Saracens relief as Vunipola cleared to face Clermont April 14, 2015 SARACENS’ treble bid received a major boost last night when England No8 Billy Vunipola was cleared of headbutting Leicester’s Mathew Tait. Vunipola faced a suspension if found guilty but the decision means he is instead free to face Clermont Auvergne in Saturday’s European Rugby Champions Cup semi-final. The 22-year-old pleaded not guilty to the charge, [...]
Ennis-Hill plays down hopes for Olympic re-run April 14, 2015 OLYMPIC champion Jessica Ennis-Hill has warned fans not to expect gold medal-winning heroics when she returns to the scene of her greatest triumph for this summer’s Sainsbury’s Anniversary Games. Ennis-Hill, 29, yesterday joined fellow London 2012 star Mo Farah in signing up to compete at the three-day meeting at the Olympic Stadium in Stratford in [...]
Man City star in pic apology April 14, 2015 MANCHESTER City and England striker Toni Duggan has issued an apology after she received criticism for posing for a photograph with Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal. Duggan, 23, was pictured with Van Gaal on Sunday, just hours after United’s men had inflicted a damaging 4-2 defeat on bitter rivals City. She was celebrating her [...]
Champions League: Bale pardoned for miss as Atletico stifle Real big guns April 14, 2015 ATLETICO MADRID 0 REAL MADRID 0 REAL Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti last night refused to blame Wales star Gareth Bale for a costly early miss after being held to a frustrating draw in their Champions League quarter-final derby. Bale had the best chance of a niggly first-leg encounter in the opening minutes but the former [...]
Champions League: Vidal on target as Juventus eye long-awaited return to last four April 14, 2015 JUVENTUS 1 AS MONACO 0 JUVENTUS edged closer to their first Champions League semi-final for more than a decade last night after a controversial penalty gave them a slender first-leg advantage over Monaco. Midfielder Arturo Vidal’s thunderous spot-kick decided a predictably tight contest in Turin which leaves Serie A’s runaway leaders well placed to end [...]
Union urges Reds to be lenient with Sterling over laughing gas April 14, 2015 FOOTBALLERS’ union the PFA has defended Raheem Sterling after the Liverpool and England forward was filmed appearing to pass out from taking nitrous oxide, the legal high also known as laughing gas. Reds chiefs are expected to let Sterling off with a warning, despite manager Brendan Rodgers admitting his concern at the claims, and PFA [...]
Liverpool’s Raheem Sterling should apologise for laughing gas use says charity April 14, 2015 Is Brendan Rodgers right to give Raheem Sterling a talking to for using nitrous gas? Even after scoring a sumptuous goal against Newcastle on Monday night, the Liverpool forward made headlines for the wrong reasons when he was pictured in The Sun taking the substance more commonly known as laughing gas. "I don't think it is [...]
Note perfect Bell changes England tune April 13, 2015 BATSMAN Ian Bell last night urged England to take full advantage of a reprieve earned by his 22nd Test century and ram home their advantage in the first Test against the West Indies in Antigua. England, who ended day one 341-5, were indebted to Bell for a determined and classy 143 that contributed to two [...]
Golf Comment: Baby-faced superstar Spieth’s gift is an old head on young shoulders April 13, 2015 FOR SOMEONE who looks like they could shave with nothing more than a rough towel, Jordan Spieth showed extraordinary maturity and composure on his way to winning the Masters on Sunday. His all-round game was excellent, but perhaps the most remarkable aspect of Spieth’s first Major victory was that, at the age of just 21, [...]
Premier League: Rodgers to quiz Sterling on laughing gas clip April 13, 2015 LIVERPOOL 2 NEWCASTLE UNITED 0 LIVERPOOL manager Brendan Rodgers last night vowed to speak to Raheem Sterling after footage emerged appearing to show the England forward taking nitrous oxide, the legal high also known as laughing gas. Sterling’s off-field controversy marred an otherwise good night for player and club, as his 11th goal of the [...]