It’s D-Day for Venter as appeal decision awaits May 25, 2010 SARACENS director of rugby Brendan Venter will discover tonight whether his touchline ban will be overturned for Saturday’s Premiership final with Leicester at Twickenham. Venter was handed a 14-week ban by an RFU disciplinary panel last week for “making provocative and inappropriate gestures” during the league game against the Tigers on 8 May. The South [...]
I’ll battle on, vows out-of-sorts Safina May 25, 2010 AILING Dinara Safina insists she can rediscover her best form despite crashing out of the French Open to a 39-year-old ex-retiree at Roland Garros. Former world No1 Safina, now seeded ninth after falling down the rankings, continued her miserable 2010 with a 3-6, 6-4, 7-5 defeat to Japan’s Kimiko Date Krumm, who only returned to [...]
Morgan taken aback by Test chance May 25, 2010 TWENTY20 world-beater Eoin Morgan has admitted his shock at being called up to England’s Test squad, but does not believe he will have trouble reproducing his one-day heroics in the longer form of the game. Morgan’s inclusion in a 12-man squad for the two-match series against Bangladesh, starting tomorrow at Lord’s, is a reward for [...]
Bears snare Jayasuriya May 25, 2010 CRICKET: Worcestershire have secured the signing of veteran Sri Lankan all-rounder Sanath Jayasuriya for the forthcoming Twenty20 campaign. The 40-year-old has played 110 Tests, 444 one-day internationals and 30 international Twenty20 matches during a glittering career, and replaces Australian Steve Smith after five matches of the competition.
Laird secures Open spot May 25, 2010 GOLF: Scotland’s Martin Laird fired a second round 63 to earn a place at the Open Championship in his homeland at St Andrews in July. The 27-year-old finished fourth in the 36-hole qualifier in Texas on eight-under-par, three shots behind winner Tim Petrovic. Of the big names to miss out were England’s Brian Davis, Boo [...]
Catt laps up new Exiles deal May 25, 2010 RUGBY UNION: Mike Catt has signed a contract extension at London Irish – just days after ending his 17-year playing career. The World Cup winner, who joined the Exiles in 2004, has followed the lead of Toby Booth and Dave Ellis in penning long-term deals with the club and will continue his role as a [...]
Capello’s rant gives England good send-off May 24, 2010 ENGLAND (3) vs MEXICO (1) FABIO CAPELLO had to give his lacklustre England side a half-time dressing down to inspire a unconvincing World Cup warm-up win over Mexico at Wembley last night. The Mexicans were allowed to dominate long periods of the first half and would have had England on the rack but for two [...]
Lennon’s maturity gives him the edge May 24, 2010 FABIO CAPELLO has a thing or two to ponder over the next seven easy before reducing his 30 down to 23 – but he certainly would have learned a thing or two from last night’s display at Wembley. Firstly, Aaron Lennon showed in one brief burst into the Mexican box late on why he should [...]
Barry given more time to prove World Cup fitness May 24, 2010 GARETH BARRY will today find out whether his World Cup dream has turned into nightmare. The Manchester City midfielder is set to see a specialist to discover whether his damaged knee ligaments will force him to sit out the showcase in South Africa. Barry’s appointment was initially due yesterday, but the centre midfielder has been [...]
Brave Murray powers past Gasquet in five-set thriller May 24, 2010 BRITISH No1 Andy Murray fought back from two sets down to overpower Richard Gasquet in an epic French Open opener at Roland Garros. Gasquet, fresh from his ATP Tour victory in Nice at the weekend, produced a blistering start, taking Murray to the brink of defeat by claiming the first two sets. But in a [...]