Quins fined and Williams banned for ‘faking injury’ July 20, 2009 HARLEQUINS winger Tom Williams was last night banned for 12 months and the Premiership club hit with a £215,000 fine for faking a blood injury. Williams and the club were found guilty of fabricating a cut to his mouth during a Heineken Cup quarter-final against Leinster on 12 April. The apparent injury allowed Quins to [...]
CRISTIANO GIVEN A RON FOR HIS MONEY July 20, 2009 CRISTIANO RONALDO failed to live up to his world record £80m fee on his Real Madrid debut last night against Shamrock Rovers. The Portuguese winger, who moved from Manchester United earlier this month, made little impact as Real struggled to a 1-0 win in Dublin. Another summer signing, French striker Karim Benzema, spared the Spaniards’ [...]
Cink sinks Watson fairytale July 19, 2009 WILY Tom Watson tried cheering up the downbeat Turnberry crowds after his Open heartache last night, by reminding them: “This ain’t a funeral you know.” The 59-year-old missed the chance to clinch a fairytale sixth Open title after missing an agonising six-foot putt on the final green. Clearly drained, he then wilted to a six-shot [...]
Luck deserted Tom and Lee when they needed it most July 19, 2009 HAD Tom Watson holed that putt on 18 to reclaim the Claret Jug after 26 years, it would have, without doubt, been the greatest sporting achievement of all time. Driving home from Turnberry last night, the enormity of what Tom had achieved still hadn’t really hit home – and I’m sure the great man himself [...]
Swann still confident despite Aussie fightback July 19, 2009 SPINNER Graeme Swann insists England remain favourites to clinch the second Test at Lord’s today, while preventing Australia from blasting their way into the record books. Chasing a first Ashes victory at Lord’s in 75 years, the hosts moved into cruise control after reducing the Australians to 128-5 at one stage – still 403 short [...]
City continue Terry courtship July 19, 2009 FOOTBALL: The Premier League last night confirmed it had received no official complaint from Chelsea over Manchester City’s public pursuit of John Terry, despite City boss Mark Hughes continuing the chase yesterday. Chelsea are angry with City’s courtship despite having a £30m offer turned down last week. And Hughes continued yesterday by saying: “He’s a [...]
Khan happy to fight ‘friend’ Ricky July 19, 2009 BOXING: Newly-crowned WBA light-welterweight champion Amir Khan says he would happily fight his “friend” Ricky Hatton in order to further his career.The 22-year-old is being lined-up to take on ‘The Hitman’ after easing to a unanimous points win over Andreas Kotelnik on Saturday night. “We’re good friends, but business is business. In Britain, I think [...]
Contador leads, Wiggins third July 19, 2009 CYCLING: Spaniard Alberto Contador outgunned rival Lance Armstrong on the final climb to Verbier to win stage 15 of the Tour de France and reclaim the yellow jersey. He now leads seven-time champion Armstrong by 1min 37secs in the overall standings with six stages remaining, while Briton’s Bradley Wiggins, who finished fifth on the stage, [...]
Jimenez in charge as wily Watson rolls back the years July 16, 2009 FIVE-TIME champion Tom Watson rolled back the years with an scintillating opening round 65 to take him to within a shot off the overnight night in the Open Championship. Just two months short of his 60th birthday, the American renewed his love affair with the Turnberry course with five birdies in a bogey-free round to [...]
Chelsea get Terry boost but Cole injury setback July 16, 2009 CHELSEA and England midfielder Joe Cole will miss the club’s pre-season trip to America after suffering a setback in his recovery from a knee injury. Cole had hoped to return to first-team action next month, shortly after the start of the new Premier League season, but now looks likely to be out until September. The [...]