Round-up: Play-offs finalised as Chris Paterson exits
Your support helps us to tell the story
This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.
The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.
Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.
Saturday saw play-off places at stake in the Aviva Premiership and the RaboDirect Pro12, although perhaps the most eye-catching game was the dead rubber at the Madejski Stadium. London Irish's David Paice and Jim Hamilton of Gloucester were sent off for fighting, their second scuffle prompting a mass brawl and lots of bad feeling, and Irish won 52-18. Not that it mattered much.
In the Premiership, next weekend's semi-finals will be Harlequins against Northampton (42-14 winners at home to Worcester) and Leicester (28-3 at home to Bath) against Saracens (40-22 at home to Exeter). The semi-finalists will be joined in next season's Heineken Cup by Exeter and Sale.
In the Pro12, Leinster topped the table after beating the Newport-Gwent Dragons 22-18 – the European champions will host Glasgow on Saturday. The other semi-final will be between the Ospreys (18-11 winners at Aironi) and Munster, who beat Ulster, much-changed from the team that won a Heineken semi a week before, 36-8.
Edinburgh, who lost to Ulster in Europe, sent the 109-times capped Scotland back Chris Paterson into retirement with a 44-21 win over Benetton Treviso at Murrayfield. Paterson, who scored his team's third try, said: "I am actually quite happy, as it is the right time to go. I am very proud of what I have achieved."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments