Category: Sports

How Nylander’s most improved offensive skill should help Leafs in the playoffs

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The omnipresent factor in all analysis of the Toronto Maple Leafs this season has been “What will this mean for playoffs?” How will Event X or the trend of Player Y affect their chances of winning a playoff series?

Over the first half of the season, we’ve looked at the goaltending, which has been vastly different than last year, Auston Matthews‘ shift to a more defensive style, evaluated their team toughness and more.

But the one that catches my eye on the offensive side of the puck is the Leafs’ not just willingness, but insistence on taking the puck across the front of the net in the high traffic areas. William Nylander in particular – who has seen an uptick in his offensive output – seems far more willing to put his leg out and shoulder down and take the puck across the front of the net. He looks fast and strong and it’s giving the opposition headaches.

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I’m not sure there’s an offensive principle I believe in more strongly than cutting in hard off the wing and taking the puck across the crease, for a number of reasons, which we can hit on in quick bullet form:

• Making the goalie move across the net opens them up, leaving holes between the legs and arms for imperfect shots.

• Making them lunge side-to-side brings them down and puts them at an immediate disadvantage for any follow up shot.

• It forces the defence to collapse and all systems/structure go out the window, setting up a positive offensive shift if the chance doesn’t result in an immediate goal.

• Randomness and bounces can go your way here. You love chaos in the opposing crease.

• It can be intimidating to play for a goalie, knowing rushes against may come barreling down to your little safe area in the crease.

• And finally, it’s not as scary as it used to be for puck carriers. Taking the puck across the net front used to mean certain death (or at least, attempted murder), whereas now defencemen are just as likely to aim for a stick check.

In the end it’s mayhem, the kind you like to create on offence.

The Leafs currently lead the NHL in “inner slot shots under pressure,” which to me shows a willingness to play in the dirty areas and try to create even when the opposition is already there. They’ve created 244 shots there at 5-on-5, which is 17 better than second place Carolina. It’s visible to me that there’s very little shying away from a part of the rink that’s coveted ice in the post-season.

Toronto has been a top team in this category in the past, but it’s worth focusing on because over the past two playoffs they’ve finished 11th, and 12th out of the 16 teams who’ve made the playoffs (on a per-game rate). It’s an area of their offensive play that dries up, and frankly, it’s because it gets harder to get there as teams make it even more physically difficult to cut through the crease. For Leafs fans, it should be encouraging to see how regularly their players seem to drive the crease this season as they build towards a better playoff push.

What’s happened in the past (the drying up of these looks) has been something I’ve focused on, having cut several videos of Leafs players with a chance to cut in, who instead preferred to take the puck behind the net and wait for a better opportunity that never came. When not challenging in, they’re doing the defence’s job for them, rarely forcing the “make a play” burden on to the opposition.

At no part in previous seasons do I remember the Leafs taking the puck across the net like this, even if their numbers have been good there. Just to take it back to Nylander, it feels like every rush chance he gets involves taking it across:

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Two seasons ago Nylander was 106th amongst forwards in inner slot shots under pressure (by per game rate). This year he’s 28th, and 25th by raw total, tied with names like Andrei Svechnikov and Elias Pettersson.

The funny thing is, Nylander is fourth on his own team in this department, as Auston Matthews and John Tavares are tied for fourth in the NHL in shots from the inner slot under pressure, and Michael Bunting fits in a few spots ahead of Nylander. (A good percentage of Bunting’s shots come in this situation, which I think has the potential to help the Leafs if he gets more comfortable in a second big playoff series.)

The Leafs’ offence may not be as high-flying as it’s looked in seasons past, but it shows up well in the grittier areas, including “screened shots” where they lead the league by a good margin, showing that willingness to get to and live in the opposition’s blue paint.

At this point the Tampa Bay Lightning are all but assured to be the first-round matchup for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Tampa is sixth-best in the NHL in limiting inner slot shots against, a measure of success that’s built on having a huge D-corps that tries to protect Andrei Vasilevskiy as best they can.

It’s going to be a battle that greatly influences the outcome of that war.

Against a great goalie and strong defence, will the Leafs still be willing to put themselves in harm’s way by taking the puck across the net? Or will they shrink from it, and hope for goals from distance? So far this season, the team’s overall play and that of its most improved player in this regard – Nylander – should be encouraging. They want to prioritize getting to that net front ice, and it’s leading to success.

But the answer to that question – will they feel the same against Tampa Bay in the playoffs? – may just hold the answer to who wins the Leafs’ next first-round matchup.

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Ilya Samsonov continues dominance at home behind Maple Leafs’ strong team effort

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#Nylanders #improved #offensive #skill #Leafs #playoffs

Pep Guardiola bemoans lack of passion, fire and desire following ‘comfortable’ Man City’s comeback win over Tottenham

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Pep Guardiola launched an astonishing criticism of his players following Manchester City’s comeback win over Tottenham.

The Premier League champions came from two down at half-time to win 4-2 but Guardiola was left frustrated by the missing “passion, fire and desire” from his team – qualities that he believes leaders Arsenal possess.

“I cannot deny how happy we are, but we are far away from the team that we were,” he told Sky Sports in his interview with Pat Davison.

“Not in terms of play, we played good enough but there are many things like competitiveness, in terms of what we have to do in many things that we are far away.

“Rico Lewis conceded four fouls, but they weren’t yellow cards because it’s Rico Lewis and we don’t react. We play because ‘my manager told me to play this and how to do this’, but there’s nothing from the stomach or the gut.

“Today, we were lucky but it wouldn’t change, sooner or later we are again [going] to drop points. [We are missing] passion, fire and desire and to win from minute one.

“It’s the same with our fans, they are silent for 45 minutes. They booed because we were losing, not because we played badly. We played good, we had more chances, expected goals from Tottenham is 0.89 so we were better.

“They booed because we were losing, but maybe it’s the same as our team. Maybe we were so comfortable winning four Premier League’s in five years and that’s why we… you know. After the goal, they react, but that’s not the point.”

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FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from Manchester City’s win against Tottenham

Asked whether the fire has gone out in his Manchester City players, Guardiola added: “Definitely. Otherwise we wouldn’t concede the goals we concede in every single game. We give them [the goals] and today we were lucky but after, we will not be lucky.”

How do City get it back? “That is my duty, my job. I want my fans back, I want my fans here. Not my away fans, they are the best, but my fans here [at the Etihad]. The support for every corner and every action and support it. We have to do it, but everyone is relaxed.

“The Premier League doesn’t wait. We have the opening with Arsenal and they have the fire.

“Two decades, they haven’t won the Premier League and every player knows they will make history, like we felt when we won the first Premier League and broke all the records and won back to back.

“We don’t have the fire inside and we don’t have to ask anything, I just explained the reality that everything is so comfortable. And the opponents don’t wait. Of course I’m not [happy with my team]. I don’t recognise my team. My team always has passion and desire and run and everything.”

Richards: It was scathing by Pep

“It was scathing, wasn’t it,” Micah Richards told Sky Sports. “When we normally see Pep’s interviews, they’re very sarcastic, but today he came out and it was almost like he was saying he’s had enough of the situation of producing something so good, but no one seems to be satisfied.

“When you start going and talking about the fans, it’s a difficult situation. When the fans boo, it’s never acceptable, but it’s like he’s taken that really personally. I thought that interview was like he’s at the end of his tether.”

Carragher: It was a brilliant interview

“It was a brilliant interview,” Jamie Carragher told Sky Sports. “Pep Guardiola has not been in this position that often where he feels he has to send a rocket to everyone.

“Not many managers can get away with criticising their own supporters. Jurgen Klopp did it in his early time at Liverpool when a lot of supporters left before the end of the game. He’ll be fine, he’s not going to lose the supporters, he’s God here to supporters and he knows that.”

‘We are a happy flowers team’ | ‘Arsenal will destroy us’

Guardiola reiterated many of the points made in his Sky Sports interview when speaking in the press conference immediately afterwards, describing City as a ‘happy flowers’ team and insisting that Arsenal will “destroy” them unless they change.

“I’m incredibly happy but if we don’t change we are not going to win anything. I have to see my team. The love in our life is to have passion for something – our fans are comfortable, we are comfortable.

“Are you going to tell me we played bad in that first half? Absolutely not.

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Dejan Kulusevski jumps on an Ederson error to give Tottenham the lead.

“We have the problem that we have four Premier Leagues in five years and Arsenal have two decades without the Premier League except Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko and every ball and every action and every corner and every duel it’s there. We miss it. We don’t have it.

