Kevin McCarra, page 10 ≥ Alan Henry, page 13 ≥ Screen...

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when the situation demanded and founda strong man. Hoggard, meanwhile,offered a reprise of his compelling bowl-ing that helped to win Tests in Bridgetownand at The Wanderers, with a devastatingspell of four for four in 19 balls, in additionto catches dropped at slip, by Flintoff ofall people, and — oh, dear — by GeraintJones. As the pair trudged happily fromthe field, with an arm round the shoulderof the other, it offered a reflection on thebowling of Steve Harmison, who, with theexception of one angry over to Langer onSaturday, in which he harassed and thendismissed the left-hander, has page 2 ≥

Owen’s crash courseNewcastle strikerfaces ugly truthKevin McCarra, page 10 ≥

Chunder wonderMartin Kelner on atechnicolour trendScreen Break, page 20 ≥

Matthew Hoggard is mobbed after dismissing Adam Gilchrist to start a burst of four for four in 19 balls as England take control at The Oval Tom Shaw/Getty Images

tumultuous of all series began, was theunthinkable. Helped yesterday by a duvetof thick cloud that hovered over The Ovalall day, reducing the light at times tosepulchral, they will resume this morn-ing, in what promises to be better condi-tions, knowing that a solid, dedicated bat-ting performance, without frill or frippery,will be sufficient to see the fifth and finalTest to a draw and the Ashes secured.

This series, though, has seen so manytwists and turns that the idea should besold to Alton Towers and called Flintoff’sFury. It will not be over until it is and thereis much work for England to do before the

open-top bus can be dusted down for itsride through the city. Bad light preventedany play yesterday after around a quarterto four, with 54 overs lost. The sight of23,000 spectators, some of whom havepaid a small fortune for tickets, willing theplayers from the field , then offering a roarof approval and a standing ovation whenthey did go is one of sports more bizarreimages. By then Marcus Trescothick andVaughan had taken England’s secondinnings to 34 for one, Andrew Strauss hav-ing been caught at short-leg from ShaneWarne’s fourth ball, the 21st of the innings.

Remarkably, given the powerful posi-

tion carved out for Australia by the cen-turies of Justin Langer and Matthew Hay-den, it gives England an overall lead of 40.Australia, circumstance forcing them tobat in poor light, had been bowled out for367 by Andrew Flintoff’s thunderboltsand the yeoman Matthew Hoggard’stimely charge as he shouldered theresponsibility of leading the attack.

Flintoff was formidable, bowlingunchanged at great pace throughout themorning session and into the afternoon toadd four more wickets to that of RickyPonting on the third evening, his first five-wicket haul against Australia at a time

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23,000 cheer as bad lightrestricts Australia

First Ashes victory for 18 years well within reach

Mike Selvey The Oval

Inch by inch, yard by nail-biting yard,Michael Vaughan and his young team arecrawling towards what, when this most

England’s day of destiny dawns

| 12.09.05 | guardian.co.uk

Raikkonen ralliesSpa success keepsMcLaren man in huntAlan Henry, page 13 ≥


2 The Guardian | Monday September 12 2005

The Ashes

Flintoff defies normallaws of probability to tear Australia apart

Richard WilliamsThe Oval

In the days when he was the beleagueredand much-lampooned chairman of Eng-land’s selectors, Ted Dexter used to saythat he wanted not just talented cricketersbut players who took their game withthem on to the field. “Ian Botham cer-tainly did that,” he said. “One or two,sadly, leave it in the dressing room.” Ifanother point of comparison betweenBotham and Andrew Flintoff wereneeded, there it is.

Hyped to the heavens as this summer’sAshes series approached, Flintoff hasspent the last seven weeks responding tothe build-up by justifying every lastsound-bite and column inch. And yester-day, pushing every sinew to its limit, hedelivered his finest performance just atthe moment when it was most urgentlyrequired.

Flintoff thundering in from the pavil-ion end yesterday was quite simply thesight of the summer. Or rather of the earlyautumn, since the sky was the sickly greyof a Trafalgar Square pigeon’s breast andthe air still felt damp and chilly from thestorms of the previous two nights. If Aus-tralia felt like complaining about the needto bat in such conditions, they had only toremember that they were responsible forgetting themselves into a position fromwhich they needed to save the series.

Who would have imagined, with themen in green caps starting the day at 277for two, that their remaining eight wick-ets would fall for a mere 90 runs in twoand a half hours of play? Probably onlyFlintoff, to whom the normal laws ofexpectation and probability do notapply.

Like Botham, Flintoff takes thefield with the unshakeable beliefthat he can bend the course ofevents to his will. Yesterday, in part-nership with the wholly admirableMatthew Hoggard, he destroyed theinnings with which the Australianshad hoped to dash England’s dreamsand reverse the destiny of the se-ries.

All summer England’s four pacebowlers have provided the team’swinning hand. Steve Harmisonhammered the Australia batsmen onthe first morning at Lord’s, Simon Jonesexposed their vulnerability to reverseswing at Old Trafford, and Hoggard finallyfound the conditions at Trent Bridge tohelp him move the ball in the air. Flintoff,meanwhile, chipped in with wickets hereand there, notably undermining the con-fidence of Adam Gilchrist, widely toutedas Australia’s potential match-winner, bydismissing him twice in the openingencounter.

Various combinations have done the

job at different times, offering MichaelVaughan a range of options unavailable toany of his predecessors. Perhaps onlyClive Lloyd and Viv Richards enjoyed asimilar capacity to maintain the pressureon their opponents through rotating theindividual members of a pace quartet. Butin this match things have been different,and the unavoidable absence of Jones —besides preventing England from namingthe same XI for every match of the series— upset the carefully nurtured balance ofthe quartet.

Without Jones, England went into thismatch without the bowler best equippedto finish off an Australian innings. At OldTrafford they had failed to break the finalpartnership after the Welshman left thefield with an injury, having taken six wick-ets in the first innings. His absence here,and the decision to replace him with PaulCollingwood, meant that somebody in thepace attack was going to have to do thework of two men.

To no one’s surprise, yesterday thatturned out to be Flintoff. After an indif-ferent start to the series in the defeat atLord’s, where he scored nought and threeand took two wickets in each innings, thePreston colossus has exerted an increas-ing influence. His seven wickets pinnedAustralia back at Edgbaston and his mar-vellous first-innings century at TrentBridge, including a sixth-wicket partner-

ship of 177 with Geraint Jones, putEngland in position to take the lead in theseries.

Here on Saturday, with the score on 264for one, he had checked Australia’s drivetowards a massive total by forcing RickyPonting to prod the ball into the hands ofAndrew Strauss. Yesterday he resumedwith a no-ball, his 61st of the series so far— not, in this instance, an indication of atechnical problem, but simply of a bowlerpushing his effort to the maximum andoverstretching as a result.

He bowled unchanged throughout theremainder of Australia’s innings, deliver-ing 14.2 overs between 10.30am and1.45pm at a cost of 30 runs and taking fourof the eight wickets. His figures of five for78 were his best of the series. But it wasthe timing of the three wickets he took inthe morning session that set the Aus-tralians on the road to collapse.

It began after 11 minutes of play withDamien Martyn trying to turn a Flintoffdelivery round the corner from just shortof a length, finding the ball hurrying on tohim and watching it loop into the handsof Collingwood, running in from squareleg. Already Australia had suffered a blowto their hopes of building a total fromwhich Shane Warne could launch anattack on England’s suspect self-confidence.

Flintoff’s fortunes appeared to take adip when he failed to hold on at secondslip to a catch from Michael Clarke’s out-side edge off Hoggard’s bowling, anuncharacteristic miss to go with his fail-ure, in the same position, to hold on to amuch simpler chance offered by GlennMcGrath during Australia’s second inningsat Lord’s. With the light the way it was inmid-morning yesterday he might as wellhave been trying to catch swallows. In thequarter of an hour before noon, however,he made amends.

Matthew Hayden and Simon Katichboth got their pads in the way of straightballs of fullish length and saw RudiKoertzen raise the decisive finger.Hoggard pitched in with the wickets ofGilchrist and Clarke either side of lunchand then, having beaten Warne outsidehis off stump with three balls in a row,Flintoff persuaded the leg-spinner to lofta shorter ball high to deep mid-on, whereVaughan juggled the catch before hold-ing on.

Flintoff and Hoggard, who polishedoff the innings by dismissing Brett Lee

and McGrath, operated together for anhour and a half, and not since the days ofTrueman and Statham could Englandhave enjoyed such profit from Yorkshireand Lancashire in fast-bowling harness.The way each man visibly relished theother’s successes is a significant trait ofthis team, and the one from which otherscould learn a valuable lesson. What Sven-Goran Eriksson would give for players socommitted to each other’s welfare, sounited in their understanding of theirduty, and so steeped in the belief that,given the necessary degree of talent, unselfish toil is the basis for success.

What he would give, in fact, for aFlintoff — and a Hoggard, and a

Vaughan, and the rest.

England’s day of destiny dawns≤ page 1 been lacklustre on a pitch thathas suited him in the past and ought tohave done so again. Vaughan afforded himonly two overs yesterday and that wassufficient.

At what point, though, can England feelsafe today given the expected decentweather? They will be playing on a pitchthat has entered its fifth day and was, inany case, a day ahead in its preparationaccording to Strauss, the first innings cen-turion, so Warne can be expected to throwat England all the tricks he possesses inwhat for the last four matches, sinceGlenn McGrath trod on the ball and turnedhis ankle, has been virtual singlehandedpursuit of salvation for his side. But cru-cially he will be allowed the backing ofMcGrath and Brett Lee, who betweenthem, and with the bit between theirteeth, are capable of tearing England asun-

der. With so much at stake no batsmanwill feel totally at ease with his position.

The other point to ponder is just howmany runs and at what rate would it befeasible for Australia to chase. These arefast-scoring times in any case, where fourto five runs per over is becoming the normin Test cricket. But should England batuntil tea, taking perhaps 60 of the 98 oversremaining, then they ought to have a leadof around 230. Even then they might feeltwitchy, despite the absence of therestrictions on fielding or the number ofovers an individual can send down thatpertain in one-day matches. Thereremains of course, the least likely butnonetheless tantalising thought thatEngland might themselves win.

The change that came over the com-plexion of the game yesterday shot downin flames all the Saturday evening theo-

ries regarding Australia’s strategy forsecuring the win that they require so des-perately. Bat on was the thrust of the first,ensure a hefty lead and then place Eng-land under the sort of pressure that sawthem to the brink of defeat in the fourthTest at Trent Bridge before they sneakedhome. The second idea, more radical andtaking no account of the potential for los-ing more time to the weather, had it thatPonting would actually get a bit closer toEngland, in double quick time, thendeclare behind, before letting Warne looseon a deflated side, with the failsafe of hav-ing some time at the end to chase downany slender target there might be. Thescenario that no one had anticipated wasthat they might tend towards the lattercourse by virtue of losing their last sevenwickets for 44 runs.

Flintoff and Hoggard seized the day for

Vaughan, snatching the initiativefrom Australia that had beenestablished by Langer’s skilled,and for him, carefree hundredand Hayden’s gritty grafted 138,an innings out of bully-boy charac-ter. At 277 for two overnight, adeficit of 96, small beer itseemed on this pitch, thebedrock was there forthem but none was ableto build on it further.

Vaughan chose not to take the new ballimmediately it became available, and itserved him well, Flintoff pounding infrom the pavilion end and forcingDamien Martyn to scoop inelegantly to

square-leg. Flintoff’s triumphantbull-bellow rent the air.

England had to wait formore than an hour beforethe key wicket fell, how-ever, and once more itcame from Flintoff, whofound movement withthe second new ball andcaught Hayden halfforward and, after

almost seven hours at the crease, indisputably leg-before wicket, Simon Katichfalling in similar fashion in

Flintoff’s next over.

Andrew Flintoff gives full vent to his emotions at The Oval yesterday after collecting his

The sky had a sickly greylight but the Australiansonly had themselves toblame for having to bat

Australia will needmore miraclesfrom Shane Warnetoday if they are toprevent Englandfrom winning the Ashes


The Guardian | Monday September 12 2005 3

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By now Vaughan had settled onHoggard rather than Harmison as the foilto Flintoff and he began to find themovement that is essential for his success,removing the greatest threat of acounterpunch when he had AdamGilchrist lbw to an inswinger for thesecond time in two innings.

England had the sniff of a lead althoughMichael Clarke, given lives on three and23 by Flintoff and Jones respectively,either side of lunch, was holding thingstogether. Hoggard, though, caught Clarkein front to gain the fourth lbw decision of the day, leaving things open for himselfand Flintoff to tidy up. If tail-endresistance has characterised the series,then not so yesterday: Warne was terrorised out by Flintoff, andHoggard swept up McGrath and Lee,which was no less than he deserved.

David Hopps The Oval

Don’t complain to the English about rainand bad light. Australians just don’t knowwhat it’s like, dragging yourself out of bedon a gloomy November morning, makingthe best of it at dreary summer fetes, orwatching the rain pelt down on everyAugust bank holiday since records began.

Australia might have had four days oftormented sky gazing, but we’ve had alifetime of it. One sunny day causes ahosepipe ban. Suggest a barbecue and it’sa fair bet that you will end up shelteringin the garage. Scale a Lake District peakand you can’t see a thing from the top.Should England regain the Ashes with aleg-up from a few hours of bad light itwould not be the height of good fortune,it would be what we bloody deserve.

