Stepanek displays nerves of steel to seal Davis Cup glory November 17, 2013 WORLD No2 Novak Djokovic was denied Davis Cup victory yesterday, after Radek Stepanek held his nerve to win the decisive rubber for Czech Republic against Serbia in Belgrade. Trailing 2-1 going into the final day’s play, Djokovic beat 2010 Wimbledon runner-up Tomas Berdych 6-4, 7-6, 6-2 to set up a deciding match. But Stepanek, 34, [...]
Hurricane Fly world record November 17, 2013 TRAINER Willie Mullins insists that there is still room to improve his champion hurdler Hurricane Fly, despite the nine-year-old setting a new world record of 17 Grade One victories in the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown yesterday. Ridden by Ruby Walsh, the win saw Hurricane Fly overtake Kauto Star and John Henry in the record books, [...]
Cameroon qualify for World Cup November 17, 2013 FOOTBALL: Chelsea striker Samuel Eto’o was celebrating last night after captaining Cameroon to a place in next summer’s World Cup. The west African side qualified for the finals in Brazil with yesterday’s 4-1 victory over Tunisia in Yaounde.
England U21s call up for Bamford November 17, 2013 FOOTBALL: MK Dons forward Patrick Bamford has been called up to the England U21 squad to face minnows San Marino tomorrow night. Bamford, who is on loan in Milton Keynes from Chelsea, replaces West Brom starlet Saido Berahino, who is suspended.
Taylor powers to Grand Slam win November 17, 2013 DARTS: World No1 Phil Taylor, known as The Power, stormed to his fifth Grand Slam title victory last night, brushing aside Robert Thornton 16-6 in Wolverhampton. Taylor’s earlier semi-final versus Adrian Lewis saw the most ever 180s in a PDC match – 32 in total.
The Butler is classy – but too eager to teach November 14, 2013 FILM THE BUTLER Cert 12a | Three stars THE Butler examines African-Americans’ struggle for civil rights in the 20th century through events in the life of White House butler Cecil Gaines, who served seven presidents, from Eisenhower to Reagan. It is essentially Forrest Gump, with moral didacticism instead of heart-warming whimsy. It is clear from [...]
A brilliantly acted revival at The Clare November 14, 2013 THEATRE THE ISLAND The Clare at the Young Vic | Four stars DUST swirls under bright lights as you enter The Clare Theatre at The Young Vic. Two men – The Island’s only characters – shovel piles of sand into wheelbarrows, only to walk to the other side of the stage and tip it all [...]
An ugly, nasty Brit-flick with no redeeming features at all November 14, 2013 FILM DOM HEMINGWAY Cert 15 | One star SAFECRACKER Dom Hemingway (Jude Law pictured) has spent 12 years in prison. On his release he teams up with his friend Dickie (Richard E Grant) to retrieve the money he’s owed for keeping schtum. Along the way he settles old scores, seeks new employment, and tries to [...]
Reich’s minimal masterpiece played to an adoring crowd November 14, 2013 MUSIC STEVE REICH Royal Albert Hall | Five stars THIS week saw the death of Sir John Tavener, a twentieth century British composer who spent his entire career lapsing in and out of the public consciousness. The spiritually attuned Tavener first entered the spotlight after becoming an obsession of New Age-fixated 60s popstars (he was [...]
Lancaster asks Farrell to be our Carter and stun All Blacks again November 14, 2013 ENGLAND head coach Stuart Lancaster has praised fly-half Owen Farrell’s knack of rising to the occasion and urged him to do so again when world champions New Zealand visit Twickenham tomorrow. Masterminding the All Blacks’ bid to complete 2013 unbeaten and make amends for their defeat on the same turf 12 months ago will be [...]