“Do you think I said something special at half-time? Play bad? No. We always play good. But there is something that’s not about that. We give the goals [away]. Today it was Edi or Rodri. The next day it will be a fight back and then a central defender and so on.

“Of course you have to do it. I want the passion from Julian, from Rico, from Nathan.

“Right now we don’t have it.

“The fans – they come here and we have to give them [something to be excited about]. They expect ‘oh, we’re Manchester City, we have to do it’. No, we don’t have it right now.

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Emerson Royal gives Tottenham a shock 2-0 lead at the Etihad against Manchester City.

“The tendency of the human being when you’ve won a lot is ‘ah, I should do this, I should do that’. No you have to work. You have to put fire there – in every ball, in every action, in every situation.

“If we want to do something we have to come back.

“This is a challenge. I want it.

“Our fans have to push us, demand more, have to shout: ‘Come on guys, I know how good you are, you have to show us.’

“We come, score a goal. No. It cannot be 0-2 down to react. Nine times out of 10 you don’t come back. Today we were lucky. We are not able to come back every time.

“I want a reaction for all the club, the whole organisation – not just the players, the staff and everyone. We’re a happy flowers team. Happy flowers, ah it’s good. No I don’t want to be a happy flower. I want to beat Arsenal.

“But if we play in that way Arsenal will destroy us. Arsenal will beat us.

“I want to see my team.”

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#Pep #Guardiola #bemoans #lack #passion #fire #desire #comfortable #Man #Citys #comeback #win #Tottenham

Brooksby tops No. 2 Ruud; Jabeur out, too; Djokovic wins

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Oh-so-close to completing a straight-set upset of No. 2 seed Casper Ruud at the Australian Open, Jenson Brooksby frittered away three match points, sat down at a changeover and began yelling at himself.

“How?! How?! God!!”

His face was flush, his emotions unhidden, his game unraveling. Soon enough, that set slipped away, as Ruud’s confidence seemed to surge and Brooksby’s collapse momentarily continued. And then, in a blink, Brooksby was back in charge, taking command immediately in the fourth set along the way to a 6-3, 7-5, 6-7 (4), 6-2 victory over Ruud and a spot in a surprisingly American-filled third round at Melbourne Park.

“I was getting a little more frustrated out there that I didn’t close it out, and my mentality was changing a little bit,” said the 39th-ranked Brooksby, who sipped from little jars of pickle juice in the fourth set at Rod Laver Arena. “Those are the situations you have to handle sometimes in matches, and you’re going to face. I think the biggest question is: How do you respond? I just told myself to reset.”

So leave it to a pair of 20-something Californians to rid the men’s bracket of its two highest seeded players: Brooksby, 22, delivered his unexpected triumph at the same stage and in the same stadium that Mackenzie McDonald, 27, defeated No. 1 seed and defending champion Rafael Nadal a day earlier. That makes this the first Grand Slam tournament since the 2002 Australian Open that the Nos. 1-2 seeds lost before the end of the second round — and the first time since the 1994 French Open that a pair of Americans took out the top two men’s seeds at any Grand Slam tournament.

Nadal owns a men’s-record 22 Grand Slam titles. Ruud was the runner-up at the French Open to Nadal last June and at the U.S. Open to Carlos Alcaraz last September.

Like Ruud, Ons Jabeur reached the finals of two Grand Slam tournaments in 2002. Like Ruud, she came to Australia as the No. 2 seed. And like Ruud, she was bounced in the second round, beaten 6-1, 5-7, 6-1 by 2019 French Open runner-up Marketa Vondrousova in a match that ended at about 1 a.m. on Friday.

That was actually rather mundane compared to what Andy Murray and Thanasi Kokkinakis went through, starting the fifth set of their match at about 3 a.m.

The exits of Nadal and Ruud make nine-time champion Novak Djokovic — who dealt with a persistent heckler and a left hamstring that he says worries him during a four-set victory over 191st-ranked qualifier Enzo Couacaud on Thursday night — even more of a title favorite in his return to Australia after being deported a year ago because he was not vaccinated against COVID-19.

Also a big deal: The progress of U.S. men through the year’s first major championship. None has won a Grand Slam title since Andy Roddick at the 2003 U.S. Open.

By reaching the third round, Brooksby joined countrymen Michael Mmoh, Ben Shelton, Tommy Paul and J.J. Wolf, who also won Thursday, along with McDonald, No. 16 Frances Tiafoe and No. 29 Sebastian Korda, who all won Wednesday. The highest-seeded American man, though, could not make it that far: No. 8 Taylor Fritz bowed out with a 6-7 (4), 7-6 (2), 6-4, 6-7 (6), 6-2 loss to 113th-ranked Australian wild-card entry Alexei Popyrin.

Still, the eight men from the United States remaining are the most into the third round in Australia since the same number did it in 1996.

Mmoh, who lost in qualifying but got into the main draw when another player withdrew, made it this far at a major tournament for the first time by defeating No. 12 Alexander Zverev 6-7 (1), 6-4, 6-3, 6-2.

“Life is crazy. Right when you think everything is looking dim, everything is looking dark, there’s light at the end of the tunnel,” the 107th-ranked Mmoh said. “My week is proof of that.”

Shelton, the NCAA champion from the University of Florida participating in just his second Slam, beat qualifier Nicolas Jarry of Chile 7-6 (3), 7-6 (3), 7-5; Paul came back to edge No. 30 Alejandro Davidovich Fokina of Spain 6-2, 2-6, 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-4; and Wolf breezed past No. 23 Diego Schwartzman of Argentina 6-1, 6-4, 6-4.

Brooksby now plays Paul; Mmoh takes on Wolf.

“Frances is probably my best friend. I grew up with Tommy,” Mmoh said. “I’ve known these guys for so long. I’ve competed with them.”

There was also a big win for an American woman Thursday: 21-year-old qualifier Katie Volynets defeated No. 9-seeded Veronika Kudermetova of Russia 6-4, 2-6, 6-2.

Elsewhere, No. 4 Caroline Garcia beat 2021 U.S. Open finalist Leylah Fernandez 7-6 (5), 7-5, No. 5 Aryna Sabalenka improved her 2023 record to 6-0 by topping Shelby Rogers 6-3, 6-1 after trailing 3-1 early, and No. 19 Ekaterina Alexandrova defeated Taylor Townsend 1-6, 6-2, 6-3.

“I literally have the chills, because the fans here are just incredible,” said Volynets, who reached the third round of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time. “I’ve never played in a stadium this packed and with that many people keeping the energy up for me. It was awesome.”

Brooksby was supposed to enter the Australian Open a year ago but came down with COVID-19 the day before he was supposed to fly overseas.

“Hopefully this is the first of many many good years here to come,” Brooksby said.

His unusual playing style, including his two-handed backhand volleys, and ability to track down opponent’s shots, were trouble for Ruud, who took a medical timeout after the second set because of a bothersome abdominal muscle.

“He was annoyingly good today,” said Ruud, a 24-year-old Norwegian coached by his father, a former pro player.

The biggest problem for Brooksby was closing this one out. He held a trio of match points while trying to serve for the victory at 5-3 in the third set but could not cash any of them in.

Ruud raced through the end of that set, but Brooksby righted himself in the fourth, jumping out to a 3-0 lead. Brooksby finished things off 1 hour, 15 minutes after his first chance.

When the match ended, Brooksby said, “The first thing that popped to my mind was I was just proud of my mental resolve just to stay focused out there.”

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#Brooksby #tops #Ruud #Jabeur #Djokovic #wins

Cheltenham Reveal Entries for Some Festival Chases – SportsNewsIreland SportsNewsIreland Live Scores

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Cheltenham has revealed entries for the 2023 Sporting Life Arkle Novices’ Chase, National Hunt Chase, Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase and Turners Novices’ Chase, with some horses holding multiple entries.

Irish-trained horses account for 16 of the 26 entries for the Grade 1 Sporting Life Arkle Novices’ Chase on Tuesday, 14 March 2023. Willie Mullins accounts for half of the Irish entries, while the JP McManus-owned Jonbon from Nicky Henderson’s yard is among the entries.