Never has English cricket’s love-haterelationship with the weather been cele-brated so bizarrely as at The Oval yester-day. Never have cheers rung out so re-soundingly for sides leaving the field be-cause the umpires, Rudi Koertzen andBilly Bowden, had ruled that the light wasnot good enough. Never have so manypeople been so content to watch so little.A couple of wonderful hours of AndrewFlintoff in full flow had been entertain-ment enough for their 50 quid. Give thema full day and they would probably haveasked for refunds.

The first retreat came with England onseven for one — and, at that time, theywere batting so restively against ShaneWarne that it was not only the score butthe odds on an England escape. Releasecame with the help of an 80mph bouncerfrom Glenn McGrath to Michael Vaughan,which must be a contender for the moststupid ball ever bowled in Test cricket.The realisation that he was now officiallyslow enough to bowl in bad light mighthave been too much for McGrath to bear.

Bowden trailed McGrath back to hismark with a white-faced lecture; Vaughan,after managing a single from the next ball,wasted no time in haranguing Bowden inreturn. Australia were instructed to takeMcGrath off, but in no time Bowden wasrunning his finger across his throat toKoertzen to communicate that either thecricket or Bowden was not long for thisworld.

It all became so incongruous that hun-dreds of England supporters raised um-brellas to con the umpires that there wasdrizzle in the air. Australians respondedby stripping off T-shirts and basking inimaginary sunshine. When England’s sec-ond innings was interrupted for the firsttime in the posh seats they were openingbottles of champagne. When the Aus-tralians returned for a second brief pas-sage of play, they did so in dark glasses.

Channel 4 displayed a version of thebad-light law that tried to suggest that theumpires had got it wrong. They weremoved more by a healthy desire to see agreat series reach a magnificent conclu-sion, rather than any dismay at collapsingviewing figures, but they were mistaken.Law 3.9 allows the umpires to offer thelight whenever they deem that conditionsare “not suitable.’’ In such cases, laterclauses about safety become entirelysuperfluous.

Koertzen laid down the law while Bow-den was probably going through relax-ation techniques: “If it is dangerous withthe quicks on, that is when we give thefielding side the option to put the spin-ners on,’’ Koertzen said. “If that becomes

unfair then we will take them off the field.In the case of spin bowlers we give them alot more leeway, but when it gets to thestage when it is unfair then we offer thelight to the batsmen. You can lose the balleven when it is bowled slowly.’’

The fact that it is not dangerous doesnot come into it when Shane Warne istossing up a leg-spinner into such gloomthat the batsman might as well be lookinginto a coal cellar. If you want it differentlythen risk the wrath of the local residents’association, and play Test cricket, whennecessary, under floodlights.

Even in the field, England were makingit clear that it was so dark that they wouldnot dare to take the dog out. Soon aftertaking the new ball, Flintoff marchedcheerily past umpire Koertzen and asked:“Can you put some lights on the bails? Ican’t see ’em. I don’t know where I’mbowling.’’

A ball flashed past Ashley Giles at gullyand he signalled for a helmet. Ian Bellblinked theatrically on the cover bound-ary after a near-catch bounced up andstruck him on the knee. The tiniestdroplet of water on the new ball causedthe skipper, Michael Vaughan, to dry the

‘Can you put somelights on the bails?I can’t see them’

What the law says

Law 3(9): Suspension of play foradverse conditions of ground,weather or light(b) If at any time the umpirestogether agree that the condition ofthe ground, weather or light is notsuitable for play, they shall informthe captains and — unless (i) inunsuitable ground or weather condi-tions both captains agree to con-tinue or to commence or to restartplay, or (ii) in unsuitable light thebatting side wish to continue or tocommence or to restart play — theyshall suspend play or not allow playto commence or restart.(d) If at any time the umpires agreethe conditions of ground, weather orlight are so bad there is obvious andforeseeable risk to the safety of anyplayer or umpire, so that it would beunreasonable or dangerous for playto take place, then notwithstandingthe provisions of 9(b)(i) and 9(b)(ii)above, they shall immediately sus-pend play.

How England’s innings unfolded1.55pm Begins2.22pm Stoppage for bad light 2.40-3pm Early tea taken3.10pm Resumes3.42pm Stoppage for bad light

No resumption

Scoreboard

England v Australia

England: First innings 373Australia: First innings (overnight from Friday 112-0)

R M B 4s 6sJ L Langer b Harmison 105 234 146 11 2Pitched off, straightenedM L Hayden lbw b Flintoff 138 415 303 18 0Inside edge on to top of stump via thigh*R T Ponting c Strauss b Flintoff 35 81 56 3 0Surprised by extra bounce, steered to gullyD R Martyn c Collingwood b Flintoff 10 36 29 1 0Feeble pull to square-legM J Clarke lbw b Hoggard 25 119 59 2 0Nipped back, hitting legS M Katich lbw b Flintoff 1 12 11 0 0Pitched leg, straightened†A C Gilchrist lbw b Hoggard 23 32 20 4 0Swung into pads, hitting legS K Warne c Vaughan b Flintoff 0 19 10 0 0Spooned pull to mid-on, juggling catchB Lee c Giles b Hoggard 6 22 10 0 0Swung to deep midwicketG D McGrath c Strauss b Hoggard 0 6 6 0 0Thick-edged drive to second slipS W Tait not out 1 7 2 0 0Extras (b4, lb8, w2, nb9) 23

Total (107.1 overs) 367Fall: 185, 264, 281, 323, 329, 356, 359, 363, 363

Bowling: Harmison 22-2-87-1; Hoggard 24.1-2-97-4; Flintoff 34-10-78-5; Giles 23-1-76-0; Collingwood 4-0-17-0.

England: Second inningsR M B 4s 6s

M E Trescothick not out 14 60 38 0 0A J Strauss c Katich b Warne 1 18 7 0 0Half-forward, bat-pad to short-leg*M P Vaughan not out 19 41 35 2 0Extras 0

Total (for 1, 13.2 overs 35Fall: 2.

To bat: I R Bell, K P Pietersen, A Flintoff,P D Collingwood, †G O Jones, A F Giles,M J Hoggard, S J Harmison.Bowling McGrath 5-0-13-0; Lee 1-1-0-0;Warne 5.2-0-15-1; Clarke 2-0-6-0. Umpires: B F Bowden and R E Koertzen.

Glenn McGrath returns to the field in sunglasses Mike Finn-Kelcey/Reuters

ball with a rag and a put-upon air. Theircase was hardly helped by the fact thatMatthew Hayden, eyes like saucers, wasseeing the ball properly for the first timethis summer.

The retired umpire Dickie Bird, watch-ing back home in Barnsley, must havereckoned that things had changed sincehis day. He never had the luxury of wavinghis light meter to cheers. He got so muchstick that he would slip it out of hispocket surreptitiously and try to take areading when nobody was looking. Hewas once roundly abused when he walkedaround the concourse during a bad-lightstoppage in a Headingley Test. “And whatmade it worse,’’ he said, “I weren’t evenumpiring.’’

Andrew Straussheads back to the pavilion

fifth wicket by inducing Shane Warne to loft a catch to Michael Vaughan Hamish Blair/Getty Images



The Ashes

‘There’s still the small matter of Mr Warne to contend with’Lawrence Booth The Oval

You could hardly blame him, given thecircumstances, but for one brief momentlast night Matthew Hoggard allowed him-self to dream. “To bring home the Ashes,it’s going to be fantastic,” he said. “Notonly for us but for every sport. DavidBeckham’s been talking about the Ashes.Football talking about cricket! It’s neverhappened.”

Like everyone else, Hoggard was wellaware that a possible 98 overs still standbetween England and cricket’s answer tothe Promised Land, but his mentalleapfrog to around 6.30 this evening wasan indication of the confidence within theteam ahead of the final chapter of thegreatest Test narrative of them all.

When he was not losing himself in thekind of sweet reveries that will occupy theminds of the nation for most of today,Hoggard was doing his best to keep his

feet firmly on the ground. England leadby 40 runs with nine wickets in hand, andtempting fate is not a national character-istic, let alone one found in Yorkshire.

“It’s by no means over,” he said. “We’replaying the best in the world, and there’sthe small matter of Mr Warne to contendwith. We know we’re up for a big fight. Weknow they’re going to come out at us hard.We know they’ve got one last chance tokeep the Ashes. We’ll be looking to bat [along] time and put some runs on the boardand hopefully not have to bowl again.”

As ever, Hoggard was modest about hisown achievements, bumbling amiably

about putting the ball in the right areas ashe picked up four for four in 19 balls tohurry England into an unlikely first-innings lead, their fourth in succession.But he had effusive words for the effortsof his team-mates, in particular AndrewFlintoff, who at times has single-handedlymade up for the absence of Simon Jones.

“Sometimes losing players brings outthe best in people and brings the teamcloser together. The bowling efforts todayand over the series have been fantastic. Tolose Simon Jones and see Fred bowl 15overs — who would have thought Fredwould bowl all those overs on the trot? It’sunbelievable, a Herculean effort. Every-one’s put their hands up and wants to winthe Ashes.”

For John Buchanan, Australia’s coach,it is a scenario that hardly bears thinkingabout. “We’ve always got a chance.Obviously only having 98 overs makes it alittle bit more difficult, but I know ourplayers are keen and ready to go.

“England’s approach will be to keepwickets in hand and force the draw. Ourtactics will be to take wickets early andkeep the runs down. If we do that, whoknows? As we’ve all seen, there have beenplenty of twists and turns and I’m surethere’ll be a bit more turning tomorrow.”

Buchanan refused to criticise theumpires, Rudi Koertzen and Billy Bow-den, for offering England’s batsmen thelight, but defended Shane Warne andRicky Ponting, who were reluctant toleave the field for a second time at 3.45pm.

“What would you expect? Players arein a situation where they are playing avery competitive series and have to leavethe field. Everyone wants to stay on thefield, unless you’re the batting side.”

Nor did he blame the murky conditionsfor Australia’s collapse of seven for 44. “I[give] great credit to Flintoff.”

Australia desperately need what Hog-gard called “another twist in the tail”. Itwould take a brave soul to bet against it.

Lawrence Booth The Oval

The word from the Australian camp onSaturday evening, with the scoreboardreading 277 and pregnant with potential,was that they were looking forward toexploiting England’s four-man, SimonJones-less attack. Not for the first time thissummer, they got it wrong. What theyactually came up against yesterday morn-ing was a two-pronged assault. It was ledinevitably by Andrew Flintoff and moresurprisingly by Matthew Hoggard. But inthe gloom that hung over Kennington allday, Steve Harmison was nowhere to beseen.

The Oval was supposed to be the Testwhere Harmison reminded everyone thathis hit-and-miss form since the first Testat Lord’s was the exception not the rule.It was here two years ago that he launchedthe second, destructive part of his Testcareer with a series-levelling four for 33against South Africa. And it is here thatthe ball traditionally bounces more than

anywhere outside Perth. A point seemedcertain to be made.

The problem is that this series has con-founded expectation at every turn, and soit proved again. Flintoff’s thunderingpresence at the pavilion end went with-out saying, of course, but at the Vauxhallend Vaughan was forced to shove somedifferent-sized tokens into the slot untilhe hit the jackpot.

The answer was not Ashley Giles, whoopened with Flintoff and bowled twosteady but unthreatening overs. Initially,at least, it was not even Hoggard, who waswithdrawn after three overs despite hav-ing Michael Clarke dropped at second slipby Flintoff. And it certainly was notHarmison, who was pulled comfortablyfor four and then waved to the outfieldafter two wasteful overs.

But with half an hour to go beforelunch, Vaughan turned to Hoggard oncemore and the game swivelled on its bear-ings. When Brett Lee swung him high andnot-so-handsome into Giles’s hands atcow corner, Hoggard had taken four wick-

ets for four runs in 19 balls and Englandhad obtained one of their more remark-able first-innings leads. He might neverbowl a more incisive spell again.

The morning symbolised all that hashappened to England’s two openingbowlers since Lord’s, where Harmisontook eight for 97 and inflicted almost asmany bruises, while Hoggard chipped inless menacingly with three for 96. Sincethen, like Australia and England, their for-tunes have first crossed, then headed inopposite directions.

This has seen Hoggard collect 13 wick-ets at an average of 29, Harmison nine at50. If England players talk of coming to theparty, then Hoggard has entered with abottle of bubbly at the very momentHarmison is heading home for a cocoa.

England’s handling of Hoggard has re-flected well on the man-managementskills of Vaughan and Duncan Fletcher. Hewas given only 56 overs in the three Testsbefore Trent Bridge, where he respondedby making the ball wobble to pick up fivewickets. Yesterday, conditions suited his

80mph swingers once more and theresponse was similar. Two moments inthe spotlight, two star turns. And in theabsence of Simon Jones, his performancehere was even more impressive.

The same cannot be said of Harmison,who has generally dropped shorter as thesummer has gone on and in this game hasbeen pulled at leisure. At Lord’s he im-mediately located the spot which the NewZealand coach John Bracewell last sum-mer referred to as “international length‚”where batsmen are unsure whether tostay back or go forward. But since then thetendency of the Australian batsmen hasbeen to linger on the back foot and waitfor the next bouncer.

Harmison has had his moments sincethe first Test — notably the slower ball todismiss Clarke on the third evening atEdgbaston, and Michael Kasprowicz’svital brushed glove the next morning. Butas a spearhead he has been gradually worndown. Hoggard has bided his time andwaited to strike. Slower but steadier hasindisputably won the race.

