Venter charged for ref remarks January 6, 2010 RUGBY UNION: Saracens boss Brendan Venter has been charged by the Rugby Football Union for questioning the integrity of referee David Rose. The RFU said Venter had committed “conduct prejudicial to the interests of the game” by appearing to suggest after the Premiership leaders’ defeat to Leicester on Saturday that Rose had been influenced at [...]
Ferguson takes charge of Posh January 6, 2010 FOOTBALL: Former Peterborough manager Darren Ferguson is aiming to join his father in the Premier League with Preston North End. The 37-year-old, son of Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson, was unveiled as Preston’s new boss yesterday after signing a three-year deal at Deepdale. “It’s a fantastic football club and I can’t wait to get [...]
Henin into Brisbane last eight January 6, 2010 TENNIS: Former world No1 Justine Henin continued her winning comeback from retirement with a straight-sets victory over Sesil Karatantcheva at the Brisbane International. The Belgian, playing in her first official tournament in almost two years, came through 6-4, 6-3 to set up a quarter-final clash with Hungary’s Melinda Czink. In the men’s draw, top seed [...]
Haye: I’ve got a weak chin January 6, 2010 BOXING: World heavyweight champion David Haye admits he will always have a suspect chin – but insists it will not stop him in his tracks. The Londoner brilliantly dispatched Russian giant Nikolay Valuev to take the WBA title in November, but critics question whether he can achieve his aim of unifying the belts against the [...]
England face battle to save third Test in South Africa January 6, 2010 KEVIN PIETERSEN suffered yet another Test agony to leave England facing a gruelling uphill battle to save the third Test with South Africa at Newlands. The out-of-form batsman lasted just 22 balls before playing across his stumps to fall lbw to paceman Dale Steyn – adding to his second-ball duck in the first innings. It [...]
Football, racing and rugby hit by big freeze January 6, 2010 HEAVY snowfall continued to wreak havoc on the sporting calendar yesterday, with last night’s scheduled Premier League clash between Arsenal and Bolton the most high-profile event to be called off. Horse racing was also severely hit, while several of the weekend’s rugby union fixtures have already been put back. Arsenal had been hopeful earlier in [...]
Coyle rapped by Burnley for sideways switch to Bolton January 6, 2010 BURNLEY chairman Barry Kilby has aimed a dig at outgoing manager Owen Coyle’s decision to join Bolton, calling the switch to their relegation rivals a “sideways” move. Coyle, who is on gardening leave while compensation is thrashed out, has chosen to leave Burnley having guided them to 14th place in the Premier League. Bolton, meanwhile, [...]
I told you I was innocent, insists F1 mogul Briatore January 6, 2010 FORMER Renault F1 boss Flavio Briatore has poured more fuel onto the fire of Crashgate by insisting he had no involvement in the scandal. The Italian is celebrating after his lifetime ban from motorsport, imposed by governing body the FIA following a probe into the controversy, was overturned by a French civil court on Tuesday. [...]
Ford cheers investors as sales surge January 5, 2010 US CARMAKER Ford yesterday posted a 33 per cent sales gain for December, ending a crushing 2009 on an upswing as it recorded its first full-year market-share gain since 1995. The Ford sales surge ran beyond the expectations of analysts and sent the company’s stock sharply higher. Ford shares powered above $11 to hit their [...]
Broad locked in tampering row as Smith takes charge January 5, 2010 SEAMER Stuart Broad was last night embroiled in a bitter ball-tampering row as England lost their grip on the third Test in Cape Town. Television footage appeared to show Broad trapping the ball with the sole of his studded boot as he went to stop a defensive shot from Hashim Amla in the morning session. [...]