Cruel defeat leaves Bath on the brink October 18, 2009 BATH head coach Steve Meehan admits his side have a mountain to climb if they are to make it through the Heineken Cup group stages after a dramatic 29-27 defeat to Stade Francais yesterday. Julien Dupuy struck a last-gasp penalty at the Recreation Ground to condemn Bath to their second successive Pool Four defeat and [...]
FROCH WINS BUT FAILS TO SHINE October 18, 2009 BRITAIN’S Carl Froch slammed Andre Dirrell’s negativity despite defending his WBC super-middleweight crown on Saturday night by split decision. The bout, in Froch’s hometown of Nottingham, was both fighters’ opening contest in the Super Six World Boxing Classic. Froch said: “A win’s a win, he can’t expect to come to Nottingham and beat me by [...]
Petrov to rescue as City fume at Wiley October 18, 2009 WIGAN (1) vs. MANCHESTER CITY (1) MANCHESTER CITY boss Mark Hughes accused under-fire referee Alan Wiley of missing key decisions after being held by Wigan, but refused to add to criticism of the official’s fitness. City winger Martin Petrov earned 10-man City a point after Charles N’Zogbia had put the Latics ahead, as the visitors [...]
In-form Dunn guides Rovers to derby win October 18, 2009 BLACKBURN (3) vs. BURNLEY (2) BLACKBURN boss Sam Allardyce hailed David Dunn after the midfielder inspired his side’s stunning comeback win over arch rivals Burnley. The 29-year-old capped a man-of-the-match performance with his fifth goal of the season to help lift Blackburn to 12th in the Premier League. Burnley had taken a shock lead through [...]
Tweddle makes amends with gold in floor event October 18, 2009 BRITAIN’S Beth Tweddle put her asymmetric bars heartache behind her to claim a stunning World Championship gold in the floor event yesterday at London’s O2 Arena. Tweddle, 24, was distraught at failing to make the final of her preferred event when she fell off the bars in front of her home crowd in Wednesday’s heats. [...]
SPORT IN BRIEF October 18, 2009 Westwood ends title droughtGOLF: England’s Lee Westwood finally landed his first title for more than two years with victory at the Portugal Masters yesterday. Westwood’s bogey-free final round of 66 took him to 23 under par, two shots better than Italy’s Francesco Molinari and four ahead of Ireland’s Padraig Harrington. Victory lifted Westwood to the [...]
TOP BUTTON SECURES TITLE October 18, 2009 BRITAIN’S Jenson Button finally clinched his maiden world championship yesterday in Brazil before admitting he never quite believed he would reach the very top. The Brawn GP driver battled from 14th on the grid to finish a highly creditable fifth at Interlagos, while team-mate and nearest rival Rubens Barrichello slipped from pole to eighth. It [...]
Beach ball goal shouldn’t have stood – Winter October 18, 2009 FORMER Premier League referee Jeff Winter is adamant that Sunderland’s winner against Liverpool should never have stood. Darren Bent’s fifth minute shot evaded goalkeeper Pepe Reina after it cannoned off a beach ball that had strayed onto the pitch and Winter says ref Mike Jones got it wrong. “The referee and his assistant knew something [...]
Briatore takes FIA to court over life ban October 18, 2009 FORMER Renault team boss Flavio Briatore will today launch a legal bid to overthrow his lifetime ban from motorsport and claim up to €1m in damages from governing body the FIA. Briatore was found guilty of attempting to fix the result of last year’s Singapore Grand Prix, but the Italian believes the verdict was deeply [...]
Hills all set for a day to remember at HQ October 15, 2009 Some wines get better with age and believe it or not, so do some jockeys. I’ve been guilty of calling Richard Hills a few names over the years, but I genuinely believe he has improved beyond recognition over the last 12 months. The son of legendary trainer Barry (and twin brother of Michael) can have [...]