Mentor Gooch is praised as Essex boys make a stand May 14, 2009 BATTING hero Alastair Cook heaped praise on team-mate Ravi Bopara after the Essex pair put the West Indies to the sword at the Riverside. Both men scored centuries but it was Bopara who stole the headlines after becoming only the fifth England batsman ever to score three successive Test tons. The pair put on 213 [...]
Briatore: F1 row must be solved ‘at all costs’ May 14, 2009 RENAULT boss Flavio Briatore insists a solution to the row over new rules for 2010 must be achieved “at all costs” when F1 chiefs meet for crisis talks in London today. Toyota, Red Bull, Ferrari and Renault have all vowed to quit the sport at the end of the season unless plans for a voluntary [...]
Rooney’s on a revenge mission to claim title and silence Arsenal fans May 14, 2009 WAYNE ROONEY will be gunning for revenge at Old Trafford tomorrow – to end seven years of hurt. The England striker has called on his Manchester United team-mates to finish the job and earn the single point required against arch-rivals Arsenal to clinch an 11th Premier League title. To win the title in front of [...]
THE INSIDER May 14, 2009 According to the forecasts, there’s going to be quite a bit of rain at Newbury before the start of the Lockinge Stakes. If that’s the case then a number of horses can enter the equation for this interesting Group 1 renewal. Paco Boy would have been my first choice after his convincing display at Sandown [...]
Carrick strike brings United within reach May 13, 2009 SIR ALEX FERGUSON insisted he will not be taking Arsenal lightly on Saturday despite needing just one point to be crowned Premier League champions. Michael Carrick’s winner four minutes from time handed United a hard-fought victory over brave Wigan, meaning Ferguson’s men need just avoid defeat against the Gunners to clinch a record-equalling 18th itle. [...]
Gerrard surprised but happy at player of the year honour May 13, 2009 LIVERPOOL’S trophy charge may seem destined to end fruitlessly but captain Steven Gerrard’s efforts have not gone unrewarded after he was voted Footballer of the Year by writers. Gerrard, 28, saw off competition from PFA Player of the Year Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney – both of Premier League champions-elect Manchester United – in the [...]
Arsenal chief backs Wenger ahead of shareholder grilling May 13, 2009 ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger will face disappointed shareholders today – but goes into the meeting with a ringing endorsement from club chiefs. Wenger is due to attend a question and answer session in which the Frenchman’s failure to win a trophy for a fourth year in succession is sure to be scrutinised and dissected. Another [...]
McGeechan lined up for Scottish role with his Wasps days looking numbered May 13, 2009 LIONS coach Ian McGeechan is being lined up to take over as director of rugby at National One newcomers London Scottish after being edged out by Wasps. The dethroned Premiership champions are set to announce the end of McGeechan’s four-year tenure at the club later this week – just days before the 62-year-old embarks on [...]
SPORT IN BRIEF May 13, 2009 McIlroy: Ryder Cup unimportantGOLF: Northern Irish prodigy Rory McIlroy has dismissed the Ryder Cup as “an exhibition”, insisting it scarcely matters to him whether he makes the Europe team for next year’s event. “It’s not a huge goal of mine,” said the 20-year-old. “It’s an exhibition at the end of the day. In the big [...]
Renault follow Ferrari with quit threat May 13, 2009 RENAULT have joined Ferrari in threatening to abandon F1 if controversial plans to introduce a voluntary budget cap are imposed next season. Several leading teams fear the optional nature of the £40m cap will create an unfair two-tier competition and damage the appeal of the sport. Ferrari, the oldest and most glamorous team, went public [...]