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Statistics |
| Unique Visitors: 5 |
| Total Unique Visitors: 221269 |
| Visitors Out: 526 |
| Total Visitors Out: 526 |
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| Leinster grab the spoils |
| 2008-09-19 20:13:06 |
Leinster won the clash of the reigning Magners League and EDF Energy Cup champions as Felipe Contepomi and Isa Nacewa kicked the league title holders to a hard-earned 19-13 win over the Ospreys in Dublin on Friday. The RDS was thronged to see two of the league's top teams put their early-season unbeaten records on the line and it was a defensively-sound Leinster who came up trumps with Contepomi and Nacewa kicking 14 points between them. However, come May, Leinster could look back and rue the last minute of this game when they allowed Nikki Walker to barge through for a try which James Hook brilliantly converted from the left touchline, to salvage a bonus point for the Ospreys. Sean Holley's side, showing 12 changes from last week's win over Glasgow, lost Sonny Parker to a training g...
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| Biarritz rocked by Dax |
| 2008-09-19 19:46:33 |
Dax, who last week claimed their first away wi in the Top 14 in eight years, went one better on Friday, beating Biarritz handsomely 30- 18. The Landais thoroughly deserved their victory, but there are worrying signs for Biarritz that last season's rot is not yet out of the system. The visitors offered very little, perhaps believing they merely had to turn up and do simple things to win. Possession was frittered away with some atrocious kicking, and the discipline was awful. Referee David Rosich was perhaps a little over-zealous regarding players going off t......
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| Biaggi set to Return to Aprilia for Superbike World Championship |
| 2008-09-19 19:13:25 |
Max Biaggi, who won three of his four world 250 GP titles with Aprilia, is set to return to the Noale-based company to ride the Aprilia RSV4 in the Superbike World Championship in 2009 and 2010. Rome-born Biaggi had a successful period with Aprilia between 1991 and 1996, winning three world titles in the 250 GP class, which included 23 GP wins and 37 podiums."It was our......
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| Dragons’ delight in Ulster |
| 2008-09-19 18:34:54 |
Ulster slipped to a third straight defeat, as the Dragons claimed their first victory of the Magners League season at Ravenhill on Friday, winning 16-14. The home side dominated the opening exchanges, going close on a couple of occasion before former Irish flanker Kieron Dawson opened the scoring on 11 minutes. Dawson went around the blindside of the lineout to touch down under the posts and Australian full-back Clinton Schifcofske converted. Dragons' James Arlidge opened the visitors' account with a penalty after 19 minutes, awarded following an infringement by Ulster at the lineout. Arlidge cut Ulster's lead to a point after 30 minutes when he slotted over his second penalty from just inside the home side's half. Ulster could not turn their pressure into points and allowed the Dr...
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| Edinburgh bounce back |
| 2008-09-19 18:28:59 |
Edinburgh shook off the hangover from two defeats in two games at the start of the Magners League to thump the Scarlets 32-12 at Murrayfield on Friday, securing a bonus point into the bargain. Andy Robinson's troops had gone into battle with two defeats to their name, while the visitors had won all three of their tussles. But the recent records counted for nothing in a one-sided contest in which the Gunners bagged a precious bonus point. They exploded into action from the start and had the Welsh outfit under the cosh for virtually the entire first half. They rattled up 15 points - but it should have been more, as winger Mark Robertson emerged as the hero and villain. Stand-off Phil Godman broke the deadlock in the 18th minute with a regulation penalty. And Edinburgh's superiority,...
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| Bad boy Fava the transgressor |
| 2007-11-30 09:59:16 |
Quokka Shocker: Scott Fava feels the heat The RugbyWA (Rugby Western Australia) misconduct committee have fined Western Force players Scott Fava and Richard Brown as the Rottnest Island saga continues to take new twists. The RugbyWA disciplinary hearing reconvened Thursday night, after further and serious allegations were made about the mistreatment of quokkas by Force players at Rottnest Island last Friday, November 23, during a pre-season training camp. After considering these further allegations and taking further statements from players and witnesses, the committee determined that Fava and Brown had breached the Western Force serious misconduct protocol. The committee found that both players had been drunk in public, behaved anti-socially and inappropriately handled quokkas. The...
