Sacked Bates won’t be replaced at Falcons after backroom reshuffle May 5, 2010 NEWCASTLE FALCONS have scrapped their director of rugby role after parting company with Steve Bates on Tuesday. Bates paid the price for a disappointing season at Kingston Park which brought just six victories and saw the club narrowly avoid relegation from the Premiership. Coach Alan Tait was subsequently appointed head coach but then revealed the [...]
Front of the grid in Hamilton’s sights as McLaren eye improvement in Spain May 5, 2010 FORMER world champion Lewis Hamilton is desperate to end his poor qualifying form when Formula One returns to Europe this week at the Spanish Grand Prix. The Briton has shown flashes of brilliances in the four races so far this season, and may feel unlucky to trail leader Jenson Button, his McLaren colleague, by 11 [...]
SPORT | IN BRIEF May 5, 2010 Ribery final ban upheld FOOTBALL: Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery will miss the Champions League final after his appeal against a ban was dismissed. The Frenchman was suspended for three games for his red card against Lyon in the semi-final – ruling him out of the 22 May showdown with Inter Milan. Ribery’s absence is [...]
The man to phone when you want to stake your bonus on the horses May 5, 2010 FANCY yourself as a high-roller? Frustrated that your high street betting shop is too scared to take your five-figure wagers? Do you relish rubbing your bookie’s face in it, verbally speaking, after taking him to the cleaners? Then meet Ben Keith. From his office on the Sussex coast Keith runs Star Sports, which he calls [...]
Redknapp: Pressure on City May 4, 2010 MANCHESTER CITY vs TOTTENHAM Sky Sports 2, tonight, ko 8pm TOTTENHAM manager Harry Redknapp insists the burden of expectation rests on Manchester City, not his own charges, as he prepares to take a tilt at history tonight. Victory at Eastlands over their fourth-place rivals would guarantee Spurs a place in the Champions League – an [...]
England limp past Ireland May 4, 2010 ENGLAND ambled into the last eight of the World Twenty20 last night after persistent rain in Guyana rendered their Group D decider against Ireland a no-result. Eoin Morgan, playing against the country of his birth, again proved England’s star performer with a determined 45 off 37 balls helping them reach 120-8. Ireland’s response was never [...]
Collingwood’s men can rival the favourites May 4, 2010 IT may have been anticlimactic, but England are through – and I think they now have a hell of a chance of winning the World Twenty20. We’ve seen two very different England performances, but then they were on two very different pitches. Monday’s surface was great for shot-making and they played brilliantly to make 190 [...]
Benitez quit rumours still rife despite fresh agent claims May 4, 2010 RAFAEL BENITEZ’S future as manager of Liverpool remained under scrutiny last night despite the Spaniard’s agent insisting he wants to stay at Anfield. Just weeks after suggesting Benitez was ready to join Juventus, Manuel Garcia Quilon now says the 50-year-old is committed to working with any new owners to revive the club’s fortunes. Those comments [...]
World Cup star Catt hangs up his boots May 4, 2010 WORLD CUP-winning legend Mike Catt will bring an end to his glittering playing career when he makes a final appearance for London Irish against Northampton on Saturday. The 38-year-old versatile back made over 300 club appearances for both the Exiles and Bath in a career spanning 18 years, while also winning 75 caps for England [...]
Low-flying Falcons knock boss Bates off his perch May 4, 2010 NEWCASTLE have sacked boss Steve Bates after narrowly avoiding relegation in another disappointing season at Kingston Park. Victory over Sale 12 days ago secured their Premiership status but, with the Falcons lying 10th ahead of Saturday’s final fixture of the campaign, was not enough to save Bates. Bates said: “I’m disappointed at the outcome of [...]