Sporting Life Arkle Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) 1m 7f 199y

Appreciate It (IRE) 9 Miss M. A. Masterson W. P. Mullins Ireland
Ballybreeze 7 Mr Kevin Price Samuel Drinkwater
Banbridge (IRE) 7 Mr R. A. Bartlett Joseph Patrick O’Brien Ireland
Bass Rock (FR) 7 Mr Raymond Anderson Green Sandy Thomson
Boothill (IRE) 8 Brian & Sandy Lambert Harry Fry
Datsalrightgino (GER) 7 The GD Partnership Jamie Snowden
Dysart Dynamo (IRE) 7 Ms Eleanor Manning W. P. Mullins Ireland
El Fabiolo (FR) 6 Mr Simon Munir/Mr Isaac Souede W. P. Mullins Ireland
Fil Dor (FR) 5 Caldwell Construction Ltd Gordon Elliott Ireland
Final Orders 7 C. M. D. Syndicate Gavin Cromwell Ireland
Flame Bearer (IRE) 8 Linda Mulcahy/Mary Wolridge W. P. Mullins Ireland
Ha d’Or (FR) 6 Mrs S. Ricci W. P. Mullins Ireland
Haddex des Obeaux (FR) 6 Mr O. S. Harris Gary Moore
Hollow Games (IRE) 7 Bective Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland
James du Berlais (FR) 7 Mr Simon Munir/Mr Isaac Souede W. P. Mullins Ireland
Jonbon (FR) 7 Mr John P. McManus Nicky Henderson
Largy Debut (IRE) 8 C. Jones Henry de Bromhead Ireland
Mighty Potter (FR) 6 Caldwell Construction Ltd Gordon Elliott Ireland
Mortlach 8 Richard D A Hames and Doug Pocock Fergal O’Brien
Saint Roi (FR) 8 Mr John P. McManus W. P. Mullins Ireland
Sir Gerhard (IRE) 8 Cheveley Park Stud W. P. Mullins Ireland
Straw Fan Jack 8 Mr Graham Wilson Sheila Lewis
Unexpected Party (FR) 8 O’Reilly MacLennan Tynan Carthy Shanahan Dan Skelton
Visionarian (IRE) 8 Mr Basil Holian Peter Fahey Ireland
West Cork 9 Mike and Eileen Newbould Dan Skelton
Effernock Fizz (IRE) 8 Mr T. B. Sheridan Cian Collins Ireland

An incredible twenty-three of the thirty-seven entries for the Grade 2 National Hunt Chase come from Ireland, with the big Irish stables all represented.

National Hunt Chase (Grade 2) 3m 5f 201y

Aione (FR) 10 Mrs S. Ricci W. P. Mullins Ireland
Amirite (IRE) 7 Patrick Hale Henry de Bromhead Ireland
Blackjack Magic 8 T Hayward, O’Gorman, Walker & Patersons Anthony Honeyball
Bowtogreatness (IRE) 7 Harry Redknapp & Sophie Pauling Ben Pauling
Bronn (IRE) 6 Mr Simon Munir/Mr Isaac Souede W. P. Mullins Ireland
Captain Kangaroo (IRE) 8 Kanga Racing & Brett Graham Syndicate W. P. Mullins Ireland
Chavez (IRE) 7 Mr Malcolm C. Denmark W. P. Mullins Ireland
Chemical Energy (IRE) 7 Caldwell Construction Ltd Gordon Elliott Ireland
Churchstonewarrior (IRE) 8 Mr T. A Hegarty Jonathan Sweeney Ireland
City Chief (IRE) 6 Mrs J Donnelly Nicky Henderson
Coeur Serein (IRE) 9 Andy Ralph Jonjo O’Neill
Coolvalla (IRE) 7 Mr L. Gilbert Chris Gordon
Fakiera (FR) 8 Mr T. O’Driscoll Gordon Elliott Ireland
Frontal Assault (IRE) 8 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland
Gaillard du Mesnil (FR) 7 Mrs J. Donnelly W. P. Mullins Ireland
Gerri Colombe (FR) 7 Robcour Gordon Elliott Ireland
Glengouly (FR) 7 Roaringwater Syndicate W. P. Mullins Ireland
Gold Cup Bailly (FR) 7 Mr Simon Munir/Mr Isaac Souede S. R. B. Crawford Northern Ireland
Gustavian (IRE) 8 Decimus Racing I Anthony Honeyball
Harper’s Brook (IRE) 7 The Megsons Ben Pauling
Hidden Heroics (FR) 6 Mr Ian Lawrence Dan Skelton
I Am Maximus (FR) 7 Mr Claudio Michael Grech W. P. Mullins Ireland
Idas Boy (IRE) 9 Gigginstown House Stud Noel Meade Ireland
Iron Bridge (IRE) 7 Exors of the late Mr Trevor Hemmings Jonjo O’Neill
Jon Snow (FR) 8 PJL Racing & Paul Bowden George Baker
Kilcruit (IRE) 8 Miss M. A. Masterson W. P. Mullins Ireland
Mahler Mission (IRE) 7 Colm Herron & Rockview Racing Syndicate John McConnell Ireland
Malinello 8 Martin & Lynn Jones Ben Pauling
Minella Crooner (IRE) 7 Mr David Barnard Gordon Elliott Ireland
Mister Coffey (FR) 8 Lady Bamford & Alice Bamford Nicky Henderson
Mr Adjudicator 9 Mr David Bobbett W. P. Mullins Ireland
Rambranlt’jac (FR) 7 Watch This Space Syndicate W. P. Mullins Ireland
Ramillies (IRE) 8 Mrs J. Donnelly W. P. Mullins Ireland
Tea For Free (IRE) 8 Mrs Susan Monkland Charlie Longsdon
Tenzing (IRE) 6 C. Jones W. P. Mullins Ireland
Walking On Glass (IRE) 8 Fivers & Tenners Syndicate Padraig Roche Ireland
Bellatrixsa (IRE) 6 Ms Sharon Kinsella Venetia Williams

Seventeen horses trained in Ireland are entered for the Grade 1 Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase on Wednesday, 15 March 2023.

Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) 3m 80y

Amirite (IRE) 7 Patrick Hale Henry de Bromhead Ireland
Balco Coastal (FR) 7 Mr Mark Blandford Nicky Henderson
Ballygrifincottage (IRE) 8 Friends From Insurance Dan Skelton
Bear Ghylls (IRE) 8 Bradley Partnership Nicky Martin
Bowtogreatness (IRE) 7 Harry Redknapp & Sophie Pauling Ben Pauling
Bronn (IRE) 6 Mr Simon Munir/Mr Isaac Souede W. P. Mullins Ireland
Drumbear 7 Mr Colm Herron John McConnell Ireland
Gaillard du Mesnil (FR) 7 Mrs J. Donnelly W. P. Mullins Ireland
Gelino Bello (FR) 7 Mr and Mrs J. D. Cotton Paul Nicholls
Gentlemansgame 7 Robcour M. F. Morris Ireland
Gerri Colombe (FR) 7 Robcour Gordon Elliott Ireland
Glengouly (FR) 7 Roaringwater Syndicate W. P. Mullins Ireland
Hidden Heroics (FR) 6 Mr Ian Lawrence Dan Skelton
I Am Maximus (FR) 7 Mr Claudio Michael Grech W. P. Mullins Ireland
Idas Boy (IRE) 9 Gigginstown House Stud Noel Meade Ireland
Iron Bridge (IRE) 7 Exors of the late Mr Trevor Hemmings Jonjo O’Neill
James du Berlais (FR) 7 Mr Simon Munir/Mr Isaac Souede W. P. Mullins Ireland
Kilcruit (IRE) 8 Miss M. A. Masterson W. P. Mullins Ireland
Loughderg Rocco (IRE) 7 Newark Castle Partnership L J Morgan
Malinello 8 Martin & Lynn Jones Ben Pauling
McFabulous (IRE) 9 Giraffa Racing Paul Nicholls
Mighty Potter (FR) 6 Caldwell Construction Ltd Gordon Elliott Ireland
Minella Crooner (IRE) 7 Mr David Barnard Gordon Elliott Ireland
Monmiral (FR) 6 Sir A Ferguson G Mason J Hales & L Hales Paul Nicholls
Ramillies (IRE) 8 Mrs J. Donnelly W. P. Mullins Ireland
Sir Gerhard (IRE) 8 Cheveley Park Stud W. P. Mullins Ireland
Stage Star (IRE) 7 Owners Group 044 Paul Nicholls
Thedevilscoachman (IRE) 7 Mr John P. McManus Noel Meade Ireland
The Real Whacker (IRE) 7 Neville, Mann, Duffus and Dennis Patrick Neville
Thunder Rock (IRE) 7 McNeill Family & Mr Ian Dale Olly Murphy
Thyme Hill 9 The Englands and Heywoods Philip Hobbs
Wonderwall (IRE) 7 REBEL JUMPING II Richard Spencer
Galia des Liteaux (FR) 7 Mr Michael Ariss Dan Skelton
Telmesomethinggirl (IRE) 8 Mr K. Alexander Henry de Bromhead Ireland

There are forty-one entries for the Grade 1 Turners Novices’ Chase over 2 miles 3 furlongs on Thursday, 16 March 2023. Twenty-one of the entries come from Irish-based trainers.