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| How Low is ROCK BOTTOM? |
| 2007-11-30 09:57:50 |
I’ve never been a New York fan for anything. The Yankees seem to dump tons of money at players so they are always contenders, while it’s not fair to small market teams, it is business. The Knicks (back in the Ewing days) were always a rough team (I think they secretly wanted to be like the Detroit Bad Boys) but it was the kind of grit that was used in pursuit of championship basketball. Enter Isaiah Thomas. I’ve never seen such a bunch of heartless, spoiled bums in my life. No I’m not talking about the season ticket holders, I’m talking about the “team” of professional athletes they put on the court every night. A season ago some of these players bought into Isaiah’s “wisdom” and were blindly coaxed into the Dever Brawl. Well afte...
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| Liverpool’s Kuyt: Babel Can Become Premiership Sensation |
| 2007-11-30 09:46:51 |
Liverpool striker Dirk Kuyt believes summer-signing Ryan Babel can become Premiership ‘sensation’. Of late, Babel, who joined the Reds during the summer from Ajax for £11m fee, is showing the full array of his talent and his masterly finish off a move set up by skipper Steven Gerrard in the 3-0 win at Newcastle United last weekend, has earned from his fellow Dutch international a lavish praise. Babel, who has been dubbed by Dutch team team manager Marco Van Basten as “the next Thierry Henry”, had been recently urged by Reds boss Rafa Benitez to give more and the 20-year-old versatile attacker is warming up to fire on all cylinders. Kuyt said in the Liverpool Echo: “I think Ryan can be a sensation in the...
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| Kiwis sweat on Ioasa injury |
| 2007-11-30 09:46:27 |
Twisted knee: Tafai Ioasa New Zealand coach Gordon Tietjens is sweating o n the fitness of his captain Tafai Ioasa, who withdrew on the eve of the opening round of the International Rugby Board (IRB) Sevens World Series, in Dubai, with an injury. Ioasa, who twisted his knee when landing awkwardly in training, may also be out of the second leg - in South Africa next week. After missing six of last year's eight tournaments with a knee injury, Ioasa has started the new season by injuring his other knee. "The funny thing was we never had the ball, he was just competing in the team's line-out and twisted his knee," Tietjens said. "He wasn't being tackled, just coming out of a line-out so it was quite a freakish accident really." Ioasa did some medial ligament damage which could be enoug...
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| Fergie happy to help England’s hunt |
| 2007-11-30 09:39:46 |
Twenty-four hours after it was confirmed Ferguson would be among a hand-picked group of football men FA chief executive Brian Barwick would talk to over hiring Steve McClaren's successor, the United boss accepted he had a part to play. There might be a certain irony in such a fiercely patriotic Scot speaking on St Andrew's Day about helping England but, after 21 years as United boss, Ferguson knows his experience can prove invaluable as Barwick begins the hunt for a man who can restore the fortunes of a national team who so miserably failed to reach Euro 2008. "Obviously, I will try to help the situation," he said. "A lot of people want to do that because it is important to our game that England get the right man to replace Steve and try to drive the team on. "It is not easy to get international managers. It is not an easy job and it is not an easy selection process. "No-one at the FA has spoken to me and I don't know if they will or not but there is nothing wrong with them askin......
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| Mariners post big losses |
| 2007-11-30 09:39:01 |
Grimsby Town chairman John Fenty remains confident about the club's future, even after the Mariners posted an annual trading loss of over £250,000 for the year ending May 2007. To add to the League Two club's financial woes they also paid more than £500,000 in planning costs for their proposed new stadium.However, Fenty is upbeat about the future, telling the Evening Telegraph: "In terms of football perspective, the club believes its actions contributed to a change in fortunes for the team, protecting jobs, incomes and the club's existence."Stadium relocation costs have been substantially more than was budgeted for due to protracted difficulties encountered with the planning process."Despite the results, achieving outline planning consent for the new stadium allows the directors to remain positive about the club's future." ......
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| Collins tips Fletch to sign up soon |
| 2007-11-30 09:34:44 |
Fletcher looked to be on his way out of Easter Road when his agent revealed last week that the youngster had told Collins of his intention to leave. But rather than depart in January, the 20-year-old is poised to sign a new deal to replace an existing contract which runs until 2011. Collins, who urged Hibernian to award Fletcher a pay rise, said: "I have had a chat with Steven and he's made it clear he wants to stay at the club because he is enjoying his football here. "Hopefully we'll have some good news on him in the next few days with regards to a contract extension." Hibernian accept the Scotland Under-21 striker will eventually move on, and achieve his career ambitions elsewhere. But Collins said: "He has to leave at the right time. There's no rush because he's still a young lad developing his game and he knows that." ......