Hoggard’s steam steals Harmison’s thunder

Police make arrest after death threats sent to Australians

Yesterday at The Oval

Shot of the day

Matthew Hayden scratched andclawed his way to a century over daystwo and three, but looked morefluent on the fourth morning. Hisstraight drive off Matthew Hoggardyesterday was as aestheticallypleasing as his innings got, justshading his pull to the boundary offSteve Harmison.

Ball of the dayHoggard’s penchant for timelywickets continues. By removingAdam Gilchrist and Michael Clarkeeither side of the lunch break, themop-haired fast bowler proved thatstatistics do not always tell the story.Though his average may be inferiorto others in this series, he hasconsistently claimed key wickets atcrucial junctures.

Boiling pointThe blood of the English fans withthe fall of each Australia wicket. Soheated had The Oval become,officials might have consideredshutting down the nearby gasometerfor fear of ignition.

Biggest surpriseAustralia’s capitulation. Anythoughts of a glorious innings victoryfor the tourists were dashed by theloss of eight wickets in barely morethan a session. Just when youthought the series could not possiblytake another turn, it hit a chicane.

Surely not, umpire?Poor light was always going to be anissue and the crowd certainly hadtheir take. When not putting upumbrellas, chants of “It’s so dark it’sunbelievable” and “Singing in therain” reverberated around The Oval.

Man of the dayAndrew Flintoff. In the battle forman-of-the-series honours, Flintoff’sremoval of Shane Warne was apoignant moment. And the fact thatit sealed a five-wicket haul might justhave prompted the engravers to startwork on the series trophy.

Stat of the day86 for eight. By running through theAustralia line-up on the fourth morn-ing, Flintoff and Hoggard eroded anyhopes the Australians harboured ofbatting once and setting England animposing total.

Spectator of the dayDavid Grace, 28, from Isle of Wight“We’ve all come as Richie Benaud’sgolden girls today. We play for theCHS Old Boys from the Isle of Wightand we’ve had a good season thisseason. So we’ve alldecided to comedown here andcelebrate Richie,because he’sbeen a big partof everyone’slives for years.He’ll bemissed.”

Alex Brown The Oval

Three senior Australia players receivedemailed death threats around the time ofthe Trent Bridge Test and, according tosources close to the team, were genuinelyconcerned about the incident.

A spokesman for the MetropolitanPolice confirmed that a 32-year-old manfrom Stoke-on-Trent had been arrested bythe Special Crime Directorate last Friday“in connection with making allegationswith threats to kill”. He was granted bailand ordered to report to a Staffordshirepolice station in October. No charges havebeen laid.

The threats were sent to a generic email

address at Cricket Australia’s headquar-ters in Melbourne while the players werein Nottingham. Cricket Australia officialsimmediately alerted local police inAustralia. They, in turn, informed Scot-land Yard who subsequently traced thetransmission to a private address in Stoke-on-Trent and arrested the suspect.

The three senior players identified inthe threatening email were immediatelynotified by team officials and the entireAustralia squad has been briefed on thesituation. Additional security measureshave been taken, although the teamspokespeople, including the securityofficer Reg Dickerson, would not confirmany details.

“Obviously it is highly concerning and

Cricket Australia has acted immediately,”a team spokesman said yesterday. “Thereis a procedure for dealing with thesematters and it is currently being dealt withby the relevant authorities. Given that thisis now a police matter it is inappropriateto comment any further.”

News of the death threats has worriedthe Australian players, who were narrowlyedged by three wickets at Trent Bridgeshortly after learning of the email. Priorto yesterday none had spoken publiclyabout the threats for fear of jeopardisingthe police investigation.

“We can confirm that an arrest wasmade of a man in connection with making allegations with threats to kill,”said a Scotland Yard spokeswoman.

“There were not specific threats made toan individual but it is being treated as aserious matter.”

The issue of death threats has surfacedbefore in international cricket. A chillingletter received by the England and WalesCricket Board from a group called “TheSons and Daughters of Zimbabwe”threatened the lives of England playersunless the team withdrew from its sched-uled World Cup match in Harare. Theformer Indian all-rounder ManojPrabhakar, a central figure in the match-fixing inquiry, also claimed to have beenheld up at gunpoint while driving his carshortly after blowing the whistle onallegedly corrupt players.

The Australians may well be relieved to

depart England tomorrow, having satthrough their share of security briefings after the London bombings andnow the death threats. Several players,including Jason Gillespie, expressedsafety fears after the July 7 bombings andthose concerns were heightened with thefailed second round of bombings whichcoincided with the first day of the Lord’sTest on July 21.

Shane Warne will not join the majorityof the Australian squad in returning home,pledging to play out the remainder of thecounty season with Hampshire. Otherteam members including Brad Haddin,Brad Hodge and Stuart Clark have alreadydeparted for Pakistan where they will takepart in the Australia A tour.

12.28pm Gilchrist lbw 23 1.18pm Clarke lbw 25 1.34pm McGrath c Strauss 0 1.43pm Lee c Giles 6

Four for four How unheralded seamer swung game England’s way

‘Our tactics will be totake wickets early andkeep the runs down. Ifwe do that, who knows?’



Buchanan’s grand plan good fuel for the barbie

Gideon HaighThe Oval

The Australia coach John Buchanan, in his exclusive column in yesterday’s Observer, revealed his team’s battle planfor the rest of the match in intimidatingdetail. The two days’ play remainingwould be divided thus: 30 overs to over-haul Australia’s 96-run deficit, 60 overs topile up a 300-run lead, 90 overs to bowlEngland out in plenty of time to fire up thebarbecue and enjoy a few quiet ones. “I’dsay our position is getting stronger, nodoubt,” he concluded.

This is what happened instead: Aus-tralia lost seven for 44 in 90 balls, yield-ing England a six-run lead that they hadbuilt to 40 with nine remaining wicketsby the premature close. Mystic Meg’s jobis safe; Buchanan’s looks less and less so.

Australia certainly stuck to theirscheme, Matt Hayden and Michael Clarkedeclining an offer from the umpires at11am in light barely good enough for a darksatanic mill let alone a cricket match. Thiswas another battle plan, however, that didnot survive contact with the enemy, for Duncan Fletcher and Michael Vaughanhad hatched a rival compelling in its

simplicity: 1) Keep throwing it to Fred; 2)And . . . that’s it.

It was a little more cunning than that,of course. Part of its cleverness lay in theappearance of having sacrificed a five-manattack by including Paul Collingwood forSimon Jones. Flintoff, it turned out, coulddo the work of two.

Amid Australia’s subsidence the vitalwicket, and in some ways a motif of theseries, was again that of Adam Gilchrist.Gilchrist was the key to a decisive Aus-tralian lead. His containment was theessence of England’s effort to thwart it.

Cast your mind back. Seldom can ateam have seemed so powerless as Eng-land to curb Gilchrist in 2001. Mike Ather-ton, in his autobiography, recalls sitting inEngland’s dressing room during the cor-responding Test four years ago and look-ing across at Fletcher’s clipboard with itstactical summaries of how to bowl to Aus-tralia’s batsmen: next to Gilchrist’s namewas a question mark.

By the start of this summer this mighthave straightened into an exclamationmark. Gilchrist came into the Lord’s Testwith 1,279 runs in his last 20 dismissals at62.95. Most recently against New Zealandhe had played a brand of one-manTwenty20 cricket in what was advertised,and otherwise played, as a Test series.

Yet for the last two months Gilchrist’sform has been an ellipsis. He is the spec-tacular never staged, the news story thatnever happens. Each innings has beenmuch the same: he has trailed banners tothe crease, accompanied by the flourishof trumpets that his runs and reputationdemand, then retreated not so much later

to the sound of his own feet. Only his scor-ing rate has maintained its usual headlongpace: a convivial 69 per hundred balls.Yesterday, however, was an innings of apiece with his series: a bold but brittle 23,the same as his summer’s Test average.

Flintoff, the Australian’s chief foemanthis season, had been hard at work for anhour and a half when Gilchrist came to thewicket yesterday; his first ball cut the newbatsman in half anyway. Gilchrist coverdrove four in retaliation, then waftedMatthew Hoggard through gully. ButCollingwood also reduced a certainboundary to a single with an acrobatic trapat cover, and Flintoff raised an inquiringarm, followed by an impish smile, whenhe went past Gilchrist’s outside edge inthe next over.

Gilchrist’s eagerness to attack this sum-mer has smacked more and more of des-peration. It was Hoggard who exploited ityesterday, in the same way as at TrentBridge, with a ball holding its line thatGilchrist tried impatiently to work to leg.It was a stroke of accumulated frustration,at both paucity of runs and inability tofulfil his normal team role.

The eclipse of Gilchrist, in fact, hasupset the whole balance of the Australianteam. For their top order his presence hasalways been a reassurance, like money inthe bank or petrol in the tank; he has alsoprovided someone for the lower echelonsto rally round. Without runs fromGilchrist, Australia’s batting has lackedthat core of stability. Nor have the selec-tors been comfortable about the option ofomitting a batsman for an extra bowler.

If anyone heard a tearing sound com-

ing from Australia’s dressing room afterBrett Lee holed out to cow corner yester-day afternoon, it must have been that ofBuchanan filing his latest battle plan. Theonly approach viable now was the one theAustralians have kept in a cabinet marked“in case of emergency break glass”, andapplied previously just once, in the fourthinnings at Trent Bridge: attack.

It is surprising, in fact, that battle planssuch as Buchanan’s have not already goneby the board, if only because the one Aus-tralian cricketer who has thrived this sum-mer is the one who does not indulge inanything like them, not even a jocular

“5–0”; Shane Warne’s motto, indeed, is“Expect the unexpected”.

When Warne came on to bowl thefourth over of England’s second innings,he bubbled over with lures and baits. Eventhe suncream on the end of his nose sug-gested an effort at deceit; where everyoneelse might have seen gloom, he saw sun.He also saw footmarks outside the left-hander’s off-stump freshened by thedamp and used them at once to removeAndrew Strauss, whooping it up even asthe ball looped from bat and pad.

Warne on the cricket field today is astudy in proprietorship. He places his fieldwith the same air as a baron of businesswalking through his factory or a directorstrolling round his film set. He motionsmen here and there, falls into sotto voceconversations with those who are his col-leagues and casts withering glances tothose who are not, subtly controlling thegame’s pace with every gesture. When heis not bowling, the question is when hewill; when he is, the straightforward has away of complicating exponentially.

Not even Warne, however, can masterthe weather. When the umpires took Eng-land’s batsmen off for a second time at3.45pm, he briefly masqueraded as KingCanute, standing at the end of his mark asthough he could compel the tide of play-ers and officials heading for the pavilionto return by sheer force of will.

If Buchanan mentions battle planstoday, someone should just give him asudoku and tell him to amuse himself: theAshes will be retained only by individualgenius. But that barbecue sure looks injeopardy.

Adam Gilchrist sets off for a run but Australia have needed the wicketkeeper to occupy the crease a little longer this summer with his eclipse upsetting the balance of the tourists’ batting Tom Jenkins

Gilchrist’s slump

Test career before this tourTests 68 Innings 97 Runs 4452Not outs 17 100s 15 50s 20Ave 55.65Highest score 204* v South Africa,Johannesburg 2002

Previous Tests v England 10Previous ave v England 61.18

Ashes summerFirst Test Lord’s 26 & 10Second Test Edgbaston 49* & 1Third Test Old Trafford 30 & 4Fourth Test Trent Bridge 27 & 11Fifth Test The Oval 23

Series ave 22.63 New Test ave 52.98New ave v England 44.9



XxxxxxxxxxxFootball Barclays Premiership

Forssell Heskey

Melchiot

Pennant

Cunningham Upson

JarosikClapham

Johnson

Maik Taylor

Butt

5 6 7

6

6

6

6

6 6

7 6

6

Andersen

Kishishev6

Perry7

Young6

Hreidarsson6

Powell6

Murphy6

Rommedahl6

Smertin6

Thomas6

Bent7

Birmingham City 0 (0)

Charlton Athletic 1 (1)Bent 15

Referee M Halsey 7 Attendance 26,846Possession

Birmingham Charlton

4 Shots on target 2

12 Shots off target 4

69% Passing 68%

11 Fouls 11

13 Corners 4

2 Offside 4

Birmingham substitutes Pandiani 10 Gray h-t Izzet 76.Subs not used Vaesen, ClemenceCharlton substitutes Bartlett 54 Hughes 67 Fortune 90.Subs not used Myrhe, Spector

