eye and around the middle of your screens and around an hour's time we are expecting some of the lights to go out as part of earth day. we will have that in a moment but now it is time for a check on the sport with sportsday. hello and welcome to sportsday. i'm gavin ramjaun. a tense finish to a tie with lots riding on it, as scotland edge wales in their women's six nations opener. city do the double over united in the manchester derby, and are back on top of the wsl. and carlos sainz bounced back from recent appendix surgery, but wasn't quite quick enough in qualifying to stop max verstappen from pole in australia. hello there and welcome along to the programme. the women's six nations got under way today, and while attention will turn to stopping england's dominance as the tournament progresses, there was late drama in cardiff, as scotland survived a late wales comeback to secure a vital victory that could prove the difference when it comes to world cup qualification. jo currie reports. the crowds out in force and in full voice for a celtic clash that had more than points and pride on the line. a new generation of fans are eager to see their new heroes on the pitch. both these teams have had struggles in recent campaigns so is this year that one of these sides finally starts to bloom? whisper it quietly but the sun was out in wales and not even the overzealous smoke machine could take away from the emotion as the players made themselves heard. when it was down to business, wales were first on the scoreboard but it was scotland's the claim to the opening try. carine grant dodging her way to touchline and headed nelson with the impressive extras. moments later, grant looked in again, this time denied by the speedsterjasmine joyce. wills push with all their might to find the line before the break but found no way through the visitors�* to p. after the break, scotland showed their pace to push further ahead, scotland showed their pace to push furtherahead, lloyd scotland showed their pace to push further ahead, lloyd flying down the wing and just avoiding the tackle to go in at the corner. roared on by the cardiff crowd, wales then finally got their rewards when cecilia rammed her way home to give them hope. as wales threw everything at scotland in the dying moments, replays showed alex callender had got the ball down to set up a blockbuster finish and a conversion to seal the draw and complete an impressive comeback, perhaps it was nerves... , ., ., ., , impressive comeback, perhaps it was nerves- - -_ a i nerves... frustration for wales, a hue nerves... frustration for wales, a huge opening _ nerves... frustration for wales, a huge opening day _ nerves. .. frustration for wales, a huge opening day for— nerves... frustration for wales, a huge opening day for scotland. i in the opening game of this year�*s competition, last year�*s runners—up france beat ireland 38—17 for a bonus point win. france ran in five tries in le mans to claim the win over an improved ireland side. the french have been second to england for the last four years and will face the red roses in the final round of fixtures in the championship. it feels really good. we were really excited to start the campaign of the six nations and we are really looking forward to being back in france and playing in front of our home crowd so just really happy to be here today. let�*s turn our attentions to the women�*s super league now — and manchester city kept the pressure on in the race for the wsl title, with a comfortable victory over rivals manchester united in the derby at the etihad. jess park was at the centre of it, as they moved above chelsea to finish the day top. ben croucher reports. and the derby day honours go for manchester city! _ for manchester city! it was just another three points, but some wins mean more, especially when it takes you top of the table, especially when it is against manchester united. city are used to winning — ii in a row in the league now, but their heroine was more unique, jess park had never scored in the wsl for city before. the stuff of dreams! maybe not even in her wildest ones did she score too, but park was driving her team on. it is park again! puts manchester city i two goals to the good. with two of her own, she turned provider as khadijah shaw became city�*s record goal—scorer. ring is surely manchester city have won it now! —— ring is surely manchester city have won it now! "— won it now! -- surely manchester ci have won it now! -- surely manchester city have won _ won it now! -- surely manchester city have won it — won it now! -- surely manchester city have won it now! _ park�*s contribution timed well, especially when the national team boss is watching. manchester united did eventually find a way through although it largely owed to kerstin casparij�*s outstretched boot. it wouldn�*t stop city from the front of more than 40,000 fans they made it look like a straw in the park. it look like a stroll in the park. incredible, you know, i don�*t think there is a feeling that compares to it, i was working hard and that is the final bit i wanted and i think with the girls around, we have so much confidence in each other as a group at the moment and i think that shows on the pitch. we worked so hard to get on and off the ball and that helps me play with confidence. and if the team can share some of her belief, the title could well return to this half of manchester. ben croucher, bbc news. there�*s plenty of international football happening as top flight domestic leagues take a pause. england are in action against brazil at wembley for their friendly — that match is in the first half. and it�*s currently 0—0. but brazil have just had to be post. —— hit the post. france — germany is another one to look forward to aswell. a great result for ireland in their friendly against belgium — but it could have been even better. evan ferguson missed an early penalty, as they were held to a 0—0 draw by belgium in a friendly at the aviva stadium, injohn 0�*shea�*s first game as interim manager. chesterfield have sealed a return to the football league for the first time in six years after a 3—0 victory over borehamwood also sealed the national league title. captainjamie grimes had put the home side in—front, before liam mandeville made it two just after the break. grimes then added his second after the hour mark to put chesterfield in total control. paul cook�*s side went top of the table on 16th september and have remained there ever since, with their closest pursuers barnet currently 21 points behind them. it�*s a familiar sight — max verstappen on pole in formula one — which resumes again this weekend for australian grand prix. the dutchman is on a roll, but was pushed all the way in qualifying by the returning carlos sainz. the spaniard, in his ferrari, with superb comeback with a superb comeback after appendix surgery. nick parrott was watching. in cricket and formula i, you can�*t just rely on a hit—it—and—hope approach. the williams team didn�*t bring enough parts to australia to build a new car and paid the price after alex alban crashed in friday practice, damaging his beyond repair. he was given team—mate logan sergeant�*s car