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CARDIFF -- Wales cut loose after a first-half red card to Scotland fullback Stuart Hogg to cruise to a seven-try 51-3 win at Millennium Stadium, ending the deposed champions patchy Six Nations campaign in style on Saturday. Donald Driver Packers Jersey . George North and Jamie Roberts helped themselves to two tries each in a record Welsh victory over Scotland, which was never in doubt from the moment Hogg was sent off for a late hit on flyhalf Dan Biggar in the 23rd minute when the score was 10-3. Liam Williams and Taulupe Faletau added further scores to put Wales 39-3 ahead by the 48th minute before the Scots stemmed the tide, conceding just one more try to Rhodri Williams late on. Biggar kicked 14 points. Wales, which started out seeking to win an unprecedented third straight title outright, finished on six points -- with its three victories all coming at home -- and in third place in the standings. Scott Johnson, taking charge of his final match as Scotland coach before being replaced by Vern Cotter this summer, endured a miserable return to Wales -- the country with whom his international coaching career began 12 years ago. It was never going to be a winning end for Johnson from the time Hogg was dismissed, the British Lions tourist leading with his left shoulder and elbow to smash into the face of Biggar. It was a rash challenge, especially since Scotland was under no pressure and Biggar was kicking an up-and-under inside his own half. "I have let people down," Hogg said in a statement. "I have said sorry in person to Dan Biggar. I always try to play hard and fair and what happened today was out of character for me." French referee Jerome Garces initially gave a yellow card to Hogg but changed his mind after seeing a replay on the big screen inside Millennium Stadium. Garces trotted over to the touchline and brandished the red card, with Hogg already off the pitch and getting ready for 10 minutes in the sin-bin. The Welsh had a deserved lead at the time, thanks to fullback Liam Williams left-wing try and a conversion and penalty by Biggar, and were starting to assert their dominance. After that, it was a case of how big the margin of victory would be. Given how the match panned out, it wasnt the ideal platform to assess the performance of a new-look Wales team that featured six changes to the one that started the 29-18 loss to England last weekend. What was not in doubt, however, was the quality of the tries in what, by halftime, turned into an indoor party under the roof. Scores by North and Roberts in the final six minutes of the first half started from the halfway line and were both down the left channel, with debutant Scottish wing Dougie Fife hopelessly outnumbered. Norths second try, less than a minute after the interval, also came down the left as Jonathan Davies sent the hulking winger scampering along the touchline past the beleaguered Fife. The best try of the afternoon belonged to Roberts, who finished off a length-of-the-field move that had its origins from an overthrown lineout by Scotland near Wales line. Williams sprinted 50 metres and the ball went through the hands of Davies and Faletau before Roberts arrived late to crash over. With the score 39-3, the Welsh were already way past their previous biggest margin of victory over the Scots -- 24 points in a 46-22 win in Cardiff in 2005 -- and there was still 32 minutes left. However, the hosts crossed only once more to hit the half century. Scotland finished in fifth place with one win, against bottom-place Italy. Randall Cobb Packers Jersey . Is Montreal Canadiens forward Max Pacioretty being shopped? McKenzie: Absolutely not, according to the Canadiens and their general manager Marc Bergevin, but it may be a splitting of hairs because teams in the NHL are calling the Canadiens and asking them about the availability of Pacioretty. Packers #67 Jersey . Jones had to work hard against Korean skip Kim Jisun and didnt hold a lead until the seventh end. Jones, lead Dawn McEwen, second Jill Officer and third Kaitlyn Lawes were 8-0 going into the game and had already clinched a berth in the semifinals.On December 18, the Montreal Canadiens left for Boston with a six game road trip ahead of them. Mostly people who followed the club agreed that the team desperately needed some time away from the city. The Habs had just lost their first game under interim coach Randy Cunneyworth and they were hoping to come together on the road, as well as use the trip as a turning point for the season. Things clearly didnt work out. The Canadiens lost five of six on that trip and have dug themselves a cavernous hole in the standings. They sit in 13th in the East and trail eighth place New Jersey by nine points. The keys to making up ground in the East are threefold. 1. The Habs need to rattle off a series of victories. 2. They must beat teams in regulation, as they cannot afford to have Eastern rivals pick up points in a loss. 3. Montreal will need help from other teams. The good news is the Canadiens pplay five of their next six games at home and wont have to worry about being away from their families, sleeping in hotel beds and dealing with opposing fans. Nick Perry Packers Jersey. The bad news is that the Habs have won only five of 18 at the Bell Centre this year. Tonight, the Canadiens host the Winnipeg Jets for the third time this season. Montreal beat Winnipeg 5-1 in their home opener, but the Jets bounced back a few weeks ago in Winnipeg and shutout the Habs 4-0. The Canadiens had an optional skate this morning and all the regulars were there minus Michael Cammalleri and Tomas Kaberle. After the skate, head coach Randy Cunneyworth said he told his players to be ready to play tonight. The coach did not divulge his lineup saying every player is a game-time decision. All we do know is that Carey Price will be in goal for the Habs. You can follow me on Twitter @tonymarinaro. ' ' ' |
