Armstrong hit with record $10m bill after losing doping lawsuit February 16, 2015 DISGRACED cyclist Lance Armstrong has been ordered to pay an American record $10m (£6.5m) in damages after losing a lawsuit with sports insurance company SCA Promotions. The Texan firm paid Armstrong $7.5m (£4.9m) in bonuses for his multiple Tour de France wins but sued him for the return of that sum plus $4.5m (£2.9m) in [...]
Brown rested after Italy KO February 16, 2015 ENGLAND doctors were last night assessing Mike Brown before making a decision on his availability for the next Six Nations fixture against Ireland in 12 days’ time. Brown has been given two days’ complete rest since appearing to be knocked out early in England’s 47-17 win over Italy on Saturday, which continued their 100 per [...]
FA Cup: Wenger hails two-goal star man Giroud February 15, 2015 AT EMIRATES STADIUM ARSENAL 2 MIDDLESBROUGH 0 ARSENAL boss Arsene Wenger extolled the progression of Olivier Giroud after the France striker fired the FA Cup holders into the quarter-finals at the expense of Championship high-flyers Middlesbrough yesterday. Giroud’s first-half double took his tally for the season to 10 and proved the difference for the dominant [...]
Six Nations: Wales deliver to revive their Six Nations chances February 15, 2015 SCOTLAND 23 WALES 26 WALES skipper Sam Warburton insists defeat would have ended any chance of his side winning the Six Nations after they chalked up their first win of the championship by edging past Scotland at Murrayfield yesterday. The visitors led 16-10 at half-time after a try from scrum-half Rhys Webb and three Leigh [...]
Football Comment: United could use a cup run to ease pressure February 15, 2015 IF NOTHING else, for the sake of providing a regular distraction from the pressure of trying to attain a top-four Premier League finish, Manchester United could really do with beating Preston tonight in the FA Cup. That league pressure was laid bare last week, when manager Louis van Gaal showed his short fuse by publicly [...]
Lancaster demands England improvement February 15, 2015 ENGLAND head coach Stuart Lancaster has warned his players they must raise their game if they are to win a potential Six Nations decider against Ireland in Dublin. Lancaster declared himself largely satisfied with a six-try 47-17 victory over Italy at Twickenham on Saturday that maintained their 100 per cent start to the championship. But [...]
FA Cup: Sherwood pep talk fires Villa February 15, 2015 ASTON VILLA 2 LEICESTER CITY 1 ASTON Villa goalkeeper Shay Given credited a half-time rallying cry from new manager Tim Sherwood with inspiring them to end their losing streak and reach the last eight of the FA Cup. Goals from midfielder Leandro Bacuna and winger Scott Sinclair ended a three-match slump that resulted in Paul [...]
FA Cup: Bantams twist knife on Poyet February 15, 2015 BRADFORD CITY 2 SUNDERLAND 0 BRADFORD manager Phil Parkinson says he fears nobody in tonight’s FA Cup quarter-final draw after the Bantams eliminated more top-flight opposition in the form of Sunderland yesterday. Former Black Cats striker Jon Stead continued his record of scoring in every round as his strike and a John O’Shea own goal [...]
Grayson aiming for upset repeat February 15, 2015 PRESTON manager Simon Grayson hopes hosting the megastars of Manchester United will inspire his team to pull off an FA Cup upset tonight. Grayson, who was manager of Leeds when they beat United in the third round five years ago, is aiming to maintain a three-match winning run. “I think it’s got to inspire them,” [...]
Wasps breeze past Harlequins to surge into league’s top four February 15, 2015 WASPS boosted their chances of making the play-offs by storming past Harlequins 37-6 at the Ricoh Arena yesterday to move fourth in the Premiership table. Departing wing Tom Varndell, centre Elliot Daly and two penalty try awards secured Wasps’ bonus-point victory as Andy Goode added 15 with the boot, while Nick Evans kicked two penalties [...]