Backs thrust Saracens to brink of last eight place January 15, 2012 SARACENS (20) vs BIARRITZ (16) SARACENS boss Mark McCall praised his blossoming English backs after putting one foot in the Heineken Cup quarter-finals with a tense defeat of Biarritz. Scrum-half Ben Spencer scored the only try for the Premiership champions, while centre Owen Farrell, who received his first call-up last week, held his nerve to [...]
Spurs can still win title, says Parker January 15, 2012 TOTTENHAM midfielder Scott Parker believes his side remain genuine Premier League title contenders despite Saturday’s failure to beat struggling Wolves at White Hart Lane. Victory would have seen Harry Redknapp’s side draw level with leaders Manchester City, albeit having played one game more, but they had to settle for the point they salvaged thanks to [...]
Murray relishing Lendl work ethic January 15, 2012 HE MAY have been billed as the man to combat Andy Murray’s psychological weaknesses, but the British No1 believes new coach Ivan Lendl will also fine-tune his physical qualities. Lendl, who eventually shook off a nearly-man tag to win eight grand slams, has been tasked with helping the world No4 overcome his own inability to [...]
Robson heads six-strong Brit pack in Australia January 15, 2012 TEENAGER Laura Robson is out to upset the odds today when the largest British contingent at a foreign grand slam for 20 years begin their quest at the Australian Open. Robson, 17, faces a formidable task in the form of 13th seed Jelena Jankovic in the fourth match scheduled on Margaret Court Arena this morning. [...]
Nadal frustrated by silent Federer January 15, 2012 Former world No1 Rafael Nadal believes his arch rival Roger Federer should be playing a more active role in challenging the tennis authorities. The Spaniard, along with Britain’s Andy Murray, raised concerns about a punishing schedule inflicted upon the world’s top players after last year’s US Open and Nadal feels Federer could be doing more [...]
Dhoni banned from fourth Test January 15, 2012 India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has become the first skipper to be suspended for bowling a slow over-rate and will miss the final Test of his side’s series against Australia. Michael Clarke’s side took an unassailable 3-0 lead by winning the Perth Test by an innings and 37 runs. Dhoni will miss the fourth Test [...]
Elson denied first win by Grace January 15, 2012 England’s Jamie Elson narrowly failed to claim his maiden European Tour victory after South Africa’s Branden Grace hung on to win the Johannesburg Open by a single shot. Elson carded a nine-under-par 63 to give him the clubhouse lead all afternoon, but Grace kept his nerve on the back nine to card a steady final [...]
Hughes ‘is right man for QPR’ January 12, 2012 EXCLUSIVE: Former England star Southgate believes Fernandes takeover made Warnock a dead man walking QPR have picked the right manager to steer them clear of the drop in Mark Hughes, but the writing was on the wall for Neil Warnock from the moment Tony Fernandes took over the club in the summer. That is the [...]
ECB offer approach amnesty to eradicate threat of spot-fixing January 12, 2012 ENGLAND cricket chiefs last night took the unprecedented step of opening an amnesty window for players to report any historic approaches from match fixers in response to the landmark case of former Essex bowler Mervyn Westfield, who yesterday admitted he was guilty of a spot-fixing offence. Westfield faces a maximum of seven years in prison [...]
CRICKET COMMENT January 12, 2012 SPOT-FIXING can no longer be considered a potential threat to the county game following the landmark case of Mervyn Westfield, but while the integrity of the sport has undoubtedly been tarnished, I’m sure this will prove to be an isolated instance of wrongdoing. The temptation to indulge in the murky world of illegal gambling has [...]