Turners Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) 2m 3f 168y

Adamantly Chosen (IRE) 6 Watch This Space Syndicate W. P. Mullins Ireland
Appreciate It (IRE) 9 Miss M. A. Masterson W. P. Mullins Ireland
Balco Coastal (FR) 7 Mr Mark Blandford Nicky Henderson
Banbridge (IRE) 7 Mr R. A. Bartlett Joseph Patrick O’Brien Ireland
Bass Rock (FR) 7 Mr Raymond Anderson Green Sandy Thomson
Bold Endeavour 7 Countrywide Park Homes Ltd Nicky Henderson
Bowtogreatness (IRE) 7 Harry Redknapp & Sophie Pauling Ben Pauling
Bronn (IRE) 6 Mr Simon Munir/Mr Isaac Souede W. P. Mullins Ireland
Christopher Wood (IRE) 8 Ms Sharon Kinsella Venetia Williams
Datsalrightgino (GER) 7 The GD Partnership Jamie Snowden
Drumbear 7 Mr Colm Herron John McConnell Ireland
Dysart Dynamo (IRE) 7 Ms Eleanor Manning W. P. Mullins Ireland
El Fabiolo (FR) 6 Mr Simon Munir/Mr Isaac Souede W. P. Mullins Ireland
Flame Bearer (IRE) 8 Linda Mulcahy/Mary Wolridge W. P. Mullins Ireland
Gaillard du Mesnil (FR) 7 Mrs J. Donnelly W. P. Mullins Ireland
Gentlemansgame 7 Robcour M. F. Morris Ireland
Glengouly (FR) 7 Roaringwater Syndicate W. P. Mullins Ireland
Ha d’Or (FR) 6 Mrs S. Ricci W. P. Mullins Ireland
Harper’s Brook (IRE) 7 The Megsons Ben Pauling
Hollow Games (IRE) 7 Bective Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland
I Am Maximus (FR) 7 Mr Claudio Michael Grech W. P. Mullins Ireland
James du Berlais (FR) 7 Mr Simon Munir/Mr Isaac Souede W. P. Mullins Ireland
Journey With Me (IRE) 7 Robcour Henry de Bromhead Ireland
Kilcruit (IRE) 8 Miss M. A. Masterson W. P. Mullins Ireland
Lac de Constance (FR) 7 Mr Andrew L. Cohen Dan Skelton
Loughderg Rocco (IRE) 7 Newark Castle Partnership L J Morgan
McFabulous (IRE) 9 Giraffa Racing Paul Nicholls
Mighty Potter (FR) 6 Caldwell Construction Ltd Gordon Elliott Ireland
Monmiral (FR) 6 Sir A Ferguson G Mason J Hales & L Hales Paul Nicholls
Mortlach 8 Richard D A Hames and Doug Pocock Fergal O’Brien
Notlongtillmay 7 Mr Alan Rogers L J Morgan
Ramillies (IRE) 8 Mrs J. Donnelly W. P. Mullins Ireland
Sir Gerhard (IRE) 8 Cheveley Park Stud W. P. Mullins Ireland
Stage Star (IRE) 7 Owners Group 044 Paul Nicholls
Straw Fan Jack 8 Mr Graham Wilson Sheila Lewis
The Real Whacker (IRE) 7 Neville, Mann, Duffus and Dennis Patrick Neville
Thunder Rock (IRE) 7 McNeill Family & Mr Ian Dale Olly Murphy
Unexpected Party (FR) 8 O’Reilly MacLennan Tynan Carthy Shanahan Dan Skelton
Wonderwall (IRE) 7 REBEL JUMPING II Richard Spencer
Fil Dor (FR) 5 Caldwell Construction Ltd Gordon Elliott Ireland
Tweed Skirt 6 Just Four Men with Rose Tinted Glasses Nicky Henderson

LiveScores Now Available at IrishScores.com

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NFL Wild Card Takeaways: Prescott erases doubts, Cowboys shut down Brady’s Buccaneers

Post By Sports

After back-to-back days of frenzied finishes on the football field, the stage was set for a comeback on Monday night. 

Following Jacksonville’s surge back from 27-0 Saturday against the Chargers, and Miami’s full-court press in Buffalo a day later, it was only natural to think that once Dallas upped the score to 24-0 in the third quarter on the third day of a particularly wild Super Wild Card Weekend, we might be in for the best comeback of all in Tampa Bay.

It’s Tom Brady, after all, and if there’s one thing we’ve learned over the course of his career, it’s that you can never count out the GOAT.

And yet, in Monday night’s Wild Card matchup against Dallas, with a Divisional Round date in San Francisco on the line, the comeback never came. 

Despite a slow start offensively, Dallas was dominant. Any questions about Dak Prescott’s ability to propel the Cowboys to their first playoff road win were quickly erased, while Dallas’ defence was stifling from kickoff until the final down of the Cowboys’ impressive 31-14 victory. 

The only real glimmer of hope for the home team came at the end of the third quarter when Brady connected with Julio Jones on a 30-yard touchdown pass to finally get the Buccaneers on the board. If that created any spark at all, though, it was very quickly extinguished by a failed two-point conversion and fifth touchdown for Dallas soon after on a big-time busted coverage that saw CeeDee Lamb as wide open as you can get. A second touchdown pass for Brady – an eight-yard toss to Cameron Brate with just over two minutes left in the game – was followed by a successful onside kick recovery and a smattering of what ifs and maybes… 

But a Monday night miracle was not to be. Not for these Buccaneers, a team that’s looked every part of its sub-.500 record all season, a team that never really roused much offensive success despite the presence of TB12 under center. And a team that now faces plenty of question marks after its season was cut short. 

The Cowboys, meanwhile, answered a lot of questions with Monday’s decisive victory – their most convincing win of the year, and their first road playoff W since Jan. 17, 1993, when they topped the 49ers en route to winning Super Bowl XXVII. 

It’s only fitting that Monday’s performance earns them a trip back to the Bay Area to take on the NFC’s second-seed in the 49ers. 

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Dak’s back, and he put on his best showing yet

Despite registering four more regular season wins than their 8-9 Wild Card Weekend hosts, the 12-5 Cowboys were no sure thing heading into this matchup. The numbers didn’t exactly favour Dallas, whose 2022 campaign began with a nightmarish outing at home against the Buccaneers – a 19-3 loss that saw Prescott exit with a thumb injury. Brady’s perfect record (he was 7-0 against Dallas all-time heading into Monday’s matchup) as well as Dallas’ 0-8 post-season road record since ’93 only added to the doubts. 

And then there were Prescott’s performances of late. The 29-year-old entered Monday’s contest riding a streak of seven straight games with at least one interception, a stretch in which he threw 11 picks. Despite starting just 12 games this season, he led the league in INTs with 15. 

Prescott snapped that streak when it mattered most on Monday, and put together a final stat line that wasn’t just good enough for the win – it was historically good. 

The QB completed 25 of his 33 pass attempts for 305 yards and four touchdowns and no interceptions, registering a 75.8 completion percentage while also running in another score of his own. Prescott, who now has a playoff record of 2-2, also wrote his name into Dallas’ record books as the first QB in team history to tally five touchdowns in a single playoff game. 

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Dan Quinn’s defence as dominant as it gets, blanks Brady in first half

These days, it feels like Brady is marking a new milestone every time he hits the field. That was the case Monday night, though you won’t find TB12 celebrating these ones. Brady was held scoreless in the first half against the Cowboys, marking the first time he’s been shut out in the first half of a playoff game since his very first post-season appearance way back in January 2002 – the Divisional Round matchup against the Oakland Raiders also known as the “Tuck Rule Game.”

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Cowboys safety Jayron Kearse certainly did his part to earn the shutout, picking off Brady in the red zone and delivering another milestone moment the GOAT would like to soon forget:

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Brady managed just 96 passing yards in the first half, completing 11 of his 23 attempts.

While Brady did manage to finally get the Buccaneers on the board at the end of the third quarter, the Cowboys’ onslaught never eased up, their coverage relentless. Brady completed 35 of his 66 passes for 351 yards, two touchdowns and one interception, and could never get into a rhythm with his weapons – a problem that’s persisted all season, despite Brady putting up really strong passing numbers in 2022.  

