Familiar settings can aid England in Sevens Series April 30, 2014 IMPROVING England are hoping a return to British shores can give them the boost required to secure a maiden victory as this year’s HSBC Sevens World Series nears a conclusion in Glasgow this weekend. England recorded consecutive fourth and third place finishes after a mid-Series slump and reached a final in Hong Kong last time [...]
Rogers leads record-breaking run chase April 30, 2014 AUSTRALIA international batsman Chris Rogers hit an unbeaten 241 to ensure Middlesex successfully chased down their highest-ever target at Lord’s to beat Yorkshire on the final day of their County Championship match. The home side scored 472-3 in their second innings and Rogers said: “That’s the kind of thing you dream about as a cricketer.”
Dani Alves, the banana and the marketeers April 30, 2014 IT WAS the spontaneous and widely acclaimed riposte to a deplorable racist act, and spread like wildfire via social media seconds after its enaction on Sunday night. But it has now transpired that Dani Alves’ decision to pick up a banana hurled in his direction from the stands and munch it in nonchalant defiance was [...]
Ankle operation rules Townsend out of World Cup April 30, 2014 TOTTENHAM winger Andros Townsend will miss this summer’s World Cup after the club confirmed he will undergo an ankle operation today. The 22-year-old suffered the injury during a late cameo appearance in Spurs’ 1-0 win at Stoke at the weekend, though limped through the remainder of the match having been the third and final permitted [...]
O’Sullivan surprised by ease in reaching Crucible semi-finals April 30, 2014 WORLD Snooker champion Ronnie O’Sullivan admitted his surprise at the ease with which he brushed aside Shaun Murphy in yesterday’s quarter-final. O’Sullivan recovered from 2-0 down to lead 6-2 overnight and proved too strong for 2005 champion Murphy when they resumed, triumphing 13-3. The 38-year-old, on a 13-match winning streak at the Crucible, said: “You [...]
Spotlight on Financial Fair Play in Football: Man City set to be hit with squad restrictions for FFP infringement April 30, 2014 Manchester City are expected to be forced to field a weakened team in next season’s Champions League as punishment for breaking European financial fair play (FFP) rules. The sanction could take the form of a reduction in the number of players or a cap on the total wage bill of the squad City can register [...]
Hat-trick win for Cavendish April 30, 2014 BRITAIN’S Mark Cavendish sprinted to a third stage win out of four at the Tour of Turkey yesterday. The Omega Pharma Quick Step rider stormed away from Maximiliano Richeze and team-mate Mark Renshaw in the final 100m to cross the line in three hours 14 minutes 23 seconds. Cavendish, however, could not regain the overall [...]
Wigan fined for rule breach April 30, 2014 FOOTBALL: FA Cup holders Wigan have been fined £40,000 by the Football Association after admitting to breaching agent regulations when signing Marc-Antoine Fortune last summer. Fortune’s agent Willie McKay has had a nine-month suspension of his overseas agent registration stayed for two years.
Ashton up for European award April 30, 2014 RUGBY UNION: Saracens trio Chris Ashton, Schalk Brits and Jacques Burger have been nominated for the European Rugby Cup’s Player of the Year award. Toulon’s Jonny Wilkinson and Steffon Armitage complete the list of nominees.
Australia top Test world rankings April 30, 2014 CRICKET: Australia returned to the top of the International Cricket Council Test rankings yesterday, displacing South Africa for the first time since August 2012. England are third. The Baggy Greens also remain top of the one-day International rankings, with England in fourth position.