After their 2-1 win over Germany conquerors of Scotland on Thursday Wales head the table with two wins
After their 2-1 win over Germany, conquerors of Scotland on Thursday, Wales head the table with two wins. Today they can afford to lose 2-1 to Scotland and still qualify for the semi-finals for the first time since 1991. Scotland have to win 3-0 and hope Germany do not beat England by the same score.The quirky permutations of the final day of group matches in this competition have bemused and delighted in equal proportion over the years, but the beautiful mystery of the proceedings will be lost to the cheap thrill of seeing a few celebrities on the links if the event is changed to a pro-am style tournament next year.If this is to be the last hurrah of the slide rule then it is just the tiniest bit disappointing, if albeit far clearer for players and spectators alike, that the other groups have thrown up straight deciders for the remaining three places in tomorrow morning’s semis.Spain, the defending champions, play Sweden, South Africa take on New Zealand and Australia play Argentina, who left the Americans with no chance of qualifying by beating them 3-0.Ireland, who were eliminated after being swept by the two-time winners, South Africa, would have remained alive had Paul McGinley managed to earn a point against Retief Goosen. The match went to the 19th before Goosen’s birdie ended Irish hopes. David Frost, with a 66, and Ernie Els, with a 67, produced two of the best rounds of the day.Roger Chapman’s extra-time victory over Gary Orr took Scotland’s destiny out of their own hands. Three birdies in a row from the 14th took Chapman into the lead.
He dropped a shot at the 17th and, after Orr had holed from 15 feet at the last, had to follow his opponent in to tie. Orr’s nine-iron at the first then spun back off the green into the Swilken Burn and Chapman’s par was good enough for the win.It was the first point from six games for a team who do not possess a player ranked in the world top 100. “A few things have been written and said about this England team,” Chapman said “I was totally disgusted by one report in particular We were pretty fired up as a team last night as a result We wear our jerseys with pride this week. Scotland are a very strong team and, despite losing, we can all hold our heads up high.”After losing seven of his previous 11 matches in the event and not having broken 70 for three years over the Old Course, including July’s Open Championship, Montgomerie’s 69 gave him a one-stroke win over Brian Davis. The sole difference between the pair was the Scot’s birdie at the last, where he holed a left-to-right putt of 15 feet with two feet of break.Montgomerie then jetted off to Gleneagles, where last night he addressed 250 chief executives from leading Scottish firms in his role as an unofficial ambassador for Scotland the Brand. It is the sort of thing Monty, playing in his 10th event in 11 weeks, hopes to do more of when he reduces his schedule next year.Montgomerie today plays Ian Woosnam, who had treatment for a slight neck injury after beating Bernhard Langer by two strokes.
“Bernhard beat me in the Seve Ballesteros Trophy so it was nice to get one back on him,” Woosie said “It will be a good match against Scotland.”. What single image could be said to define the first five-and-a-bit seasons of Continental club rugby? Paul Grayson kicking goals from everywhere, perhaps, or Christophe Lamaison missing them from almost as many places? Thomas Castaignÿde, the cocksure D’Artagnan with a swordsman’s eye for an opening, running opponents twice his size into the ground? Bob Dwyer, bereft and bewildered, unable to fathom how his fine Leicester side had been swept away on a wave of Brive brilliance? A sea of Ulstermen whooping it up in the centre of Dublin in a frenzy of cross-community celebration?
What single image could be said to define the first five-and-a-bit seasons of Continental club rugby? Paul Grayson kicking goals from everywhere, perhaps, or Christophe Lamaison missing them from almost as many places? Thomas Castaignÿde, the cocksure D’Artagnan with a swordsman’s eye for an opening, running opponents twice his size into the ground? Bob Dwyer, bereft and bewildered, unable to fathom how his fine Leicester side had been swept away on a wave of Brive brilliance? A sea of Ulstermen whooping it up in the centre of Dublin in a frenzy of cross-community celebration?
Then again, it is possible to see the whole of the Heineken Cup in the rocky outcrop that passes for the face of Jonathan Humphreys, the Cardiff hooker and former captain of Wales. Cardiff, one of the 12 originals who pitched up for the inaugural, English-free tournament in 1995-96, have played a total of 26 European games since flying blind into Bordeaux for the opening tie of a then experimental competition. Remarkably, given the physical demands of his position at the sharpest point of the sharp end, Humphreys has been involved in all of them. He may not have reached the final whistle every time – he failed to go the distance in Brive almost four years ago for the very good reason that he was sent off – but that unpalatable little factoid does not detract from his achievement.This evening, Humphreys’ club career comes full circle when Cardiff take on Toulouse in a must-win contest at the Arms Park. The two clubs met in the first final – the match was played next door, at the old national stadium – and the Frenchmen sneaked home in the dying seconds of extra time.