Leading goalscorers

lge cup other total

Gerrard (Liverpool) 0 0 7 7

Cissé (Liverpool) 0 0 6 6

Bent (Charlton) 5 0 0 5

Drogba (Chelsea) 3 0 2 5

Van Nistelrooy (Man Utd) 4 0 1 5

Horsfield (West Brom) 4 0 0 4

Henry (Arsenal) 3 0 0 3

McBride (Fulham) 3 0 0 3

Rooney (Man Utd) 2 0 1 3

13 players have scored two goals

W D L F A GD Pts

Chelsea 5 1 0 11 1 10 16

Charlton Athletic 4 1 1 10 4 6 13

Manchester United 4 1 1 9 5 4 13

Manchester City 3 3 0 8 5 3 12

West Ham United 3 2 1 9 5 4 11

Bolton Wanderers 3 2 1 9 6 3 11

Wigan Athletic 3 1 2 7 5 2 10

Arsenal 3 0 3 15 6 9 9

Tottenham Hotspur 2 3 1 4 2 2 9

Liverpool 2 3 1 5 5 0 9

Fulham 2 2 2 10 7 3 8

Middlesbrough 2 2 2 6 7 -1 8

West Bromwich Albion 2 1 3 7 10 -3 7

Birmingham City 2 1 3 6 9 -3 7

Blackburn Rovers 1 3 2 3 5 -2 6

Aston Villa 1 2 3 6 8 -2 5

Portsmouth 1 1 4 4 9 -5 4

Sunderland 1 0 5 3 9 -6 3

Newcastle United 0 3 3 2 8 -6 3

Everton 1 0 5 3 14 -11 3

FormHome Away

P W D L F A W D L F A GD Pts Next three games

±Chelsea 5 3 0 0 7 0 2 0 0 3 0 10 15 Charlton (a) 17/9, Aston Villa (h) 24/9, Liverpool (a) 2/10

+ Charlton 4 1 0 0 1 0 3 0 0 7 1 7 12 Chelsea (h) 17/9, West Brom (a) 24/9, Tottenham (h) 1/10

= Man City 5 1 1 0 2 1 2 1 0 5 3 3 11 Bolton (h) 18/9, Newcastle (a) 24/9, Everton (h) 2/10

± Man Utd 4 1 1 0 2 1 2 0 0 4 0 5 10 Liverpool (a) 18/9, Blackburn (h) 24/9, Fulham (a) 1/10

± Bolton 5 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 0 4 3 2 8 Man City (a) 18/9, Portsmouth (h) 24/9, Wigan (a) 1/10

± Tottenham 5 1 1 1 2 2 1 1 0 2 0 2 8 Aston Villa (a) 17/9, Fulham (h) 26/9, Charlton (a) 1/10

+ Middlesbrough 5 1 1 1 2 4 1 0 1 3 2 -1 7 Wigan (a) 18/9, Sunderland (h) 25/9, Aston Villa (a) 1/10

= Arsenal 4 2 0 0 6 1 0 0 2 1 3 3 6 Everton (h) 19/9, West ham (a) 24/9, Birmingham (h) 2/10

+ Wigan 4 1 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 2 2 0 6 Middlesbrough (h) 18/9, Everton (a) 24/9, Bolton (h) 1/10

± Liverpool 3 1 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 5 Man Utd (h) 18/9, Birmingham (a) 24/9, Chelsea (h) 2/10

= Aston Villa 4 1 1 0 3 2 0 1 1 1 2 0 5 West Ham (a) 12/9, Tottenham (h) 17/9, Chelsea (a) 24/9

= Blackburn 5 1 1 0 2 1 0 1 2 1 4 -2 5 Newcastle (h) 18/9, Man Utd (a) 24/9, West Brom (h) 1/10

± Fulham 5 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 2 3 7 -3 5 West Ham (h) 17/9, Tottenham (a) 26/9, Man Utd (h) 1/10

= West Ham 3 1 0 1 4 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 4 Aston Villa (h) 12/9, Fulham (a) 17/9, Arsenal (h) 24/9

+ Portsmouth 5 0 1 1 1 3 1 0 2 3 4 -3 4 Birmingham (h) 17/9, Bolton (a) 24/9, Newcastle (h) 1/10

= Birmingham 5 0 0 3 1 6 1 1 0 3 2 -4 4 Portsmouth (a) 17/9, Liverpool (h) 24/9, Arsenal (a) 2/10

= West Brom 5 1 0 2 5 6 0 1 1 0 4 -5 4 Sunderland (a) 17/9, Charlton (h) 24/9, Blackburn (a) 1/10

= Everton 4 0 0 2 0 3 1 0 1 1 1 -3 3 Arsenal (a) 19/9, Wigan (h) 24/9, Man City (a) 2/10

± Newcastle 5 0 2 1 1 3 0 0 2 0 4 -6 2 Blackburn (a) 18/9, Man City (h) 24/9, Portsmouth (a) 1/10

± Sunderland 5 0 0 2 2 5 0 0 3 0 4 -7 0 West Brom (h) 17/9, Middlesbro’ (a) 25/9, West Ham (h) 1/10

Premiership

Bentley splutters in the mishmashas Bolton bypass entertainment Dominic Fifield Reebok Stadium

Bolton Wanderers 0 Blackburn R 0

Bolton Wanderers enter European com-petition for the first time in their historythis week though, if the Bulgarians Loko-motiv Plovdiv had sent spies to GreaterManchester to witness this dreary messof a game, they may struggle to rousethemselves from their slumbers to file ascouting report.

Occasions such as these make televi-sion footage of the covers on an emptysquare at The Oval seem appealing. Twoof the Premiership’s more awkward sidescancelled each other out here, the after-noon enlivened occasionally only by theundercurrent of enmity. Bolton’s chargeup the Premiership has been checked,with Blackburn departing unbeaten in thisarena in six matches stretching back to1998, but statistics offered little consola-tion from the tedium.

“Incredibly average,” conceded SamAllardyce, whose side’s system was mir-rored by Rovers with stalemate dulybreaking out. “There wasn’t much enter-tainment today but necessity overrulesentertainment and necessity’s moneythese days. You’ll keep your job by win-ning, not by going out and playing fancyfootball and losing 5–4. The object is to tryand keep your progress going, howeveryou can.”

Necessity was ugly here. Only whenDavid Bentley sprung from the visitors’bench as the hour approached did thegame flicker into life, the loanee from

Arsenal offering pace and width at last tostretch the home rearguard. Henrik Ped-ersen, a striker turned unconvincing full-back, was suddenly embarrassed withJussi Jaaskelainen conjuring a fine savefrom Steven Reid’s fizzed drive after theDane’s mistake. Yet, aside from a few jit-ters at either end as the game mercifullydribbled to a conclusion, that was asentertaining as it got.

The home supporters chorused theirdiscontent at the end though Roversdeparted relatively satisfied, their second-half strength squeezing a first away pointof the season from the fractious muddle.This fixture has a fiery reputation and,though Blackburn avoided losing a playeras they have done on three recent visits,the game’s rhythm was wrecked by theconstant shrill of Graham Poll’s whistle.

The official had little choice. The foulserupted early and were maintainedthroughout, usually to absurd protesta-tions of innocence or the occasional ago-nised dive. Allardyce was politely askedto retreat back to his dug-out at one stage,so frustrated had he become on the touch-line, while Robbie Savage was booked forrepeated dissent. That flash of yellow gen-erated the loudest whoop of celebrationthe locals mustered all afternoon.

The ill discipline at least reflected thecommitment, each side driven by a desireto disrupt the other’s attempts to build upa coherent threat. Bolton were the morelikely before the interval, exploiting rarespace down the flanks and Ryan Nelsendoing well to suffocate El Hadji Diouf’sattempt after Pedersen marauded downthe left. Then, with half-time approach-ing, Gary Speed swung a free-kick into the

area which Ivan Campo, lost by thegrounded Aaron Mokoena, leapt to nodover the bar. Thereafter the hosts wilted.

“The respect that Blackburn showed ustoday made life hugely difficult,” saidAllardyce. “We’ve done so well in the lastyear that people are coming here to stopus playing. Everything we tried to do wasstopped. Blackburn were strong in mid-field and none of my players could comeup with a flash of brilliance which couldhave just turned it in our favour. Theydidn’t let us play from start to finish, andthat’s credit to Blackburn. We’re going tohave to try and learn to cope with not hav-ing too much space in which to play.”

Plovdiv may employ similar tactics onThursday, when Bolton can ill afford toconcede the late ground they did here toRovers. The visitors might have pluckedmore than a point with Bentley busy onthe flank and Lucas Neill dragging a shotwide of an unguarded net after Jaaske-lainen’s misjudgment. Bolton survivedbut, long before the end, supporters weredrifting off into the early evening sun-shine intent on discovering whether playhad begun again at The Oval.

Curbishley revels in reflected praiseStuart James St Andrews

Birmingham City 0 Charlton Athletic 1Bent 15

If Alan Curbishley had glanced over hisshoulder during the post-match press con-ference, he would have seen Sven-GoranEriksson’s face on a television monitor.Perhaps the England manager was tryingto get his own back after Curbishley spentmuch of last week looking over theSwede’s shoulder, signalling his interestin one day taking over at Soho Square.

For the moment the Charlton managerhas other priorities, not least how he goesabout preparing his side for Saturday’stitle decider at The Valley. Curbishleysmiled at that description of the upcomingChelsea match and so he might, havingcelebrated his 600th league game incharge of Charlton with a victory thatmaintained their impeccable start: fourmatches, four wins and five goals fromDarren Bent.

It was not Charlton’s second positionin the Premiership, though, that gaveCurbishley greatest satisfaction on Satur-day, but his realisation earlier in the daythat the transformation he has overseenin 14 years at The Valley has led to a newphrase entering the footballing lexicon.

“I saw the preview of the Norwichgame on TV and everyone was talkingabout ‘doing a Charlton’,” said a beamingCurbishley. “All the clubs that come upwant to ‘do a Charlton’ and I think that’s agreat testament to us.”

Doing a Charlton is generally inter-

preted as winning promotion to the Pre-miership and then becoming establishedat that level, but the explosive startCurbishley’s side have made this seasonsuggests their profile might alter. “Aftertwo or three years in the Premiershippeople were talking about Europe for us,”said Curbishley, “but I look at the averagegates and we’re fourth or fifth from bot-tom. Certainly with our averages wageswe’re fourth or fifth from bottom.”

Curbishley has still been able to assem-ble a quality squad: this win was achievedwithout Matt Holland, Dean Kiely, Talal ElKarkouri and Darren Ambrose. “I couldeasily name another side,” said Curbish-ley. “Someone said I’ve got a bigger squadthan Chelsea; I said: ‘Yes, I have got Mour-inho’s problem, but not quite the same.’”

Curbishley and Jose Mourinho do bearsimilarities, notably their preference forthe 4-5-1 formation that Eriksson soughtto implement with such disastrous con-sequences in Belfast. “I think sometimesit’s [about] what you’ve got,” said theCharlton manager, referring to the play-ers at his disposal. “But I don’t know hownegative it is when you’ve got [Jerome]Thomas, who doesn’t really tackle, and[Dennis] Rommedahl, who definitelydoesn’t tackle, on the flanks.”

Both wide men do provide pace andtrickery, which was apparent in the 15thminute when Thomas cut inside MarioMelchiot before crossing to the back postwhere Bent headed past Maik Taylor,maintaining his record of scoring in everymatch this season.

The home side’s response was muteduntil Steve Bruce introduced Julian Graywho, with Jermaine Pennant, provided astream of quality crosses, although thefinishing was not of the same standard.Nicky Butt, Matthew Upson, WalterPandiani and Mikael Forssell all failed tohit the target with free headers.

Their profligacy tarnished the mostmemorable week of Taylor’s career, fol-lowing Northern Ireland’s victory overEngland. “It was a moment of great pridefor me; the next day I bought every news-paper and they’ve gone in the loft so thatI can show my grandkids,” said theNorthern Ireland goalkeeper. “I don’tthink I’ll ever be part of a bigger thing,but you come back and this result puts a

real dampener on everything.”Man of the match: Jermaine Pennant(Birmingham City)

53%

47%

Key

Alan Curbishley tweaks his tactics withhalf an eye on the England job

6

Friedel

Mokoena6

Reid7

Emerton5

Savage6

Pedersen6

Nelsen7

Neill6

Khizanishvili6

Matteo6

Jansen5

Okocha

6

Jaaskelainen6

Speed7

Ben Haim6

Nolan6

N'Gotty6

Giannakopoulos6

Diouf6

Davies

6

Pedersen55

Campo6

Bolton Wanderers 0 (0)

Blackburn Rovers 0 (0)

Referee G Poll 6 Attendance 24,405 Possession

Bolton Blackburn

3 Shots on target 1


65% Passing 60%

20 Fouls 18

4 Corners 4

1 Offside 1

Bolton substitutes Gardner 56 Borgetti 70 Hunt 78.Subs not used Walker, NakataBlackburn substitutes Bentley 58 Kuqi 58.Subs not used Dickov, Enckelman, Tugay

43%

57%

Robben7

Wright-Phillips6 Crespo

6

Cech6 Terry

6

Gallas6

Geremi7

Del Horno6

Essien8

Lampard6

Gudjohnsen6

6

Davis

Bassila6

Breen7

Nosworthy6

Stubbs7

Hoyte6

Whitehead7

Miller6

Arca6

Stead7

Elliott6

Chelsea 2 (0)Geremi 54, Drogba 82

Sunderland 0 (0)

Referee M Dean 7 Attendance 41,969Possession

Chelsea Sunderland

5 Shots on target 1


82% Passing 77%

14 Fouls 12

4 Corners 2

5 Offside 0

Chelsea substitutes Duff 46 Drogba 52 Cole 57•.Subs not used Carvalho, CudiciniSunderland substitutes Gray 46 Welsh 52 Le Tallec 80.Subs not used Alnwick, Robinson

55%

45%

Bent Ferguson

Hibbert

Davies

Yobo Weir

CahillValente

Kilbane

Martyn

Arteta

5 7 6

5

5

7

7

5 5

5 5

Silva LuaLua

Robert

Stefanovic O'Brien

DiaoPriske

O'Neil

VignalHughes

8 7

7

66

7

6 7

7

6 7

Ashdown

Everton 0 (0)

