Rio dash set to pay off for Thomas?
HARD
IN midweek the SRU announced that Gregor Townsend would succeed Vern Cotter as coach of Scotland – in a year.
While few would raise an eyebrow that the Borderer has secured the top coaching job in Scottish rugby, the nature of the announcement is slightly strange.
After all, there is a whole season of rugby to complete before the changes take place.
Perhaps it is the need for control that has spurred Mark Dodson, the CEO at the SRU, to hasten the appointment.
In his announcement he spoke of the fear that Townsend might be tempted to go elsewhere, outside of Scotland to further his coaching career when his contract ran out.
So what? That might have been a good thing for Townsend – and another three years of coaching experience in the English Premiership or the French Top 14 might have been great development.
Who knows – he might even been tempted by a stint with a team in New Zealand, such is the ‘brain drain’ of coaches from Southern to Northern Hemisphere – as witnessed by Townsend’s replacement at Glasgow, Dave Rennie.
The defending champion, who narrowly missed out on a medal after finishing fourth on golf’s return to the Olympics last week, fired four birdies in his first 10 holes at Albatross Golf Resort before bogeying the 11th and 12th.
A two-under-par 70 took him to 12-under for the week, two ahead of American Paul Peterson.
“I think there were too many poor shots today. I started off nicely and got to four- under but then there were a couple of bad swings and I just didn’t find my rhythm at the end.
“I had some good looks at the birdie down the stretch but I didn’t hit enough good putts and the greens were a little bumpy.
“I’m not very happy with today but I’m still in front so I’m just looking forward to tomorrow and hopefully I can post a good score. It was the same last year, I was one ahead, so I’ve been in this position and hopefully I can just use what I learned the last time.”
Peterson surged into contention with a best- of- the- week 64, with England’s Robert Rock a shot further back in third after a flawless 65 that left him alongside Dane Jeff Winther on nine-under.
Rock said: “I’m happy with that, a 65 is always good no matter what you’re doing. I think it was a little easier today, they moved the tees up on a couple of holes. But the fairways were a bit bumpier, too. It was all going rather to plan until the 17th when I hit a poor tee shot down there and I probably should have bogeyed it, but I got away with it.
Matt Fitzpatrick, who currently occupies the ninth – and last – automatic qualification place for Europe’s Ryder Cup team, remained
Belgium’s defending champ Thomas Pieters. in the top 10 with a 71, with his Rafferty. “It was a long time ago seven- under total enough for a since I last won a tournament. But, share of sixth. I suppose this is the reason we play,
NORTHERN IRELAND’S Ronan putting ourselves in a position to Rafferty increased his lead yestercompete and win tournaments. day at the Prostate Cancer UK “If you’re not trying to do well, it’s Scottish Senior Open, after a rainthe wrong game for you to be in.” soaked day at Archerfield Links. Spain’s Santiago Luna, winner of
The former European Tour No. 1 this event in 2013, carded two went into the second round with a eagles and three birdies en route to one-stroke lead, and a five-undera second round 65, moving to par 67 on the DJ Russell-designed within two shots of Rafferty on Fidra course saw him move two 12-under-par. shots clear. Australian Mike Harwood carded
Rafferty shot three birdies on the a six under par 66 and is just one front nine, making the turn in 33 stroke behind Luna, and Mark shots. He then recovered from a James, European Captain at The bogey on the 12th hole, making 1999 Ryder Cup, shot a second congains on the 13th, 15th and 18th secutive round of 67 for a 10-under holes to move to 14-under-par. par total and sole possession of
“This is new ground for me, “said fourth place. OBAN CAMANACHD are in the Camanachd Cup final for the first time in 15 years after defeating Lochaber 4-2 in yesterday’s semi.
Ian Hay’s men have been in tremendous league form, sitting second, and went into the last-four tie confident they could progress.
Andrew MacCuish set them on their way as early as eight minutes but the contest to face Newtonmore in the September 17 final was still very much alive at that stage.
Lochaber got back into the game courtesy of Ben Delaney, who was always a threat for Ally Ferguson’s men.
MacCuish got his second of the afternoon to secure a 2-1 half-time lead.
Two quick second-half goals gave the Oban men a crucial three-goal cushion and they never looked back.
Daniel MacVicar, whose father won a Camanachd Cup Final in an Oban jersey, was on hand to turn a shot into the net.
Then Scotland man Daniel Cameron managed to squeeze a shot inside the post to make it 4-1.
Delaney bundled a second over the line for Lochaber to, potentially, give them a lifeline.
However, they didn’t have any more to throw at Oban at that stage and the players in the red-andblack jerseys will lining up in front of the BBC cameras next month.