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Julianne Courtice celebrates her victory on the opening day in Manchester

Day one drama at National Centre 
By ELLIE MAWSON in Manchester

The opening day of action at the inaugural 2019 Manchester Open saw home hopes prevail as Manchester-based Julianne Courtice led the English charge at the National Squash Centre.

Courtice was one of three Englishwomen who all advanced to the last 16 of the PSA World Tour Silver tournament, after she produced a strong performance to take out Canada’s higher ranked Samantha Cornett in four-games.

The Manchester Open – a women’s only tournament – is supported by Manchester City Council and follows the successful staging of the award-winning AJ Bell PSA World Championships in the city in December 2017, where equal prize money was on offer across both the men’s and women’s events for the first time in the tournament’s history.

World No.36 Courtice started well to take the first two games before keeping her composure to survive a Cornett comeback and close out a 12-10, 11-8, 9-11, 11-9 victory. Courtice will now face USA No.1 Amanda Sobhy in the second-round tomorrow.

“It was a massive win,” said 27-year-old Courtice following her victory. “Sam earlier this year won 3-1, so I knew I was up against it and it’s always difficult with a late draw change.

“It’s so good to play in front of a home crowd, there are some people here to support me, so it’s great. It’s hard to keep the consistency and that’s why these top guys are so hard to beat and with Sam, you really have to push her to get that mistake from her.”

Emily Whitlock on the way to victory

She will be joined in round two by compatriots Emily Whitlock and Millie Tomlinson after they enjoyed respective wins over New Zealand’s Amanda Landers-Murphy and Canada’s Danielle Letourneau.

Whitlock will take on Egypt’s World No.7 Nouran Gohar in the last 16, while Tomlinson faces an all-English showdown with former World No.1 Laura Massaro for a place in the quarter finals.

“I think I was really pumped up for the first two games. I came out really fast,” said England’s Tomlinson after her five-game battle with Letourneau.

“I let her back in, but I’m glad that I managed to refocus for the last game. I have a huge advantage as this is my home court. I lived here for a couple of years, so I played on this court a lot and obviously, the home crowd help as well.”

Wildcard Rachael Chadwick was unable to complete a clean sweep for the English players in round one as she fell to Dutch No.1 Milou van der Heijden.

World No.32 van der Heijden put in a confident performance to ease past Chadwick and set up a round two clash with Wales’ World No.8 Tesni Evans.

Millie Tomlinson on the attack

“I’m very happy with how it worked out and how everything went to plan,” said van der Heijden afterwards. “I’ve only played here twice before, but never on the glass, so it was a good experience to get on the glass and this one is different to others that I have played on. It takes a bit of getting used to, but it is a nice court and I enjoyed it.”

Meanwhile eight-time World Champion Nicol David, who will be playing for the last time in Manchester following her decision to retire at the end of the season, booked her place in the second-round courtesy of a dominant win over United States’ Haley Mendez.

The Malaysian icon will now face England’s No.1 Sarah-Jane Perry for a place in the quarter finals tomorrow.

“It’s great to play Haley in Manchester on the glass court,” said 35-year-old David following her win. “We go way back, so coming here and playing her is a treat and I’m so pleased to see how she is playing.

“SJ is a really tough competitor, we have had so many good matches and just because of my ranking you do get those tough draws on the day you just want to play and give it your best.”

There was also joy for Egypt’s World No.14 Salma Hany after she survived a comeback from Canada’s Hollie Naughton to secure a second-round berth.

Naughton took the opening game, before Hany struck back to take the next two. However, Canadian Naughton refused to go away quietly though as she drew level to push the game to a deciding fifth, but it was the higher-ranked Hany who was eventually able to close out by an 9-11, 11-7, 11-9, 5-11, 11-4 scoreline in 48 minutes.

“Hollie has been playing really well and has been pushing all the top players,” said the 22-year-old Egyptian. “Today, she really made me work hard. It was a bit scrappy in the middle, after the fourth I just made sure I stuck to my plan and focused on every point. The good start in the fifth helped me a lot and I’m really glad I got the win.”

Belgium’s World No.24 Nele Gilis and France’s World No.35 Coline Aumard, meanwhile, set up second round fixtures against World No.5 Joelle King and Egypt’s World No.3 Nour El Tayeb, respectively.

Gilis overcame Scotland’s Lisa Aitken in straight-games, while France’s Aumard put in a dominant display to power past Egypt’s World No.31 Mayar Hany.

“I knew what to expect and I tried to take the pace off as much as I could because she likes to hit it hard,” said Belgium’s Gilis following her win over Aitken. “It’s hard to stay focused against such a good player like Lisa and I’m happy that I stuck to my game plan.”

