England have rediscovered love for game November 24, 2010 FORMER Wasps and England back Josh Lewsey believes the national team has blossomed during the last year because players have fallen in love with the game once again. Martin Johnson’s men have followed up an encouraging summer with more success this autumn, including wins over Samoa and old enemies Australia, and a hard-fought defeat to [...]
Nadal masterclass sees off Djokovic November 24, 2010 WORLD No1 Rafael Nadal is on the brink of qualifying for the last four of the ATP World Tour Finals after breezing past Novak Djokovic. Nadal took just one hour 51 minutes to see off Djokovic at the O2, who required treatment for a complaint related to his right contact lens, 7-5 6-2 to move top of [...]
Welsh refs not going to Scotland November 24, 2010 THE WELSH Football Association has confirmed that none of its referees will be heading to Scotland this weekend. The Scottish Football Association are still locked in talks with referees’ representatives in a bid to persuade the officials to call off their proposed strike. But a statement on the official FAW website read: “It has now [...]
Petrovic claims he wasn’t sacked November 24, 2010 FORMER West Ham assistant manager Zeljko Petrovic insists he left the club on his own terms despite reports that he was sacked. The former Yugoslavia international joined the Hammers in July as part of Avram Grant’s new-look coaching staff, but left Upton Park on Tuesday, with Wally Downes since being appointed defensive coach. Petkovic said: [...]
Kaymer’s in McDowell’s sights November 24, 2010 GOLF: Graeme McDowell is ready for his duel with his Ryder Cup teammate Martin Kaymer at the Dubai World Championship as they battle to end the season as Europe’s No1. The pair will play together in the final group with Race to Dubai leader Kaymer £246,414 ahead of McDowell. “It’s going to be fun to play [...]
Hoy heads strong GB squad November 24, 2010 CYCLING: Sir Chris Hoy fronts a strong GB squad chosen for the track World Cup meetings in Australia and Colombia next month. Hoy is joined by three more Olympic gold medallists, Victoria Pendleton, Jason Kenny and Ed Clancy who are seeking London 2012 Olympic qualification points. GB performance manager Shane Sutton said: “We are aiming to gain [...]
Cricket, as hard as it gets November 23, 2010 IF anybody is wondering how to fit in watching an Ashes series that will take place almost entirely during our normal sleeping hours, I have some advice. If you watch nothing else, watch the first session of the first Test – it starts at midnight tonight and it’ll be absolutely essential viewing. So many times [...]
England in fine form for Ashes glory November 23, 2010 GUNG-HO is how I felt when I used to arrive in Australia for an Ashes series. Outwardly at least, I’d be brimming with confidence. ‘Come on lads, let’s go and win this’, I’d say as I stepped off the plane. But deep down I think I knew that if we were to triumph we’d have [...]
Wenger on the warpath as Gunners crash again November 23, 2010 BRAGA (2) vs ARSENAL (0) ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger branded Uefa’s multi-official system “useless” after seeing his side slip to a second successive defeat. Hungarian referee Viktor Kassa failed to spot Alberto Rodriguez’s trip on substitute Carlos Vela before Braga scored two late goals on the break. The Portuguese side, now level on points with [...]
Ancelotti blast fires Chelsea fightback and books top spot November 23, 2010 CHELSEA (2) vs MSK ZILINA (1) CHELSEA gave manager Carlo Ancelotti something to smile about by booking a place in the Champions League last 16, but only after he had given them a half-time rollicking. The Blues boss, whose happiness with behind-the-scenes decisions has been the subject of intense speculation, tore into his team when [...]