FOOTBALL IN BRIEF June 25, 2009 United Costa trial bid rejectedMANCHESTER UNITED’S search for a replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo hit another hitch yesterday when they were refused permission to take Brazilian starlet Douglas Costa on trial. United wanted to see the 18-year-old attacking midfielder train in England for 20 days but his club Gremio rejected the proposal. President Duda Kroeff said: [...]
Sharapova stunned by early exit as Federer sails through June 24, 2009 FORMER champion Maria Sharapova blamed injury after being dumped out of Wimbledon at the second round by unseeded Argentine Gisela Dulko yesterday. Sharapova, seeded 24, looked far short of the form that carried her to the title in 2004 as she slumped to a 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 defeat on Centre Court. The three-time grand slam [...]
Omens good for Murray but Gulbis is no pushover June 24, 2009 ANDY MURRAY does not come across as the superstitious type, but if the British No1 is looking for omens on his quest for Wimbledon glory then today’s opponent could be a good one. Latvian Ernests Gulbis, who Murray faces in the second round, exited the tournament at the same stage last year. The man who [...]
Peace breaks out after FIA bow to teams June 24, 2009 THE BIGGEST names in F1 will take their places on the grid next year after governing body the FIA, and their embattled president Max Mosley, caved in to pressure from rebel teams’ group FOTA yesterday. The bitter war that has divided the sport was ended when the FIA agreed to scrap controversial plans for a [...]
Lions have high hopes for second Test June 24, 2009 BRITISH and Irish Lions coach Shaun Edwards believes extreme altitude training will stop their Test series hopes disappearing into thin air on Saturday. A fixture the Lions cannot afford to lose will be made even harder by its location: Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria, some 5,000 feet above sea level. The tourists struggled with similarly gruelling [...]
Real ready to gazump United for both Benzema and Ribery June 24, 2009 MANCHESTER UNITED look set to be beaten to two of their principal summer targets by Real Madrid, after the cash-soaked Spanish club edged ahead in the race for Franck Ribery and emerged as rivals for his France colleague Karim Benzema. United have identified £50m-rated Bayern Munich winger Ribery as a potential replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo, [...]
Rashid ready to ignite Ashes June 24, 2009 THE NOTABLE omission from this year’s Ashes squad of Michael Vaughan and Steve Harmison, two of the stars of the 2005 triumph, may have grabbed the headlines, but I’m more interested in the role ear-marked for Adil Rashid. The Yorkshire 21-year-old is one of three spin-bowlers in the 16-man training squad and stands a decent [...]
Sussex give Aussies a workout June 24, 2009 CRICKET: Australia recovered from early losses to reach 349-7 at stumps on day one as they began their Ashes preparations with a tour match against Sussex. The tourists slipped to 114-5 after losing opener Phil Hughes (15) and captain Ricky Ponting (8) but Michael Clarke (45) and Brad Haddin took up the fight before Brett [...]
Harrington slump shocks Rory June 24, 2009 GOLF: Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy has backed Open champion Padraig Harrington to rediscover his form in time for next month’s defence at Turnberry. Harrington won two majors in a glorious 2008 season but has missed five of the last six cuts. McIlroy said: “I think everyone is surprised. A three-time major winner then to have [...]
Tigers kick off defence at Sale June 24, 2009 RUGBY UNION: Premiership champions Leicester will begin their defence away to Sale on the first weekend in September. The traditional curtain-raising London double-header at Twickenham will see Saracens play last-year’s runners-up London Irish and Wasps face Harlequins. Gloucester host a west country derby against Bath while newly-promoted Leeds Carnegie meet Newcastle. Northampton will play Worcester, [...]