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| Pools admit their guilt |
| 2007-11-30 09:34:25 |
Hartlepool United have pleaded guilty to an FA charge of failing to control their players in the October defeat to Brighton. A fracas erupted when the Seagulls grabbed a stoppage-time winner in the Victoria Park clash.Both clubs were charged with failing to ensure their players and/or officials conducted themselves in an orderly fashion.Pools pleaded guilty to the first charge, but not guilty to the second while Brighton denied both charges.The clubs have requested personal hearings at a date to be arranged. ......
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| Darren Bent Hails Tottenham’s European Nights |
| 2007-11-30 09:32:55 |
A fighting 3-2 victory over Danish side Aalborg BK in last night’s UEFA Cup clash, according to striker Darren Bent, showed Tottenham Hotspur’s mettle. Spurs, who had struggled earlier in the season, are unbeaten in all competitions under manager Juande Ramos after taking charge from Martin Jol late last month. Summer-signing Bent, who came on at half time when Spurs were down 2-0 at White Hart Lane, said on the club’s official website: “We did not get off to the best of starts after going 1-0 down so early but we showed what we were all about in the second half and got the result. “All season we have looked like we were always going to score goals but obviously the gaffer is working hard on trying to keep them out at the other end as well. “We showed what we were capable of ...
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| Ferguson won’t fight FA charge |
| 2007-11-30 09:29:10 |
Ferguson was sent to the stands by referee Mark Clattenburg at Bolton, which centred around Ferguson's belief that the official had allowed the hosts to get away with far too many unfair challenges. One tackle by Kevin Davies on Patrice Evra infuriated Ferguson, prompting a finger-jabbing rant as Clattenburg entered the tunnel at half-time. Ferguson spent the second period in the directors' box alongside United's legal advisor Maurice Watkins and was duly charged by the FA with using 'abusive and insulting words towards a match official'. United have been given until December 11 to respond but Ferguson will not bother. "We will just accept it," said the Scot, who may receive a fine or touchline ban. While Ferguson will now await his punishment he is unrepentant about his grievance over Clattenburg's performance, adding that refereeing standards were 'slipping' within the English game. Although the Scot openly admitted he had not attended a pre-season briefing for managers by......
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| Ron in running for world player gong |
| 2007-11-30 09:22:01 |
The Manchester United winger will vie with AC Milan's brilliant Brazilian Kaka, who is the favourite, and Barcelona magician Messi for the accolade which will be handed out at FIFA's world player gala in Zurich on December 17. Each national team manager and player is given a vote. None of the trio have won the award or even been shortlisted before and it has never been won by a Premier League player. Italian defender Fabio Cannavaro is the current holder of the award. French midfielder Zinedine Zidane and Brazilian striker Ronaldo both won it three times, while Ronaldinho has won the award twice. In the women's award, Brazilian duo Cristiane and current holder Marta have both been shortlisted along with Germany's three-time winner Birgit Prinz. ......
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| Arsenal’s Van Persie Not Close: Wenger |
| 2007-11-30 09:21:55 |
Arsenal striker Robin van Persie apparently has suffered a setback in his recovery from a knee injury and as such is still “two or three weeks” from gaining full fitness. The 24-year-old, who last played for the Gunners on October 7, was injured playing for the Netherlands later in the month and was said to be out of action for up to six weeks. Gunners boss Arsene Wenger was hopeful Van Persie would be back for last weekend’s game with Wigan. But the injury has not healed sufficiently and it could be for the festive period that is likely to see the former Feyenoord man back in action. “Van Persie is out. It will be two or three more weeks,” said Wenger, who will take his side to Aston Villa for Saturday’s Premiership clash. He added: “Ther...
