Sport
Rugby Sevens experts make predictions for Paris 2024 Olympics
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THE Paris 2024 Olympics starts in just a matter of days, with the Rugby Sevens kicking off proceedings on July 24th, just before the official opening ceremony on the 26th. Sell-out crowds are already expected for the men’s and women’s events and there’s already a great deal of anticipation around which nations will end up in the medal tables.
Plenty of eyes are said to be on the likes of Australia and New Zealand in the battle for gold in both the men’s and women’s games. However, the men’s Fiji side will be looking to make it three golds in a row, following their iconic successes in Rio in 2016 and Tokyo in 2021. Additionally, the Argentinian men’s team are being touted as dark horses and some believe the French sides could also capitalise on a home advantage.
This is according to the predictions for this year’s Olympic Sevens from a number of experts involved in the sevens game – including current and former players and coaches – in an exclusive feature with rugby website, RugbyPass. Alongside this, several of those interviewed here have touted a selection of players they believe will be standout performers across the tournaments.
Gareth Baber and Mike Friday
Gareth Baber, the coach who famously guided the Fiji men’s side to their second gold medal in Tokyo 2020, and the current USA Men’s Sevens team coach, Mike Friday, have both predicted that the respective sides where they have strong allegiances are the ones who are in with a chance of gold.
Gareth said: “I know people will be worried about Fiji, given their track record. There’s work to be done there, but they certainly can medal. The country is steeped in sevens rugby and they’ve consistently produced some players who can really do something.”
Mike stated: “I think we’re [USA] going to be a bolt out of the blue – we have the capability to cause absolute havoc.”
Both went on to champion the antipodean and French sides too:
Gareth said: “New Zealand will be positioning themselves as real medal contenders too. I’d also back France to do well, but their major challenge is constructing a frame to help their players do their best stuff in front of the home crowd.”
Mike explained: “France in both the men’s and the women’s are contenders. But looking just at the women’s, it’s going to be the likes of Australia and New Zealand that are pushing for gold.”
Mike then singled out several players to watch from the men’s and women’s events: “You’ve got the Levi sisters who are fantastic, Jorja Miller is a real catalyst too for New Zealand, but they’ve also got Michaela Blyde and Portia Woodman – a core of excellent players. On the men’s side, Marcos Moneta for Argentina, Dupont – just because it’s him – Terry Kennedy from Ireland is just a proper baller and will make things happen.”
Katy Daley-McLean MBE and Rachael Burford
Former England and Team GB Women’s Sevens stars, Katy Daley-McLean and Rachael Burford gave these medal predictions for the women’s events:
Katy said: “Australia and New Zealand are big favourites, but with their style of rugby, I think Canada and France will be in the mix there as well.” Rachael commented: “France – although under a lot of pressure – are at their best when they’re at home…Australia and New Zealand are coming into the Olympics very strong and a lot of people are expecting them to battle it out for the gold, but it’ll depend on who stays fit for them.”
Amongst their player recommendations, they also advised to watch out for Ellie Kildunne and Megan Jones of Team GB::
Katy explained: “I reckon if she [Ellie] smashes it in the Olympics and the next Rugby World Cup, she has the potential to become a household name.” While Rachael believes: “Meg will be massive for GB, her presence will transform that team. She alone will increase the ability of the whole squad.”
Tom Mitchell and Luke Treharne
Tom Mitchell, former England and Team GB Sevens captain, and Luke Treharne, former Team GB Sevens player and current Hong Kong 7s skills coach, offered these views:
Tom stated: “Looking at Argentina, Marcos Moneta who has come back from injury to make the squad is an absolute gun when fully firing…it’s also hard to look beyond Australia and New Zealand.”
Luke said: “For the women, I’ve been toying between the two juggernauts of Australia and New Zealand, but I think New Zealand will get the gold. France will get the bronze. As for the men, I think it’s going to go something like Argentina for gold, Fiji silver and Ireland bronze.”
Naya Tapper and Jodie Ounsley
RugbyPass also got the views of former England and Team GB Women’s Sevens wing, Jodie Ounsley, as well as current USA Women’s Sevens captain, Naya Tapper.
