England remained on course to qualify for the Rugby Union World Cup quarter-finals in New Zealand but Scotland have it all to do to join them.
England dispatched an under-strength Romania 67-3 with hat-tricks of tries for Mark Cueto and Chris Ashton. However, Scotland were edged out 13-12 by Argentina. Scotland must now beat England in their last Pool B game on Saturday to have a realistic chance of progressing.
Ireland, who shocked Australia last weekend, also stayed on track for the last eight with a 62-12 thrashing of Russia. Wales must beat Fiji on Sunday to be sure of progressing after demolishing Namibia 81-7.
Domestically, there were wins for Premiership leaders Harlequins, Sale, London Irish, Gloucester, Exeter and Saracens, who inflicted a record 50-25 home defeat on Leicester.
Warrington have chosen to play Leeds, who beat Huddersfield 34-28, in Rugby League Super League play-off semi-finals. In the other semi St Helens will face Wigan, who thrashed Catalan Dragons 44-0.
In Football’s Premier League Manchester City drew level on points with leaders Manchester United, who were held 1-1 by Stoke after City beat Everton 2-0.
Chelsea remained third by defeating Swansea 4-1, although they had Fernando Torres sent off, and Newcastle stayed fourth by seeing off Blackburn 3-1.
Liverpool moved up to fifth and Tottenham to sixth by beating Wolves and Wigan respectively, both 2-1. Arsenal eased past bottom side Bolton 3-0 and QPR drew 1-1 with Aston Villa after West Brom versus Fulham ended goalless.
In Cricket England completed their summer with a 25-run Twenty20 defeat to West Indies, who sealed a 1-1 series draw at the Oval.
In the Champions League T20 Somerset beat Kolkata Knight Riders by five wickets, chasing a target of 162 with two balls to spare. Twenty20 Cup winners Leicestershire did not make it through last week’s qualifying stage.
Mark Cavendish became Britain’s first Cycling world road race champion for 46 years as his team ushered him to victory over 266km in Denmark.
Finally, runaway Formula One world championship leader Sebastian Vettel needed just one point from the last five races to retain the title after winning the Singapore Grand Prix. Only Britain’s Jenson Button, who finished second a place ahead of Mark Webber, can mathematically overhaul Vettel.
