Sharks freeze out Quins again to keep last eight hopes alive December 20, 2009 SALE kept alive their hopes of qualifying for the Heineken Cup quarter-finals with a second victory over Premiership rivals Harlequins in the space of a week in the driving snow at Edgeley Park. Victory moved the Sharks to second in Pool Five, a point behind Toulouse, while the Quins are already eliminated after four straight [...]
It’s high fives for Swann as brave England show fight December 17, 2009 SEAMER Graham Onions has warned his England team-mates there is plenty of hard work left to do after the tourists battled back to leave the first Test with South Africa delicately poised at a sun-drenched Centurion. The Durham paceman recovered from a calf strain on the opening day to take 3-86 as he and five-wicket [...]
Wounded Castres are here on a Euro revenge mission December 17, 2009 KICKING INTO TOUCH WITH BRENDAN VENTER THE good news was our performance and result at Castres last weekend has left us on the verge of qualifying for the quarter-finals of the Challenge Cup. The bad news is we have to do it all again tomorrow night. Toulon’s 70-point mauling of Rovigo means we will probably [...]
Walder puts the boot in to see off French threat December 17, 2009 BAYONNE (3) vs WASPS (12) FLY-HALF Dave Walder kicked all 12 points as Wasps preserved their 100 per cent European Challenge Cup record with an efficient, yet unspectacular, victory over French side Bayonne. Walder kicked three penalties and a drop goal while the hosts replied through a Cedric Garica spot-kick. Wasps were forced to play [...]
Bosses round on ‘moaning drain’ Wenger December 17, 2009 PREMIER League managers last night rounded on “moaning” Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger following his latest outburst on weakened sides and fixture congestion. Stoke City boss Tony Pulis accused Wenger of “moaning like a drain” after the Gunners chief hit out over Wolves’ decision to field a second-string side at Manchester United on Tuesday night. Then, [...]
Reds to face tough Euro tie December 17, 2009 LIVERPOOL face a tough Europa League tie in the last 32 after Uefa confirmed they will not be seeded for today’s knockout stage draw. Poor goal difference in their Champions League group means Rafael Benitez’s men miss out on being named as one of the top 16 seeds, along with Everton and Fulham. It means [...]
Ferdinand: I’ll be fit for the World Cup December 17, 2009 INJURY-PLAGUED England centre-back Rio Ferdinand has moved to dismiss claims that he is struggling to be fit for next summer’s World Cup. The Manchester United defender, 31, has been out of action since October with a calf injury, raising doubts as to whether he regain sufficient match fitness to make Fabio Capello’s squad for the [...]
Fabregas injury is not long-term, insists Arsene December 17, 2009 aARSENAL boss Arsenal Wenger has allayed fears over Cesc Fabregas’ hamstring injury, insisting the problem is not long-term. The Spaniard limped off in the first half of Arsenal’s 1-1 draw at Burnley on Wednesday night and was immediately ruled out of tomorrow’s clash with Hull City at the Emirates. But Wenger insists Fabregas’ injury is [...]
Moyes’ youthful Everton just December 17, 2009 EVERTON (0) vs BATE (1) EVERTON boss David Moyes saw his young side come up just short against Belarusian champions BATE Borisov as the Toffees ended their group stage campaign with a narrow home defeat. Moyes made nine changes from the side which drew 3-3 at Chelsea on Saturday in the knowledge his side had [...]
SPORT | IN BRIEF December 17, 2009 Gayle blows Aussies away CRICKET: West Indies captain Chris Gayle smashed the fifth-fastest century in Test history to lead his side’s recovery in the third Test with Australia in Perth. Gayle smashed 102 from just 70 balls as the Windies closed on 214-2 in response to Australia’s 520-7 declared. It capped an incident-packed day which [...]