Oliver’s Mount move their opener back a fortnight
OLIVER’S MOUNT chiefs have moved to reschedule the opening round – but are adamant the show will go on this year.
Following the PM’S “road to freedom” announcement last week, bosses at the Scarborough venue have pushed back the Spring Cup from May 8-9 to a fortnight later.
The event is renowned as one of the biggest of Oliver’s Mount’s four-race weekend calendar and has traditionally been a busy meeting for TT riders hungry for signatures for their mountain course licence.
Although there is no TT this year, the event is still expected to be popular with roads and short circuit riders who are keen to just race.
The Spring Cup will now be held over the weekend of May 22 and 23 – assuming restrictions are lifted as expected.
However, it will be restricted to limited crowd numbers so admission will by advanced tickets only with no admission on the day.
There are currently no plans to move the dates for any other events this season, but there is a chance the Barry Sheene Classic could be moved by a week or so should the circuit be allowed to welcome an unrestricted crowd by then. Fans can keep an eye on Oliver’s Mount social media for latest updates.
IRELAND responded to their worst start to a Guinness Six Nations campaign by running in six tries during a resounding 48-10 bonus-point success over Italy in Rome.
Scores from Garry Ringrose, Hugo Keenan, CJ Stander and Keith Earls, plus a brace for Will Connors, helped the Irish bounce back from defeats to Wales and France in emphatic fashion.
Captain Johnny Sexton, returning from a head injury, added all six conversions and two penalties as Andy Farrell celebrated the first away win of his tenure to ease mounting pressure.
Fly-half Paolo Garbisi conjured a moment of magic to set up a consolation try for Johan Meyer late in the first half and kicked a further five points but it was an all-too familiar story for the hosts.
Ireland’s dominant victory could have been by a far greater margin had they not had a trio of tries – scored by Iain Henderson, Stander and James Lowe – disallowed.
The Irish arrived at Stadio Olimpico after losing their opening two Six
Nations matches for the first time and having scored a tournament-low two tries.
Head coach Farrell made seven changes to the team beaten by Les Bleus, including recalling skipper Sexton and vice-captain James Ryan following head knocks.
Garbisi’s fourth-minute penalty rewarded the hosts’ bright start but was swiftly wiped out by Sexton’s boot as Ireland sprang into life.
Lock Henderson was denied what appeared to be a certain try when the television match official deemed he had lost control of the ball before grounding, before Ringrose capitalised on the sustained pressure to burrow over.
After a second successful Sexton penalty, tries from Keenan and Connors – who made try-scoring debuts against the Italians in October – each repeated the trick to help the visitors tighten their grip on the contest.
Full-back Keenan burst clear from a fine Ringrose offload to touch down, and just five minutes later quick ball allowed Leinster team-mate Connors to cross wide on the left.
Italy head coach Smith had initially stuck with the side which showed moments of promise in defeat to England at Twickenham but was forced into a late change as a finger injury for Stephen Varney saw Callum Braley come in at scrum-half.
The South African was given cause for greater optimism just before the half-time whistle thanks to Garbisi producing a classy feint and offload, which allowed flanker Meyer to bulldoze over on the left flank, and then adding a tricky conversion to reduce the deficit to 27-10.
Within three minutes of the restart, Stander was on hand to power over to guarantee his side a bonus point.
The match became increasingly scrappy and Italy’s cause was made harder by Giosue Zilocchi and captain Luca Bigi each being sin-binned during a series of penalty concessions.
South Africa-born Stander thought he had scored his second try of the afternoon between the yellow cards but it was wiped off on review after Ronan Kelleher was adjudged to have knocked on in the build-up.
Replacement Earls crossed wide on the right to complete the rout in the closing moments, claiming the 33rd international score of his career.
JAMIE Chandler is determined to repay Spennymoor Town for the faith and support they have shown in him during his long injury lay-off.
The former Gateshead and Darlington midfielder has spent the last year on the sidelines after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury in a home game against Brackley Town last March.
Chandler stepped up his rehabilitation last week when he returned to the Brewery Field to undertake a light session that was overseen by the club’s physio Andy Oates and strength and conditioning coach Gavin Codgon.
The duo have played key roles in helping Chandler through his rehabilitation and their support has been replicated throughout the club according to the midfielder.
He told The Sunday Sun: “The rehabilitation has been intense, six days a week, there are probably not many footballers training as much as that.
“The club have been fantastic; they have supported me throughout and I owe them so much.
“When I came to the club, the chairman said it would be a journey and it was a massive factor in me moving here. Everything Jason Ainsley and the chairman said have come true.
“But they have gone above and beyond since the injury and the level of support I have received at the club has been incredible.
“I got straight in for an operation and the chairman got it done privately.
“Now I just want to get back out on