Saturday sport: McIlroy with six-shot lead at Augusta, Arsenal lose to Bournemouth

Kenneth Fox

Golf

Rory McIlroy has tightened his grip on The Masters with a record-breaking start at Augusta.

The defending champion shot a 65 to add to his opening round 67, moving to 12-under-par for the tournament.

His six-shot lead is the biggest ever at the major's halfway stage.

Former Open champion Shane Lowry is seven shots behind heading into this evening's third round.

Soccer

Arsenal's Premier League title hopes have taken a blow with a 2-1 home defeat to Bournemouth.

The leaders remain nine points clear of nearest challengers Manchester City - but have now played two games more.

Two sides hoping to qualify for Europe are going head-to-head, with Brentford taking on Everton.

Strugglers Burnley are hosting Brighton before Liverpool meet Fulham at Anfield in the evening kick-off.

Championship leaders Coventry will have to wait a little longer to confirm promotion to the Premier League after a goalless draw with bottom side Sheffield Wednesday.

Ipswich boosted their hopes of an automatic return to the top-flight with a 2-0 win at rivals Norwich.

The other early kick-off between QPR and Bristol City finished 0-0.

Rugby 

Ireland trail defending champions England by 21-0 in their Women's Six Nations opener.

Hooker Amy Cokayne and prop Sarah Bern have scored the tries for the World champions.

Connacht's hopes of teaching a first Challenge Cup semi-final in 16 years have been ended by Montpellier.
Stuart Lancaster's side lost by 45 points to 22 in France this afternoon.

A place in the last four of the Champions Cup is the prize for Leinster this evening.

The Blues welcome Sale Sharks to the Aviva for their quarter final at half-five.

GAA

This year's football championship is underway, Mayo lead London by 11-points to 5 in their Connacht quarter-final at Ruislip.

Offaly host their neighbours Laois in the opening round of the Leinster Championship later.

Galway have the chance to become Lidl Ladies Football League Division 1 champions for the first time this evening.

They come up against Cork in the final which gets underway in Limerick from 5pm.

A victory for the Rebels would be their 13th overall.

Racing 

The biggest event in the British jump racing calendar takes places this afternoon with the running of the Grand National at Aintree.

I Am Maximus, who won two years' ago, heads the field after defending champion Nick Rockett was ruled out of the race with a cough.