Portsmouth 1 (0)Ferguson 60og

Referee M Atkinson 8 Attendance 36,831 Possession

Everton Portsmouth

6 Shots on target 6


72% Passing 69%

10 Fouls 13

11 Corners 6

3 Offside 2

Everton substitutes Beattie 66 McFadden 66 Osman 66.Subs not used Wright, FerrariPortsmouth substitutes Viafara 71 Vukic 73 Karadas 79.Subs not used Westerveld, Griffin

53%

47%

Cole Vassell

Musampa

Distin Dunne

BartonMills

Sinclair

ThatcherReyna

6 7

6

77

7

6 5

4

6 6

James

Park5

Rooney7 Van Nistelrooy

6

Van der Sar7 Silvestre

5

Ferdinand6

O'Shea6

Heinze5

Smith6

Scholes5

Fletcher6

Manchester United 1 (1)Van Nistelrooy 45

Manchester City 1 (1)Barton 76

Referee S Bennett 7 Attendance 67,839 Possession

Man Utd Man City

2 Shots on target 4


79% Passing 68%

12 Fouls 21

3 Corners 5

1 Offside 3

Man Utd substitutes Keane 76 Giggs 81 Richardson 87.Subs not used Howard, BardsleyMan City substitutes Sun Jihai 72 Sibierski 72 Fowler 84.Subs not used Weaver, Onuoha

63%

37%

Shearer Owen

Bramble Boumsong

Parker

Given

Faye

4 3

6

7

4

5 5

Radzinski McBride

Bocanegra Knight

DiopC Jensen

6 7

77

6 7

6

Warner

Malbranque6

Volz6

N Jensen5

Boa Morte6

Taylor

Carr

4

6

Babayaro

Luque

4

5

Newcastle United 1 (0)N’Zogbia 78

Fulham 1 (1)McBride 13

Referee A Wiley 5 Attendance 52,208Possession

Newcastle Fulham

5 Shots on target 5


66% Passing 69%

20 Fouls 18

10 Corners 8

5 Offside 6

Newcastle substitutes N’Zogbia 35 Bowyer h-t• Clark 72•.Subs not used Elliott, HarperFulham substitutes John 70 Helguson 81.Subs not used Batista, Elrich, Christenval

47%

53%

Horsfield Ellington

Albrechtsen

Watson

Gaardsoe Clement

CarterRobinson

Greening

Kirkland

Wallwork

5 4 5

4

6

6

5

6 5

5 6

Connolly Roberts

McCulloch

De Zeeuw Henchoz

FrancisChimbonda

Bullard

BainesKavanagh

7 6

6

66

6

8 6

5

5 6

Pollitt

West Brom 1 (1)Greening 26

Wigan Athletic 2 (1)Connolly 40, Bullard 90

Referee M Clattenburg 6 Attendance 25,617Possession

West Brom Wigan

4 Shots on target 3


63% Passing 63%

17 Fouls 15

5 Corners 0

5 Offside 3

West Brom substitutes Chaplow 58 Earnshaw 71 Campbell 72.Subs not used Kuszczak, DaviesWigan substitutes Taylor 79• Skoko 89 Subs not used Walsh, McMillan, Jackson

50%

50%

Bergkamp Reyes

Pires

Cygan Touré

GilbertoLauren

Hleb

ColeFlamini

5 6

5

66

4

5 6

7

5 6

Lehmann

Boateng

6

Schwarzer6

Rochemback7

Southgate6

Parlour6

Ehiogu6

Maccarone6

Johnson6

Aiyegbeni

6

Queudrue6

Xavier6

Middlesbrough 2 (1)Aiyegbeni 40, Maccarone 59

Arsenal 1 (0)Reyes 90

Referee M Riley 5 Attendance 28,075 Possession

Middlesbro’ Arsenal

4 Shots on target 4


80% Passing 83%

18 Fouls 17

6 Corners 7

4 Offside 2

Middlesbrough substitutes Pogatetz 65 Doriva 79 Graham 90.Subs not used Jones, VidukaArsenal substitutes Fábregas 59• Van Persie 72.Subs not used Almunia, Senderos, Clichy

44%

56%

Rasiak Defoe

Stalteri

Lennon

King Gardner

CarrickLee

Davids

Robinson

Jenas

7 7 6

6

5

6

6

5 6

5 6

Crouch Cissé

Riise

Carragher Hyypia

GerrardFinnan

Luis García

WarnockHamann

7 6

5

66

7

5 6

5

6 4

Reina

Tottenham Hotspur 0 (0)

Liverpool 0 (0)

Referee H Webb 7 Attendance 36,148Possession

Tottenham Liverpool

4 Shots on target 3


77% Passing 69%

16 Fouls 12

4 Corners 4

9 Offside 7

Tottenham substitutes Keane 82 Brown 82.Subs not used Cerny, Naybet, ReidLiverpool substitutes Sissoko h-t Alonso 69 Traoré 77.Subs not used Carson, Josemi

57%

43%

The on-loan Arsenal winger cameoff the bench to add much neededspark to a dreadful contest. Healmost prompted Blackburn’s firstaway victory of the campaign withsome spirited late charges.Best moment His run down the leftand cross for Steven Reid whichforced Bruno N’Gotty to noddesperately behind.

Man of the matchDavid Bentley

Starting player and mark out of tenDenotes yellow cardDenotes red cardFirst player substitutedSecond player substitutedThird player substituted

6

6

6

6

6

6



XxxxxxxxFootball Barclays Premiership

Wenger becomes prisoner of fortuneArsenal’s Kolo Touré is forced to take evasive action as Ugo Ehiogu lunges in during Boro’s win at the Riverside Photograph: Gareth Copley/PA

Michael Walker Riverside Stadium

Middlesbrough 2 Arsenal 1Yakubu 40, Maccarone 59 Reyes 90

Around the time last Friday that ArsèneWenger was jokingly calling Arsenal “par-adise”, when referring to Thierry Henry’scontractual situation, news came in fromMoscow that the Russian government wason the verge of a deal with one of RomanAbramovich’s companies that will makethe Chelsea owner close on £8bn richer.

Around 8pm on Saturday, as Wengerwas about to take questions on this wor-rying defeat, Julio Baptista was scoring hisfirst goal for Real Madrid. As Wenger satdown, clearly vexed, these three eventsfelt pretty adjacent. Doing his best to sup-press anger, but not succeeding, Wengersaid of his club: “We are not a prisoner tonames.” It was a declaration of a footballphilosophy, and admirable, but with a sec-ond defeat of the season Arsenal had justfallen nine points behind Chelsea.

Wenger knows that every time this hap-pens the name of Patrick Vieira will cropup — as will the names of those unsigned.Here, Wenger had no Henry or Sol Camp-

bell, both injured — while Cesc Fabregasand Philippe Senderos were on the bench.Henry’s groin injury means he will alsomiss Wednesday’s Champions Leaguegame against FC Thun. Two seasons ago,when Arsenal went through an entire sea-son undefeated, Campbell played 35 of the38 games, Vieira 29 and Henry 37. Anyteam would miss such a spine.

On Saturday evening Pascal Cygan,Mathieu Flamini and Jose Antonio Reyeswere the replacement backbone. Duringthe first 40 minutes, when only the wood-work and Mark Schwarzer kept Arsenalout, Wenger’s contention that “names” donot matter could barely be faulted.

Wenger’s pass-and-flow philosophy wasoverwhelming Boro. But after YakubuAyegbeni had profited from a small rico-chet off Kolo Toure to score his first Borogoal, Arsenal had a problem — one not ofability but of stature.

Until Yakubu struck, Reyes andAlexander Hleb had teased Boro with theirpassing and imagination. “We got awaywith it,” was Gareth Southgate’s honestassessment of the visitors’ superiority.Reyes had a shot after 25 seconds and hitthe post three minutes later. Boro, beatenhere 3–0 by Charlton in their last game,fidgeted. Fabio Rochemback, who was tobe the best player in the second half, washaving a fearful introduction.

But Yakubu’s goal settled Boro and justbefore the hour they had the decisive sec-ond. It came from an Arsenal attack thatpetered out in a weak Hleb penalty claim,then from an Arsenal mistake at the back.Cygan’s poor clearing header caused him-self and his team-mates anxiety whichGilberto Silva exacerbated with a toepoketackle that sent the ball beyond Cygan andinto the path of Massimo Maccarone.

Maccarone had not scored for Boro for17 months having spent last season onloan in Italy. But the striker remembered

why he had become an Italian interna-tional to steer the ball past Jens Lehmann.Arsenal’s response was fractured and frac-tious. Fabregas came off the bench and be-came the ninth Arsenal yellow card in twogames. Reyes eventually scored, but in the90th minute. Soon after Wenger describedthe team performance as “unacceptable”.

Ashley Cole agreed, and saw implica-tions. “If you look at the history of thechampionship, this is very early to havelost two games,” Cole said. “If we losemore than four, it’s going to be a struggle.”He then addressed another loss: “Patrick,who was our main inspiration in mid-field.” Finally, Cole added of Arsenal’s at-tacking style: “Sometimes you need to bemore direct.” Like Chelsea.

Arsenal’s despondency contrasted withBoro’s relief. After Charlton and England,Steve McClaren needed this. He said hisbest piece of work in the last fortnight wassigning Rochemback. “It gave the rest ofthe players a lift,” said McClaren, whothen made a comparison with a previousBrazilian occupier of the Boro No10 shirt,Juninho. Which brings us back to names,prisoners, investment and paradise.Man of the match: Fabio Rochemback(Middlesbrough)

Carragher the realist rules Liverpool out of fight for league titleJon Brodkin White Hart Lane

Tottenham H 0 Liverpool 0

As part of the England team that lost inNorthern Ireland and the Liverpool sidethat beat Milan in Istanbul, Jamie Car-ragher will be acutely aware that nothingis impossible. The defender is also a real-ist, though. In already ruling out the titlegoing to Anfield he was not being defeatistbut honest.

A deserved draw at Tottenham is adecent result but Liverpool’s display farfrom screamed champions. A solitary goalin three league games — from a set-pieceagainst Sunderland — shows one weak-ness and, with Steven Gerrard subdued

and Xabi Alonso given 21 minutes, Liver-pool were more mechanical than classy.Carragher is confident the team will do “alot better” in the Premiership than lastseason but said: “I think it’s difficult forus to win the league because you look atthe start Chelsea have made already andthe signings they made. The thing we arelooking to achieve is to [reduce] that gap.Everyone calls it a top three at themoment plus the rest. We want to call it atop four or get into the top three.”

Liverpool’s failure to sign a right mid-fielder or centre-back has left Rafa Benítezwith a weaker squad than he wanted andthe pairing of Peter Crouch and DjibrilCissé needs work. They linked danger-ously only once for a shot well saved fromCissé who looked more likely to createthan score.

Service from John Arne Riise and LuisGarcía was poor and Benítez seems reluc-tant to trust Alonso away from home in afour-man midfield. Solidity is a priorityand Liverpool will savour a secondstraight league clean sheet on their trav-els — already one more thanlast season.

After an uneasy start Liver-pool conceded few chances. Carragher im-pressed and his admission that it will be“difficult” to retain the European Cup wasas sensible as his analysis of the club’s ti-tle chances: “It will be a long process be-cause we haven’t got the finances thatManchester United and Chelsea have.”Liverpool had the better of the secondhalf, with Riise smacking the bar, afterSpurs dominated the first. Tottenham’sJermaine Jenas, Lee Young-pyo and

Grzegorz Rasiak madeordinary debuts, though Rasiak

hit the woodwork and, likeCrouch, saw a goal disal-lowed. The signs are that

Martin Jol will ask Lee to beprogressive from left-back with Edgar

Davids tucked in from left midfield. Liver-pool demonstrated that Spurs will be vul-nerable to breaks down that flank with Leeupfield and no left-sided player covering.

Goals are not flowing for Spurs. JermainDefoe too often has to work to makechances for himself and, for all the tidypassing promised by a midfield of Davids,Jenas and Michael Carrick, none instinc-tively gets into the box. The biggest pluswas the solid return of Ledley King.Man of the match: Jamie Carragher(Liverpool)

Bullard’s bulletfires Wigan’simagination

Russell Thomas The Hawthorns

West Brom 1 Wigan Athletic 2Greening 26 Connolly 40, Bullard 90

After West Bromwich, who knows? DaveWhelan could be forgiven for reaching forthe sky as he experienced the footballinghigh of witnessing his club’s dramatic winand then bonding with Wigan’s joyousfans — handshakes and compliments allround at one end of The Hawthorns.

Then it was time for some pitch-sidepredictions. “The whole nation thinks:‘Wigan — they’ll go down.’ And that’sunderstandable because you need time toadjust in the Premiership. But we aren’tgoing down. This year we’ll settle downand next year we’ll be in Europe.” And,even though beaming broadly, the chair-man meant it.

Back to the moment of Wigan’s first-ever Premiership away win. “I felt itwould bobble our way,” said Whelan. “Ithought we were the better team. To comehere and win is fantastic. The next thing isto go and win at Old Trafford.”

Paul Jewell was more pragmatic, partlybecause he knows West Bromwich, in thisdisturbingly regressive form, are not anacid test of a Premiership autumn, let

alone a season. His side won “without hit-ting great heights” and did so through “agreat team effort”. Then he tuned in closerto Whelan’s wavelength. “We’ll surprise afew people.”

