Williams joins top 10 casualties December 3, 2012 SNOOKER: Mark Williams became the latest big-name casualty at the UK Championships last night when he lost 6-3 to Mark King. His defeat made him the fourth top 10 player to fail to reach the second round, after defeats for world No1 Judd Trump, Mark Allen and Ding Junhui. Former world champion Neil Robertson swept [...]
Brit Wellington retires unbeaten December 3, 2012 TRIATHLON: Four-time Ironman world champion Chrissie Wellington has retired from the event in order to pursue other challenges. The Briton, 35, remained unbeaten in the event, winning all 13 professional races and claiming the world title in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2011. She missed the 2010 event through illness but also broke the female world [...]
England rediscover fear factor in All Blacks rout December 2, 2012 ENGLAND’S extraordinary demolition of world champions New Zealand on Saturday has struck fear into every rugby-playing nation on the planet, according to former Red Rose coach Sir Clive Woodward. Three tries in 10 minutes from Brad Barritt, Chris Ashton and Manu Tuilagi swept the home side to a record 38-21 victory over the All Blacks, [...]
Panesar ready for spin battle after pitch row December 2, 2012 ENGLAND spinner Monty Panesar is confident of mastering India’s pitches and launching another assault on the hosts’ batsmen, ahead of the third Test starting on Wednesday. The tourists will play on a worn wicket again – this time at the Eden Gardens ground in Kolkata – despite the plan backfiring on India in the second [...]
Beckham mulls next move after savouring a Hollywood ending December 2, 2012 FORMER England captain David Beckham insists he is no nearer to deciding his next destination after ensuring a Hollywood ending to his six-year stint at Los Angeles Galaxy on Saturday night. Beckham, 37, brought the curtain down on his American adventure by helping the Galaxy beat Houston Dynamo 3-1 to retain the Major League Soccer [...]
Hammers get United in pick of third round December 2, 2012 WEST Ham were handed the plum tie of the FA Cup third round yesterday, being drawn against Manchester United at home. The Hammers will face Sir Alex Ferguson’s men at Upton Park on the weekend of 5 January 2013. The tie has produced some thrilling cup drama in the recent past. In 2001 a Paolo [...]
Rugby heroes show what Blues are missing December 2, 2012 WHAT part Chris Robshaw played in England’s dissection and devouring of the All Blacks on Saturday is open to debate. As captain, he had a good game, and expertly rallied the troops when briefly it looked as though the Red Rose would wilt. But was he any better a captain this weekend than last, when [...]
Props for new boy Auterac in Sarries win December 2, 2012 SARACENS boss Mark McCall believes prop Nick Auterac is an England star in the making after his performance in yesterday’s 28-23 Aviva Premiership win over Gloucester. Charlie Hodgson’s 23 points and Richard Wigglesworth’s try gave Sarries a five-point lead to defend but in-form Gloucester piled on the late pressure. They were awarded three scrums a [...]
Cazorla at a loss to explain Arsenal woes December 2, 2012 ARSENAL midfielder Santi Cazorla admits they have no idea what is behind a dreadful start to the season that has raised fresh questions about manager Arsene Wenger’s future. Saturday’s 2-0 Premier League defeat to Swansea at Emirates Stadium marked a new low, leaving them with 21 points from 15 games, their worst start to a [...]
Benitez won’t be sacked yet, says Wilkins December 2, 2012 FORMER Chelsea assistant manager Ray Wilkins insists the team’s under-fire interim boss Rafael Benitez will not face the sack before the end of the season. Benitez has endured a horrid start, with two draws and then a first defeat coming away to West Ham on Saturday. The Spaniard, who played his part in a fierce [...]