Rush of blood sparks Saints win December 19, 2010 Xavier Rush’s second-half red card was the turning point as Northampton took control of Heineken Cup Pool One. Steve Myler and Dan Parks traded kick for kick in a brutal game, before Blues wing Richard Mustoe got the first try. But in a match of three sin-binnings Rush saw a straight red for a high [...]
Late penalty denies Leicester December 19, 2010 Nicolas Laharrague’s penalty denied Leicester a home victory in a thrilling 22-22 draw in Heineken Cup Pool Five. Alesana Tuilagi scored a try early on, with Billy Twelvetrees kicking six more points to give the Tigers a 13-9 lead at the break. David Mele scored for the French after the restart but Twelvetrees kicked nine [...]
Sachin heroics won’t save India December 19, 2010 South Africa are closing in on victory over India in the first Test in Centurion despite Sachin Tendulkar’s 50th Test hundred. India reached 454-8 in their second innings at the close, with Tendulkar 107 not out, on day four, still trailing South Africa by 30 runs. Dale Steyn took the crucial wicket of India captain [...]
Pendleton wins World Cup gold December 19, 2010 Britain’s Victoria Pendleton won her second gold medal at the World Cup in Colombia with victory in the keirin. Pendleton, who won the team sprint on Thursday, held off a six-woman field to win from French duo Sandie Clair and Virginie Cueff. Hoy beat teammate Matt Crampton and world champion Gregory Bauge on his way [...]
Wenger still to forgive Shawcross December 16, 2010 ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger has rejected the opportunity to absolve Stoke City’s Ryan Shawcross of any blame for the tackle that broke Aaron Ramsey’s leg last season. The fractious relationship, which already existed between the two clubs, was accentuated by Shawcross’s actions back in February, when he inflicted a potentially career ending injury on the [...]
Dallaglio: Sarries and ERC both at fault for Venter farce December 16, 2010 ENGLAND great Lawrence Dallaglio says European chiefs and Saracens are both to blame for Brendan Venter’s farcical post-match interview. Deadpan Sarries director of rugby Venter’s bizarre exchange after last weekend’s Heineken Cup defeat to Racing Metro 92 has become an internet sensation and earned the South African a warning from European Rugby Cup (ERC) officials. [...]
Confidence: England’s magic ingredient working wonders December 16, 2010 OUR cricket columnist, former England batsman and Warwickshire chairman Andy Lloyd, has been poring over all the Ashes action. Here he dissects what he’s learned from the play so far. CONFIDENCE Jose Mourinho, Sir Alex Ferguson, Harry Redknapp: all the best sports coaches instil confidence in their teams because it makes all the difference. In [...]
Euro cheer for Wasps and Quins but Sarries and Exiles face tricky trips December 16, 2010 The England great mulls over another few days of London clubs in European action and sees wins for former side Wasps, and Harlequins, but not such glad tidings for Saracens and out-of-form London Irish. RACING METRO 92 v SARACENS (HEINEKEN CUP, TONIGHT) Amlin Opta analysis: Sebastien Chabal is Racing’s leading player in Europe this season, accruing [...]
Lampard set to return for Chelsea date with United December 16, 2010 CHELSEA have received a major boost ahead of their crunch Premier League clash with Manchester United after Frank Lampard came through a practice match unscathed. Lampard completed the 60-minute game behind closed doors at the Blues’ Cobham training ground yesterday in what was an urgent bid to boost his fitness ahead of the match with [...]
Grant optimistic West Ham’s luck will change December 16, 2010 UNDER-FIRE West Ham manager Avram Grant is confident his players will collect enough points over the Christmas schedule to keep him in a job beyond the festive period. With the Hammers in danger of being cut adrift at the bottom of the Premier League it is understood that Grant has been given three games to save [...]