City to host Sarries and Stade May 8, 2012 RUGBY UNION: Premiership champions Saracens will face Stade Francais at the City’s Honourable Artillery Ground in a high-profile pre-season friendly. Sarries are predicting a sell-out for the clash on the evening of 23 August. Tickets are available from the club’s website.
Exiles boss Booth heads for Bath May 8, 2012 RUGBY UNION: London Irish head coach Toby Booth will join Bath in the summer, along with Exiles academy coach Neal Hatley. Newcastle boss Gary Gold is to become head of coaching staff in a major shake-up, replacing director of rugby Sir Ian McGeechan.
Kean: Rovers can return from our relegation May 7, 2012 BLACKBURN ROVERS (0) vs WIGAN ATHLETIC (1) DEFIANT Blackburn manager Steve Kean vowed to inspire a Premier League return after defeat to Wigan sealed their relegation to the Championship amid another chorus of criticism from the club’s deeply unhappy fans. Antolin Alcaraz’s late winner was enough to separate the sides and leave Blackburn six points [...]
Favourites West Ham reach Wembley final after crushing Cardiff May 7, 2012 WEST HAM UNITED (3) vs CARDIFF CITY (0) WEST HAM WIN 5-0 ON AGGREGATE WEST HAM boss Sam Allardyce last night backed his players to cope with the pressure of a Wembley final that will determine whether their season is seen as a success or a failure. First half goals from Kevin Nolan and Ricardo [...]
Blues veterans can play to 40, says Di Matteo May 7, 2012 CHELSEA interim manager Robert di Matteo believes his ageing side’s FA Cup triumph shows they are more than capable of further success and are not the declining force they appeared until his appointment. Since Di Matteo replaced Andre Villas-Boas in March, Chelsea’s form has improved so much that they won the FA Cup with Saturday’s [...]
Cavendish demands Ferrari axe after crash in Giro stage climax May 7, 2012 BRITAIN’S Mark Cavendish called for Roberto Ferrari to be thrown out of cycling’s Giro d’Italia after the Italian rider took him out just 100 yards from the finishing line of stage three yesterday. Team Sky’s Cavendish suffered a nasty scrape that tore through his shorts when Androni Giocattoli’s Ferrari cut across his front wheel in [...]
Pirates offer Falcons hope May 7, 2012 CORNISH Pirates secured a 45-24 first-leg Championship play-off semi-final lead over Bristol yesterday to boost Newcastle’s hopes of avoiding Premiership relegation. In the event of Pirates winning the play-offs, they will not gain promotion as their stadium does not fulfill the necessary criteria, thus saving the bottom-placed Falcons. Tries from James Merriman and Will Helu [...]
O’SULLIVAN STORMS TO FOURTH WORLD TITLE May 7, 2012 RONNIE “The Rocket” O’Sullivan wrapped up a convincing 18-11 frame win against Ali Carter last night, to claim his fourth World Snooker Championship title. The popular maverick made three centuries during the final at the Crucible in Sheffield, before sealing victory with a break of 61. After the win O’Sullivan said he will take some [...]
England’s Wright in dengue scare May 7, 2012 England and Sussex all-rounder Luke Wright is suffering from suspected dengue fever, caught while playing for Indian Premier League side Pune Warriors. He has undergone blood tests to determine whether he has the virus, the symptoms of which include fever, headache and joint pain. “Can’t remember feeling as bad as I have the last few [...]
McCLean makes Irish Euro squad May 7, 2012 Coach Giovanni Trapattoni has announced his 23-man Republic of Ireland squad for Euro 2012. Sunderland winger James McClean has been included after an impressive season, though Wigan midfielder James McCarthy withdrew after learning of his father’s diagnosis with cancer. Five players, including Everton’s Seamus Coleman, are on standby.