America’s Cup start delayed February 8, 2010 SAILING: The opening race of the 33rd America’s Cup between Swiss holders Alinghi and American challengers BMW Oracle was postponed yesterday due to a lack of favourable winds. The crews were forced to wait off the coast of Valencia for four hours until the race was eventually called off and rescheduled for tomorrow. This year [...]
Super Steyn stuns India February 8, 2010 CRICKET: Dale Steyn produced an outstanding display of pace bowling to help South Africa take control of the first Test with India in Nagpur. Steyn blitzed through the Indian batting line-up to finish with figures of 7-51 as the hosts collapsed from 221-4 to 233 all out in reply to South Africa’s 558-6 declared. Virender [...]
Golden girls are back on the glory trail February 7, 2010 NICOLA Minichiello set her sights on Olympic gold the moment the curtain fell on the 2006 Turin Games – but with her day of destiny looming the bobsleigh star is lucky to be seeing at all. The 31-year-old former heptathlete, and partner Gillian Cooke, looked nailed on for a podium place in Vancouver after storming [...]
Capello warning as England draw Wales February 7, 2010 FABIO CAPELLO warned his England side against complacency despite being handed a favourable draw for their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign in a group which includes Wales. The Three Lions will go head-to-head with John Toshack’s side in Group G, along with Switzerland, Bulgaria and Montenegro. Scotland were paired with holders Spain, while Northern Ireland take [...]
Bad boy Bastareaud puts paid to ScotsS February 7, 2010 CENTRE Mathieu Bastareaud completed a fairytale comeback after his two tries helped France break down stubborn Scotland in their Six Nations opener at Murrayfield. Bastareaud, 21, was making his first Test start since disgracing himself on his country’s recent tour of New Zealand when he falsely claimed he had been assaulted when he had actually [...]
Trusted boot of Taylor nicks it for Gloucester February 7, 2010 TIM TAYLOR kicked over a last-gasp conversion to help Gloucester complete a miraculous 31-29 comeback victory over Harlequins and book a home semi-final with Cardiff Blues. Gloucester needed a bonus point to edge out Scarlets for a last-four place but soon found themselves 20-0 down before staging a fightback with James Simpson-Daniel bagging two of [...]
Sky’s the limit for Qatar leaders February 7, 2010 CYCLING: Team Sky threw down the gauntlet to their rivals by producing a stunning performance to win the opening team time trial by eight seconds at the Tour of Qatar. The eight-man squad included seven debutants such as Bradley Wiggins and Norway’s Edvald Boasson Hagen, who wears the leader’s jersey for today’s second stage.
Five-star Riley boosts Wolves February 7, 2010 RUGBY LEAGUE: Chris Riley became the first Warrington player to score five tries in a Super League match after helping his side to a 58-0 thrashing of Harlequins. The Wolves capped a blistering performance with an 11-try haul to avenge the Quins’ 60-8 thrashing at The Stoop last March. Peter Fox scored twice as Hull [...]
Joncol claims Irish Hennessy February 7, 2010 RACING: Joncol handed jockey Alain Cawley the biggest success of his career by storming home to win the Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown. The Paul Nolan-trained seven-year-old producing a stirring finish to beat Ruby Walsh’s charge Cooldine by a neck in a thrilling finish. Schindler’s Hunt looked to pose the biggest threat but a mistake [...]
Jimenez edges out Westwood February 7, 2010 GOLF: Miguel Angel Jimenez beat European No1 Lee Westwood in a play-off to secure the Dubai Desert Classic. Westwood birdied the last hole to finish on 11-under-par with the Spaniard, and had two chances to win before Jimenez triumphed with a par on the third extra hole. Overnight leader Thongchai Jaidee finished third, a further [...]