Sochi slope safety concerns no barrier to GB stars as snowboarders set to kick off Games February 5, 2014 FOUR Great Britain snowboarders are set to compete in the opening event of the 2014 Winter Olympics this morning, despite concerns over the safety of the course in Sochi. The Games were due to begin at 6am British time with snow-boarding slopestyle qualifying, on a course organisers made last-minute adjustments to after Norway’s Torstein Horgmo [...]
Jamaican bobsleigh team lose luggage on way to Olympics February 5, 2014 JAMAICA’S bobsleigh team missed their first Winter Olympics training session yesterday after arriving in Sochi without their luggage. With the Games due to begin this morning, Jamaica’s two-man team of Winston Watts, 46, and Marvin Dixon, 28, are without the blades that attach to their sled, or their competition clothing. Such is the popularity of [...]
Scotland injury setback ahead of England visit February 5, 2014 SCOTLAND have suffered a blow ahead of Saturday’s Calcutta Cup clash with England after Lions wing Sean Maitland was ruled out of the rest of the Six Nations. Maitland had already been counted out of this weekend’s fixture at Murrayfield and it emerged yesterday that the 25-year-old is likely to be sidelined for two months. [...]
Advantage Britain in Fed Cup February 5, 2014 TENNIS: Great Britain took an unassailable 2-0 lead against Latvia in their Fed Cup Europe/Africa Zone Group match yesterday. British No3 Heather Watson beat 16-year-old Jelena Ostapenko 7-5, 6-1, before Australian-born Johanna Konta triumphed 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 against Diana Marcinkevica. Britain, captained by Judy Murray, play Romania on Friday, then Hungary on Saturday.
Forest sail through to round five February 5, 2014 FOOTBALL: Goals from forwards Jamie Mackie and Darius Henderson sent Nottingham Forest through to the fifth round of the FA Cup last night, following a 2-0 win at Preston. Forest now meet League One giantkillers Sheffield United, who have knocked out Aston Villa and Fulham already this year, on 16 February at Bramall Lane.
Pietersen’s agony after England axe February 4, 2014 AXED batsman Kevin Pietersen last night revealed his sorrow at having played his final match for England. The 33-year-old learned in a meeting with the England and Wales Cricket Board that he would not be considered for the forthcoming one-day international and Twenty20 series’ against West Indies, or the World T20 tournament in Bangladesh, bringing [...]
Laudrup sacked by Swansea as board seek stable future February 4, 2014 SWANSEA chairman Huw Jenkins sacked manager Michael Laudrup due to doubts over his long-term commitment, the club revealed last night. The 49-year-old helped Swansea win the first trophy in their history when they lifted the Capital One Cup last season, but has since overseen just eight wins from 35 Premier League games. Laudrup was openly [...]
FA Cup: Blunt Fulham dumped out of Cup by Blades February 4, 2014 FULHAM 0 vs SHEFFIELD UNITED 1 (After extra time) FULHAM boss Rene Meulensteen admitted his team’s lack of creativity in last night’s embarrassing FA Cup exit was so alarming they could have played for a month and still not scored. Sheffield United, 23rd in League One and the lowest ranked team left in the competition, [...]
Golf Comment: Gallacher stakes claim for home Ryder Cup February 4, 2014 AN HISTORIC second successive title at the Dubai Desert Classic for Stephen Gallacher on Sunday could prove a boost not just for the Scot but also for Europe at this year’s Ryder Cup. His successful trophy defence – the first in the event’s 25 years – puts him in a great position to qualify for [...]
Ashton and Youngs miss out again February 4, 2014 RUGBY UNION: Exiled duo Chris Ashton and Ben Youngs have been left out in the cold again for Saturday’s Calcutta Cup showdown with Scotland. Head coach Stuart Lancaster is to stick with the same 23-man squad narrowly beaten by France last weekend. Fly-half George Ford is one of 10 released to play for their clubs this [...]