27 h. ago Aldcroft holds nerve but England will need to raise level to go all the way at World Cup | Andy Bull

Red Roses were one more mistake away from missing out on the grand slam to France but it should not have been so closeThere’s no such thing as an easy grand slam and, in the very end, England’s turned out to be as hard-won as any of them. One point up with one minute to play after conceding a sixth try at the tail end of one of the great helter-skelter Test matches, their skipper, Zoe Aldcroft, had the smarts to lead the team in a slow march back from the posts to the middle of the pitch as the clock ran on into the red. The Red Roses were, at that point, one more mistake, one more missed tackle, one more France score away from going down to their first defeat since the last World Cup, in their final match before the next one.Twickenham was only half full, but the crowd was as loud as double the number. And in all the tumult, it was the French who folded. Taïna Maka knocked the ball on from the restart. The whistle went, the ball was dead, and the game was won. Continue reading...

Politics

29 h. ago England hold on to claim Women’s Six Nations grand slam with one

England 43-42 FranceDow and Sing score twice before visitors’ late fightbackThere was a moment after France’s Joanna Grisez scored where fans were wondering if this would be the day England’s stranglehold on this competition came to an end. The Red Roses were 31-7 up after 23 minutes, but a resolute France cut back the lead to one point in the final minute. A French knock-on ended the game and the sheer pressure the hosts were under was plain to see by the wild celebrations by the England players at full-time. Despite the nervous ending for England, they not only retained the trophy at Twickenham but claimed a seventh successive title. England’s victory stretched their winning run in this tournament to 34 games and 25 in all competitions.The Red Roses are used to lifting silverware, but the trophy they are hunting will be on the line in the next game they could play here in five months’ time in the Rugby World Cup final. That has eluded them since 2014 and it remains their main targ...

Politics

1 week ago Donald Trump sends message to Masters champion Rory McIlroy after winning his 'favorite sporting show'

The Northern Irishman, 35, held his nerve in a tense play-off with England's Justin Rose to end a barren 11-year major run and finally complete the career Grand Slam at Augusta National.

Politics

2 w. ago Northampton’s growing list of Lions contenders sparkle in Castres thrashing

Northampton 51-16 Castres: The Saints set up a Champions Cup semi-final date with Leinster that could prove crucial to Andy Farrell’s final selection

Politics

3 w. ago Savings protection limit could be increased to £110,000 later this year

The limit could be raised from its current level of £85,000 from December 1, under the proposals.

Economics

4 w. ago Spain weather warning latest as Canary Islands raise alert level

The Canary Islands government has raised the state of alert as heavy rain results in road closures and sewage issues

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