Cycling Comment: Nothing in route suggests Briton won’t be favourite October 23, 2013 OVERALL, this is a balanced route, and one that favours Chris Froome at this stage simply due to his dominant ride in 2013. Much has already been made of the single time trial on the penultimate day but really the cobbles in the first week could be just as crucial. One crash, one mistake and [...]
Cook hopes to rediscover scoring touch as Ashes countdown begins October 23, 2013 ENGLAND captain Alastair Cook is confident conditions in Australia can aid his quest to rediscover top form, after the squad jetted Down Under yesterday ahead of the forthcoming Ashes series. Cook struggled for runs as England recorded their third consecutive series win over Australia last summer, scoring an average of 27.7 in 10 innings and [...]
Scottish fairytale not over yet, says Sir David October 23, 2013 SHRUGGING off a nine-division demotion and financial meltdown to return to the pinnacle of English rugby might seem like scaling Everest, unless you have already helped turn Tesco from supermarket into superpower. Sir David Reid saw the retailer become the world’s second largest during his time as chairman and now has designs on domestic, if [...]
Hogg: Botham talk all waffle October 23, 2013 FORMER England captain Sir Ian Botham has been accused by Australia of “waffling on” after he predicted they would suffer an Ashes whitewash at home this winter. Botham admitted his forecast was partly to annoy Australia but insisted their injury-hit attack left them susceptible to a 5-0 drubbing. Former Australia bowler Brad Hogg hit back [...]
QPR swoop for USA defender October 23, 2013 UNITED States centre-back Oguchi Onyewu has vowed to drag QPR back into the Premier League after signing for the club on a free transfer. Journeyman Onyewu, who had a loan spell at Newcastle in 2007, had been training with Harry Redknapp’s Championship high-fliers after his contract at Sporting Lisbon expired in the summer. “QPR have [...]
It’s not fair, says England rugby league ace axed from World Cup October 23, 2013 CONTROVERSIAL England rugby league forward Gareth Hock insists he has been victimised after he was thrown out of the squad days before the start of the World Cup. England chiefs announced his exclusion on Monday night after he broke an alcohol ban by going out drinking on Saturday and then missing a recovery session the [...]
Gold for British hotshot Kerwood October 23, 2013 SHOOTING: Britain’s Charlotte Kerwood beat Germany’s Jana Beckmann in the gold medal match to win the women’s trap event at the Shotgun World Cup in Dubai yesterday. The 27-year-old from Sussex prevailed with eight consecutive successful shots and said: “This is probably the best moment of my career.”
Defiant Wilshere plots revenge October 23, 2013 FOOTBALL: Midfielder Jack Wilshere says Arsenal plan to avenge Tuesday’s home defeat to Borussia Dortmund in Germany next month and get their Champions League campaign back on track. He said: “We went there in 2011 and drew 1-1. We know we can go there and get something and that is the aim.”
Cech: Chelsea firing on all cylinders October 23, 2013 FOOTBALL: Chelsea’s rivals should beware after striker Fernando Torres found form with two goals in Tuesday’s 3-0 Champions League win at Schalke, according to goalkeeper Petr Cech. He said: “The strikers were under pressure because they weren’t scoring but it has all changed in the last two games.”
Ireland overlook Trimble for Tests October 23, 2013 RUGBY UNION: Experienced Ulster wing Andrew Trimble is the surprise omission from Ireland’s squad for their November Tests. Head coach Joe Schmidt has named Tommy Bowe, Keith Earls, Fergus McFadden and the uncapped David Kearney as his wide men for the matches against Samoa, Australia and New Zealand.