Bengaluru Bravehearts Become Third Team to Make Rugby Premier League Semi-Finals
The Bengaluru Bravehearts became the third team to progress to the semi-final of Season 1 of GMR Rugby Premier League. The Bravehearts achieved this after they defeated the Kalinga Black Tigers by a margin of 34-26. In the second game of the day, the Delhi Redz and the Mumbai Dreamers played out a thrilling draw, at the Shahaji Raje Bhosale Sports Complex in Mumbai. With qualification on the line for the Bengaluru Bravehearts, the Kalinga Black Tigers were looking to create hurdles. And on cue, the Tigers took the lead when Ethan Turner bagged a try and Maurice Longbottom converted with ease. The Tigers further extended their lead with Lucas Lacamp's try and Turner's conversion.
However, before the end of the first half, the Bravehearts started to mount a comeback with Philip Wokorach and Arpan Chhetri's tries. At the break the Tigers led by 4 points. After that, the Bravehearts' Liam Poulton turned up the ante with a couple of tries, to give his side the lead.
The game was well contested, and the Tigers responded well and almost immediately with Ethan Turner's try. And going into the last phase, the Bravehearts led by 1 point.
The Bravehearts put the foot on the pedal in the final quarter with Philip Wokorach adding a try and converting, along with Iowane Teba's try and conversion, which gave them some breathing space. The Tigers though were not giving up and Perry Baker added five more to the cause, whilst Maurice Longbottom also scored his conversion kick. But it was too little too late.
In the second game of the day, the Mumbai Dreamers came from behind to salvage a draw against the Delhi Redz. Both teams were locked at 19-19 at the final whistle.
James Turner put the Dreamers in the lead before Patrick Okongo and Alejandro Laforga combined to add 7 points for the Redz. From then on in, the Delhi Redz were dominant, with Laforga and Deepak Punia scoring tries, and the latter converting his kick too.
The Redz looked set for the win, however, the Dreamers fought back in the final quarter with James Turner scoring a try and converting his kick. Vuiviwa Naduvalo rounded off the evening with his game-changing try, which helped the Dreamers rescue a draw with the scores reading 19-19.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
2 hours ago
- Business Standard
Shanto steps down as BAN's Test captain after 0-1 series loss to Sri Lanka
Following Bangladesh's innings-and-78-run loss to Sri Lanka in Colombo, Najmul Hossain Shanto stepped down as Test captain, marking another shift in the team's leadership structure. The decision came on the heels of a 1-0 series defeat in the ongoing World Test Championship 2025–27 cycle, where Bangladesh failed to capitalise after a drawn opening Test. Heading into Colombo with the opportunity to secure vital points, the Tigers crumbled under pressure—particularly with the bat—and suffered a crushing loss. In the aftermath, Shanto announced he would no longer lead the red-ball team, citing the move as necessary for the team's progress. Shanto reveals his reason Shanto clarified that the choice to step away was not made out of emotion or frustration. According to him, having three different captains across formats creates inconsistency, and a more unified approach could benefit the national side. He said the decision had already been conveyed to the BCB's cricket operations department and emphasised that he did not want his actions interpreted as a reaction to recent decisions around ODI captaincy. Earlier this year, he was removed as ODI skipper in favour of Mehidy Hasan Miraz, despite previously expressing interest in continuing. Shanto's record as Bangladesh Test captain During his tenure as Test captain, Shanto led Bangladesh in 14 matches, winning four. His captaincy began with a memorable win over New Zealand in Sylhet and included a rare Test series whitewash in Pakistan. He also etched his name in the record books as the first Bangladesh skipper to score twin centuries in a Test against Sri Lanka. Though his personal form was respectable—averaging 36.24—results didn't always go Bangladesh's way. What's next for Bangladesh? With no Test series scheduled until October against Ireland, Bangladesh have time to name a new red-ball captain. Currently, Litton Das leads in T20Is, while Mehidy Hasan Miraz oversees the ODI squad. Shanto's decision now opens the door for a potential long-term restructure of Bangladesh's leadership across formats.
