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Reuters
25 minutes ago
- Reuters
Lions great Gibson misses Australia test due to Open responsibilities
PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland, July 19 (Reuters) - Of the 1,200 marshals on duty at Royal Portrush for the British Open, one of them, former British and Irish Lions rugby great Mike Gibson, had a reason to be distracted on Saturday morning. The 82-year-old Gibson, stationed all week at the scenic 13th hole of the Dunluce Links, made a record five Lions tours from 1968-1977 as a skilful attacking centre. So the fact the present-day Lions' first test against Australia coincided with the third round at The Open presented Gibson with a dilemma. Not that he was ever going to let anybody down, though. "I am committed to this and if they are one short it can be significant," Gibson, whose Royal Belfast Golf Club were one of the clubs providing marshals, told Reuters as former Open champion Jordan Spieth walked off the green. "This is my first time marshalling, I'm getting a close-up view of golf that I could never even dream about. The skill on show is wonderful." The Lions beat Australia 27-19 in the opening test in Brisbane and Gibson managed to keep a check on the score thanks to messages from his son. Gibson enjoyed a nice moment during Monday's practice round when he met up with an old friend in Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy for a chat and a photograph. "Everyone wants him to win, he's such a nice lad, a wonderful advert for Northern Ireland and for golf," he said. Gibson, who made 69 appearances for Ireland and played 12 tests for the Lions, still plays golf. "But with declining distance," he said.
Powys County Times
25 minutes ago
- Powys County Times
Steven Pressley's Dundee see Premier Sports Cup hopes dashed by Alloa loss
Steven Pressley suffered a second defeat as Dundee manager as Alloa left their visitors' hopes of Premier Sports Cup progression in ruins. Dundee were on the end of another 1-0 defeat at the Indodrill Stadium after losing their opening game against Airdrie. The decisive moment came midway through the second half when Luke Graham could only turn Steven Buchanan's shot into his own net as he tried to clear in the goalmouth. The result moved Alloa on to nine points at the top of Group C, three ahead of Airdrie with a game more played. Mikael Mandron hit a hat-trick as St Mirren started and finished strongly in an 8-2 home win over Annan. Mandron put Saints three up inside nine minutes following Killian Phillips' double but trialist Myles Gaffney pulled two goals back for the visitors before Richard King converted a penalty on the hour mark. Stephen Robinson's side went goal crazy in the final 10 minutes with Mandron completing his treble and Jayden Richardson and Roland Idowu also on target. Ayr are a point behind Saints with a game in hand in Group D after Curtis Main hit a double in a 4-0 home win over Arbroath. Falkirk could not follow up their seven-goal thrashing of Brechin as they were held to a goalless draw by Cove in another trip to the North East. The Bairns gained a penalty shoot-out bonus point but Spartans moved top of Group A with a 2-0 win at Glebe Park. Stephen O'Donnell hit the only goal as Motherwell moved top of Group G with victory over Stenhousemuir at Ochilview. O'Donnell had earlier had a goal disallowed and Callum Slattery hit the bar from a free-kick before the defender converted from a back-post corner four minutes before the break. Livingston bounced back from defeat by Kilmarnock with a 2-0 home win over Brora Rangers. Danny Wilson opened the scoring with an overhead kick just after the half-hour mark and Zak Rudden headed the second with six minutes left. Ross County cut the gap on Group B leaders Partick Thistle to two points after Jay Henderson's second-half winner in a 1-0 victory over Queen of the South at Palmerston. East Kilbride moved top of Group F as they followed up their shock triumph over Raith Rovers with a 4-1 win at Elgin with the help of Jack Leitch's first-half double. St Johnstone joined the SPFL newcomers on six points after Uche Ikpeazu's 90th-minute goal – his first for the club – earned a 1-0 win at Inverness. Josh Cooper hit a double as Dunfermline got off the mark with a 4-0 win at Dumbarton.
The Independent
25 minutes ago
- The Independent
Eddie Howe confident Alexander Isak will stay at Newcastle as he misses friendly
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe excused Alexander Isak from travelling to their friendly with Celtic to shield him from transfer speculation but is confident the striker will remain at St James' Park. Isak went home as the rest of the squad returned from an Austrian training camp on Friday but he was never earmarked to play in Glasgow. The 25-year-old, who pulled out of Sweden's friendly double header last month because of a groin injury, has been linked with a potential move to Liverpool this summer and, more recently, with Saudi club Al-Hilal. Howe is desperate to keep the forward, who netted 27 goals last season. Asked to explain the absence of Isak and Joelinton after the 4-0 defeat, Howe said: 'Both players are fit but we just felt they weren't ready to play. 'Joe's coming back from a long injury, so we need to make sure when he's introduced he's ready. 'Alex has trained this week and is fine but we didn't want to take the risk with him. Alex was with us all the way through Austria but, with all the speculation and things that are going on, I decided to send him home. 'It's purely the last thing Alex wants, if he's not playing, to be sat in the stand. Being under that scrutiny, I don't think that's fair to the player.' Howe declared there had been no formal approach for Isak this summer but added: 'It's difficult for me to give 100 per cent clarity on any player. I'd never sit here and do that because it's football and you never know what could happen. 'All I can say is that Alex is happy at Newcastle. He loves the players that he plays with, the staff, the team. 'I've never had any issue with him other than really enjoying seeing his talent and seeing him express himself. Certainly I'm confident that he's going to be here at the start of the season. 'Your top players are so hard to find, they're so hard to recruit, they're so hard to develop and make them into those players. So when you have them, you need to treasure them. 'We certainly and the staff, recognise his talent and his ability. We're of course desperate to keep him part of our team. 'Alex has been really good and he's trained really well so far this season. So I know there'll be lots of noise around it and I can't really control that but from inside, he's been really good.' Howe has had his frustrations in the transfer market this summer. Forward Callum Wilson rejected a new contract and the Newcastle manager reluctantly allowed Sean Longstaff to join Leeds on Friday with Premier League Profitability and Sustainability Rules a major factor. 'Sean was someone I never wanted to lose from the squad,' Howe said. 'But as we know and I've said many times, finances, PSR etc, long-term planning meant that sometimes these decisions have to be taken. 'So he's a big miss from our squad. Sean was very, very popular in the dressing room, very popular on the pitch. He did a great job. He tactically understood everything that we needed him to do. 'He's been an incredible servant to Newcastle. But we have to move on now without him.' On the defeat by Celtic, Howe said: 'I think we looked a little bit jaded. Celtic, I thought were way ahead of us fitness-wise and sharpness-wise. But I think we'll be better for the game.'