Quinn’s defence, which has been heralded all season as one of the league’s top units, has earned him plenty of notice. The former Atlanta Falcons head coach – who, yes, was coaching when Brady’s Patriots stormed back from 28-3 in Super Bowl LI – has helmed Dallas’ D the past few seasons and is already considered one of this off-season’s most notable candidates for one of the five head coaching jobs currently open. 

Maher misses the mark… again, and again, and again (…and again)

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Monday was a great night to be a Cowboy… and a terrible night to be their kicker. 

In fact, Cowboys place-kicker Brett Maher presented the lone flaw in what was an otherwise outstanding game from all angles. Maher, who’s been a reliable kicker all season, started Monday’s game with three missed extra-point attempts in the first half, his first two sailing wide right and his third too far to the left. He then opened the second half with another miss – his fourth of the game! – after Dallas’ fourth touchdown. Including the missed extra point on the Cowboys’ lone touchdown of their regular-season finale against Washington, Maher had missed five consecutive extra point attempts. After missing just three extra-point attempts all season, he set a new league record for most misses in a single playoff game. 

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The fifth attempt, as it turned out, was the charm on Monday night. Maher kicked it through the uprights for what was maybe… just maybe… the biggest win of the night. 

What’s next for Tom Brady?

This season, his 22nd, brought Brady his 14th straight playoff berth and 20th overall, despite finishing the year with a sub-.500 record for the first time in his career. In 48 post-season games (he’s missed the dance just twice in his career) Brady has recorded more playoff wins (35) than any other NFLer has appearances. With his record now 35-13, his place in NFL lore long-ago solidified, the question now becomes: What’s next?

Brady is slated to be a free agent, and after retiring and un-retiring last off-season has said that once he decides his fate this year, his decision will be final. He’ll take his time, as he should. 

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If this is the end for Brady, it won’t be the storybook ending many of us wanted to write. But when your football life spans as many chapters as Brady’s has, and includes as many victories and records and rings and game-changing moments as his, he’ll always go out on top.

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Tom Brady on NFL future: ‘It’ll be one day at a time’


Football fans can’t believe their eyes as Cowboys’ Maher misses 4 extra points

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India vs Sri Lanka live score over 3rd ODI ODI 11 15 updates | Cricket News

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A dedicated team of experts bring you live score, live cricket score, live match update on Sports.NDTV.com. After 15.3 overs, Sri Lanka, chasing a target of 391, are 50/7. The live updates of India vs Sri Lanka scorecard is also available. It is the perfect platform to follow your favourite teams in India vs Sri Lanka 2023. Keep a track on your favourite batsmen and bowlers through India vs Sri Lanka 2023 today match, ball by ball commentary, India vs Sri Lanka, India vs Sri Lanka live score, India vs Sri Lanka scorecard. Follow the excitement of the India vs Sri Lanka 2023 on Sports.NDTV.com as you can follow live match updates and live cricket score through our platform.

14.6 overs (0 Run)
OUT! BOWLED! Kuldeep Yadav works his magic and gets rid of Dasun Shanaka! Kuldeep Yadav bowls this one slower and fuller outside off, Dasun Shanaka tries to get forward and defend this one. But the ball spins in sharply and goes through the gap between bat and pad. Shanaka is perplexed as he sees his woodwork disturbed. This is truly a spinner’s classic dismissal by Kuldeep Yadav.

14.5 overs (0 Run)
Full on middle, Dasun Shanaka pushes it to mid-wicket.

14.4 overs (0 Run)
Wrong ‘un, full and at the stumps, Dasun Shanaka blocks it out to the bowler.

14.3 overs (0 Run)
Full and turning in on off, Dasun Shanaka gets forward and defends it to cover.

14.2 overs (1 Run)
Flighted, full around off, Dunith Wellalage accounts for the turn and works it to deep cover for a run.

14.1 overs (1 Run)
Tossed up, full and outside off, Dasun Shanaka tries to go through covers but mishits it towards long off for a run.

13.6 overs (0 Run)
On a length and angling in on leg from ’round the wicket, Dunith Wellalage pushes this one towards mid on for a dot.

13.5 overs (1 Run)
Banged in short on middle by Siraj, the ball does not rise much but Dasun Shanaka gets in line and pulls it towards deep square leg for a single.

13.4 overs (0 Run)
Short of a length on middle, Dasun Shanaka gets behind and pushes this one to mid-wicket.

13.3 overs (1 Run)
Back of a length on middle, Dunith Wellalage tries to defend this one but gets an outside edge that rolls to third man for a single.

13.2 overs (0 Run)
Length delivery outside off, Dunith Wellalage defends this one to backward point.

13.1 overs (0 Run)
Good-length delivery outside off from over the wicket, Dunith Wellalage does not poke at it and let it go.

12.6 overs (4 Runs)
FOUR! Cut away! Short and quicker on off, Dasun Shanaka picks the length early and goes back in his crease, cuts this one nicely along the ground through point for a boundary.
IND vs SL: 3rd ODI: Dasun Shanaka hits Kuldeep Yadav for a 4! SL 46/6 (13.0 Ov). Target: 391; RRR: 9.32

12.5 overs (0 Run)
Full and turning into the pads, Dasun Shanaka gets forward to defend but the ball spins sharply and hits him on the pads.

12.4 overs (0 Run)
Wrong one, fuller outside off, Dasun Shanaka defends it to point.

12.3 overs (1 Run)
Floated, fuller on middle, Dunith Wellalage makes room and drives it towards cover for a single.

12.2 overs (0 Run)
Short and turning in on off, Dunith Wellalage defends this one off the back foot.

12.1 overs (1 Run)
Tossed up, full and around off, Dasun Shanaka drives this one down to long on for a single.

11.6 overs (0 Run)
Back of a length on middle, nips back in, Dunith Wellalage gets behind and blocks this one out down the wicket.

11.5 overs (0 Run)
Short of a length and outside off, shaping away, Dunith Wellalage shoulders arms and leaves it alone.

11.5 overs (1 Run)
WIDE! On a length and angling down the leg side, Dunith Wellalage leaves it alone.

11.4 overs (0 Run)
OUT! RUN OUT! Good awareness by Siraj off his own bowling. There were a few words being exchanged a couple of deliveries ago but it is Mohammed Siraj that has the last laugh here. It is a full-length ball, on off. Chamika Karunaratne presses forward and defends it back to the bowler. Mohammed Siraj collects the ball on a bounce and scores a direct hit at the striker’s end. Every Indian players is excited about the same. They think that they have got their man here. The square leg umpire takes it upstairs. The replays confirm that Chamika Karunaratne has no leg grounded behind the crease and has to walk back to the dressing room. Mohammed Siraj cannot do anything wrong today.
IND vs SL: 3rd ODI: WICKET! Chamika Karunaratne run out (Mohammed Siraj) 1 (6b, 0x4, 0x6). SL 39/6 (11.4 Ov). Target: 391; RRR: 9.18

The umpire takes it upstairs to confirm. The Indian players think they have got their man here. The replays confirm that Chamika Karunaratne did not have his back leg grounded when the bails were falling off. This is great awareness shown by Mohammed Siraj. The big screen shows OUT.

11.3 overs (0 Run)
Much fuller, wide outside off. Chamika Karunaratne shuffles and defends it to the off side off the outer half.

11.2 overs (0 Run)
An outswinger, full and outside off. Chamika Karunaratne dabs it out to point. Two dots to start with.

11.1 overs (0 Run)
Siraj serves it on a hard length, on off. Chamika Karunaratne hops and tucks it to the leg side off his hips.

10.6 overs (0 Run)
This is full and on leg. This one stays low. Dasun Shanaka blocks it out watchfully.

10.5 overs (0 Run)
A loud appeal for lbw but turned down! It is tossed up, around off. Dasun Shanaka waits for it and tries to cut it away late. He gets it out but KL Rahul thinks it is pads first. They do not take the review.

10.4 overs (0 Run)
On middle and leg, clipped towards mid-wicket.

10.3 overs (0 Run)
Flatter and on off. Shanaka goes back and defends it to the off side.

10.2 overs (0 Run)
On off, pushed out to safety.

10.1 overs (0 Run)
Kuldeep Yadav loops it up, around off, it is angled across the right-hander. Dasun Shanaka gets beaten.

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Brock Purdy stars as San Francisco 49ers beat Seattle Seahawks 41-23 to advance to divisional round of NFL playoffs

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The NFL playoffs and continue on Sky Sports on Sunday with a triple-header of Super Wild Card Weekend action – starting with Dolphins @ Bills, followed by Giants @ Vikings and Ravens @ Bengals; watch live on Sky Sports NFL from 6pm, Sunday

Last Updated: 15/01/23 3:07am


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Highlights of the Seattle Seahawks’ clash with the San Francisco 49ers in the NFL Super Wild Card playoff game.

