Rugby

Rugby-Ford shines as England overwhelm dismal Wales

LONDON, Feb 7 (Reuters) - England demolished Wales ‌48-7 at Twickenham on Saturday to extend their winning run to 12 games and launch their Six Nations title ‌bid in style, thanks to a commanding performance that included a hat-trick from winger Henry Arundell.

Hockey

Olympics-Ice hockey-Italian fans keep party going despite heavy defeat by Sweden

MILAN, Feb 7 (Reuters) - The ‌party around Italian ice hockey showed no sign of slowing on Saturday, even after the ‌hosts suffered a heavy 6-1 defeat to Group B leaders Sweden, as over 10,000 ‌fans at Santagiulia Arena roared their support throughout the game.

Hockey

Olympics-Ice hockey-Canada start title defence with win, Knight ties US record

MILAN, Feb ‌7 (Reuters) - Canada made a winning start to their Olympic title defence with a 4-0 win ‌over Switzerland on Saturday as Hilary Knight tied the all-time U.S. women's goals record ‌in the United States' 5-0 win over Finland.

Other Sports

Olympics-Alpine skiing-U.S. gold medal hope Shiffrin speaks up for diversity and inclusion

CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy, Feb 7 (Reuters) - U.S. ‌Alpine skier and hot gold medal favourite Mikaela Shiffrin spoke up for diversity and inclusion on Saturday and said ‌she hoped to promote her values at the Milano Cortina Olympics.

Football

Soccer-Arsenal go nine points clear, Man Utd win again under Carrick

Feb 7 (Reuters) - Arsenal marched nine points clear in the ‌Premier League title race as Viktor Gyokeres hit two goals in a 3-0 victory over Sunderland on Saturday as Manchester United made it four wins out of ‌four for coach Michael Carrick in their top-four push.

Other Sports

Olympics-Alpine skiing-Ireland will be buzzing, says Comerford after finishing last in downhill

BORMIO, Italy, Feb 7 (Reuters) - ‌Ireland's Cormac Comerford finished Saturday's Olympic downhill in last position of skiers who ‌finished the race but he was still happy with his Games debut ‌on one of the world's toughest downhill slopes and is certain that his country will be too. 

Rugby

Rugby-Townsend defends Scotland players following 18-15 loss in Italy

ROME, Feb 7 (Reuters) - Scotland coach Gregor ‌Townsend is braced for criticism for his side's disappointing 18-15 Six Nations loss to ‌Italy in torrential rain in Rome on Saturday, but says he cannot fault the ‌players' effort in difficult conditions. 

Other Sports

Olympics-Snowboard-Riders campaign to save parallel giant slalom from Olympic axe

LIVIGNO, Italy Feb 7 (Reuters) - With ‌the Olympic snowboard parallel giant slalom competitions approaching on Sunday, riders are wondering whether they will be racing ‌in the discipline's last appearance at a Winter Games as a review by the International Olympic ‌Committee looms.

Cricket

Cricket–Suryakumar leads from front as India down US in T20 World Cup

MUMBAI, Feb 7 (Reuters) - India captain Suryakumar Yadav ‌led by example as the tournament co-hosts began their Twenty20 World Cup title defence with a ‌scratchy 29-run victory over the United States in a group A contest on Saturday.

Other Sports

Hooded protesters throw flares at police at end of demonstration in Olympic host city Milan

MILAN, ‌Feb 7 (Reuters) - ‌A group of ‌around 100 hooded protesters threw ‍flares and ‍fireworks at ‌police after breaking ‍away from ​the ⁠main body of a demonstration ‌in the Olympic ⁠host ‍city of Milan ‍on Saturday, a ‌Reuters reporter said.

Football

Soccer-Barcelona ease past Mallorca to extend LaLiga lead

BARCELONA, Feb 7 (Reuters) - Barcelona outclassed Mallorca ‌3-0 at home on Saturday to increase their lead at the top of the ‌LaLiga standings.

Other Sports

Olympics-Curling-Czech mixed doubles pair learn lessons in defeat

CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy, Feb 7 (Reuters) - ‌The Czech Republic's Julie Zelingrova and Vit Chabicovsky have had a tough time of it ‌at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics so far, but the curlers believe the experience will serve ‌them in good stead in the future.

Other Sports

Olympics-Figure Skating-Liu ready to show her true self on Olympic return

MILAN, Feb 7 (Reuters) - After ‌quitting figure skating shortly after making her Olympic debut at the 2022 Beijing Games as ‌a 16-year-old, Alysa Liu has returned to winter sports' biggest stage with a message ‌to deliver.

Other Sports

Olympics-Luge-Langenhan off to a flier with first-run track record

CORTINA ‌D'AMPEZZO, Italy, Feb 7 (Reuters) - Germany's Max ‌Langenhan got the Olympic luge competition off ‌to a spectacular start on Saturday when he scorched to a track record with the first run ‍of the men's singles, then ‍watched his 24 ‌rivals try and fail to match him.

Football

Soccer-Gyokeres double as Arsenal outclass Sunderland to extend lead

LONDON, Feb 7 (Reuters) - Viktor Gyokeres struck twice as ‌Arsenal sealed a comfortable 3-0 win over Sunderland to extend their advantage at the top of the Premier League ‌table to nine points on Saturday, turning up the pressure on Manchester City ahead of their trip to ‌Liverpool.

Football

Soccer-Dortmund's late winner keeps up pressure on leaders Bayern

WOLFSBURG, Germany, Feb 7 (Reuters) - Striker ‌Serhou Guirassy snatched the winner three minutes from time to earn second-placed ‌Borussia Dortmund a 2-1 victory at VfL Wolfsburg on Saturday that ‌cut Bayern Munich's Bundesliga lead to three points.

Other Sports

Olympics-Speed skating-Italy's Lollobrigida wins women's 3,000m gold at Milano Cortina

MILAN, Feb 7 (Reuters) - ‌Francesca Lollobrigida blasted to victory ‍in the ‍women's ‌3,000 metres speed skating ‍on ​Saturday, ⁠bringing Italy its first gold ‌medal of ⁠the ‍the Milano Cortina ‍Winter Games.

Other Sports

Olympics-Crosscountry-Diggins' final Games off to rocky start after early skiathlon crash

TESERO, Italy, Feb 7 (Reuters) - U.S. cross-country skier Jessie Diggins crashed ‌early during the women's skiathlon on Saturday, dashing hopes for ‌a podium in the first race of her fourth and final Olympics.

Other Sports

Olympics-Alpine skiing-Turncoat? Svindal's USA jacket catches the eye

CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy, Feb ‌7 (Reuters) - Aksel Lund Svindal is a Norwegian Olympic hero, winner of four career Alpine skiing medals ‌including two golds, but at the Milano Cortina Games he has USA in large letters ‌across the back of his jacket.

Other Sports

Olympics-Alpine skiing-'King of Bormio' Paris finally clinches Olympic dream as Italy claim two downhill medals

BORMIO, Italy, Feb 7 - ‌Italy's Dominik Paris clinched a long-awaited dream, earning the first Olympic medal of his storied career ‌as Italy thrilled home fans in Bormio with a powerful double downhill podium alongside ‌rising champion Giovanni Franzoni.