Ulster stars have done themselves no harm with displays against Georgia
With so many of the front liners currently wearing the red of the British and Irish Lions, this Irish side naturally had a very different look about it and gave rare enough chances to Jacob Stockdale, Stuart McCloskey, Nick Timoney and Cormac Izuchukwu to be handed starts to take on Georgia, who had former Ulster assistant coach Roddy Grant in their backroom team.
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Leader Live
2 hours ago
- Leader Live
Cameron Norrie survives fiery Nicolas Jarry clash to reach Wimbledon quarters
Norrie is the last British player standing after taking down the towering Chilean qualifier 6-3 7-6 (4) 6-7 (7) 6-7 (5) 6-3 in four hours and 27 minutes. The 29-year-old led by two sets and had a match point in the third, but was pegged back to a fifth with Jarry firing down 46 aces among 103 winners. But Norrie, who did not drop serve all day, converted his second match point – more than two hours after his first before dropping to the ground in celebration. Jarry had complained to the umpire about the time Norrie was taking between first and second serves, and at one point seemed to mimic his opponent by stopping and starting his service action. It backfired, though, as the South American sent his serve too long and double-faulted. When quizzed about Norrie's excessive bouncing of the ball, Jarry kept his cards close to his chest. He said: 'He's very competitive, so he knows how to make the most of the important games, the important part of the match.' Norrie said he was unaware the 6ft 7in giant from Santiago was making a point – or giving one away as it turned out. 'I thought he was maybe a little bit tight on that second serve,' he said. 'I actually didn't even notice he was upset with that. I want to settle before I hit my second serve. I don't want to rush into it and hit a quick double.' The pair had words at the handshake, and their conversation continued for some time under the umpire's chair. Norrie said: 'I think it's a big match for both of us, we really wanted to win. It was obviously frustrating for him to lose. 'I just told him 'man, that was unbelievable level. You competed so well, and I loved the way you kind of responded'. 'I think he just said I was being a little bit too vocal, but I was aiming directly at my team and pulling from the crowd. The atmosphere was so, so good. WHAT A WAY TO FINISH IT OFF! 🤩 Cameron Norrie is into the quarter-finals of #Wimbledon after being forced to a decider by Nicolas Jarry, but he gets it done by winning 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-7(7), 6-7(5), 6-3 🇬🇧 Just look at what it means 😁 — Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 6, 2025 'Honestly, nothing but credit to Nico for his performance. And to see him not only playing at that level, you know, seeing him enjoying his tennis and coming through quallies so easily and dropping guys, so I wish him all the best.' Jarry's charge through qualifying to the fourth round has been one of the stories of the Championships, his ranking having plummeted from 16 this time last year to 143 due to a health issue which has affected his vision and balance. But Norrie's achievement is quite something, too, for a player who had slipped from eight in the world to 91 after a tough couple of years, and who is now on the verge of a return to the top 50. He will have his work cut out to get much further, though, with two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz awaiting in the quarter-final.
South Wales Guardian
2 hours ago
- South Wales Guardian
Wimbledon briefing: Day seven recap, Monday order of play and technology woe
Kartal's loss to Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova included an embarrassing malfunction of Wimbledon's new electronic line-calling system on Centre Court. The singles quarter-final line-up will be completed on Monday, with Novak Djokovic, Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek all on the schedule. Here, the PA news agency looks back at Sunday's action and previews day eight of the Championships. Cameron Norrie kept the British flag flying at Wimbledon by taking down qualifier Nicolas Jarry in a five-set marathon to reach the quarter-finals. The 29-year-old had a match point in the third set, but was taken to a fifth by the towering Chilean before getting over the line after four hours and 27 minutes. Norrie, a semi-finalist in 2022, is only the third British man to reach the last eight more than once in the last 50 years, after Tim Henman and Andy Murray, and is the last home hope remaining in singles after Sonay Kartal was beaten in straight sets by Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. 'They stole the game from me' 😠 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova wasn't happy when #Wimbledon's electronic line-calling system failed ❌ — BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 6, 2025 Wimbledon officials had to apologise to Pavlyuchenkova and Kartal after an embarrassing malfunction of the new electronic line-calling system on Centre Court. Organisers admitted the technology was turned off in error on a section of the court for a game, with the mistake only becoming apparent when a shot from Kartal that clearly missed the baseline was not called out. Had the call been correct, it would have given Pavlyuchenkova a 5-4 lead in the first set, but instead umpire Nico Helwerth ruled the point should be replayed, with Kartal going on to win the game. A Wimbledon spokesperson later said the technology was 'deactivated in error on part of the server's side of the court', the 'chair umpire followed the established process' and both players had received an apology. Women's world number one Aryna Sabalenka beat Elise Mertens in straight sets to reach the quarter-finals for an 11th successive grand slam appearance. The victory was her 46th of the season – way ahead of any other player, with only four women managing more wins in the whole of 2024 – but having lost in the Australian Open and French Open finals so far this year, she is desperate to win Wimbledon for the first time. Meanwhile, reigning men's champion Carlos Alcaraz remains on course for a third successive SW19 title. The Spaniard dropped the opening set against Russian 14th seed Andrey Rublev, but he fought back to extend his winning streak to 22 matches. Alex De Minaur has been forced to wait for a crack at seven-time champion Djokovic. The pair were scheduled to meet in the 2024 quarter-finals before a devastated De Minaur withdrew ahead of play due to a hip injury sustained in his previous round win over Arthur Fils. Twelve months on, the Australian has an opportunity a round earlier. Centre Court (from 1.30pm)Novak Djokovic (6) v Alex De Minaur (11)Mirra Andreeva (7) v Emma Navarro (10)Jannik Sinner (1) v Grigor Dimitrov (19) Court One (from 1pm)Ekaterina Alexandrova (17) v Belinda BencicBen Shelton (10) v Lorenzo SonegoIga Swiatek (8) v Clara Tauson (23) Heavy rain changing to sunny intervals by late morning, with a maximum temperature of 23C, according to the Met Office.
South Wales Guardian
2 hours ago
- South Wales Guardian
Bright Thunder oozes class in Deauville romp
Karl Burke's four-year-old was a Listed winner at Chantilly last summer and after going close on home soil at Goodwood and Epsom earlier this season, gained some valuable compensation on the continent. It was a victory that was a welcome tonic for the Spigot Lodge team after near misses both earlier on the Deauville card with Spycatcher and in the German Derby with Contingent and there could plenty more to look forward to with the daughter of Night Of Thunder after her commanding performance in the hands of Sam James. James told Sky Sports Racing: 'She jumped really well, if not too well and I wanted to get a bit of cover. Emphatic! British raider Bright Thunder makes it look easy in the Listed Prix Goldikova for @samjock22 and @karl_burke… — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) July 6, 2025 'However, once I got behind Christophe (Soumillon on Rubies From Burma) on the lead horse she settled away grand and I thought we were going quite slow so I was quite happy to let her find herself and keep coming. 'She doesn't find an awful lot off the bridle but to be fair to her today she's really quickened up and put the race to bed. 'A Group Three wouldn't be out of the question for her and the faster they go in these races the more it suits her. She seems to like coming over here so maybe she can come over again. 'You can sometimes get racing a long way out on a straight mile, but today it all went to plan and she obviously likes coming over and Karl does as well when he brings horses over here.'