Highlights of the Seattle Seahawks’ clash with the San Francisco 49ers in the NFL Super Wild Card playoff game.

Brock Purdy threw for three touchdowns and ran in another as he starred on his first career playoff start, leading the San Francisco 49ers to a 41-23 victory over the Seattle Seahawks to start Super Wild Card Weekend on Saturday.

Story of the Game

The 49ers – the NFC’s No 2 seed and riding a 10-game winning streak into the playoffs – trailed by a point at half-time as a stubborn Seattle outfit led 17-16 at the break. But a stirring second half showing by San Francisco, in which they scored 22 points in the space of 12 minutes at one point, secured their passage through to the divisional round.

The 49ers will now host the Minnesota Vikings next weekend, should they beat the New York Giants in their wild card clash on Sunday. If the Giants win, it will instead be either the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or Dallas Cowboys who travel to San Francisco.

A look at San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy's best plays from his stunning NFL playoff debut

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A look at San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy’s best plays from his stunning NFL playoff debut

A look at San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy’s best plays from his stunning NFL playoff debut

Purdy, who was taken with the very last pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, completed 18 of 30 passes for 332 yards, the rookie QB overcoming some early jitters to put in a hugely accomplished display.

Christian McCaffrey rushed 15 times for 119 yards and had a touchdown grab to see San Francisco into an early 10-0 lead, while Deebo Samuel had six receptions for 133 yards and a blistering 74-yard catch and run for a score as the Niners streaked clear of the Seahawks in the second half.

San Francisco 49ers safety Talanoa Hufanga said his team's performance was ignited after tempers flared when Johnathan Abram appeared to twist Deebo Samuel's ankle.

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San Francisco 49ers safety Talanoa Hufanga said his team’s performance was ignited after tempers flared when Johnathan Abram appeared to twist Deebo Samuel’s ankle.

San Francisco 49ers safety Talanoa Hufanga said his team’s performance was ignited after tempers flared when Johnathan Abram appeared to twist Deebo Samuel’s ankle.

Seattle QB Geno Smith was 25-of-35 passing for 253 yards with two touchdowns, both to DK Metcalf – one a 50-yard stunner to see the Seahawks into the lead for the first time. But he also had an interception late in the second half, while he lost a fumble in the third quarter which is the point at which the game turned.

Metcalf had 10 catches for 136 yards and those two TDs, while rookie running back Kenneth Walker also found the end zone, in the second quarter, as he earned 63 yards on 15 carries.

Scoring summary

FIRST QUARTER
Seahawks 0-3 49ers Robbie Gould 34-yard field goal
Seahawks 0-10 49ers Brock Purdy three-yard TD pass to Christian McCaffrey (extra point)
SECOND QUARTER
Seahawks 7-10 49ers Kenneth Walker seven-yard TD run (extra point)
Seahawks 7-13 49ers Robbie Gould 33-yard field goal
Seahawks 14-13 49ers Geno Smith 50-yard TD pass to DK Metcalf (extra point)
Seahawks 14-16 49ers Robbie Gould 46-yard field goal
Seahawks 17-16 49ers Jason Myers 56-yard field goal
THIRD QUARTER
Seahawks 17-23 49ers Brock Purdy one-yard TD run (extra point)
FOURTH QUARTER
Seahawks 17-31 49ers Brock Purdy seven-yard TD pass to Elijah Mitchell (two-point conversion)
Seahawks 17-38 49ers Brock Purdy 74-yard TD pass to Deebo Samuel (extra point)
Seahawks 17-41 49ers Robbie Gould 31-yard field goal
Seahawks 23-41 49ers Geno Smith three-yard TD pass to DK Metcalf (failed two-point conversion)

Trailing 17-16 to start the second half, the 49ers immediately drove 75 yards down the field in 13 plays, with Purdy scoring on a one-yard plunge. And they wouldn’t look back from there.

With the Seahawks driving deep into 49ers territory, Smith was sacked by Charles Omenihu for a seven-yard loss, with the ball squirting loose and being recovered by Nick Bosa at the 30-yard line.

The San Francisco 49ers' defense finally proves too much for the Seattle Seahawks as their pressure forces Geno Smith to fumble which is recovered by Nick Bosa.

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The San Francisco 49ers’ defense finally proves too much for the Seattle Seahawks as their pressure forces Geno Smith to fumble which is recovered by Nick Bosa.

The San Francisco 49ers’ defense finally proves too much for the Seattle Seahawks as their pressure forces Geno Smith to fumble which is recovered by Nick Bosa.

San Francisco then stretched ahead by two scores off the back of the turnover as Purdy escaped the rush and threw a seven-yard TD to running back Elijah Mitchell, with a two-point conversion to George Kittle following.

Just over three minutes later, Samuel turned on the turbo jets to take his TD 74 yards all the way to the house and effectively end the game.

San Francisco 49ers star receiver Deebo Samuel turns on the turbo jets on this sensational 74-yard catch and run for a touchdown!

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San Francisco 49ers star receiver Deebo Samuel turns on the turbo jets on this sensational 74-yard catch and run for a touchdown!

San Francisco 49ers star receiver Deebo Samuel turns on the turbo jets on this sensational 74-yard catch and run for a touchdown!

Robbie Gould, who kicked four field goals in the contest, fired one through the uprights from 31 yards after Smith was picked off immediately after Samuel’s score.

Seattle and Metcalf would at least find the end zone once more for a consolation TD with just under two minutes remaining but then the Niners ran out the rest of the clock to book their spot in the divisional round and knock out their great NFC West divisional rivals.

Stats leaders

Seahawks

  • Passing: Geno Smith, 25/35, 253 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
  • Rushing: Kenneth Walker, 15 carries, 63 yards, 1 TD
  • Receiving: DK Metcalf, 10 catches, 136 yards, 2 TDs
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith throws a perfect 50-yard pass into the hands of DK Metcalf for a superb touchdown!

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Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith throws a perfect 50-yard pass into the hands of DK Metcalf for a superb touchdown!

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith throws a perfect 50-yard pass into the hands of DK Metcalf for a superb touchdown!

49ers

  • Passing: Brock Purdy, 18/30, 332 yards, 3 TDs
  • Rushing: Christian McCaffrey, 15 carries, 119 yards (& 1 receiving TD)
  • Receiving: Deebo Samuel, six catches, 133 yards, 1 TD

What they said… ‘Purdy looked like Frank Tarkenton’

49ers quarterback, Brock Purdy: “We came out and had some momentum and Seattle did a good job tracking back.

“It’s playoff football; everyone is going to play their best from here on out. When our offense and defense are doing their thing, we’re hard to beat.

“We’ve got a goal of winning the whole thing. We’re in a tournament, so anything can happen. I’ve got such a great team, O-line, receivers, defense, across the whole board. It’s not a one-man show, I’m very blessed.”

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy praises his team-mates after his team's dominant win over the Seattle Seahawks in the wild card round of the playoffs.

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San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy praises his team-mates after his team’s dominant win over the Seattle Seahawks in the wild card round of the playoffs.

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy praises his team-mates after his team’s dominant win over the Seattle Seahawks in the wild card round of the playoffs.

Seahawks head coach, Pete Carroll: “We chased him all over the place and he [Purdy] looked like [former Minnesota Vikings QB] Fran Tarkenton out there.

“Down 10-0 on the road with the fans going nuts, we did a great job to bounce right back. We were in it right to the end of the third quarter.”

What’s next?

The NFL playoffs continue on Sunday, live on Sky Sports NFL, with a Super Wild Card Weekend triple-header.

The Buffalo Bills first host the Miami Dolphins (kick-off, 6pm), before the Minnesota Vikings and New York Giants do battle at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis (kick-off, 9.30pm). The evening wraps up with the Baltimore Ravens’ visit to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday Night Football (kick-off, 1.15am).

The wild card round then concludes on Monday night as Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers host ‘America’s Team’, the Dallas Cowboys, live on Sky Sports NFL from 1.15am early on Tuesday morning.

Sky Sports NFL is your dedicated channel for NFL coverage through the season – featuring a host of NFL Network programming. Don’t forget to follow us on skysports.com/nfl, our Twitter account @SkySportsNFL & Sky Sports – on the go!



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Formula E Season 9 ready to get underway in Mexico City – Sport360 News

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It was a busy off-season as every team manoeuvred for early position at the start of the GEN3 era. Just one team has retained the same driver line-up that finished last season.

