Ireland earn comeback win over Scotland in warm-up
Ireland recovered from a slow start to beat Scotland and begin their Women's Rugby World Cup preparations in impressive fashion. Having lost to Italy last week, Scotland raced into an early 14-0 lead in Cork through Lisa Thomson and Lucia Scott tries. But after Scotland lost hooker Lana Skeldon to injury on the half-hour mark, the tide turned in Ireland's favour as Sabdbh McGrath and Meabh Deely crossed to leave just two points between the sides at half-time. Ireland were dominant for long spells in the second half and scored their third when debutant Nancy Gillivray touched down. Scotland hit back thanks to a fine solo effort from Emma Orr, but Ireland rallied in the closing stages through Niamh O'Dowd and Deirbhile Nic a Bhaird. Having avenged their Women's Six Nations defeat by the Scots earlier this year, Ireland will look to maintain their pre-World Cup momentum when they host Canada in Belfast on 9 August (12:00 BST).Scotland, meanwhile, must regroup in time for their tournament opener against Wales at Salford Community Stadium on 23 August. More to follow.
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Scotsman
an hour ago
- Scotsman
Kieron Bowie's eyebrow-raising Hibs stat and his response to Scotland number nine question
Hibs striker putting himself on Steve Clarke's radar ahead of World Cup qualifiers Sign up to our Football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... It might be a surprising detail to dwell on following his two-goal, match-winning performance against Dundee on Sunday. Kieron Bowie seemed almost as delighted by the fact he finished the game, thereby completing his first 90 minutes for Hibs, as he was by the brace, his second for the club (and second versus Dundee). Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad With the first anniversary of him joining Hibs set to fall this Friday, he was asked afterwards when he had last played a full 90 minutes. Northampton, he replied, the club he was on loan at from Fulham for a couple of seasons. Hibs striker Kieron Bowie at full time after his double secured a 2-0 win over Dundee. (Photo by Mark Scates / SNS Group) | SNS Group Further investigation reveals that it seems to have been the penultimate game of the 2023-24 season in a home 2-1 loss to Exeter City. Quite some time ago, in other words. Injury has of course accounted for this eyebrow-raising statistic as has larger squads and more substitutes as well as increased knowledge of sports conditioning, with managers less inclined to play players into the ground. Bowie sustained a hamstring injury while on Scotland Under-21 duty last Autumn. He did not reappear until January, when he helped his side revive their season and made his international debut for the senior side against Liechtenstein in June. Given the latter development, it was important that he hit the ground running this season while demonstrating that he is in good enough physical condition to last an entire match, particularly having played 80 minutes of Hibs' heartbreaking European defeat against Midtjylland last Thursday. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad He was one of ten players asked to 'go again' by manager David Gray against Dundee, which some found surprising given the options on the bench. Bowie was delighted to be named in the first XI twice in such quick succession (he also started in the first leg) having found starts hard to come by last season, even when fit. 'If the manager wants to play me, obviously I'm going to play,' he said. 'I'm not going to say, 'No, I don't want to play'. I played 90 today, which is my first 90 for the club, so I'm glad to be able to do that.' Gray is not a cruel man. He was conscious that Bowie was gunning for a hat-trick and had been since shortly after the half hour mark of a game where Hibs looked to be toying with their much-changed, nervous looking hosts. Bowie will rarely get a better chance to claim a first career treble and Gray's decision to leave him on seemed to be in recognition of this, despite the prospect of another long evening against Partizan Belgrade on Thursday in a Conference League qualifier. Bowie appreciated the gesture. 'I think it was to try to get my hat trick,' he said. 'But I was happy enough with two in the end.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Kieron Bowie in action for Northampton Town against Exeter City during a Sky Bet League One match on April 20, 2024. (Photo by) | Getty Images This certainly seemed the case when, with time running out, Bowie was seen running with the ball into the corner to protect the one-goal lead when an attack might have been on. There will be other opportunities. 'I scored six goals last season in a limited number of games, so I'm just trying to score as many as I can this season,' he said. 'Obviously, towards the end of the season I started a few more games, but it was nowhere near enough as I wanted. But I feel like now I'm fit enough and I'm strong enough that I can go out there week in, week out and play 90 minutes. That's definitely a big thing.' He certainly proved this - and Steve Clarke should take note - on Sunday. The Scotland manager will have started to sift through names before naming his squad for the vital opening World Cup qualifiers against Denmark and Belarus at the start of next month. Bowie remains hopeful, as he ought to be after breaking into the squad at the end of last season. The 22-year-old is big and strong and knows where the goal is. He is just what Scotland need at this time although he will face tougher examinations than Dundee could present at the weekend. Even in training, that's probably been the case. He revealed that he regularly quizzes Hibs centre halves about playing against No. 9s. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'I speak to the defenders that we have at the club, and they say what they don't like playing against,' Bowie reports. He wants to make himself as awkward as possible to play against. A goal or two or maybe even that elusive hat trick in Belgrade later this week would reinforce what already looks like a good claim for inclusion in Clarke's next squad.
