Record tumble as Nadal shows clay-court class April 18, 2010 RAFAEL NADAL became the first player in Open era history to win the same tournament six years in a row after cruising to victory in the Monte Carlo Masters. The world No3 showed his dominance on the clay by thrashing fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco 6-0, 6-1 in just one hour, 27 minutes to claim his [...]
SPORT | IN BRIEF April 18, 2010 Wolves face Giants again RUGBY LEAGUE: Holders Warrington will take on Huddersfield in a fifth round re-run of last year’s Challenge Cup final. The Wolves overcame first division Featherstone 48-24, while the Giants claimed an impressive 40-12 victory over fellow Super League side Hull KR. Full draw: Barrow v Hunslet, Crusaders v Catalans, Dewsbury/Bradford v [...]
WINNERS & LOSERS April 18, 2010 A WEEKEND is a long time in sport, as this lot will attest. But while for some it was a few days to remember, others may wish they had never set foot out of the house. MANCHESTER UTD Could it have gone any better? Paul Scholes’ injury-time goal gave Sir Alex Ferguson’s men victory in the [...]
Work underway to re-lay Wembley for the 11th time April 18, 2010 WORK on Wembley Stadium’s 11th new pitch began yesterday. The much-maligned surface came under criticism after last week’s FA Cup semi-finals, before then hosting the Premiership rugby union match between Saracens and Harlequins on Saturday. Wembley chiefs are preparing the stadium for a number of end-of-season games this month, including the FA Cup final between Chelsea [...]
Title failure puts Wenger at crossroads April 15, 2010 WHEN Arsene Wenger rejected Real Madrid’s overtures last summer he conceded that this season would be make-or-break for his Arsenal team. Five years had already passed since he last hoisted the Premier League trophy aloft, and he was under pressure to prove that his unstinting faith in the likes of Denilson, Manuel Almunia, Nicklas Bendtner [...]
Losing Soane is a blessing in disguise April 15, 2010 THE long, drawn-out Soane Tonga’uiha transfer saga finally reached its conclusion yesterday, and I have to say it’s turned out to be a bit of a blessing in disguise for us. Although I had nothing to do with the agreement between CEO’s to allow Tonga’uiha to remain at Northampton, I was entirely happy with the [...]
Schu: Don’t write me off yet April 15, 2010 MICHAEL SCHUMACHER insists he can still challenge for an eighth World Championship title despite a stuttering start to his comeback season. The 41-year-old has come out of a three-year retirement to return to Formula One this year, but his Mercedes has been off the pace in the opening three races of the season. Schumacher began [...]
Surrey line up Lara return April 15, 2010 SURREY are lining up an audacious bid to lure West Indian batting legend Brian Lara out of retirement to play Twenty20 cricket this summer. Lara, 40, has been netting with the county at The Oval this week and is currently locked talks with Surrey director of cricket, Chris Adams, and chief executive Paul Sheldon over [...]
Rooney and Cesc eyeing elite April 15, 2010 WAYNE ROONEY is hot favourite to join a select band of players honoured at this year’s Professional Footballers’ Association awards. The Manchester United striker, 24, has been rewarded for his 34 goals this season by being nominated for both the PFA Player and Young Player of the Year Awards. Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas, 22, is [...]
Chelsea raise ticket prices April 15, 2010 CHELSEA have raised ticket prices for next season, in a move that goes against the grain of their major rivals. The hike, averaging around four per cent, ends four years of price freezes at Stamford Bridge and is borne out of an acceptance that they must increase matchday revenue if they want to achieve their [...]