DS Automobiles has partnered with PENSKE AUTOSPORT, signing two of the biggest names on the grid to launch their Season 9 campaign. Reigning champion Stoffel Vandoorne and Formula E‘s only double champion Jean-Éric Vergne will drive for the DS PENSKE team. The pair were highly-competitive in testing recording the second and third fastest times respectively. Vandoorne will be looking to mount a strong title defence to match Vergne’s unique double-title honour.

Two iconic names in world motorsport – McLaren and Maserati – line up on the Formula E grid for the first time this season.

The former is among the greatest names in motorsport, with 20 Formula 1 World Championship titles, 180 Grand Prix wins and three Indianapolis 500 victories to its name, as well as a Le Mans 24 Hours win at the first attempt.

René Rast, multiple DTM champion and former Formula E racer, will compete in the distinctive papaya of the new NEOM McLaren Formula E Team alongside Jake Hughes, who impressed in testing on the way to recording the fourth-quickest time of the week.

In partnership with MSG Racing, Maserati marks its return to single-seater competition for the first time in more than 60 years and is set to become the first Italian marque to compete in Formula E. Both Maserati and McLaren have cited Formula E as key to their EV development programmes with the championship’s intense sporting laboratory driving learnings from the racetrack to road models.

Maserati’s rich motorsport heritage is evident throughout their return to racing: launched on the streets of their Italian hometown of Modena in the iconic blue colour, the Maserati Tipo Folgore pays homage to the Trident’s first racing car, the Tipo 26.

Maserati MSG Racing will see the return of Edoardo Mortara who will look to build on his most successful Formula E campaign yet of four wins among six podium finishes last season alongside new teammate Maximilian Guenther. It was a strong start for the team in Valencia, where Guenther topped five of the seven timed sessions and set the benchmark pace in Spain at a third official Formula E test.

Jaguar TCS Racing is the only team on the grid to field an unchanged driver line-up. Mitch Evans was in the hunt for his first-ever Formula E world champion title until the final weekend of last season, ultimately finishing second. Across the garage, teammate Sam Bird was frustrated by an injury that meant he was unable to take part in the final two races of the season – numbers 99 and 100 in Formula E history – leaving Lucas di Grassi to become the only driver to achieve the ever-present feat.

André Lotterer joins Jake Dennis at the now Porsche-powered Avalanche Andretti Formula E team, while Season 6 champion António Félix Da Costa will partner Pascal Wehrlein at TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team.

Nick Cassidy stays at Envision Racing, where he is joined by long-standing Nissan driver and Season 2 champion Sébastien Buemi.

Buemi’s departure means Nissan Formula E Team also has a fully-refreshed line-up with Norman Nato and Sacha Fenestraz, who stood in for Antonio Giovinazzi in Seoul in the last race of Season 8.

Mahindra Racing welcomes ‘Mr 100’ and Season 3 champion Lucas di Grassi to partner Oliver Rowland.

NIO 333 Racing retains Dan Ticktum, who will partner with Sérgio Sette Câmara, who put in some impressive performances last year for DRAGON/PENSKE AUTOSPORT while Robins Frijns and Nico Mueller will race for the new ABT CUPRA Formula E Team.

GEN3: A HUGE TECH LEAP

The 11 teams and 22 drivers in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship have had private testing and three days together in Valencia to build up the mileage and acquaint themselves with their all-new GEN3 race car.

The GEN3 is a huge leap in technological development and innovation with engineers at the FIA and Formula E delivering the fastest, lightest, most powerful and efficient electric race car ever built, pushing the boundaries of EV development.

Capable of a 200mph (322kph) top speed, it is 53kg lighter with a smaller chassis optimised for street racing. An additional front powertrain adds 250kW to the 350kW at the rear, more than doubling the regenerative capacity of the current GEN2 car to 600kW, with more than 40% of the energy used in-race regenerated under braking.

SPORTING UPDATES FOR SEASON 9

Alongside the revolutionary technology on-track, Formula E’s sporting regulations have undergone updates aligned to the GEN3 era. A lap total will replace time in setting a race distance, with additional laps added for Safety Car and Full Course Yellow interruptions to racing.

Hankook Tire becomes the exclusive Technical Partner and Tyre Supplier of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship from Season 9. Two years of research and development has gone into producing the Hankook iON Race tyre which in Formula E is used in all conditions, wet and dry. Nearly 30 percent of the new tyre is made of sustainable materials while Hankook completely recycles every set of tyres after use.

RETURN TO MEXICO CITY

This Saturday, Formula E makes a seventh visit to a circuit that has been a feature on the calendar since Season 2, save for a trip to Puebla in Season 7 – Autódromo Hermanos Rodriguez.

The 19-turn, 2.630km circuit is a perfect mix of long, fast straights and a technical infield section that passes right through the legendary Foro Sol stadium section where tens of thousands of fans sit.

A new chicane has been added on the back straight this season, while the ATTACK MODE activation zone is now on the outside of Turn 15 at the exit of the stadium section presenting more of a challenge this time around.

Last season, TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team dominated in Mexico City to claim their first ABB FIA Formula E World Championship race win.

Pascal Wehrlein led home teammate Andre Lotterer for a Porsche one-two with the team inflicting an extra lap on the field with just a couple of seconds remaining on the clock.

MEXICO CITY FACTS

  • Mexico has been a mainstay on the Formula E calendar since its initial appearance in Season 2 with Mexico City hosting apart from Covid-hit Season 7 (with Puebla filling the gap). Only Germany (16) and USA (13) have hosted more races than Mexico (8).
  • The 2023 Hankook Mexico City E-Prix will be run to a new track layout with a chicane being added after Turn 8, making the circuit the longest Formula E configuration around the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.
  • The 19-turn layout will be the fourth different configuration across the seven Mexico City E-Prix.
  • After eight years of the Formula E season commencing in Asia, Formula E will start its GEN3 journey in North America, with Mexico City being the fourth city to have hosted the opener (after Beijing, Hong Kong and Diriyah).
  • The opening race isn’t always a clear indicator of who will clinch the championship in Formula E. In only two seasons has the Driver’s Champion won the opening race (Sébastien Buemi in Season 2 and Nyck de Vries in Season 6).
  • Lucas di Grassi won the Season 3 Mexico City race from 15th on the grid, the lowest position any driver has won an E-Prix from.
  • Of the six previous races in Mexico City, Sébastien Buemi has stood on the podium three times, more than any other driver.
  • António Félix da Costa is coming up to his first Formula E race with his new team, Porsche. Da Costa will be hoping he starts the GEN3 era in the same way he started GEN2, which is with a win.
  • Sébastien Buemi, Sam Bird and Lucas di Grassi are the only drivers to have raced in every season opening race (each having claimed at least one win at a season opener).
  • The last visit to Mexico City saw Pascal Wehrlein claim his maiden Formula E victory. Seven drivers come into Mexico City in search of their first Formula E win.
  • NIO 333 Racing will start Season 9 with the youngest driver pairing (with an average age of just 24 years and 45 days). Mahindra Racing will start the season with the oldest driver pairing (with an average age of 34 years 156 days).
  • The last three Julius Baer Pole Positions in Mexico City have all been claimed by German drivers. However, pole position isn’t always the spot to be in Mexico City, with three of the six pole sitters having failed to make it to the chequered flag.
  • Starting last in Mexico City isn’t always the end to a driver’s weekend. In three of the last four Mexico City E-Prixs, the driver starting in last has picked up points (with a ninth-place finish in each instance).



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Sitting Ekman-Larsson would put spotlight on yet another glaring Canucks issue

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TAMPA — Tonight, a healthy scratch. The next 4 1/2 years, who knows?

The implications of Oliver Ekman-Larsson’s potential first healthy scratch in nearly 12 years go far beyond the Vancouver Canucks’ game Thursday night against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The 31-year-old alternate captain skated Thursday morning on the Canucks’ fourth defence pairing, stayed on the ice late with the other Vancouver extras and is not expected to play when the reeling team faces the powerful Lightning in the third game of a road trip that has seen the Canucks outscored 12-8 in a pair of losses.

Scratching him would be a bold statement by Canucks coach Bruce Boudreau, who has been an endangered species all season but continues to run the team his way while president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford and general manager Patrik Allvin consider possible successors behind the bench.

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Sitting Ekman-Larsson is a declaration about accountability – further proof that Boudreau is still trying to force players at Game 41 to take ownership of their play.

