O’Driscoll skips Royal wedding April 25, 2011 Ireland captain Brian O’Driscoll has turned down an invite to the royal wedding in favour of a Leinster training session ahead of their Heineken Cup semi-final. “One thing I learnt early on my career is that personal gratification takes second place. The team ethos comes first even after 12 years,” he said. “I’ll be at [...]
MANCHESTER 1 LONDON 0 April 20, 2011 Thrilling derby draw is no use to Arsenal or Spurs in bids for the title and Champions League spot TOTTENHAM 3 vs ARSENAL 3 ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger refused to concede the title to Manchester United despite seeing his side throw away a two-goal lead against north London rivals Spurs for the second time this [...]
Newcastle hard knocks fail to deter dignified Hughton April 20, 2011 IF football’s marketing men want an antidote to the bad examples set by Wayne Rooney snarling into the nearest TV camera and managers furiously haranguing officials, then they could do far worse than Chris Hughton. The former Newcastle boss was dignity personified when unceremoniously dumped by the Tyneside club in December, despite hauling them back [...]
Malouda double has Chelsea dreaming April 20, 2011 CHELSEA 3 vs BIRMINGHAM 1 CHELSEA manager Carlo Ancelotti admits his side might just be back in with a chance of snatching the Premier League title from under the noses of Manchester United after surging into second place. Two goals from Florent Malouda and a fine strike by Salomon Kalou despatched Birmingham and lifted the [...]
Powell’s future at Wasps hangs in the balance April 20, 2011 WASPS are considering the future of their suspended Wales star Andy Powell, who was involved in a bar room fight with a group of football fans on Monday. The 29-year-old, who has been charged with bringing the club into disrepute along with England international Tim Payne, faces a disciplinary hearing next week. Powell risked angering [...]
Pietersen’s totally committed to England, says Gough April 20, 2011 FORMER England bowler Darren Gough has dismissed suggestions that Kevin Pietersen needs to reaffirm his commitment to his adopted country, but admits no longer being considered as the side’s talisman has had an adverse affect on his game. Gough’s former Yorkshire and England team-mate Michael Vaughan last week suggested South African-born Pietersen had become “distracted” [...]
Platini apology over price of European final tickets April 20, 2011 EUROPEAN chief Michel Platini has apologised for the high prices of tickets to this year’s Champions League final at Wembley and has said that Uefa, the governing body, will look to introduce a cheaper ticket category for families in the future. Fans reacted with outrage when Uefa announced the cheapest tickets available for the final [...]
Haye and Klitschko name the date for showdown April 20, 2011 BRITISH world heavyweight champion David Haye’s unification bout with Wladimir Klitschko will be held on 2 July at Hamburg’s Imtech Arena, it was confirmed yesterday. The fight has taken many months to organise but Klitschko’s manager Bernd Boente finally announced the venue and date for the eagerly-anticipated clash between WBA champion Haye, 30, and IBF [...]
Kaymer: McIlroy will recover April 20, 2011 GOLF: World No1 Martin Kaymer believes Rory McIlroy will be in contention for Majors in the future despite his final-day collapse at the Masters earlier this month. Kaymer says the Northern Irishman, who is only 21, has youth on his side and will be in contention for Majors “many, many times”. “Everybody has to learn [...]
Malinga omitted by Sri Lanka April 20, 2011 CRICKET: Sri Lanka will be without fast bowler Lasith Malinga and all-rounder Angelo Mathews for the upcoming Test series in England. Malinga is being saved for the one-day series while Mathews misses out on a place in the 16-man squad with a quad injury. Their absence leaves Sri Lanka’s bowling attack short of experience, with [...]