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| F1: Hamilton tops practice 2 - Brazil |
| 2007-10-19 21:26:07 |
Championship leader Lewis Hamilton beat title rival Fernando Alonso to the fastest time in Friday afternoon practice at Interlagos. Despite the looming prospect of a post-session visit to the stewards to find out if he will be penalised for using too many sets of wet tyres earlier on, Hamilton set the fastest time by 0.122 seconds when both McLarens tried the softer Bridgestones in the final minutes. The Ferraris only managed third and fourth places. After the rain that affected first practice, only a few damp areas remained when the second session began. A few drivers experimented with intermediate tyres initially, but once Mark Webber had gone quickest by 2.6 seconds on dry tyres, the rest of the field swiftly follo...
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| Prac One: First blood to Raikkonen |
| 2007-10-19 21:24:45 |
Kimi Raikkonen drew first blood in the three-way fight for this year's World title in Brazil on Friday morning. The Finn, who faces a tough task making up the seven points to Championship leader Lewis Hamilton at the Interlagos circuit on Sunday, got his preparations off to the best of starts. The Finn was fastest in Friday's first wet practice session, with his team-mate Felipe Massa right behind him on the timesheets. As for Raikkonen's McLaren rivals - they struggled. Hamilton could only manage P5 while Fernando Alonso didn't set a time at all. Report: Formula One's newboy Kazuki Nakajima was the first out on track, spending the better part of 15 minutes lapping alone before he was joined by Jarno Trulli and Adrian Sutil. A few clean laps from...
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| England inspired by Churchill |
| 2007-10-19 21:19:45 |
Never Say Never: Phil Vickery, Brian Ashton and Mark Regan face the press England coach Brian Ashton has revealed that he has received a good luck message from British prime minister Gordon Brown featuring a rousing quotation from Sir Winston Churchill. Unfortunately, when quizzed, Ashton couldn't remember the exact wording, but 'never have so few shocked so many' - a contortion of one of the great statesman's most famous phrases - would neatly sum up the mood if England were to beat South Africa tomorrow in the World Cup Final. After all, England were beaten 36-0 by the Springboks in the pool phase. South Africa have scored 33 tries to England's 12 during the tournament. And they have Bryan Habana, rugby's most lethal finisher. England, however, h...
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| Drogba regrets comments |
| 2007-10-19 21:19:13 |
Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has issued a statement saying he regrets quotes attributed to him suggesting he wants to leave Stamford Bridge. The Ivory Coast international was one of the players most affected by Jose Mourinho's departure last month and told France Football he was hoping to move to a new club.He said: "I have reached a stage where I feel I have nothing to prove here. I must go elsewhere."It took me a while to love Chelsea. But now the time has come to do something else."My decision is taken. Nothing could keep me here. I know that Ronaldinho and Kaka could come here next season but that will change nothing in what I want, because something has broken with Chelsea."However, on Friday evening, in a statement on the club's official website, Drogba said: "On reflection, I regret making the comments I made in a recent interview."I am a Chelsea player and will be 100 per cent committed and supportive to my manager, my team-mates and the club."I will not be discussing my future any further until I meet privately with the club at the end of the season." ......
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| Schumi happy on his sofa |
| 2007-10-19 21:08:41 |
A year on from retiring from Formula One at the end of last year's Brazilian Grand Prix, Michael Schumacher will be sat comfortably on his sofa watching the denouement to this season's championship. It was at Interlagos last October that Schumacher produced one of the drives of his career, only to fall short in his bid to win an eighth world title as he lost out to Fernando Alonso. As advisor to Ferrari, Schumacher has flitted in and out of grands prix during the course of the season. But on this occasion he has decided not to visit Sao Paulo for Sunday's Brazilian Grand Prix. "The World Championship finale in Brazil will be a great battle," said Schumacher. "I think back to the tension a weekend like this one brings to a driver, and to be honest I...
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| ‘Lewis could learn from losing the title’ |
| 2007-10-19 21:03:28 |
In a strange twist, Sir Jackie Stewart has come out and said that it may actually benefit Lewis Hamilton if he loses this year's title. Hamilton, who is racing for the World title at this weekend's Brazilian GP, stands a great chance of becoming the first ever F1 rookie to win the crown. The McLaren driver is four points ahead of his team-mate Fernando Alonso while Kimi Raikkonen is a further three points adrift. However, Hamilton's already lost out on one shot at winning the title when he retired from the previous race, the Chinese GP. And therefore the McLaren rookie is by no means guaranteed this year's Championship. And if he doesn't win it, Stewart believes may it will be for the better in the long run. "It wouldn't be the end of the world if ...