Jodie understandably chose her former teammates to go all the way: “I have to back the GB women’s side, but Australia and New Zealand are so strong and are definitely teams to look out for.” Naya – who will be competing this summer – also demonstrated some national pride by backing her country for Olympics success: “For the women’s and men’s side I manifest USA taking the gold. Let’s hope we can come back to this conversation and praise how great I am at predictions.”
Jodie was another expert to express admiration for Team GB’s Ellie Kildunne: “She’s coming back to sevens and she’s going to bring so many fans with her and I know she will make a great impact and be a storm at the Olympics. She will get people talking for sure.” Naya went on to highlight plenty of names for the women’s events: “Ilona Maher, Maddi Levi, Teagan Levi, Michaela Blyde, Portia Woodman, Anne-Cécile Ciofani, Séraphine Okemba – with how much talent we have in the game across all teams I could go on and on.”The schedule for the men’s sevens runs from July 24 – 27th – with a break in the middle for the opening ceremony – and the women’s event begins on July 28th and concludes on July 30th. If these predictions are to be believed, fans and neutrals alike could be set to see a hotly contested series. For further details, you can find the full selection of predictions and ‘ones to watch’ from these experts here: https://www.rugbypass.com/sevens/olympics/mens-and-womens-expert-predictions/
News
Pembrokeshire First Division football round-up
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THE LATEST latest round of Pembrokeshire First Division football delivered some thrilling encounters, with standout performances from Monkton Swifts and Merlins Bridge, while Goodwick and Hakin couldn’t be separated in a tightly contested match.
Monkton Swifts 3-1 Carew
Monkton Swifts extended their unbeaten run with a solid 3-1 victory away at Carew. Dylan Davies was the star of the show, netting twice, while Ben Steele also added his name to the scoresheet, securing the win for the Swifts. Carew’s James Hinchliffe found the back of the net, but his effort wasn’t enough to prevent a home defeat. With this result, Carew has only one point from their opening three matches, signalling a slow start to their season.
Clarbeston Road 1-0 Milford United
In a closely-fought contest, Clarbeston Road edged out Milford United with a narrow 1-0 victory, courtesy of a goal from Travis Jones. Both teams had their chances, but it was Jones’ decisive strike that earned Clarbeston Road a valuable three points. Milford United, despite a spirited performance, will be disappointed to leave empty-handed.
Hakin United 1-1 Goodwick United
The highly anticipated clash between Hakin United and Goodwick United ended in a 1-1 draw. Shane Walsh opened the scoring for the Vikings, but Rhys Dalling quickly equalised for Goodwick, ensuring both sides shared the spoils. The evenly matched nature of the teams suggests that this season could see a thrilling title race.
Herbrandston 0-6 Merlins Bridge
Merlins Bridge delivered the most dominant performance of the weekend, thrashing Herbrandston 6-0. Jordan Thomas was in sensational form, scoring four goals, while Nathan Evans added a brace to complete the rout. Herbrandston face an uphill battle even at this early stage of the season, while the Wizards will be relieved to have secured their first win.
Kilgetty 0-4 Tenby
Tenby cruised to a comfortable 4-0 victory over local rivals Kilgetty, with four different players finding the net. Jerome Mansbridge, Joe Leahy (from the penalty spot), Daryl Mansbridge, and Fraser Finlay all contributed to Tenby’s dominant performance. The result leaves Tenby with seven points from a possible nine, marking a strong start to their campaign.
St Ishmaels 2-3 Pennar Robins
Pennar Robins emerged victorious in a five-goal thriller against St Ishmaels. Luke Phillips converted a penalty for Pennar, while Ben Adams struck twice to secure the win. Tish fought valiantly, with Brennan Devonald and Ieuan Hawkins both scoring for the home side, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the Robins from taking all three points in an enthralling encounter.
This version maintains UK spelling and punctuation conventions, while enhancing the flow and readability of the article.
Sport
Barrett’s brilliance shines as Merlin’s Bridge 2nds stun Solva
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IN their final midweek fixture of the season, newly-promoted Solva played host to Merlin’s Bridge 2nds at their picturesque coastal ground. Solva, buoyed by the momentum of their recent promotion, were keen to make a statement. Their opponents, however, arrived with a blend of seasoned veterans and youthful exuberance, including the much-anticipated return of Bradley Barrett, a player whose promising career had been marred by injuries in recent years.
