WALES HUNTERS | Ireland into quarters October 2, 2011 TWO tries from birthday boy Keith Earls and another from Brian O’Driscoll (above) ensured Ireland topped Pool C and set up a quarter-final date with Wales. Needing at least a draw with Italy to claim top spot, Ireland overwhelmed the Azzurri 36-6 in Dunedin to send their Six Nations rivals home. Fly-half Ronan O’Gara kicked [...]
THE BREAKDOWN | WORLD CUP BRIEFS October 2, 2011 GATLAND DELIGHT AT WIN WALES boss Warren Gatland hailed a ruthless performance after a 66-0 thrashing of Fiji booked a quarter-final clash with Ireland. Jamie Roberts led the way with two tries, while Scott Williams, George North, Sam Warburton, Lloyd Burns, Leigh Halfpenny, Lloyd Williams and Jonathan Davies also scored. Wales led 31-0 at half-time [...]
McClaren’s Forest reign is over October 2, 2011 Former England manager Steve McClaren has resigned as manager of Nottingham Forest after 112 days in charge. McClaren, 50, stepped down during a meeting with chairman Nigel Doughty that followed yesterday’s 3-1 home defeat against Birmingham City.
Everton appeal Rodwell red card October 2, 2011 Everton have made a formal appeal to the Football Association against Jack Rodwell’s red card in Saturday’s Merseyside derby. The midfielder was dismissed after 23 minutes against Liverpool, in a match the Toffees went on to lose 2-0.
Hoey holds off McIlroy charge October 2, 2011 Northern Ireland’s Michael Hoey won the Dunhill Links Championship thanks to a late surge, which saw him fire three birdies in the final four holes, to hold off the challenge of Rory McIlroy.
England face test of nerve over ballgate controversy September 29, 2011 ENGLAND vs SCOTLAND ENGLAND will go into their most important and fiercely contested match in four years tomorrow engulfed in controversy for the second time in this eventful World Cup campaign. National team chiefs yesterday took the unusual step of banning two of their own staff – assistant coach and kicking supremo Dave Alred and [...]
Scotland are a big banana skin for improving England September 29, 2011 ENGLAND are just getting into their stride as they prepare to face Scotland tomorrow. They should be very satisfied with the win and improved performance against Romania last week, and key players, like Chris Ashton, are coming into form. They must be feeling confident and I certainly wouldn’t like to be facing them this weekend. [...]
Scotland are not ready to depart World Cup yet, says Lamont September 29, 2011 SCOTLAND centre Sean Lamont has already felt the despair of elimination at this World Cup and insists he is not ready to do so again tomorrow. Lamont admits he mistakenly thought his team had been knocked out after last weekend’s agonising 13-12 Pool B defeat to Argentina. He was granted a reprieve, however, when he [...]
Triple salvo from big guns save Spurs from Shamrock shocker September 29, 2011 TOTTENHAM 3 vs SHAMROCK ROVERS 1 `TOTTENHAM striker Jermain Defoe insisted justice had been done after they survived a huge scare at home to Irish part-timers Shamrock Rovers. Spurs looked set to suffer a humiliating Europa League defeat when Stephen Rice diverted a long-range shot to give the visitors a shock lead. But the Premier [...]
GUNNERS ON TARGET FOR PROFIT September 29, 2011 ARSENAL will today post a small pre-tax profit when the club announces its financial results for the year ending May 2011. The figure will be dramatically lower than the record £56m pre-tax profit for the previous 12 months, City A.M. has learned. However, that 2009-10 sum was boosted by a one-off property windfall and significant [...]