-season for everybody at CGR and HRC (Honda Racing Corporation). This was one of the places that weve been struggling in the past, and we wanted to get a little bit closer to the competition.

I wanted to be here in Victory Lane, but I did not expect maybe to be here in Victory Lane.

That shows the amazing job that all the men and women did at Chip Ganassi Racing during the off-season. One-two for the team, I dont know what Chip said, but I bet hes pretty happy.

Team owner Chip Ganassi was certainly happy, especially after Dixon was able to race his way to second place as Newgardens Chevrolet was sputtering with a fuel issue.

Alex Palou in action during the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. (Al Steinberg Photo)

Youre right, he told Palou after he made that comment.

Newgarden started 10th and was hoping to make amends for 2024 when he won the race at St. Petersburg, only to be disqualified six weeks later when IndyCar discovered Team Penske had manipulated the push-to-pass system in the car.

Newgarden was tracking down Palous Honda in the closing laps before encountering a fuel issue, a result of an air pocket in the No. 2 fuel tank prevented Team Penske from putting a full load of fuel into Newgardens machine.

We just had fuel miscues today two times, Newgarden explained. We had a shift that was unexpected with a lap to go, and we just had to hit the emergency button, which was unfortunate. We started that last lap like half emergency mode, and then they said, You just have to pull the chute here. Like just finish.

Yeah, it happens. Its unfortunate.

To have miscues like that and to still finish third I think is a great day in a lot of ways. Really pleased to come out of here with points. Obviously, theres a lot more that could have been.

Second-place finisher Dixon also had an issue throughout the race with his radio. It kept cutting in and out and his team in the pits were unable to communicate with the driver.

Yeah, no radio for the entire race, Dixon explained. It was kind of tough just to see what we were doing, mileage-wise. I knew it was going to be a lot tighter, obviously; once the first caution happened, it was going to be a strict kind of two-stopper.

The radio kind of worked on the warm-up laps and kind of for the first 10 and that was about it, but ultimately cost us the race, I think, with not coming in when I should have, I think, with about maybe the same lap as Alex. We caught that traffic with about five or six cars and lost about two or three seconds on that in lap, so that was a bit of a nightmare.

The car was good. I think pit stops were really good. I think all around, we had good speed.

I think anytime that we had clean air, we could definitely stretch out but spent most of the race in dirty air. Its kind of the first time Ive ever done a whole race without a radio, so that was interesting.

We needed like a lap board out there or something.

Im glad we got some good points and a nice one, too, for the team.

Pole winner Scott McLaughlin of Team Penske finished fourth after leading 40 laps. Kyle Kirkwood of Andretti Global finished fifth and complained the disparity between the Firestone Black primary tires and the Green Alternates were too drastic.

Firestone wanted a greater variation between the blacks and the greens this year to create more strategy. That was something many drivers favored, but not Kirkwood.

I didnt want any difference, I dont know who is telling you that, Kirkwood said. Firestone wanted some differences to spice of the strategy a little bit for the street courses to get more passes, but that is the nature of the street courses its hard to pass.

The green tires were very soft and only lasted a few laps. Everyone would jump off of them after a few laps. They were deadly, and everybody wanted to get off of them and that is due to how soft they are.

We nailed all the boxes, had good stops, we started on the right tire, on the same strategy as all the other guys and were definitely a top five, top four car today.

Powers Short Day

It was a miserable birthday weekend for two-time IndyCar Series champion and 2018 Indianapolis 500 winner Will Power. He turned 44 on Saturday, but his team had to use three different Hybrid units after the Team Penske driver experienced issues in practice and qualifications.

When the green flag dropped to start the race, Power never made it through the third turn as he was in a crash with Nolan Siegel of Arrow McLaren Racing. Rookie Louis Foster of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing was also involved in a crash on that lap, and the yellow flag waved for the only time in the race.

SPEED SPORT caught up with Power after the race for an exclusive interview.

Oh man, you put a lot into it, and it is frustrating, Power told SPEED SPORT. Everyone at some point gets caught up in a first turn thing every few years.

All the work we put in during the offseason, to be out on the first lap, it is frustrating. I was not ready for that checkup in Turn 3.

I dont know what happened. Nolan checked up heavily to the point where I got into him, he got into somebody and someone else got into me.

It was definitely a good hit. Hopefully, it didnt damage the engine. Im hoping no more hybrid issues and hopefully the gearbox isnt damaged.

