Kearney crowned Europe’s best May 21, 2012 RUGBY UNION: Leinster and Ireland full-back Rob Kearney has been recognised for his Heineken Cup winning exploits by being named European player of the year. The 26-year-old saw off competition from team-mate Jonny Sexton, ex-England fly-half Jonny Wilkinson and Ulster pair Stephen Ferris and Ruan Pienaar.
Chelsea make job vow to Euro hero Di Matteo May 20, 2012 CHELSEA insist interim manager Roberto di Matteo is a serious candidate to be appointed to the role permanently after transforming the Blues from a team in terminal decline to Champions League winners. Saturday’s penalty shoot-out victory over Bayern Munich at the Germans’ own Allianz Arena earned the club a first ever European Cup and a [...]
England made to work for win by West Indies May 20, 2012 SPINNER Graeme Swann insists England still expect to take a 1-0 lead in the Test series with West Indies today despite a frustrating day in the field and the loss of captain Andrew Strauss for just one run. Shivnarine Chanderpaul again tormented the hosts at Lord’s, his painstaking 91 denying England an early conclusion and [...]
Fitting moment for London clubs to flex muscles May 20, 2012 EXACTLY three months ago Chelsea’s Champions League quest looked over for another year, a 3-1 defeat at Napoli the latest symptom of a rot that would end Andre Villas-Boas’ brief tenure. Today they are kings of Europe, following an improbable reversal of their fortunes and a stubborn refusal to let their season unravel typified by [...]
Ennis riled as organisers’ hurdle blunder foils personal best time May 20, 2012 RED-FACED organisers launched an investigation last night after their blunder denied British heptathlete Jessica Ennis a personal best time in the 100m hurdles at the GreatCity Games in Manchester. London 2012 medal hope Ennis left a strong field trailing with a record time of 12.75 seconds, only to have it chalked off because staff laid [...]
Promotion star Vaz Te relishes West Ham return to top flight May 20, 2012 WEST Ham forward Ricardo Vaz Te has vowed to savour a second taste of Premier League football after his £90m goal thrust the club back into the top flight. January signing Vaz Te’s late strike clinched a 2-1 win over Blackpool in Saturday’s Championship play-off final as the Hammers returned to the elite at the [...]
Heartbroken Torres weighs up Blues exit May 20, 2012 STRIKER Fernando Torres has dampened Chelsea’s Champions League celebrations by declaring the club need to persuade him not to quit Stamford Bridge. Torres admits he was heartbroken to be left on the bench for Saturday’s final against Bayern Munich, calling it the biggest disappointment of his life. The £50m Spaniard believes he has been let [...]
Heineken triumph will herald a Leinster dynasty, says O’Driscoll May 20, 2012 LEINSTER star Brian O’Driscoll insists they will not rest on their laurels despite setting a host of records in Saturday’s Heineken Cup triumph over Ulster. The 42-14 win was the biggest margin ever achieved in the final and their five tries constituted a new best as they became the first team to lift the trophy [...]
Colsaerts pips G-Mac in Spain May 20, 2012 Belgium’s Nicolas Colsaerts beat Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell on the final hole to win the World Match Play Championship at Finca Cortesin, Spain yesterday. Colsaerts overcame windy conditions to land the £560,000 prize and break into the world’s top 50.
Matthew claims historic treble May 20, 2012 England’s Nick Matthew became the first man to win three British Open titles yesterday when he beat Egypt’s Ramy Ashour in the final at Canary Wharf. Malaysian world No1 Nicol David won the women’s title, beating 16-year-old Nour El Sherbini.