The second round takes place on Friday May 10 at 12:00 local time (UTC+1) and the action will be broadcast live on SQUASHTV (rest of world), Eurosport Player (Europe only) and the official Facebook page of the PSA World Tour (excluding Europe and Japan).

PSA World Tour Silver $76,000 Women’s Manchester Open 2019, National Squash Centre, Manchester, England.

First Round:
Coline Aumard (FRA) bts Mayar Hany (EGY) 3-0: 11-6, 11-8, 11-7 (34m)
Millie Tomlinson (ENG) bt Danielle Letourneau (CAN) 3-2: 11-3, 11-8, 9-11, 6-11, 11-4 (51m)
Milou van der Heijden (NED) bt [WC] Rachael Chadwick (ENG) 3-0: 11-7, 11-5, 11-2 (27m)
Nicol David (MAS) bts Haley Mendez (USA) 3-0: 11-5, 11-6, 11-8 (23m)
Emily Whitlock (ENG) bts Amanda Landers-Murphy (NZL) 3-0: 11-7, 11-8, 11-4 (26m)
Julianne Courtice (ENG) bt Samantha Cornett (CAN) 3-1: 12-10, 11-8, 9-11, 11-9 (44m)
Salma Hany (EGY) bt Hollie Naughton (CAN) 3-2: 9-11, 11-7, 11-9, 5-11, 11-4 (48m)
Nele Gilis (BEL) bt Lisa Aitken (SCO) 3-0: 11-5, 11-8, 11-4 (38m)

Second Round:
[1] Nour El Tayeb (EGY) v Coline Aumard (FRA)
Millie Tomlinson (ENG) v [5] Laura Massaro (ENG)
[6] Tesni Evans (WAL) v Milou van der Heijden (NED)
Nicol David (MAS) v [3] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG)
[4] Nouran Gohar (EGY) v Emily Whitlock (ENG)
Julianne Courtice (ENG) v [8] Amanda Sobhy (USA)
[7] Alison Waters (ENG) v Salma Hany (EGY)
Nele Gilis (BEL) v [2] Joelle King (NZL)

Pictures courtesy of PSA

 

Posted on May 9, 2019

Leicester Tigers centre Matt Smith is retiring at the end of the season after a 14-year playing career to become the club's academy head coach.

The 33-year-old made his first-team debut in March 2006 and has played 227 times, scoring 30 tries.

Smith joined at the age of 14 and has helped the club win four Premiership titles and three Anglo-Welsh Cups.

"I've had my time and lived my dream, but it's time to take on my next challenge," he told the club website.

"I have thought about it throughout this season.

"I still love playing the game, but now I don't feel like I'm at the level I used to be and it's the time for someone else and someone younger to come in and do the job this club needs of them."

Smith's final game as a Tigers player will be on Saturday when Leicester host Bath at Welford Road.

Former team-mate and now head coach Geordan Murphy said: "Matt has been a fantastic servant of this club and represents everything we want a Tigers player to be."

London Irish have signed Australia lock Adam Coleman for the 2019-20 season.

The 6ft 8ins Tasmania-born forward, who has played in 29 of the past 31 internationals for the Wallabies, joins from Melbourne Rebels.

If selected for the World Cup, he may not arrive until November, depending on how far Australia progress in Japan.

Director of rugby Declan Kidney told the club website: "We have a strong set of forwards, but know we need strength in depth to be competitive."

He continued: "Adam is a quality player and we're delighted he has chosen to come and join London Irish."

Coleman played for Western Force in Super Rugby for four seasons before joining Melbourne Rebels.

He is Irish's fourth signing of the week, following Wallabies team-mate Sekope Kepu, New Zealander winger Waisake Naholo and Perpignan fly-half Paddy Jackson.

Cardiff Blues chairman Alun Jones has admitted the region's latest accounts "do not make pleasant reading".

The Blues' operating loss has risen to almost £1.3m in the latest set of accounts up until 30 June, 2018.

Former chairman Peter Thomas has written off £3.33m and converted more than £10m into equity.

In the annual report, Jones says the results do contain "some significant developments which bode well for the future".

Thomas officially stepped down as chairman on 1 January 2019 and was replaced by Jones.

The overall loss for the 2017-18 financial year would have been just under £2m compared to £1.45m in 2017.

But the £3.33m written off by Thomas and a further £933,708 by director Martyn Ryan produced what was termed as "exceptional income" of £4.27m.

This means the Blues did record an accounting profit for the financial year of £2.29m in a season where they were crowned Challenge Cup winners in May 2018.