I have to focus positively on the next race and the next few outings. Its funny how things roll.

I didnt have much to celebrate by birthday on the track, thats for sure.

Were going to move forward, man.

In the end, it was Palou that continued to move forward. He once again proved he is the coolest driver in the series and looked like he barely broke a sweat to score his 12th IndyCar win.

He makes it look easy, doesnt he? Ganassi said. He makes it look easy.

He doesnt sweat.

Rangers to sit expected trade candidate Smith

Published in Hockey
Sunday, 02 March 2025 10:39

The New York Rangers won't play forward Reilly Smith on Sunday night against the Nashville Predators for roster management reasons.

Smith, 33, is a likely candidate to be traded before Friday's NHL deadline. The Rangers do not want to take a chance that he'll sustain an injury ahead of the deadline.

Smith, in his first season with the Rangers, is due to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. On Saturday, the Rangers traded Jimmy Vesey and Ryan Lindgren, who also will reach UFA status at season's end, to the Colorado Avalanche.

The Rangers sent a fifth-round pick in the 2025 NHL draft and a second-round pick in 2027 to the Pittsburgh Penguins on July 1, 2024, to acquire Smith.

Smith has played for the Dallas Stars (2011-13), Boston Bruins (2013-15), Florida Panthers (2015-17), Vegas Golden Knights (2017-23), Penguins and Rangers. He is in the final season of a three-year, $15 million contract he signed with Vegas in July 2022.

In 898 career games, Smith has 542 points (223 goals, 319 assists), with 29 of them (10 goals, 19 assists) coming with the Rangers.

The Rangers enter play Sunday four points behind the Detroit Red Wings for the second wild-card playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Jones, 30, can 'thrive' with Panthers, Zito says

Published in Hockey
Sunday, 02 March 2025 12:57

SUNRISE, Fla. -- The opportunity to acquire a defenseman like Seth Jones might seem like a simple decision. It was not that way for the Florida Panthers.

A day after pulling off the deal that brought Jones in from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for goaltender Spencer Knight, Panthers general manager and hockey operations president Bill Zito said the Stanley Cup champions took their time before finally agreeing to bring on Jones, who has five years left on a big-money contract.

"Obviously, this isn't a decision made over 10 minutes," Zito said Sunday. "Lots of time and energy and effort and research in all areas of the game, whether it's live scouting, knowing somebody, the analytic side, the coachability. And as we went through it, he just continued to check every box. Those are the kinds of guys we can commit to, and we think that he'll thrive in our environment."

Jones, the No. 4 pick in the 2013 draft, will be introduced by the Panthers on Monday following the team's morning skate in advance of its home game against the rival Tampa Bay Lightning. He is expected to quickly fill a marquee spot on the Florida blue line. Some Panthers players already know Jones well -- he and goalie Sergei Bobrovsky were teammates in Columbus, for example.

The trade came at a high price. The Panthers will be on the hook for 74% of Jones' average annual salary of $9.5 million over the next five years; Chicago retained the other 26%. And Knight was widely considered to be Florida's goaltender of the future, a 2019 first-round pick who played at Boston College and has impressed at every level of hockey.

Knight spoke openly in the past 18 months of how he has dealt with obsessive compulsive disorder -- he sought help in 2023 and stepped away from the game for a few months. He didn't play for the Panthers last season and spent the entire 2023-24 season in the minors before going 12-8-1 with two shutouts as Sergei Bobrovsky's backup this season.

The Panthers -- players, coaches and front office included -- have raved about Knight all season. Zito said the idea of parting with Knight a, fan favorite in Florida, only added to the difficulty of the decision to make the trade.

"It was really very difficult, on so many different levels," Zito said of trading Knight. "You can't imagine. The level of respect we have for Spencer is tremendous. He's a wonderful person. He's a wonderful guy. The guy's a champion. It's really hard. It's not fun on a personal level and it's not fun on a business level, but you have to make hard decisions."

The Panthers likely aren't done with their work going into Friday's trade deadline. Forward Matthew Tkachuk was placed on injured reserve Sunday, indicating that his return from a lower-body injury -- he was slowed during the 4 Nations Face-Off event and hasn't played for the Panthers since that tournament ended -- is not imminent.