for qualifying and put it 12th on the grid for sunday�*s race which will now only have 19 drivers. it is a long time since williams are a championship—winning team and it must be starting to feel that way for mercedes too. seven—time world champion lewis hamilton has been on pole a record eight times at albert park but suffered his worst qualifying in australia since 2010 and will line up a place ahead of alban. we are getting used to it now, getting knocked out, so it�*s kind ofjust a flat feeling. it�*s like... it�*s not great. he will replace carlos sainz at ferrari next season but might be wishing he had already. the spaniard missed the last race after surgery to remove his appendix and just a fortnight on he was topping four to remove his appendix and just a fortnight on he was challenging for pole, topping the time sheets in the first two sessions but surprisingly his dream was ruined by max verstappen. the world champion�*s two laps in the final session were both good enough for pole but he isn�*t getting complacent. i expected to be tough tomorrow. i can't ask for more, you know, because it is impossible - to be 100% and do a perfectjobl today but i feel like if tomorrow i feel good i will give it my best shot but to beat verstappen . you have to give 100%. once again, though, it is looking like only misfortune can deny max verstappen yet another victory. he is on form again, isn�*t he? let�*s have a quick look at some of the other stories making the headlines today. the aprilia of maverick vinales was first over the line in the sprint race ahead of tomorrow�*s motogp in portugal. the ducatis of marc marquez and jorge martin were second and third respectively. england all—rounder sam curran smashed the first half—century of the new indian premier league season for punjab kings. curran hit 63 runs to guide his side to a a—wicket win over delhi capitals judd trump got off to the perfect start against welshman jackson page with a century break, going on to win their semifinal in the world open in china by six frames to two. the world number two and defending champion will play china�*s ding junhui in tomorrow�*s final. after the culmination of the men�*s six nations last weekend, the premiership is back. exeter beat newcastle to go third, the highlight perhaps being champions saracens victory over harlequins, played at the tottenham hotspur stadium. it was a rather one—side affair, asjoe lynsky reports. for premiership rugby a restart with the rivals, a london derby for saracens and harlequins and owen farrell�*s 250th game for his club. he leaves saracens this summer but before then, they have a purpose. the champions showed here they are still this league�*s team to beat. inside half an hour, bonus points secured. it is as easy as you like! these are two of 19 still in touch with the play—offs, the top flight is congested but a two—month break has brought saracens back stronger. streaking clear against the team who started above them, they scored eight tries and 52 points. easy score! harlequins got one back but there wasn�*t much for them to cheer. saracens — emphatic, a win that ticks them up to second. farrell goes injune after 16 years at this club. this statement win has set them up for a big finish. joe lynskey, bbc news. there was a nail—biting finish to scarlets�* match with bennetton in the united rugby championship. the llanelli side were 13 points to nine down with 83 minutes gone, when eduan swart was bulldozed over the line as scarlets triumphed 16—13. it�*sjust their third win in 12 championship games. ulster lost to sharks by 22 points to 12 in durban, eduan keyter with the second of their three tries in a win that lifts sharks off the bottom of the table — for now. however, no losing bonus point for ulster. nojoy for edinburgh in cape town as they were blown away by stormers. they went down 43—21, with suleiman hartzenberg scoring three of his side�*s seven tries. elsewhere, connacht were beaten 38—14 by lions. boccia veteran stephen mcguire is aiming to reach a fourth paralympics this summer, after a broken leg led him to suffer what he calls the "toughest period" of his career. mcguire is part of the great britain team taking part in a qualifying tournament in portugal. after tokyo, i went to the european championships and became european champion, world number one. and you think, 0k, great, and then unfortunately injanuary think, 0k, great, and then unfortunately in january 2022, think, 0k, great, and then unfortunately injanuary 2022, i unfortunately in january 2022, i suffered a broken femur and a unfortunately injanuary 2022, i suffered a broken femur and a broken knee and to be honest, i wish there was an exciting story to tell that it was literally just a fall at home. that took me out. i was not able to play the sport on court for about eight months and it was probably well over a year before i was able to compete again with the world�*s best, so that was the toughest period of my career. i honestly thought that probably my career was, honestly thought that probably my careerwas, i honestly thought that probably my career was, i wouldn�*t say over, but would i be able to compete again at the top level? and when you reach my age, i�*ve been 20 years now playing boccia and i�*m often asked when i�*m going to retire and i was hoping it would be on my terms, not through my injuries, so that sort of gave me the motivation to get back playing, to see if i could get to the level that i was before. sven—goran eriksson lived out a �*lifelong dream�* this afternoon, as he led out a team of liverpool legends against ajax greats at anfield. eriksson recently announced he had been diagnosed with terminal cancer and said he had always dreamed of managing liverpool during his career. the club arranged for him to do just that against ajax, with the 76—year—old looking understandably emotional as he stepped out of the tunnel. liverpool went on to produce a sensational comeback — coming from two goals down to win 4—2. that is fitting for sven. a reminder of our top story — england against brazil gets going in the next 15 minutes — gareth southgate�*s side looking to preserve their ten—match unbeaten run, newcastle�*s anthony gordon makes his debut. it is currently goalless at wembley is that one approaches half—time and it is the first match between the two since 2017 in a friendly and that was also goalless. you can get updates from that game, aswell as the other international games today — with france facing germany — on the bbc sport website. thanks for watching. that�*s all from sportsday. we�*ll see you soon. thanks to cabin and a sports team in salford. now let�*s return to the princess of wales and her cancer diagnosis. earlier, i spoke tojon shelton — head of cancer intelligence at cancer research uk, who spoke to me about the impact a cancer diagnosis can have on a young family. i�*lljust start off by saying that on behalf of everyone at cancer research uk, we wish the royal highness a full swift recovery and return to good health. the braveness in coming out and sharing the message yesterday will be very difficult for the family, as it has been of receiving that diagnosis in the first place.