Mint
12 hours ago
- Mint
David Festa, Twins shut down AL-best Tigers
Byron Buxton hit a solo homer and David Festa pitched 5 2/3 scoreless innings as the visiting Minnesota Twins downed the Detroit Tigers 4-1 on Friday night. Brooks Lee drove in two runs, Willi Castro scored a run and knocked in another and Buxton scored two runs as the Twins won their third straight following a five-game losing streak. Festa (2-2) allowed just two hits and struck out six Tigers, who have the best record in the American League. Jhoan Duran notched his 12th save by getting the last three outs in the opener of a three-game set. Gleyber Torres had two hits and drove in the lone Tigers run. Starter Sawyer Gipson-Long (0-1) yielded three runs on four hits and two walks in 5 1/3 innings while recording five strikeouts. The Tigers had a threat in the second. Spencer Torkelson was hit by a pitch and Dillon Dingler had a two-out single. Parker Meadows was retired on a check-swing comebacker to Festa. Minnesota stranded two runners in the third, then broke through in the fourth. Matt Wallner slashed a two-out double before Lee doubled to right for the first run of the contest. The Twins made it 2-0 the next inning on Buxton's two-out homer to left which traveled an estimated 425 feet. Minnesota tacked on a run in the sixth. Castro walked, stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch. After Ty France walked with one out, Lee singled to center to score Castro. Minnesota took a 4-0 lead in the seventh. Buxton walked, stole second and moved to third on a groundout. He scored on Castro's sacrifice bunt. Detroit stranded two runners in the seventh, then got on the scoreboard in the eighth. Colt Keith tripled with one out and scored on Torres' RBI single. Zach McKinstry's single put runners on the corners. McKinstry stole second, but reliever Griffin Jax responded by striking out Riley Greene and Torkelson to end the inning.
India Gazette
16 hours ago
- India Gazette
RPL 2025: Hyderabad Heroes bag top spot; Mumbai Dreamers finish with a win
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], June 27 (ANI): The Hyderabad Heroes have been one of the most exciting teams in the tournament, and have finished top of the points table at the end of the league stage of Season 1 of the GMR Rugby Premier League (RPL), on Friday, at the Shahaji Raje Bhosale Sports Complex, in Mumbai. The Mumbai Dreamers too had a memorable final day of the league stage of the competition, as they ended on a high with a comprehensive win against the Bengaluru Bravehearts, as per a release from RPL. In the semi-finals of Season 1 of the GMR Rugby Premier League, on Saturday, the Hyderabad Heroes will play the Delhi Redz, whilst the Chennai Bulls have on their agenda the Bengaluru Bravehearts. In the opening game of the day, the Hyderabad Heroes put on a fantastic show as they closed out their campaign in this phase of the tournament with a resounding 31-7 win. The Hyderabad Heroes started off at lightning speed and got their points tally moving in the first minute itself. Sukumar Hembrom turned on the afterburners for his try, and Terio Tamani converted with ease. The Delhi Redz, stunned initially, though bounced back through a Penalty Try. The Heroes were in the mood to put on a show, and before the first half ended, Terio Tamani set up Sambit Pradhan with a delightful move. Pradhan went over the line, and soon after, Joji Nasova crossed over too, and Tamani converted both attempts. At half-time, the Heroes led 21-7. It was more domination from the Heroes after the break as Lautaro Velez registered a comfortable try, extending the lead by five more points. In the final quarter, Manuel Moreno added another try and put the seal on the win. In the second game of the day, the Mumbai Dreamers' fans were well and truly in dreamland, as the team turned up the style and defeated the Bengaluru Bravehearts by a scoreline of 26-14. The Bengaluru Bravehearts benefited early on from an error by the Mumbai Dreamers and got going with a try by Philip Wokorach, after which Akuila Rokolisoa converted as well. That, though, stung the Dreamers. James Turner and Vuiviwa Naduvalo responded with two super tries, while Akash Balmiki converted on both occasions. Elias Hancock added five more to the cause just before half-time, and the Dreamers went into the break with a 19-7 lead. After the break, Akuila Rokolisoa reduced the deficit by 7 points for the Bravehearts, but the Dreamers were still in control. Before the final whistle, Turner scored another try and Akash Balmiki polished off the conversion. Eventually, the Dreamers got their first win in their final game of the tournament. (ANI)
