Wasps seal European Champions Cup quarter-final berth as Saracens draw Glasgow in last eight January 23, 2017 Wasps recovered from a sluggish start to secure a bonus-point 41-27 success over Italian side Zebre on Sunday and finish top of their European Champions Cup pool, earning themselves a trip to Leinster in the quarter-finals. Two tries from Ashley Johnson and further touchdowns from Danny Cipriani, Elliot Daly, Christian Wade and Nathan Hughes powered Wasps [...]
Why England’s Six Nations challenge is reliant on head overruling heart for Dylan Hartley and James Haskell January 23, 2017 The inevitable roles that Dylan Hartley and James Haskell will play in the Six Nations must reinforce the preponderance of mental strength over physical fortitude. There can be little argument against the notion that Haskell is a physical specimen; indeed, all of those who choose to subject themselves to his incessant social media bombardments are [...]
I’m ready to beat Serena Williams, says Johanna Konta, after British No1 sets up showdown with Australian Open favourite January 23, 2017 In-form British No1 Johanna Konta insists she feels ready to take on Serena Williams after setting up an Australian Open clash with the 22-time grand slam winner. Konta is due to meet Williams in the quarter-finals on Wednesday morning after brushing aside 30th seed Ekaterina Makarova 6-1, 6-4 in the fourth round on Monday. Williams [...]
Ben Stokes lays demons of World Twenty20 final to rest as England restore one-day pride with victory over India January 23, 2017 England all-rounder Ben Stokes admitted his satisfaction at laying the demons of the World Twenty20 final to rest as his side recorded a pride-salvaging victory over India in the final one-day clash in Kolkata. With England on the cusp of T20 glory in April, Stokes was left distraught as West Indies hard-hitter Carlos Brathwaite smacked [...]
Chelsea 2, Hull City 0: It’s time for speculation over Diego Costa to stop, says Antonio Conte after Blues move eight points clear at Premier League summit January 22, 2017 Chelsea boss Antonio Conte believes Diego Costa’s goalscoring return will end talk of disharmony at the club after the runaway leaders moved eight points clear at the Premier League summit with victory against Hull. Costa, 28, underlined his importance to Chelsea with his 15th strike of a prolific campaign deep into first-half stoppage time, while [...]
Arsenal 2, Burnley 1: Arsene Wenger apologises for bust-up with fourth official after Gunners snatch 98th-minute win January 22, 2017 Arsenal 2, Burnley 1 Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger apologised after appearing to push fourth official Anthony Taylor as his 10-man team snatched the latest of wins from a heated Premier League contest with Burnley. Wenger clashed with Taylor after being sent to the stands by referee Jon Moss for protesting Burnley’s 92nd-minute penalty award, which [...]
Sir Andy Murray vows to bounce back after Australian Open heartbreak comes early January 22, 2017 World No1 Sir Andy Murray has vowed to come back stronger after suffering a shock fourth-round defeat to German Mischa Zverev at the Australian Open on Sunday. Top seed Murray, fancied to end his run of near misses in Melbourne following the early exit of main rival Novak Djokovic, lost 7-5, 5-7, 6-2, 6-4 to [...]
Champion Angelique Kerber knocked out of Australian Open as top seeds tumble in fourth round January 22, 2017 Defending champion Angelique Kerber rued another below-par display after her disappointing season continued with a surprise defeat to American Coco Vandeweghe at the Australian Open on Sunday. Kerber suffered the earliest exit by a women’s singles title-holder in Melbourne for a decade as she followed men’s top seed Sir Andy Murray out of the tournament [...]
Jackie review: Natalie Portman leads an outstanding production about the creation of a political myth January 20, 2017 In Jackie, blood clings to the First Lady like it does to Lady Macbeth. It stains her powder-pink skirt-suit, congeals in her hair, splashes onto her face like tears. It horrifies and fascinates her; she wears it like war-paint, with something approaching pride. But no matter how many times she tries to scrub it off, [...]
Promises, Promises at Southwark Playhouse review: a badly dated comedy that’s a gilded celebration of lechery January 20, 2017 I can’t think of a more appropriate start to the Trump era than revisiting Burt Bacharach and Hal David’s 1968 Broadway hit – a breezy chronicle of workplace sexism in which Boys Will Be Boys, whatever the cost, and women are either brutalised angels awaiting Mr Right or mouthy broads lounging in the clutches of [...]