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| IRB turns to Lapasset |
| 2007-10-19 21:03:27 |
Lapasset: 'It is important that we continue to capitalise on the World Cup's success' French Rugby Federation (FFR) president Bernard Lapasset has been elected International Rugby Board (IRB) chairman, succeeding Dr Syd Millar, who did not seek re-election at the interim meeting of council held in Paris on Friday. The council also re-elected former England captain Bill Beaumont for a second term as IRB vice-chairman, while a new executive committee was also elected. Lapasset was a key figure behind France's successful bid to host the 2007 Rugby World Cup and, in his capacity of chairman of the organising committee, has played an instrumental part in the delivery of the most successful World Cup in history. He will serve a minimum four-year term, with his chairmanship starting on the...
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| Lewis and Alonso in buddy act |
| 2007-10-19 20:49:34 |
Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton put on an unsettling display of solidarity and sociability ahead of Sunday's Formula One world title showdown. In the main media conference to preview the Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos, the two McLaren rivals acted as if their past few months of feuding had never taken place. Let us not forget the bitter bust-up after qualifying in Hungary, Hamilton questioning Alonso's loyalty to the team in the wake of the spy scandal, and the Spaniard's accusations of favouritism. The assembled press corps and photographers, crammed into a small amphitheatre off the media centre, had perhaps expected animosity to bristle between the two. Instead, Hamilton and Alonso laughed and joked at times, and you had to wonder whether there has been a thawing in rela...
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| Hamilton eyes World double |
| 2007-10-19 20:34:10 |
Lewis Hamilton will roar on England's rugby stars on Saturday before flying the flag in his Formula One title decider than less 24 hours later. World Cup holders England have defied the odds to reach this year's final in Paris where they take on South Africa. As for Hamilton, after blowing his first chance of becoming the first rookie and youngest driver to clinch motor sport's biggest prize, he is determined not to make the same mistake twice. Ahead of Sunday's showdown at the season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix, the 22-year-old remains favourite to wrap up the Championship. And if he can do so after watching Brian Ashton's men lift the World Cup, that would make his weekend even sweeter. "It would be one of the best times for our country," rem...
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| Drogba backs down over quit talk |
| 2007-10-19 20:31:35 |
The star frontman shocked the club on Thursday when he said he wanted to quit the club in an interview with France Football magazine. But, in a massive climbdown, he now regrets making his views public. Drogba, who scored 33 goals last season, claimed "something was broken" at Chelsea following Jose Mourinho's departure and revealed he wanted to follow the Portuguese coach out of Stamford Bridge. New boss Avram Grant steadfastly refused to make any comment on Drogba's controversial remarks at the club's pre-Middlesbrough media gathering today - insisting he wanted to speak with the Ivory Coast forward first. Drogba has now issued a statement saying he "regrets" making his comments and would like to sit down and discuss his future at the end of the season. Drogba declared: "On reflection, I regret making the comments I made in a recent interview public at this time. "I am a Chelsea player and will be 100% committed and supportive to my manager, my team-mates and the club. "I will not be discussing my future any further until I meet privately with the club at the end of the season." The statement came after a day in which Chelsea were on the back foot over the player's remarks. The club pulled him out of a press launch for a charity song on which he and team-mate Michael Essien had contributed backing vocals, insisting they did not want a positive cause to be overshadowed by questions about his future. Both players were both due to promote an anti-racism song called 'Skin' with singer Ian Wills directly after Grant's pre-match media gathering for their away game at the Riverside. But fearing Drogba would be quizzed incessantly over his interview, Chelsea removed him from the line-up leaving Essien and Wills to promote the single without him. The club are hoping the player's climbdown, almost certainly the result of a meeting between Grant and Drogba after training today, will go some way to quelling any further dressing-room unrest. Grant had earlier said: "I have not seen him yet. I need to do that first. It is internal business. "I cannot tell you anything until I speak with him. Basically I don't like to speak about players in the paper, I like to discuss it with them. "I have read many things that were not true, because I was on the inside, about problems in the dressing room. "Now you know there was no problem in the dressing room until now and I hope it will continue like that. This attitude has brought us good results in a very difficult time. "I am very happy with the atmosphere and the attitude of the players until now and I am sure that it will continue." ......
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