The operating loss before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization was almost £1.3m compared to £976,000 in 2017.

Thomas has also converted more than £10m of his loans into equity or shares. So the overall Blues debt has been reduced from £15.75m in 2017 to £4.16m.

"The financial results for the 2018 year do not make pleasant reading but do contain some significant developments which bode well for the future," Jones wrote in the annual report.

"The company has undertaken a capital restructuring as part of the broader changes to the organisation of Welsh professional rugby.

"Our three benefactors Peter Thomas, Paul Bailey and Martyn Ryan have compromised on the company's financial obligations to them and have significantly reduced the amounts owed to them.

"This is an act of extraordinary generosity."

Turnover has risen to £9.58m from £8.7m, while expenditure has risen to almost £11m from £9.93m.

Blues chief executive Richard Holland says talks are ongoing with their Arms Park landlords Cardiff Athletic Club about continuing to play at the ground.

"Dialogue with Cardiff Athletic Club continues to progress and while green shoots can not quite be seen yet there there is lots of positive activity going on just below the surface," wrote Holland.

In February 2018, the Blues said they were considering moving from their Arms Park home with no deal agreed past the current agreement that finishes in 2022.

The annual report also revealed the Blues were paying a lease of £412,661 at the Arms Park and almost £1.7m to the Vale of Glamorgan where their training facilities are based.

Head coach Leo Cullen says Leinster must not lose sight of what made them European champions as they prepare to defend their title on Saturday.

The Irish province can become the first team to win five European titles when they face two-time winners Saracens.

Cullen expects Saracens to provide a very different challenge from semi-final opponents Toulouse but stressed the importance of Leinster playing to their strengths at St James' Park.

"It is a fine balance, you can't be just thinking about the opposition. You need to understand what makes Leinster a hard team to play against and what it took to get us to a final in the first place," Cullen said.

Toulouse have made the most offloads (116) and beaten the most defenders (235) in this season's Champions Cup but the French side's exciting brand of attacking rugby was no match for Leinster's clinical accuracy in the semi-final battle between the two four-time champions at the Aviva Stadium last month.

Saracens are the top scorers in the competition with 273 points and are tied for Leinster for the most tries scored (32), with the Premiership club's success based around their powerful ball-carrying forwards and an ability to put their opponents under unrelenting pressure.

"We need to understand the threats that Saracens pose and they're so different to the threats that we had in our semi-final against Toulouse because they're at complete opposite ends of the spectrum," Cullen added.

"Toulouse are built on all-out attack in many ways whereas Saracens are built on all-out defence and pressure. That's not to say that one is right and one is wrong but that's just the way the teams are set up.

"The challenge is very different and we need to understand what the threat of this team is that we're playing, just like every other week that we play."

Right environment key to winning titles

Leinster have had a week off to rest their squad after booking a place in the Pro14 semi-finals and Ireland hooker Sean Cronin is the main fitness concern for the province after a recent calf injury, while flanker Rhys Ruddock is expected to return from a concussion.

Scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park is unlikely to be risked following a recent hamstring strain, which should mean a place among the substitutes for academy player Hugh O'Sullivan on Saturday.

Cullen, who was promoted to Leinster head coach in 2015, has played a role in all four of their European Cup victories and could become the first man to win back-to-back titles as both a player and a coach on Saturday.

The former second row, who has recruited the likes of Stuart Lancaster and Felipe Contepomi to his coaching team, has placed an emphasis on creating a winning environment for his players as they attempt to add a fifth gold star above the crest on their jerseys.

"It's important to make sure that we're more focused on enjoying what we do every day because if we're enjoying it then it's easier to rock in for work and put in the physical commitment that is required and the mental application to go about doing your job well," Cullen said.

"Then it's just enjoying the process of hanging out with other people that are very like minded and enjoy doing the same because then everyone gets that buy-in and lots of great things can happen on the field.

"That's the more important thing for me. The stars [on the jersey] are just the outcome of lots of very, very hard work to get you to that point. I guess once you have them you can't take them away, not to get too cliched about it but that is an important element to it."

Danny Cipriani is targeting Premiership glory with Gloucester and a place in England's World Cup training squad after winning the Rugby Players' Association Player of the Year award.

The fly-half topped the poll of his fellow professionals after guiding Gloucester into the play-offs.

He said it was "very humbling" to be recognised by his peers.

"I am very honoured, but the job is not done this season," the 31-year-old told the BBC.

"Rugby is such a team sport and I wouldn't be able to do what I am doing without my team-mates and coaches.

