Crazy market is Man City’s fault – Benitez July 9, 2009 LIVERPOOL manager Rafael Benitez has slammed mega-rich Real Madrid and Manchester City for forcing up transfer prices with their money-no-object policies. Real have shelled out around £200m this summer and plan to spend more, while City, backed by Sheikh Mansour, reportedly offered Barcelona striker Samuel Eto’o wages of £250,000 per week. And Benitez blames such [...]
We’ll rediscover winning formula, insists Hamilton July 9, 2009 WORLD champion Lewis Hamilton believes it’s only a matter of time before his McLaren team rediscovers its winning formula. The Surrey-based team have endured a dismal opening half of the F1 season, picking up just 13 points from the first eight races. But Hamilton, who lines up for this weekend’s German Grand Prix a full [...]
THOR BLIMEY July 9, 2009 BRITAIN’S David Millar was denied victory in the sixth stage of the Tour de France after being chased down with less than 2km left in Barcelona. The Scot was just held back in the climb for the finish at Montjuic, leaving Norway’s Thor Hushovd (above) to race through and record his seventh stage victory ahead [...]
Green in front at Loch Lomond July 9, 2009 GOLF: Australian left-hander Richard Green fired a seven-under-par 64 to take a one-shot lead into the second round of the Barclays Scottish Open at Loch Lomond. Four players; home favourite Martin Laird, Irishman Paul McGinley, England’s Graeme Storm and Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano, of Spain, trail Green by a shot with another Australian, Adam Scott, a further [...]
Heart attack killed Montcourt July 9, 2009 TENNIS: Tragic French player Mathieu Montcourt, who was found dead at his Paris flat earlier this week, died of a heart attack, tests have revealed. The 24-year-old, who was ranked 119 in the world, also returned negative toxicology tests in the preliminary autopsy, his spokespeople said. Montcourt was discovered on Monday in the stairwell of [...]
Moore leads Doctor home July 9, 2009 HORSE RACING: Doctor Fremantle produced a timely finish to claim the Princess of Wales’s Blue Square Stakes at Newmarket. Ridden by champion jockey Ryan Moore, the 8-1 shot wore down long-term leader Schiaparelli to score a half-length victory with Alwaary finishing third. Meanwhile, unbeaten 7-4 favourite Arcano produced a storming finish to out-muscle Orpen Grey [...]
Wildcats chase freed Newton July 9, 2009 RUGBY LEAGUE: Wakefield Wildcats are favourites to sign Great Britain international hooker Terry Newton after Bradford Bulls decided to release him at the end of the Super League season. Speaking of the 30-year-old, Wildcats coach John Kear said: “We’d love to secure his services and with any luck we will do. He’s obviously a gifted [...]
Sarries book Wembley date July 9, 2009 RUGBY UNION: Saracens have landed a coup after moving their second Guinness Premiership match of the season against Northampton Saints to Wembley Stadium on 12 September. Wembley, which hosts the Challenge Cup final every year, has a capacity of 90,000 compared to Sarries’ Vicarage Road home in Watford, which holds 19,900.
Ponting and Katich have tons of fun as Aussies revel July 9, 2009 AUSTRALIA batsmen Ricky Ponting and Simon Katich both hit centuries as the tourists regained the upper hand on day two of the first Ashes Test in Cardiff. Captain Ponting (100 not out) recorded his 38th Test century and Katich (104 n.o.) his first Ashes ton to guide the Aussies to 249-1 in reply to England’s [...]
It’s Australia’s game to lose but there’s still a lot to play for July 9, 2009 SOMETIMES in Test match cricket you just have to hold your hand up and applaud your opponents when it just isn’t your day. Ricky Ponting showed just why he is regarded as one of the best batsmen of the modern era with a tremendous innings, backed up by a patient knock from Simon Katich. England [...]