Durham on top as pink ball takes effect March 31, 2010 IAN BLACKWELL and Scott Borthwick both took three wickets as county champions Durham closed in on victory after day three of their floodlit county season opener with an MCC XI in Abu Dhabi. Durham declared their second innings on 228-6 thanks to an unbeaten stand of 125 between Callum Thorp (79no) and Kyle Coetzer (52no). This gave [...]
Davis Cup won’t affect funding March 31, 2010 TENNIS: Funding for the Lawn Tennis Association will not be reduced despite the embarrassing Davis Cup defeat to Lithuania last month. An All-Party Tennis Group report criticised the governing body for a lack of performance this week, but Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe confirmed the £26m investment will continue. “[We need to] help address some of [...]
Olympic squad set to rise to 500 March 31, 2010 OLYMPICS: Great Britain look set to be represented by their biggest ever Olympic squad when the Games come to London in 2012. Subject to funding approval, Olympic chiefs hope a squad of over 500 athletes will turn out for Team GB – an increase on the 311 sent to the Beijing Games in 2008. “We [...]
Gosling faces nine-month lay-off March 31, 2010 FOOTBALL: Everton’s young midfielder Dan Gosling is out for up to nine months after rupturing a cruciate knee ligament during Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Wolves. The 20-year-old was hurt in an accidental clash with Wolves keeper Marcus Hahnemann. Everton physio Mick Rathbone said: “Our worst fears have been confirmed.”
HANNON’S SHAMWARI LODGE CAN PAY FOR ALL THE EASTER EGGS March 31, 2010 THE weather is threatening to cause problems with racing over the Easter period with this afternoon’s Wincanton card an early waterlogged casualty. However, Kempton Park stages the Listed Snowdrop Fillies Stakes on Saturday in which the Richard Hannon trained SHAMWARI LODGE looks the one to be on. Our selection rounded of last season with a [...]
the INSIDER March 31, 2010 WITH no racing on Good Friday we had three small cards to look at today. However, Wincanton was abandoned yesterday and it’s possible that Folkestone may go as well, so keep an eye on oddschecker.com to make sure that the meeting is still on. Harlech Castle is bidding for a four-timer in the 3.40pm and [...]
UNITED CAN STRIKE TITLE BLOW WITHOUT ROONEY March 31, 2010 MANCHESTER UNITED vs CHELSEA SATURDAY, 12.45PM SKY SPORTS 1 THIS has been the closest Premier League title race for a number of years and a win for either of these sides would make them hot favourites to go on and land the crown. United comfortably saw off Bolton at the Reebok last weekend, while Chelsea’s [...]
Nation holds its breath as Rooney hit by injury scare March 30, 2010 BAYERN MUNICH V/S MANCHESTER UTD ENGLAND’S worst World Cup fears were in danger of being realised last night after Wayne Rooney limped off in agony with an ankle injury. The 33-goal striker had to be helped off the field deep into injury time following a collision with Bayern’s Mario Gomez in the build-up to Ivica [...]
Wenger waits until 11th hour for Cesc March 30, 2010 ARSENAL V/S BARCELONA ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger will take the unusual step of waiting until tonight’s pre-match warm-up before deciding whether captain Cesc Fabregas is fit enough to face Barcelona. Wenger conceded yesterday that Fabregas, who has not trained since suffering severe bruising to his leg and knee at Birmingham on Saturday, is unlikely to [...]
Villa scotch O’Neill quit rumours amid talk of boardroom bust-up March 30, 2010 ASTON VILLA last night dismissed reports that Martin O’Neill had quit as manager of the club amid claims of a bust-up with owner Randy Lerner. Earlier reports suggested O’Neill had clashed with Lerner over his transfer budget for next season and opted to end his four-year spell at Villa Park. O’Neill’s odds to be the [...]