Wigan surprised more than a few byputting in a bid for Michael Owen — andlurching downmarket — trying to signDean Windass. They were rebuffed byboth galáctico and the 36-year-old Brad-ford City striker. David Connolly, £2mfrom Leicester, seemed a good compro-mise on deadline day.

Whelan will have to write a cheque fora further £1m if Wigan stay up. Thatimmediately looks more achievable on thebasis of Connolly’s vigorous Premiershipdebut. The 28-year-old epitomisedWigan’s will to seize the moment.

Connolly’s turn of speed and confidentshot for Wigan’s equaliser were all themore praiseworthy for coming after a missfrom similar range. The newcomer andAlbion’s old boy Jason Roberts saved thebest for last, combining to set up JimmyBullard’s precise low drive deep intoinjury-time.

Nathan Ellington’s muted startingdebut against his former club was lowdown the long list on Bryan Robson’sworry sheet after their third successivedefeat. Jonathan Greening’s opener, a 20-yard drive, had long been forgotten amidAlbion’s continuing defensive frailty.

“We’ve gone back to square one.There’s been a few harsh words there,”said Robson, nodding towards the dress-ing room. “The last three games are justnot acceptable as far as our defensive playis concerned.”

Moments earlier loud chants of “what aload of rubbish” rang in the players’ ears.Robson was in no mood to disagree withthe fans.Man of the match: David Connolly(Wigan Athletic)

Jamie Carragher attempts to halt theTottenham striker Jermain Defoe

Wigan paidLeicester £2m forDavid Connolly ontransfer deadlineday and he repaidtheir faith with animpressive debut

Gunners’ bad start

Arsenal’s worst for seven yearsP W D L F A Pts Pos Final

2005-06 4 2 0 2 7 4 6 8th ?2004-05 4 4 0 0 16 5 12 1st 2nd2003-04 4 4 0 0 0 2 12 1st 1st2002-03 4 2 2 0 10 5 8 2nd 2nd2001-02 4 2 1 1 10 2 7 4th 1st2000-01 4 2 1 1 9 6 7 4th 2nd1999-00 4 2 1 1 5 3 7 8th 2nd1998-99 4 1 3 0 2 1 6 5th 2nd


The Serbian played a captain’s role atthe back in this team of talents. Hejumped in vain in front of Fergusonfor the own-goal — dummy of the day Best moment Just before the goalFerguson for once headed down toCahill in open play. Cahill’s turn 10yards out gave him a clear sight ofgoal. Stefanovic’s full-stretch tacklewas precise and clean, as it had to be

Man of the matchDejan Stefanovic


XxxxxxxxxxxFootball Premiership

Iron will not enough as leaden legsleave Everton in a world of worryJeremy Alexander Goodison Park

Everton 0 Portsmouth 1Ferguson 60og

For England read Everton. At least DavidMoyes saw it coming. “People mightexpect us to beat Portsmouth,” he said onFriday, “but that’s not how it happens infootball. It is about Northern Ireland beat-ing England.” Forewarned was not enough.

His shock and shame do not, of course,rank with Sven-Goran Eriksson’s. For thatto be so Pompey would be below the bot-tom of the Conference. But this was Ports-mouth’s first win away in 12 games, theirfirst clean sheet anywhere in 10, their firstleague victory over Everton since 1957,Everton winning all nine since. And, inface of Thursday’s game against Dinamoin Bucharest, it sends waves of worrythrough the corridors of Goodison Park.

Everton have already dropped fromChampions League to Uefa Cup and thechief executive Keith Wyness is countingthe cost. “The Uefa Cup is nowhere nearas lucrative,” he said on Saturday, “so wehave to progress to the latter stages to geta good return on our European adven-ture.” It seems a far cry, notwithstandingthat Portsmouth were sparkling after theshambles of their previous performances.

Everything pointed to an Everton winapart from their difficulty in scoring. Theproblem is not new. Despite their fourthplace last May they were in the red on goaldifference and in the bottom half of thedivision on goals scored. Yet in the sum-mer they regrouped for their adventurewith eight new players, none a striker.

Wyness is already waiting for January.“We hope to continue to work with DavidMoyes as we all look ahead and start toprepare for the next transfer window,” hesaid. The horse may have bolted by theneven if the manager has not gone with it.

Moyes, surely not really endangered, iswell aware of the side’s shortcomings,which were exaggerated by Portsmouth’sunexpected cohesion, determination andliveliness. He said beforehand he “wasmore than happy with the way we haveplayed but we have not created enoughchances or taken the ones we have made”.Here they were devoid of creativity. Forall the prompting of Mikel Arteta theywere ponderous in the middle, blunt onthe flanks, forever turning back instead oftesting defenders for pace and position.They have one goal from four games.

“We put no pressure on them, no ballsinto the box,” said Moyes forlornly, admit-ting that Tim Cahill, not only on Saturdayafter a trip and two games for Australia,“has lost his dynamic” and that “wehad to play two up top and it didn’twork”. One was Duncan Ferguson,who had three significant headersat corners. Two were saved desper-ately, the third, at the other end, headedinto his own net for the only goal. He is a20-minute man for late set pieces, tooleaden now for 90 minutes of free flow.

Saturday’s ball sponsor was PrecisionPneumatics. Everton, apart from JosephYobo, could have done with pumping upthemselves. No doubt theywere surprised by Pom-pey’s urgent start but theylook in danger of falling into

the flat days of 2003-04, when they fin-ished 17th. Nuno Valente, preferred for adebut to Matteo Ferrari, was torridlyexposed at left-back, a prancing horsewhere speed and power were needed.

Pompey fared better with their new-comers. Alain Perrin said: “We have to findthe black cat in the dressing room.” Hefound two exciting debutants instead inDario Silva up front and Salif Diao in mid-field. Unfortunately he also found theaway strip, strawberry red with streaks ofhazelnut custard. One way or anotherthey were unrecognisable.

Perrin brought in 11 foreigners in thesummer. Somehow Dejan Stefanovic, atthe heart of defence, marshalled theminto a vibrant force across the field, full ofbright skills and uncanny understanding.Their next away match is at Bolton. Thereferee had better speak Esperanto.

The two Englishmen did their bit, GaryO’Neil thriving down the right to Valente’sdiscomfort, Jamie Ashdown reclaimingthe goalkeeper’s jersey with assurance.

But everyone was keen to ask ques-tions and ready to answer them. Itspoke of a fortnight well spent on the

training ground.Moyes said for the second

match running that “in manyways our Premiership seasonstarts today”. How manytimes will the fans believehim? How many humilia-tions bring on the backlash?Perrin suggested “Everton’sheads may be in the Uefa

Cup”. Unless their heartsare this week they

will not be turningthe Danube blue.

But then they canstart their league sea-

son a week today at High-bury. They lost 7–0 therein May.

Formation equationA word in your ear, Sven — goals don'twin games, winners do. We’re in thebusiness of inspiration, the smallindependent dealership ofmotivation and the out-of-towncall-centre of success. My advice isditch the suit and the air of studiousmelancholy — and get yourself anearpiece, an anorak and a seat at theback of a box full of burly blokes withlaptops. Here at Team Clive we saypreparation + luck — failure / teamwork= hoof it half the length of the field.Or I'm not temporaryassistant reserve teamcoach at a troubledsecond-tier footballclub.

Fantasychairman

CloggerA sideways glance at football

Antony and the JohnsonsBring internationalexperience to the Britishstage, and run off with allthe top prizes. Footballershowever traditionally not sokeen on transgenderism.

JordanKnows how to put on a bigevent and attract both Z-listcelebrities and lucrativesponsorship deals. Familiarwith large, round inflatableplaythings.

Hosni MubarakSay what you like about the era ofcash-rich, dictatorial chairmen —nothing beats popularity with thepunters, as the newly-elected Egyptianpresident will no doubt testify.

On the bench

Four-pint pundit

World Cup hopeful

Sir Clive Woodward’scoaching clinic

Strictly come coaching

Toon loyalties Who Freddie loves this week

Tim Howard Manchester UnitedAfter months on the sidelines, theAmerican goalkeeper finally foundhimself lining up next to Giggsy andKeano again, just like the good olddays. Sadly, none of them were on thepitch at the time.Most interesting momentMaking small-talk with Keane beforehe made his dramatic entrance into theaction (Keane that is. Howard stayedwhere he was).

One pint Owen feeling familiarNew signings injured before theysee much action; woeful under-performance; exotic names on thescoresheet; manager under pressureearly in the season — Michael Owenclearly enjoyed Real Madrid so much hesimply signed for the English version.

Two pints Warning or mourningAfter Northern Ireland beatEngland, Sunderland’s Mick McCarthysuggested the result “inspires the likesof us” and “sends out a warning toChelsea”. Nice one, Mick. Looks likethey were really scared.

Three pints Four legs good,one joke badAfter England’s defeat in Denmark onetabloid started calling David James a“donkey”. Last week the same paperthought hard, drew breath and tookaim at Eriksson, calling him a “don-key”. Say what you like about the Eng-land manager, at least he changeshis tactics from time to time.

Four pints Political footballLast Tuesday Tony Blair wenttraining in Beijing with Sir BobbyRobson. On Friday Gordon Brownwent training in Manchester with SirAlex Ferguson. There’s only one con-clusion: the first person to go trainingwith John Prescott gets a knighthood.

No 6 Lawrie SanchezThis week’s model attempts the raredisco manoeuvre best known as “thegiantkiller”. The precise choreographyof this dance is unknown, comprisedas it is of, well, anything LawrieSanchez does. In this example, itinvolves donning a slightly ill-fittingsuit and then stretching your frame soas to best display its ill-fittingness.

Do it yourself Head to charity shop.Identify selection of suits which fityour frame. Buy another one at ran-dom from elsewhere in the store.Fling limbs in random directions.

Graeme’s gangBig Al’s buddy

Signing Michael Owen, the Newcastle chairmansaid the other day, was “my proudest moment atthe club, along with bringing Alan Shearer home”.The arrival of Graeme Souness, strangely, didn’tget a mention.

Ashley ColeEngland“In a World Cup year it is allabout peaking at the right

time and if we get through we shoulddo really well.”In other words: “We’re rubbish at themoment. Live with it.”

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‘I see thecasualvomit iscomingback intofashion’ MartinKelner’sScreenBreak,page 20



Xxxxxxxx

Michael Essien shows hisstrength on the ball

Football Barclays Premiership

Pearce draws United sting and tells it as it wasDaniel Taylor Old Trafford

Manchester Utd 1 Manchester City 1Van Nistelrooy 45 Barton 76

Were it not for the minute’s silence for theformer United captain Noel Cantwelldescending into a testosterone-fuelledshouting match, this would have been aremarkably serene Manchester derby.Bone-jarring tackles? Clattered limbs? Nothere. Stuart Pearce tried to get thingsgoing by blowing a few kisses to the homesupporters but Sir Alex Ferguson mustfeel his players showed about as much biteas a litter of kittens.

Ask Ferguson to name United’s tradi-tional rivals and he will reply, in order, Liv-erpool, Arsenal and Leeds. “ManchesterCity are not a problem for me,” he says,and there was a strange passiveness aboutUnited, as if his players agreed. At City,where they have even vetoed red com-pany cars, it is constantly drummed intothem that this rivalry counts. None ofPearce’s players has local origins but theyoperate to a different script from that

employed at Old Trafford. To them this wasa match of huge significance. It showed.

If Ferguson is looking for an explana-tion behind United’s dishevelled perfor-mance, he might begin with the fact therewas only one Mancunian (Paul Scholes) ina side that barely seemed to comprehendthe importance of this fixture in the pubs,playgrounds and workplaces across thecity. Another contributory factor might bethe presence of two players who speakbarely a word of English. Then there wasthe absence of Roy Keane, a habitualexcuse when things go wrong and one thatnow has United’s fans rolling their eyes.How many more times must they witnessthe tradition of a vapid display when theircaptain has been rested?

When Keane arrived at Old Trafford 12years ago he was taken aback by the pres-ence of so many “imposing characters,seasoned professionals, strong men”. Fer-guson has tried to retain that win-at-all-costs mentality by recruiting the likes ofAlan Smith, Gabriel Heinze and WayneRooney but, while these are sturdy com-petitors, they are not blessed with thetalent of motivating others around them.

United used to be famed for theirresilience, their durability and, above all,their late goals but not any more. On Sat-urday all they mustered throughout threeminutes of stoppage time was a cornerthat Kieran Richardson kicked straight outfor a goal-kick — this from a player whohas hopes of representing England at nextyear’s World Cup.

Rooney apart, the greatest endeavoursgenerally came from those in blue. OldTrafford witnessed the unexpected sight,for example, of Danny Mills dominatingHeinze on City’s right flank, particularlyin the first 45 minutes when he operatedas an auxiliary winger. Mills has becomea much maligned figure at City whereasHeinze had collected the Sir Matt Busbyplayer-of-the-year award before kick-off.But this was a triumph for the City full-back’s steadfastness. Others were equallyrobust, most notably Ben Thatcher,Richard Dunne and Claudio Reyna, thegame’s outstanding midfielder.

Ferguson offered a wonderfully biasedversion of events that City had “parkedthemselves on the edge of their ownpenalty area and hoped for scraps”. He

also claimed it would have been “ridicu-lous” if Andy Cole had followed up JoeyBarton’s close-range equaliser by firing inthe winner, rather than being denied byEdwin van der Sar, in the final attack.

