Bloodgate affair will not harm reputation September 3, 2009 WHETHER it be eye-gauging, drugs bans or the bloodgate scandal, it’s probably fair to say the game of rugby has not enjoyed the best of press this summer. But once the Premiership gets underway in all its glory, starting with a Twickenham double-header this Saturday, then it’s simply a matter of time before it’s all [...]
SPORT IN BRIEF September 3, 2009 Fallon seeks winning returnRACING: Kieren Fallon has vowed to hit the ground running when he makes his long-awaited return to the saddle at Lingfield this afternoon. The eyes of the world will be trained on the 44-year-old Irishman, who been away from British racecourses for over three years due to a combination of an Old [...]
Our spending spree is over, declares City boss Hughes September 2, 2009 MANCHESTER CITY manager Mark Hughes has declared the club’s staggering spending spree to be over, insisting he will not embark on any more radical recruitment drives. Hughes splashed out £120m this summer on bringing six of the top flight’s biggest names to Eastlands, an amount that accounted for more than a quarter of the total [...]
Richards had ‘central control’ of Quins’ fake blood scandal September 2, 2009 DEAN RICHARDS’ reputation as one of rugby’s most respected coaches lay in tatters today after the damning verdict on the Harlequins fake blood scandal directed the blame firmly on his shoulders. In a written judgement of his European Rugby Cup appeal hearing, the Quins’ former rugby director was described as the “directing mind” in the [...]
Frustrated Defoe out to end talk of Owen return September 2, 2009 JERMAIN DEFOE is looking to end the Michael Owen debate once and for all when he leads the line for England this Saturday. The Tottenham hotshot has played his way into boss Fabio Capello’s World Cup plans with five goals in his last three England internationals.But still all the talk surrounds the absence of Owen, [...]
Murray satisfied after surviving tough opener September 2, 2009 HE may have suffered some bumps and bruises along the way but Andy Murray’s US Open hopes remain very much in tact after a comfortable first round victory in the early hours of yesterday. The world No2 was given a tough opening encounter against Latvia’s Ernests Gulbis under the lights at the Arthur Ashe Stadium, [...]
Devastating Nadal fires a title warning September 2, 2009 RAFAEL NADAL turned on the style to fire a title warning to his rivals last night after easing into the second round of the US Open at Flushing Meadows. The 23-year-old has sat out much of the summer with a knee injury and has slipped to No3 in the world rankings with Roger Federer and [...]
The top four have no need to spend September 2, 2009 MARK HUGHES’ declaration that Manchester City have squeezed three years’ worth of dealing in two transfer windows fails to represent what has been a quieter-than-usual transfer window as far as the big clubs are concerned. City’s spending accounted for £120m of the £460m total of the Premier League total spending – and even that was [...]
Bendtner and Denilson net Gunners deals September 2, 2009 ARSENAL boss Arsene Wenger has again put his faith on his young brigade by handing 21-year-old pair Nicklas Bendtner and Denilson new long-term deals. Danish striker Bendtner scored 15 goals for the Gunners in all competitions last season, while Brazilian midfielder Denilson made more starts for the Gunners than any other player, 49 in all. [...]
SPORT IN BRIEF September 2, 2009 Strauss and Onions up for awardCRICKET: Talismanic England captain Andrew Strauss and seam bowler Graham Onions have been nominated for the International Cricket Council’s Cricketer of the Year award. The pair, who featured prominently in England’s Ashes success this summer, are among a 14-man list of nominees which includes Australia’s Mitchell Johnson, India captain Mahendra [...]