But scratching him will also shine a spotlight on a paramount problem facing management: the last half of eight-year, $66-million contract the Canucks took on from the Arizona Coyotes in the summer of 2021 when former Vancouver GM Jim Benning gambled that Ekman-Larsson could still be an impact player in the National Hockey League.

The Swede has 4 1/2 years and more than $37 million still owed to him. With the Coyotes’ retained salary, Ekman-Larsson’s annual salary-cap charge in Vancouver is $7.26 million through the 2026-27 season. By gross salary, he is the highest-paid Canuck.

None of these figures matter to Boudreau, who is simply trying to get his team to play better and defend a little. But they are vitally important to the organization.

“I think he can be better, but I think there’s a lot of guys that can be better now,” Boudreau told reporters. “I mean, it’s about accountability. It’s about a lot of things. It’s something you don’t want to do. He’s arguably our best defenceman, but sometimes you just have to do what you think is the best thing for the team right at that moment. And that’s apparently where I am.”

Ekman-Larsson’s pairing with Tyler Myers has been disastrous in several games recently and, really, either veteran could have been sat out by Boudreau.

In Tuesday’s 5-4 loss against the Pittsburgh Penguins, who surged back from a 3-0 deficit and exposed the Canucks’ defensive ineptitude with 29 high-danger scoring chances, five-on-five shot attempts were 18-3 against Vancouver when Ekman-Larsson and Myers were on the ice.

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Often matched against the opposition’s best forwards due to Boudreau’s limited choices on defence, the duo has been outscored 5-1 during this week’s losses in Pittsburgh and Winnipeg, where the Jets won 7-4 on Sunday without the benefit of a single power play.

For the season, Ekman-Larsson is carrying a 45.9 per cent Corsi and an expected-goals-for percentage of 44.8, which are both mid-pack on the Canucks. His average ice time of 20:28 is third among defencemen and Ekman-Larsson, significantly, has contributed 19 points in 40 games. But his goals-against-per-60-minutes have nearly doubled this season, to 3.61 from 1.99, and Ekman-Larsson’s minus-14 rating is worst among Vancouver defencemen.

He has played 888 games in the NHL and hasn’t been a healthy scratch since he was a 19-year-old rookie with the Arizona Coyotes in 2010-11.

Ekman-Larsson was not made available to reporters after the morning skate.

More from Sportsnet

Canucks’ Boudreau confirms Ekman-Larsson could be healthy scratch vs. Lightning


Decision on Tocchet in Canucks’ hands as team contemplates coaching change

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5 things WWE NXT New Year’s Evil got right: Unexpected end to championship match; controversial finish in Battle Royal

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WWE NXT New Year’s Evil had a few big matches scheduled for its second show of the year. Bron Breakker was set to defend his NXT Championship against Grayson Waller in one of the biggest matches on the show.

A few more challengers for the top titles of the brand were crowned throughout the night. Wes Lee found his next opponent for the NXT North American Championship, while a returning team became the next challenger for the New Day’s titles.

A Battle Royal was also set to determine Roxanne Perez’s opponent for Vengeance Day. Overall, it turned out to be a productive night for the brand.

Take a look at the five things WWE NXT New Year’s Evil got right this year.

#5. Dijak became Wes Lee’s next challenger for the NXT North American Championship

Dijak became the next challenger for the NXT North American Championship.
Dijak became the next challenger for the NXT North American Championship.

Dijak and Tony D’Angelo competed in a #1 contender’s match for the WWE NXT North American Championship. Wes Lee joined the commentary team as the two big men took to the ring.

Dijak took control early and also dished out some punishment to Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo. The latter tried to protect D’Angelo throughout the match, and the focus turned from the match to their relationship as a family.

Tony hit a spinebuster for a near fall before Dijak exploded with a Superkick and a Chokeslam. Stacks tried to help D’Angelo, but The Don told him to get out of the way and take care of his business.

The distraction allowed Dijak to hit Cyclone Kill and pick up the win to become Lee’s next challenger. The match was decent, and Dijak got the spotlight he needed. It’s time that WWE gives him the recognition he deserves and puts the North American Championship on him.

#4. Jinder Mahal joined Indus Sher to surprise The Creed Brothers

Jinder Mahal could become a top star in WWE NXT.
Jinder Mahal could become a top star in WWE NXT.

The Creed Brothers came out for their match against Indus Sher, but Sanga was out without Veer. It looked like fans would get a handicap match between the two sides at WWE NXT New Year’s Evil before a main roster superstar made a surprise appearance.

Jinder Mahal came out to attack the Creeds and sent Julius into the ring post before laying him out with the Khallas. Meanwhile, Sanga took Brutus out and sent him into the steel steps.

Later in the night, Mahal got a singles match against Julius Creed. The babyface took control early on before Jinder hit him with a Spinebuster. Julius did not stay down for long and got a couple of near falls.

Sanga distracted Julius, allowing Jinder to avoid a dive off the top rope. The distraction helped Mahal hit a big kick, followed by Khallas for the win.

The former WWE Champion has been working aimlessly on the main roster for years now. Moving to the NXT roster could be a good move for Jinder, especially if Veer is out of action for some time. He works flawlessly as a heel.

#3. Gallus returned to lay out Pretty Deadly on WWE NXT

Pretty Deadly looked to earn a shot at New Day’s WWE NXT Tag Team Championship this week. They competed in a gauntlet match against three teams this week.

The first team turned out to be a few enhancement talents who couldn’t do much against the former champions. After a couple of double-team moves, Pretty Deadly picked up the win with Spilt Milk.

Edris Enofe and Malik Blade came out as the second team to face Pretty Deadly. The two men fought against Elton Prince and Kit Wilson and nearly picked up the win with a Spinebuster.

Blade hit a Frog Splash for another near fall before a brawl broke out between the two sides. Prince rolled up his opponent and picked up the win off an inside cradle.

Gallus made its return to WWE NXT and surprised the heel team. Mark Coffey went hard at Pretty Deadly before Wolfgang tagged in to take control. The two men toyed around with Wilson and Prince before hitting their finisher to pick up a dominant win.

Gallus’ return will bolster the NXT tag team division. The faction is among the best tag teams in the company. New Day will probably have a tough time retaining their titles against Coffey and his men at Vengeance Day.

#2. Grayson Waller and Bron Breakker couldn’t bring their match to a decisive end

The NXT Championship match had a botched ending.
The NXT Championship match had a botched ending.

Grasyon Waller challenged Bron Breakker for the WWE NXT Championship. The heel tried to run away from the match early, but he was met with a big slam and a standing moonsault when he returned.

The Australian Superstar mounted a comeback and hit a suplex, but Bron was too powerful for him. The two superstars exchanged moves before the champion was sent into the turnbuckles. One of the buckles snapped, and officials had to fix it.

Waller stayed on the attack once the action picked up again and dodged a Spear before hitting a big knee strike. He went for a move off the ropes, but the turnbuckles snapped again, throwing Waller to the outside.

The challenger was counted out as he couldn’t make it back to the ring, and Breakker retained his title. Later in the night, Shawn Michaels announced that the two superstars would meet again for the title at Vengeance Day, this time inside a Steel Cage.

The match itself was good, and WWE found a different way to end it while protecting both superstars. It will keep Breakker busy for some time as he has run through many challengers over the past four months.

#1. Gigi Dolin and Jacy Jayne became the challengers for Roxanne Perez’s NXT Women’s Championship

The entire women’s roster had its eyes on the NXT Women’s Championship as the 20-woman Battle Royal took off in the main event. Cora Jade went out of the ring before Tatum Paxley was eliminated.

The ring quickly emptied as Lash Legend eliminated Amari Miller. Sol Ruca saved herself from elimination and headed back into the ring by walking on her hands.

Jade returned to the ring before being sent out almost immediately. Fans were surprised when Wendy Choo, Nikkita Lyons, and Zoey Stark were also eliminated from the contest.

Alba Fyre, Lyra Valkyria, Jacy Jayne, and Gigi Dolin were the final four in the ring. Valkyria eliminated Fyre before Cora Jade came back to eliminate her.

Jayne and Dolin were the final two in the ring and went at each other to determine who would face Perez. They fought outside on the apron and fell at the same time, confusing the referees. In the end, they were both announced as the winners of the match.

The match was good as it had some interesting spots. It also led to the ignition of some new rivalries. However, the finish could have been much better as both women could have jumped out of the ring simultaneously to show that it was all a part of their plan.

The match between Perez and Toxic Attraction will be good as the champion will have to face two heels who have worked together for several months. A win would help Perez get a massive boost.

Will WWE be sold to Saudi Arabian investors? Our experts investigate here.

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