A more accurate assessment was thatCity had taken the sting out of theiropponents long before then and werefinishing as the more likely winners.Although United did, indeed, have aterritorial advantage, they were overlyreliant on Rooney conjuring up some-thing. There was a conspicuous lack ofwidth and imagination without CristianoRonaldo, and Ruud van Nistelrooy was

generally isolated even though it was hisneat improvisation — onside — that led tohim opening the scoring, diverting PaulScholes’s shot towards goal and then tuck-ing in the rebound after a splendid reflexsave from David James. “United will prob-ably not have fewer chances on goal inanother match this season,” said Pearce.

Pearce being Pearce, he did not seementirely satisfied with only a draw,revealing that he had offered Ferguson “agrim ‘well done’” at the final whistle.Uppermost in his list of grievances, how-ever, was the mindless yet all too pre-dictable abuse that led to the minute’ssilence for Cantwell being brought to anabrupt end after 35 seconds. It was to hisimmense credit that he did not pretend tobe unaware of where the problem hadoriginated. “I’ll apologise on behalf of myclub because it’s not something anyonewanted to hear,” he said. “ManchesterCity is a club of the community, a familyclub, and I don’t condone it.”

Point made, he was off to scrutinise thetable. They are unbeaten since March anddefiant in third place. Maybe it is timeUnited took them a bit more seriously.

United’s Alan Smith and City’s Joey Barton dispute possession during a break in play in the Manchester derby Matthew Ashton/Back Page Images

For working so diligently in midfieldand particularly his clever use of theball. He broke up many of United’sattacks with his combative tacklingand instigated some of City’s bestattacks. Best moment A shimmy and turnthat deceived Wayne Rooney whileCity were under pressure in theirown half.

Man of the matchClaudio Reyna

Essien shines on a muted day for ChelseaDavid Lacey Stamford Bridge

Chelsea 2 Sunderland 0Geremi 54, Drogba 82

Champions do not always play like cham-pions. Statistically Chelsea have made aperfect start to their Premiership titledefence, no points dropped in five gamesnor a goal conceded, yet their win overSunderland was hardly flawless.

Top were playing bottom and bothteams maintained their 100% records,Sunderland departing still pointless sincepromotion, yet the best aspect ofChelsea’s football was not its fluency orits flare but the patience shown by JoseMourinho’s players in waiting for theiropponents to make a mistake.

Having spent the first half matchingChelsea for organisation and defensiveresilience Sunderland duly obliged earlyin the second and suffered another lapsetowards the end. “I’ve said over the pre-vious four games that, if we make mis-takes, we get punished,” observed theirmanager Mick McCarthy.

Because of the talent available to Mour-inho Chelsea are expected to stay cham-pions. Yet this game gave an early indica-tion of the task which lies ahead, sand-wiched as it was between a fortnight ofinternational activity and the onset of theChampions League.

However many millions Chelsea spendon players the physical demands remainthe same. Mourinho needed to rest thosewho had picked up knocks in World Cupqualifiers while keeping others fresh fortomorrow night’s match with Anderlechtand hoping there were no new casualties.

In the latter respect he was unlucky,Asier del Horno suffering a thigh strainwhich will keep the Spanish left-back outtomorrow. “This player went to Spain andtrained twice a day,” Mourinho reflected.“He had to play against Yugoslavia[Serbia-Montenegro], then he flies backthe next day, trained yesterday and playstoday. Now he has a muscular rupture.”

Clearly Mourinho will need to husbandeven his considerable resourceswith some care as the Champi-ons League gets fully underway. In this respect the mostencouraging aspect ofChelsea’s performance was theease with which Michael Essienassumed the role of midfieldanchor in place of the injuredClaude Makelele. Mourinhodescribed the Ghanaian’s per-formance as “fantastic”which seemed an under-statement. “Frightening”would surely have been more

appropriate — Sunderland managed toknock him over once and it must havebeen like tackling a young oak.

By coincidence Sunderland’s chancesof getting something out of this matchrested in no small part with the excellenceof their French midfield anchor, ChristianBassila, who did much to prevent Chelseaproviding a consistent service for HernánCrespo. Bassila and McCarthy’s centre-backs, Gary Breen and Alan Stubbs, keptChelsea at bay until Frank Lampard struckthe Sunderland bar from 25 yards in the50th minute. Four minutes later, withStubbs gone, Geremi drove a stoppableshot under the body of Kelvin Davis afterAndy Welsh, who had just come off thebench, had failed to control his goal-

keeper’s throw and allowed thedefender to gain possession.

After 82 minutes Essien droveinto Sunderland’s half before set-ting up Damien Duff, who had

replaced Eidur Gudjohnsen, forthe centre from which DidierDrogba, who had taken overfrom Crespo, headed Chelsea’ssecond.

The match ended amid adrum roll of thunder but,Essien apart, it had been a

muted performance by thechampions all the same.Man of the match: Michael Essien (Chelsea)

Your match report

Joey Barton now looks like the linchpinin Stuart Pearce's side. He looks andruns like Steven Gerrard and tackles likea young Roy Keane. Not for a long timehave Manchester City fans seen a playerfor their own side who can, with a clickof his fingers, start to control a gamewith energy and slick passing. The bestthing is Sven-Goran Eriksson will for-ever overlook him. Tom Paine By email

In Jermain Defoe and Robbie KeaneSpurs have two quick strikers who cravethe ball to feet in and just outside thebox, but current orders are to get the ballforward early with high balls or crosseswhich sail over their heads. Instead, playthrough midfield (why else buy a teamof midfielders?), create through-ballsinto channels for strikers to run on toand release Carrick, our best passer,from duties in front of the back four.Alan Fisher By email

I believe Mark Hughes has to play five inmidfield when he picks Robbie Savage.He is continually out of position, chas-ing lost causes in the opposition’s terri-tory. We counted how many tackles hemade in two games and got the ball: oneand none respectively. When Rovers puttwo up front versus Aston Villa recently,we lost control in midfield immediately,due to Savage being out of position.Jonathan Shutt Blackburn

As a very long-time Arsenal supporter Ipose the question: why is Ashley Cole so highly regarded? His defensivepositioning is very poor. Time and againeither others have to come across tocover for him leaving too much room inthe box or, as in the Northern Irelandgame, the cross results in a goal. Aren’tthere any decent English left-sidedefenders?Eric Phillips Queensland, Australia

Once again Patrick Agyemang came offthe bench to win the game for Preston,getting the ball deep in our own half andmiscontrolling it past four players(including one of our own) beforeslotting the ball in. Paddy producedwhere former Lion Danny Dichio failedto on his return to the New Den; there’san argument that he should be the onestarting on the bench after RichardCresswell’s departure.Andy McCarron By email

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Spotted something no one else hasabout the week’s football? Yourmatch report will feature the bestobservations from readers eachMonday — email your opinions [email protected] bynoon on Sunday



Xxxxxxxx10 The Guardian | Monday September 12 2005

Football

Bisgaard helps put downDerby revolt over RasiakChampionshipStuart James Gresty Road

Crewe Alexandra 1 Derby County 1Rivers 30 Bisgaard 49

There can be few better examples of thefinancial madness that precipitated Leeds’fall from the Premiership than the £37,000a week they paid Seth Johnson. Theformer England international made only59 appearances during four seasons atLeeds and, should he return to EllandRoad one day, he will surely be given a lessthan welcoming reception.

But the same is not true at Gresty Roadwhere Johnson, in his second spell atDerby, was afforded a standing ovationyesterday. It was the first time he has beenback to the club since he left to join Derbyin a £3m move in 1999. That transfer feewas used to fund a new stand, though itwas Johnson’s decision to forestall hisdeparture to help Crewe stave off thethreat of relegation that was most appre-ciated by their fans — who settled for apoint here yesterday after Morten Bisgaardcancelled out Mark Rivers’ first-half goal.

Derby’s supporters had their ownagenda. This was their first match with-out Grzegorz Rasiak, who joined Totten-ham on deadline day in a move thatangered County fans. But the pre-match

protest they planned materialised intolittle more than the waving of barelylegible placards.

More obvious was the hole that Rasiakhas left. Marcus Tudgay was given the taskof replacing the Pole and although heshowed nice touches, it is goals and notbackheels on which he will be judged. Afree header that sailed over and a poorlyexecuted lob suggests he might not be theanswer.

The visitors had, though, enjoyed thebetter of the opening period, only to fallbehind on the half-hour when Kenny Luntdelivered a cross towards the near postthat Rivers glanced past Lee Camp.

Crewe came close to adding a secondfive minutes later when Lunt foundStephen Foster with an inswinging free-kick, but Camp produced a fine save toturn the central defender’s header away.Derby, though, regained their brightnessafter the interval and quickly gained paritywhen Bisgaard placed a 20-yard shot intothe bottom corner.

It should have been the platform forDerby to go on and win the game. But anymomentum was lost when AndrewDavies, who had already been booked,picked up a second yellow card after clat-tering into Eddie Johnson. Inevitablyspaces appeared in the visitors’ defencethough neither Johnson nor Luke Varneycould take advantage.

Kabba the dashing BladeJohn Ashdown Bramall Lane

Sheffield United 2 Ipswich Town 0Kabba 5 90

Steven Kabba’s brace of goals securedSheffield United’s sixth win in sevengames and this was undoubtedly the mostsignificant, not because it was their firstin the league against Ipswich since 1993or because it sent them four points clearat the top of the Championship but ratherthat for the first time this season theBlades evinced enough creative flair tosuggest they can sustain their flying start.

Kabba’s goals were the bookends of aperformance of refreshingly quick, slickfootball and a wider margin of victorywould not have flattered, despite DarrenCurrie’s missed penalty for the visitors.The United striker has scored six times inthree starts and three substitute appear-ances but, despite the confidencecoursing through the squad, Kabba main-tains a commendable air of reason.

“We’re going to a have few bad gameshere and there, hopefully we just won’thave too many,” said Kabba. “No one cancarry on winning every game all season.Hopefully we’re getting the points on theboard now so when we do have a few badresults we will still be up there.”

The lack of a fourth forward is the only

glaring gap in United’s armoury andKabba’s prolific form will not dissuadetheir manager Neil Warnock from tryingto recruit another striker. “I don’t mind,it’s up to him” was Kabba’s phlegmaticview to the potential arrival of a rival.

In other departments there is no needfor reinforcements. In particular the mid-field, an achilles heel since the departureof Michael Brown in January 2004,possesses an ideal blend of ruggednessand panache, with Nick Montgomery arevelation after being put on the transferlist in the summer.

But it was Montgomery’s midfield part-ner Alan Quinn who created both goals,the first with a deflected shot that fellkindly for Kabba, the second with a per-fectly timed prod that allowed the strikerto race hare-like away from an Ipswichdefence caught in the traps.

Joe Royle’s young squad — eight of his16 were 21 or under — battled gamely andhad the bulk of possession but alwayslooked vulnerable against opponents whohad the unmistakable strut of a side withtheir tail up. Even the notoriously cau-tious home crowd risked a few tentativestanzas of “we are top of the league” at thefinal whistle. If the Blades continue toperform like this, they may get many moreopportunities to raise their voices.Man of the match: Alan Quinn (Sheffield United)

Party pooped at Luton Simon Burnton Kenilworth Road

Luton Town 1 Wolves 1Nicholls 79 Cort 25

Luton Town celebrated the 100thanniversary of their Kenilworth Roadground on Saturday with a parade of for-mer players, and few would deny that it islooking its age. More characterful thancomfortable, if this is the proudestmonument to the Hatters’ past it is just aswell that their future is so promising.

They are planning a new stadium andalready building an impressive side to putin it. Last year’s League One championshave already played most of the fanciedsides in this division, including CrystalPalace, Southampton, Leicester and nowWolves, and have lost only once, at Stoke.“If we come up against a good side that’sbetter than us then we’ll hold our handsup,” the manager Mike Newell said. “Butwe haven’t yet.”

News of Newell’s promise appears notto have travelled as far as it might. At onestage in the second half, as the home fanswere singing his name, the former Lutonplayer Jimmy Husband, whose 44 goals in138 games in the 1970s had earned him aninvitation to the anniversary celebrations,turned to his neighbour and asked: “Whatare they saying?”

If Husband could not pick out the man-ager’s face in the dug-out at the time hehad a good excuse, because Newell wasnot there. He had been sent to the standsat half-time for “kicking the ball at thereferee in an aggressive manner and point-ing to where [stand-in full back] CarlosEdwards had been booked”. However,Luton improved in his absence andoccupied the Wolves penalty area formuch of a gripping second half until, withjust over 10 minutes to go, their captainKevin Nicholls drilled the ball underMichael Oakes from just outside the area.

The Wolves manager Glenn Hoddle wasrelieved to earn a point from this perfor-mance, thanks to Carl Cort’s first-half tap-in, but they too are optimistic about thefuture. “There’s great belief in the camp,”Mark Kennedy, the goal’s creator, said.“I’ve got to hand it to Glenn, he’s veryimpressive. I’ve been fortunate to workunder good managers, successful man-agers, but he’s a highly impressive guy.