Solva began the match brightly, dominating possession and displaying some attractive football. Yet, despite their early control, the visitors, expertly marshalled by their captain Morgan Richards, remained steadfast in defence. Then, somewhat against the run of play, it was Merlin’s Bridge who broke the deadlock. The ever-dangerous Barrett showcased his clinical finishing, slotting home to give the visitors an unexpected lead.
As the first half drew to a close, Solva continued to press, but they were unable to find the back of the net, leaving the home side frustrated and trailing 1-0 at the interval, though still hopeful of mounting a second-half comeback.
The second half kicked off with the home crowd optimistic for a turnaround. The intensity of the match increased, with tempers flaring and some fierce challenges going in. However, it was Merlin’s Bridge who struck again. Youngster Oscar Willington demonstrated the quality of the Bridge’s emerging talent, finishing neatly to double their advantage and leave Solva with a mountain to climb.
To their credit, Solva refused to capitulate. Just seven minutes later, the impressive Finn Isles found the net, halving the deficit and reigniting hopes of a comeback. With momentum seemingly shifting, Solva pressed forward in search of an equaliser. But they were soon stunned by a moment of brilliance from Barrett. Picking up the ball, Barrett unleashed an unstoppable 30-yard half-volley, a strike of such quality that it is sure to be a contender for goal of the season. The goal was a testament to Barrett’s class, physical presence, and experience—attributes that could prove transformative for Merlin’s Bridge this season.
Barrett’s wonder strike appeared to sap Solva’s energy, and as their heads began to drop, Bridge took full advantage. Another of their rising stars, Tomos Gwilliam, added a fourth, capping off an excellent performance from the visitors.
Solva managed to score a late consolation goal, but any hopes of a dramatic comeback were quashed when Morgan Elliot was sent off. Two needless yellow cards in quick succession left referee Martin Jones with no choice but to brandish the red card, sealing Solva’s fate.
Despite the scoreline, the match was played in excellent spirits, with both teams showing great respect towards the match official, contributing to an entertaining and competitive encounter. Solva can take solace in knowing they won’t face opposition of Merlin’s Bridge calibre every week, while Bridge will be buoyed by their strong away performance, particularly the standout display from Bradley Barrett, whose performance served as a potent reminder of his undeniable talent.
Full-time: Solva 2-4 Merlin’s Bridge 2nds.
Sport
Haverfordwest archer Jodie Grinham wins gold with Nathan Macqueen at Paralympics
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Jodie Grinham, originally from Haverfordwest and currently residing in Crawley, has made history by winning a gold medal in the mixed team compound archery event at the Paralympics, despite being 32 weeks pregnant. The 31-year-old archer, alongside her teammate Nathan Macqueen, secured a 155-151 victory over Iran, with a perfect score of 40 in the final end clinching the title.
This gold medal adds to Grinham’s already impressive achievements at the Paris Paralympics, where she also earned a bronze medal in the individual compound event on Saturday. Remarkably, Grinham is believed to be the first openly pregnant woman to win a Paralympic medal.
Reflecting on her journey to the podium, Grinham revealed that she had spent several days in a Paris hospital, fearing she might go into labour early. However, she persevered and went on to secure her place in history. “My coach and I spent a long time doing little pregnancy preps – of him moving me and moving the bump so I could get used to that feeling,” she explained. “I would be at full draw and would feel that sensation. You acknowledge it and go, ‘I know you’re there, mummy loves you,’ and you carry on with your process, so it wasn’t a distraction.”
Grinham, who has a condition called Brachysyndactyly—resulting in a shortened left arm, underdeveloped left shoulder, no fingers, and half a thumb on her left hand—had previously won a silver medal in the same event at the 2016 Rio Games.
Team GB’s success at the Paralympics did not stop there, with five more gold medals being claimed on Monday. These victories came from triathletes David Ellis and Megan Richter, swimmers Ellie Challis and Louise Fiddes, and Stephen McGuire in boccia. Great Britain currently stands second in the medal table, behind China, with a total of 29 golds, 15 silvers, and 10 bronzes.
Grinham’s achievements, particularly under such extraordinary circumstances, will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the standout moments of the Paris Paralympics.
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