Scotsman
an hour ago
- Scotsman
Revealed: All-in wrestling with Rocky gives Hibs and Scotland striker his edge
Former Fulham forward chasing more international caps Sign up to our Hibs football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Scotland striker Kieron Bowie has revealed how wrestling with Rocky Bushiri is giving him the fighting strength to lead the line for Hibs. And the 22-year-old, who got off the mark with a double on the opening weekend of Scottish Premiership action, hopes he's doing enough to get his 'foot in the door' of Steve Clarke's full international set-up for the long term. Former Fulham forward Bowie, who missed a chunk of his first season at Easter Road after picking up a hamstring injury on international duty with the Scotland Under-21s, has impressed after getting a full preseason under his belt. Having led the line to great effect in the unlucky Europa League loss to Midtjylland, he absolutely rag-dolled the Dundee defence and scored both goals in a 2-1 win at Dens Park yesterday. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The £600,000 signing, eager to make his case for more national team honours after winning his first senior cap in the summer international window, said: 'That's what I try to do, pride myself and just make myself as hard as possible to play against. I speak to the defenders that we have at the club, and they say what they don't like playing against, so I'm trying to do that myself. I'm just awkward to play against. 'Definitely, Rocky is a big, strong unit, so you don't come up against many players that are stronger than him. So to train against him and do well against him in training, that's the highest level. 'What does he not like me doing? Anything! I just get the ball; he just lets me have it. He's like: 'Nah, I'll just let you play, I don't want to hurt you …'' Bowie was called up by Clarke for the summer friendlies against Iceland and Liechtenstein. An unused sub for the 3-1 loss to Iceland at Hampden, he came off the bench for the final 12 minutes of a thumping 4-0 win over Liechtenstein in Vaduz. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Che Adams bagged a hat-trick in that game, with fellow frontman George Hirst bagging the fourth. But the role of Scotland's first-choice No. 9 is still considered to be up for grabs – if someone can force their way into Clarke's consciousness ahead of the World Cup qualifying campaign kicking off against Denmark next month. When it was suggested that the door was open for someone to lay a claim on the starting place, the 22-year-old agreed: 'Yeah, it is. And there's a few young lads there. Obviously James Wilson, Tommy Conway. Forward ready for 'hostility' of Partizan tie 'And there's quite a few of us that are there that are all competing for a chance to play. Obviously, they've played a few more games than me, so I'm just trying to get my foot in the door. 'Yeah, I mean, that's what I hopefully do. Hopefully try and get in more Scotland squads and see what I can do.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Bowie is a guaranteed starter for Hibs as they head to Belgrade for Thursday night's Europa League third qualifying round tie against Partizan. He's already looking forward to just his third experience of European football. 'Yeah, obviously Serbia will be a totally different challenge,' he said, the former Raith Rovers prospect adding: 'Obviously the hostility and all that comes with playing there. But I'm sure we'll just take it in our stride. Roll on Thursday.'
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Hearts 2-0 Aberdeen
Hearts started their Scottish Premiership campaign with a comfortable win over a wasteful Aberdeen side at fans, what did you make of your side's win?Give us your thoughts the full match report here.
