Harlequins rout hands Richards a grim reunion December 1, 2013 RUTHLESSNESS and patience were Harlequins boss Conor O’Shea’s watchwords yesterday after his side showed their killer instinct to seal a 35-9 bonus-point Aviva Premiership Rugby win at Newcastle. An early Tom Williams try, a double from fellow wing Sam Smith and scrum-half Danny Care’s cunning score gave Quins their fourth straight top-flight victory, moving them [...]
Formula One future muddled by prospect of Concorde talks delay December 1, 2013 THE BOSS of the company which controls Formula One has revealed that his investors are unhappy with the length of the commercial contracts with the sport’s 11 teams which expire at the end of 2020. It could signal an extension to the long-running negotiations with teams over the Concorde Agreement, the contract which commits them [...]
I’ve turned the corner, declares McIlroy, as he finally ends 2013 trophy drought December 1, 2013 FORMER world No1 Rory McIlroy believes he is over his year-long slump after claiming a first win of 2013 in dramatic fashion at the Australian Open yesterday. A birdie at the 18th saw the Northern Irishman overtake overnight leader and world No2 Adam Scott as the home favourite bogeyed the last. McIlroy’s final round of [...]
Root hungry to reignite Ashes battle with paceman Johnson December 1, 2013 BATSMAN Joe Root has urged England to take immediate charge of the second Ashes Test when it gets underway in Adelaide this week. The tourists find themselves in the unusual position of being on the back foot, following a 381-run defeat by Australia in Brisbane. “This match is massive and it’s a great opportunity to [...]
England injury woe deepens as Foden is ruled out for 12 weeks December 1, 2013 ENGLAND head coach Stuart Lancaster is facing further disruption to his Six Nations plans after Northampton back Ben Foden became the latest Test star to join the long-term injury list. The full-back, who filled in on the wing during the autumn internationals, has been ruled out for three months with a knee injury suffered last [...]
Wenger will have to rest Ramsey December 1, 2013 FOOTBALL: Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admits that he will have to rest star midfielder Aaron Ramsey during a hectic winter period in which the Gunners will play nine games over the next five weeks. “I have to treat him like all the players, give them a breather when they need it,” said Wenger after Saturday’s [...]
Warburton: Aussies are favourites December 1, 2013 RUGBY UNION: Wales captain Sam Warburton believes that Australia are now favourites to lift the 2015 World Cup, after experiencing the 30-26 home defeat to the Wallabies on Saturday. “People can rightly call them favourites,” said the Cardiff Blues flanker. “It’s extremely close, but they’re a tiny bit in front of us at the moment [...]
Defeated Kearney may step down December 1, 2013 RUGBY LEAGUE: New Zealand coach Stephen Kearney may step down after the weekend’s crushing 34-2 defeat to Australia in the World Cup final. “It has been five years at the helm, so I need to have a bit of a think and just see,” said Kearney, who had indicated earlier in the year that he [...]
Thompson and Hanks shine in awards-baiting Disney biopic November 28, 2013 FILM SAVING MR BANKS Cert PG | By Simon Thomson Four Stars SAVING Mr Banks is the true story of how, over two weeks in Los Angeles, Walt Disney persuaded P.L. Travers to turn her children’s book series, Mary Poppins, into a film. Starring double-Oscar winners Emma Thompson as Travers and Tom Hanks as Disney, [...]
Awkward laughs prove to be just what the doctor ordered November 28, 2013 THEATRE IN THE NEXT ROOM (OR THE VIBRATOR PLAY) St James Theatre | By Simon Thomson Four Stars IT’S THE dawn of the electrical age in a spa town near New York, and the enterprising Doctor Givings is treating hysterical patients. With vibrators. This is the West End transfer of Sarah Ruhl’s Tony-and-Pulitzer-nominated comedy In [...]