There's also the matter of Bobrovsky's backup now that Knight is in Chicago. Earlier Sunday, the Panthers recalled veteran Chris Driedger, 30, from the club's AHL affiliate. Driedger has NHL experience, including 31 career wins. But he has struggled in the minors this season, posting a 2.97 goals-against average and an .878 save percentage.

"Busy week," Zito said. "I like our team. I'm happy with our team. But if we can get better, we get better. That's what we do."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Man City to visit Bournemouth in FA Cup quarters

Published in Soccer
Sunday, 02 March 2025 14:13

Manchester City will visit Bournemouth in the FA Cup quarterfinals as Pep Guardiola's side look to salvage a disappointing season.

The draw, which was made on Sunday evening, has also thrown up a London derby between Fulham and Crystal Palace.

Fulham knocked holders Manchester United out of the competition on Sunday, winning their fifth round tie at Old Trafford 4-3 on penalties.

In the other quarterfinal match-ups, Championship side Preston North End will host Aston Villa, while Brighton will play either Nottingham Forest or Ipswich Town, who play on Monday,.

The quarterfinals will be played between March 28 - March 31.

Full quarterfinal draw:

Fulham vs. Crystal Palace

Preston North End vs. Aston Villa

Bournemouth vs. Manchester City

Brighton vs. Nottingham Forest or Ipswich Town.

Fulham bounce Man Utd from FA Cup in shootout

Published in Soccer
Sunday, 02 March 2025 14:13

Fulham keeper Bernd Leno saved two penalties as they beat FA Cup holders Manchester United 4-3 in a shootout to secure their spot in the quarter-finals after Sunday's dramatic fifth-round tie at Old Trafford ended 1-1 after extra time.

The match went to penalties after United's Bruno Fernandes grabbed a second-half leveller following Calvin Bassey's opener for Fulham in stoppage time at the end of the first half.

After a goalless extra time, Leno saved Victor Lindelöf's penalty, leaving United's Joshua Zirkzee needing to bury his to keep their hopes alive. Yet he fired his effort straight at Leno sparking wild Fulham celebrations.

Raúl Jiménez, Sander Berge, Willian and Antonee Robinson converted their penalties for Fulham, who will face Crystal Palace in the quarter-finals.

Fulham caught United's defence flat-footed from Andreas Pereira's corner to strike first blood seconds before halftime, with Rodrigo Muniz nodding on for Bassey to head home in his first FA Cup appearance.

Fernandes levelled in the 71st minute when Diogo Dalot cut it back from the left-hand side and United's skipper unleashed a left-footed shot from just inside the 18-yard box that sailed past two Fulham defenders and goalkeeper Leno on its way into the far corner to send the game into extra time.

Bernd Leno celebrates after saving a penalty against Man United in their FA Cup shootout.

Getty Images


"Unbelievable," a smiling Leno told the BBC. "I think we deserved to win after 90 minutes. Of course, penalties, it is sometimes a lottery and luckily we won. The goalie coach told me couple of information, but my feeling is more important.

"I went the wrong way three times, but credit to our penalty takers -- it is not easy. Brilliant job from all of us."

Thirteen-times FA Cup winners United defeated Manchester City last year and lost to City in the 2023 final.

But Ruben Amorim's men have struggled mightily this season, languishing 14th in the Premier League, five places below Fulham.

"I think we have the best chances in the game," Amorim said. "In the end, the penalties can go both ways and today wasn't our way.

"The goal is to win the Premier League," he added. "I know that we are losing games, but the goal is to win the Premier League again. I don't know how long it will take. We have a goal and we continue forward no matter what."

Both sides squandered chances at winning goals in the breathless affair at Old Trafford. United keeper André Onana dived to push away a shot from Emile Smith Rowe late in normal time.

United then had several terrific chances to seal the victory seconds before the whistle sounded. Leno came out to save a point-blank shot from Alejandro Garnacho and then 17-year-old Chido Obi first stabbed the ball just wide of the net and then forced Leno to make a diving save.

Fulham boss Marco Silva said his team deserved to win in normal time.

"I think we were the best team on the pitch. Our team was on the ball dominating the ball," he said. "We deserve to be in the next stage."

Fulham reached their only FA Cup final in 1975 when they were beaten 2-0 by West Ham United. Leno said he would like to see his team get back to Wembley for the final.

"Two years ago we lost here in the quarterfinal [to Manchester United] and we're in the quarter-final again," he said. "We want to go to Wembley 100%."

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