The News Review:
- Winning not enough for Ulster.
- Blues have to rise to the challenge
- Baron refuses to rule Woodward out for elite post
- Leeds 7 Gloucester 31: Davies era ends with a whimper as Lamb leads…
- Davies ‘logical’ Scarlets coach
- New Cardiff-Dublin link takes off
Winning not enough for Ulster.
Free with registration – Europe Intelligence Wire – AccessMyLibrary.com – May 1, 2006
(From Belfast Telegraph) Byline: Gavin Mairs The heat is really on now. Two more thumping bonus-point victories by Leinster and Munster over the weekend have heaped more pressure on Ulster as the race for the Celtic League title reaches a heady climax. Munster meanwhile moved within three points of second-placed Ulster and Declan Kidney’s. CPYRIGHT 2006 Financial Times Ltd.
Blues have to rise to the challenge
Walesnline – May 1, 2006
If they are going to make it three out of three title successes for Wales – the spreys won it last season and the Scarlets the previous campaign – then David Young’s team have to do it the hard way. For the Blues probably have to win their three remaining matches if they are to cross the finishing line first. They are third in the table a point ahead of Heineken Cup finalists Munster two behind Ulster and six adrift of leaders Leinster. And the Blues face the three Irish provinces during a mouth-watering finale which will give a true indication of the strength of their six-match unbeaten run. As coach Young acknowledged following a much-improved second-half showing against bottom side Connacht they need to complete their side of the bargain and hope Welsh rivals spreys and Scarlets take points off Munster and Ulster. The Blues’ push for the crown begins in earnest in front of an expected 12300 sell-out against Ulster at Belfast’s Ravenhill ground on Friday. Successfully scale that ascent and they can expect a bumper crowd against star-studded Heineken semi-finalists Leinster at the Millennium Stadium on Sunday week.
Baron refuses to rule Woodward out for elite post
Independent – May 1, 2006
He’s got great support from the players and within the RFU so his position was never in doubt. “Felipe Contepomi Leinster’s outside-half bounced back from his poor performance against Munster last week to set up a vital Celtic League win against the spreys on Saturday. The Argentinian returned to Lansdowne Road the scene of last Sunday’s Heineken Cup semi-final defeat to score 18 points and help Leinster back to the top of the table. Contepomi and his half-back partner Guy Easterby (twice) scored tries and the back-rowers Jamie Heaslip and Niall Ronan also crossed the Welsh side’s line. The spreys scored two consolation tries through Jonny Vaughton and Gavin Henson who also kicked three penalties and a conversion. Easterby scored his first try after 19 minutes. From a Malcolm ‘Kelly line-out take the scrum-half looped around Contepomi and went on a 35-metre run to the line with only Henson attempting to tackle him.
Leeds 7 Gloucester 31: Davies era ends with a whimper as Lamb leads…
Independent – May 1, 2006
Davies’ assistant Daryl Powell will take over until a successor is found. With so much uncertainty off the field there was plenty more pain on it as Gloucester consigned them to a fifth consecutive defeat. The West Countrymen are pushing for a play-off semi final place to go with their Heineken Cup spot for next season. Tom Biggs raised Leeds’ hopes with a super try but touchdowns by Mike Tindall Andy Hazell Peter Richards and James Simpson-Daniel with four conversions and a penalty by Ryan Lamb won the game for Gloucester. Leeds: Try Biggs; Conversion Ross. Gloucester: Tries Tindall Hazell Richards Simpson-Daniel; Conversions Lamb 4; Penalty Lamb. Leeds: R de Marigny; A Snyman (D Doherty 49) C Bell C Jones T Biggs (L Blackett 63); G Ross M McMillan (D Care 49); M Shelley (capt) R Rawlinson (G Bulloch 51) R Gerber (M Cusack 34) C Murphy T Palmer (K Myall 40) S Morgan N Thomas J Crane.
Davies ‘logical’ Scarlets coach
BBC News – May 1, 2006
“He’s delivered the Powergen (Cup) to Leeds he’s qualified for the Heineken Cup twice with them he’s obviously a quality coach. “bviously we would be naive not to discuss things with Phil Davies when the time is appropriate – he is still under contract with Leeds.
New Cardiff-Dublin link takes off
BBC News – May 1, 2006
Mr Callaraian said his company was very happy with the airport and was planning other routes linking the Welsh capital with Cork and Galway in Ireland and a fourth to L’rient in Brittany. “With four flights out of Cardiff it shows our commitment to Cardiff as a city – it’s a very exciting city to be flying into” he said. Chartered flightsThere has been huge demand for flights for the weekend of rugby’s Heineken Cup final between Munster and Biarritz at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium on 20 May with some flights already fully booked. Cardiff International Airport has defended the proposed charges and claimed it was the latest airport to come under attack from Ryanair. The Aer Arann expansion comes a week after Air Wales stopped operating scheduled passenger flights from Cardiff airport. Regional airline Air South West launched a twice-daily flight from Cornwall to Cardiff in April.