"I am very excited about what is to come over the next couple of weeks with Gloucester."

Kept in the loop by Jones

Despite his consistent form at club level, Cipriani has only made two appearances for England under head coach Eddie Jones, and won the last of his 16 caps in June 2018.

However, he has not given up hope of forcing his way into contention for World Cup selection.

"It's just about action over the next couple of weeks," he added.

"Eddie Jones is very diligent about how he speaks to everyone in the wider squad, and there is a group of us who met him over the last couple of weeks.

"So it's just important for myself to finish the season as strong as I can to put myself in the best position to hopefully get involved in a training squad."

Gloucester will face a trip to either Exeter or Saracens in the Premiership semi-finals, and after signing a new a new long-term deal at the club, Cipriani is determined to bring success back to Kingsholm after a barren spell.

This season is the first time in eight years Gloucester have finished in the Premiership top four.

"Hopefully as a club it has been a complete transition," he added.

"We are finding something to move forward to and really leave a good legacy as a club."

North East Motor Sports Museum Honoring Logano

Published in Racing
Thursday, 09 May 2019 12:19

LOUDON, N.H. – Reigning Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion Joey Logano will be honored with a sit-down dinner at the North East Motor Sports Museum on Friday night, July 19.

The dinner will take place on the same weekend as the Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The track is the site of Logano’s first Cup win and the dinner will celebrate the 10th anniversary of that win.

The car Logano drove to his first Cup Series win will also be on hand as will the trophy that he won that afternoon. Both are on display at the museum, which will be open for all of the evening’s guests to enjoy.

Logano is the most successful big league race car driver to ever come out of New England. Tickets for the dinner are limited. Tickets are $125 per ticket for non-members, $100 for museum members and includes unlimited access to the museum the day of the event, a sit-down dinner and the show. A cash bar will be available. Doors open at 6 p.m.

Net proceeds benefit the North East Motor Sports Museum. You can order tickets online now by clicking here or mail payment to the North East Motor Sports Museum, 922 Rt 106, Loudon, NH 03307. For more info or to order by phone, call 603-783-0183.

New Look For USAC Brandt River Town Showdown

Published in Racing
Thursday, 09 May 2019 12:37

INDIANAPOLIS – The upcoming two-night Brandt River Town Showdown will have a different look on May 17-18.

Consecutive nights of USAC action featuring the USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car Series ad USAC NOS Energy Drink Midget National Championship will now take place at Tri-City Speedway in Granite City, Ill.,

Due to the extreme flooding in the areas surrounding Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 in Pevely, Mo., Saturday’s portion of the event has been shifted to the three-eighths-mile dirt oval in Granite City. Tri-City was already scheduled to host both tours on May 17.

“This is an event that we have really been looking forward to,” said Track Enterprises Promoter Bob Sargent. “Unfortunately, flooding at Federated Auto Parts Raceway won’t allow that event to happen so we will double the fun at Tri-City.”

Both nights of racing in Granite City will feature USAC’s National Sprint and Midget divisions as well as B-Mods.  Pits open at 3 p.m. Central, with grandstands opening at 5 p.m. and cars on track at 6:30 p.m.  General admission tickets are $25 for adults and free for kids 12 and under. Pit passes are $30 apiece for members and $35 for non-members.

ASCS Event At I-30 Speedway Washed Out

Published in Racing
Thursday, 09 May 2019 13:37

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – I-30 Speedway and the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by the MAVTV Motorsports Network have chosen to cancel the May 11 event because of weather.

With more than four inches of rain falling Wednesday on already saturated grounds, and 100 percent chance of rain continuing to haunt Saturday’s forecast, track and series officials felt they had no choice but to cancel the event.

ASCS and I-30 Speedway officials are currently looking for a possible date to reschedule.

The next event for the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by the MAVTV Motorsports Network is at I-96 Speedway in Lake Odessa, Mich., with the Great Lakes Super Sprints on Friday, May 17 and Saturday, May 18.

Mother Nature Stops ASCS Warrior Region

Published in Racing
Thursday, 09 May 2019 17:21

OSBORN, Mo. – Mother Nature is at it again, claiming her second ASCS-sanctioned event of the weekend as U.S. 36 Raceway has been forced to cancel this Friday’s events with the Racinboys.com ASCS Warrior Region presented by Impact Signs, Awnings, and Warps.

The event has been rescheduled to Friday, May 17, with gates opening at 6 p.m. and hot laps at 7:30 p.m. (CT).

Divisions will include IMCA Stock Cars, Pure Stocks, Sport Mods, and E-Mods. The Sprint Series of Nebraska has not rescheduled.

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