“His man-management has been ex-cellent. He’s got the respect of everybodyand tactically he’s well ahead of the field.I’ll get a lot of stick for saying this, but he’sabsolutely fantastic and I’m just enjoyingworking under him.” Kennedy’s combi-nation of quality and enthusiasm mayseem unusual, but it was a fair reflectionof the football.Man of the match: Joleon Lescott (Wolves)

Souness sinking fast asOwen gets first taste of Newcastle neuroses

If the partnership of Alan Shearer andMichael Owen is going to flourish,Newcastle United will need to providemuch better service and those two strik-ers will have to start working far more asa complementary pair. I think Shearerneeds to come towards the ball to drag acentre-back out of position and createspace for Owen to use his pace in behindagainst his marker.

On Saturday Shearer and Owen weretoo square with one another and did notdrag Fulham’s central defenders about.Instinctively both strikers like to playhigh up the pitch, Shearer to be the main

man and hold the ball up and Owen tobe on defenders’ shoulders and sprinton to passes. There has to be moremovement if they are to prosper in theirfavoured roles.

Neither of them looked to run thechannels or search the space down thesides because that is not Owen’s gameand the 35-year-old Shearer is lessmobile than in his prime. But the part-nership can work if Shearer acceptscoming deeper and not being in thenumber of goalscoring positions hewould like.

To maximise Owen’s pace, a defender

15

Faye

20

Luque

9Shearer 10Owen

2 6VolzKnight

3 Bocanegra

Player with ball

Player run

Ball movement

Parker

17

Owen

10

Faye

15

Shearer96

Knight

3Bocanegra

Fig 1: Shearer and Owen weretoo square, allowing Fulham’sdefence to stay in place.Toomany balls ran to the keeper.

Fig 2: Shearer needs to dropdeep and bring a centre-halfwith him, leaving less cover onOwen and creating space for

Owen to sprint on to an angledpass. This method of attack isgoing to be very important toNewcastle this season.

Kevin McCarra St James’ Park

Newcastle United 1 Fulham 1N’Zogbia 78 McBride 13

Michael Owen’s mind must be reeling fol-lowing this crash course in Tynesideangst. With a foolish goal conceded andScott Parker sent off in disputed circum-stances after Newcastle United had justequalised, this debut will have taught himhow hard it will be to unpick the knot offrustration at his club.

A blank start for the £16.5m signing canbe pardoned when the midfield is so dis-rupted by injuries, but the chairmanFreddy Shepherd will train his sights onthe manager Graeme Souness if the targetof a top-six finish in the Premiership con-tinues to look out of range.

Groggy from the disruption to hiscareer and dazed by England’s defeat toNorthern Ireland, Owen will still havebeen alert enough to note how completelyoutplayed Newcastle had been. Fulhamwere the kind of cogent team that Sounessis yet to fashion and the St James’ Parkfatalism has contaminated him. “We wereset up to fall flat on our faces,” he said ofthe Owen hullabaloo. The Scot ignoredthe theory that his players should havebeen inspired by the excitement.

It was the visitors who were stimulated.“I told them to be stubborn for 20 min-utes,” said the Fulham manager ChrisColeman. His team bridled at the

assumption that they were the stage-hands for an Owen extravaganza. Fulhamoften flitted into positions behind a disastrous Newcastle defence and should have deservedly matched thelucky 4–1 score run up on the ground lastseason.

With a 1–0 lead already establishedFulham saw Shay Given save from TomaszRadzinski and Brian McBride early in thesecond half. The substitute CharlesN’Zogbia, assisted by the post, also cleareda Papa Bouba Diop header in betweenthose incidents. Souness believes that hismany newcomers are too good to needmuch time to gel but questions remainabout the preparation of the team. Jer-maine Jenas’s stinging claim that he hasmoved to Spurs to learn from Martin Joldid not sound entirely like the excuse ofa footballer in pursuit of the next pay-day.

Since Owen could not demonstrate hisfinishing he had to show his diplomacy.“When the lads get that injection of con-fidence you’ll see a lot better perfor-mances,” he said doggedly of a team with-out a win in the Premiership. The disori-entated attacker needs some help himself.“I could do with going home, getting achange of clothes and finding somewhereto stay [in the north-east],” he said.

Fulham knew exactly where they weregoing, straight at a Newcastle defence inwhich Jean-Alain Boumsong flounderedmost. The opener, in the 13th minute,began with a thoughtless back-pass bySteven Taylor. Radzinski intercepted and

laid the ball back to Luis Boa Morte, whoselow cross was turned in by McBride afterBoumsong had slipped.

With half an hour gone, an AlbertLuque corner flew over the Fulham goal-keeper Tony Warner but then bouncedthrough the legs of an unmarked Owen.“I tried to angle my shins down to controlit,” he sighed. “If it had squirmed in frontof me rather than behind I would have hada relatively easy chance.”

The opportunities will present them-selves in better order eventually and hewill take them. To get the maximum ben-efit, however, Newcastle will need toreveal a deeper creativity. Luque, boughtfor £9m from Deportivo la Coruña, has yetto adjust to the pell-mell Premiership and,having pulled a hamstring 10 minutesbefore the interval, will probably be outfor six weeks.

Newcastle, who had seen Stephen Carrhit the bar following one free-kick, scoredwith another after Owen had been fouledby Boa Morte in the 78th minute. From anangle on the right the French 19-year-oldN’Zogbia bent a perfect delivery acrossWarner and into the far corner, so opening his Premiership account at Newcastle.

Fulham could have rallied to win.Parker was dismissed for a second yellowcard when he tugged Claus Jensen after83 minutes and the Dane smacked theresulting free-kick off the bar. Colemanwas contented all the same.

While Shepherd makes the slightlymenacing observation that Souness hasspent £50m in 2005, the Fulham managerhas to fret over any transfer. “I can’t spend£2m on a mistake because I can’t ask foranother £2m to rectify it,” Coleman said,memories of Newcastle’s frequent waste-fulness perhaps stirring in his mind.

The club has not at least forced him tosell. Souness wanted Boa Morte butapparently met the reputed price of £6mtoo late. “We would not have had time toreplace him,” Coleman said. “Luis under-stands that.” It seems uncanny that theFulham captain, who has signed a new,five-year contract, is so tranquil afterbeing denied a lucrative move.

When Coleman reflected on Louis Saha’sunsuccessful switch to Manchester Unitedby remarking “The grass isn’t alwaysgreener”, he was also wilfully ignoring theriches that the Frenchman gained. On Sat-urday, however, it was futile to argue witheconomical Fulham. Man of the match: Brian McBride(Fulham)

has to be pulled out of position toreduce the covering possibilities.Shearer can do that if he drops back toreceive a pass and then lays it off for ateam-mate to hit an angled ball toOwen (fig 1).

That angled pass is so important.Newcastle hit too many straight ballsagainst Fulham on Saturday, compound-ing the problem of Shearer and Owenplaying too square. Because of Owen’space there is a tendency to try torelease him too early and then the ballruns through harmlessly to the goal-keeper (fig 2).

However much Shearer and Owenneed to work at their partnership, therewas also no service that was going tobring them goals. Newcastle’s midfieldlacked quality without Kieron Dyer,Emre Belezoglu and Nolberto Solano,while Titus Bramble and Jean-AlainBoumsong are not constructivecentre-backs.

Their higher balls to Owen werepointless and, without a winger (AlbertLuque got injured early on), Newcastlegave their front pair no advancedservice from wide positions. GraemeSouness will hope that changes withLuque and Solano in the team, althoughI don’t know whether Luque has thepace to go beyond anyone and Solanotends to deliver crosses from deepthese days.

Championship round-up

Simon Burnton

Coventry City remain unbeaten at theRicoh Arena but only after Robert Pageequalised against Reading with threeminutes remaining, his first goal for theteam he captains securing a 1–1 draw.

Reading remain second, their pursuitof victory frustrated by the fine form ofhome goalkeeper Stephen Bywater, onloan from West Ham. His most impor-tant intervention was from Leroy Lita’s41st-minute penalty but he came closeto keeping out Kevin Doyle’s 69th-minute opener, saving the initial effortonly for the rebound to fall kindly forthe Reading striker.

Reading’s Marcus Hahnemann was

also forced to make some telling saves.“He was superb,” said their managerSteve Coppell. “Our keeper was excel-lent but his performances have been likethat for a while.”

Watford moved into third with animpressive 3–0 win at Stoke, even if themargin of victory scarcely reflected agame in which the hosts missed severalchances. “You could call us lucky but weare working hard at being lucky,” saidthe Watford manager Adrian Boothroyd.“This is just another brick in the wall weare trying to build, but we are certainlymoving in the right direction.”

Paul Devlin gave the visitors the leadin the 24th minute but two goals in fivesecond-half minutes decided the game.Ashley Young scored the first, curling in

a 67th-minute free-kick, and when thesame player went down in the area soonafter, Stoke’s keeper Steve Simonsenwas sent off, Marlon King scored thepenalty. “We were far too slow in switch-ing from attacking-thinking to defen-sive-thinking and we have some work todo,” surmised Stoke’s manager JohanBoskamp.

David Healy’s good week, whichincluded scoring the winner for North-ern Ireland against England on Wednes-day, ended with two more goals asLeeds drew 3–3 against Brighton. Butthe hosts still needed Jonathon Dou-glas’s injury-time goal to rescue a point,having been 2–0 and 3–2 down.

Another late equaliser from the homeside set up the same scoreline at Burn-

ley, where James O’Connor headed inone minute from time to secure a 3–3draw against Cardiff.

At the bottom of the table the miserycontinued for Millwall, whose search fora first win of the season continues after a2–1 home defeat to Preston. They aretwo points behind SheffieldWednesday, who lost 2–0 at Leicesterand are also yet to win.

The sacking of Bobby Williamson didlittle to improve Plymouth’s fortunes,their first game since the Scottish man-ager’s departure ending in a 2–0 defeatat Norwich. Playing in a new-look 3-5-2formation they hit bar and post but wereprone to defensive errors. Their resis-tance was broken by Matthias Doumbé’sown-goal before Dean Ashton added a37th-minute second at the end of asweeping, patient move which involved16 touches.

“The first half was my ideal perfor-mance,” said the Norwich managerNigel Worthington after his side’s firstleague win of the season. “We wererough and ready. We got in people’sfaces and we’ll be doing that fromnow on.”

The Coventrycaptain RobertPage scored hisfirst goal for theclub to frustrateReading at theRicoh Arena

David Pleat’s chalkboard

Shearer must drop and drag to prosper

No10 clockwatch

6 min: Scott Parker drives ballacross goal, Owen narrowlyfails to connect.15: His first touch inter-cepts a Fulham pass but thevisitors get a free-kick.17: Spreads play after a foul onAlbert Luque but Alan Wileybrings play back for a free-kick.19: Scythed down by CarlosBocanegra near halfway.21: Late tackle on MoritzVolz earns a warning fromthe referee.29: Right-wing cornerreaches him unmarked onthe edge of the six-yardbox but he fails to control the ball.

33: Shearer heads into Owen’spath. Turns neatly and lines upa shot but his team-mate Steven

Taylor gets in the way.53: Shearer jumps for header in

front of Owen. The ball sails over.57: Found in space on right flank,drills in cross but Fulham clear.

59: Picks up ball on edge of areaand lines up a shot but Papa

Bouba Diop gets in a block.77: Jinking run takes him pasttwo Fulham defendersbefore being chopped down

just outside the penalty area.Charles N’Zogbia curls free-kick

into top corner.82: Penalised for hacking at the

back of Diop’s legs as he shieldsthe ball out for a goal-kick.

Under pressure:Amdy Faye andTitus Bramblestand dejected asthe Fulham play-ers celebrateBrian McBride’searly goal, main;Michael Owenfails to controlthe ball for a simple chance,left; Scott Parkersees red for asecond bookableoffence, right;and CharlesN’Zogbia spares Newcastle’sblushes with aspectacular free-kick to score his first goal forthe club

MichaelRegan/Empics/Andrew Unwin/Sportsbeat/PaulKingston/NorthNews

Section:GDN PS PaGe:12 Edition Date:050912 Edition:03 Zone: Sent at 11/9/2005 22:03 black


XxxxxxxxxxxResults

Coca-Cola Football League

Scotland Europe Other results

Home AwayP W D L F A W D L F A GD Pts

Sheff Utd 7 4 0 0 10 3 2 0 1 6 4 +9 18Reading 7 2 0 1 8 3 2 2 0 6 1 +10 14Watford 7 1 1 1 4 3 3 1 0 11 5 +7 14Luton 7 2 2 0 6 4 2 0 1 5 3 +4 14Southampton 7 2 2 0 4 1 1 1 1 4 4 +3 12Wolverhampton 7 3 0 0 6 2 0 3 1 3 5 +2 12Leeds 6 2 1 0 7 4 1 1 1 2 2 +3 11Preston 7 0 2 1 1 4 3 0 1 9 4 +2 11Crystal Palace 6 3 0 1 6 2 0 1 1 2 3 +3 10Derby 7 1 1 1 4 4 1 3 0 6 4 +2 10Stoke 7 2 1 1 5 5 1 0 2 3 6 -3 10Ipswich 7 2 0 1 3 5 1 1 2 3 5 -4 10Hull 7 1 2 0 3 1 1 1 2 2 4 0 9Leicester 7 2 1 1 6 4 0 2 1 4 7 -1 9QPR 7 2 1 0 4 2 0 2 2 2 7 -3 9Brighton 7 1 1 1 4 4 0 3 1 4 6 -2 7Coventry 7 1 2 0 5 2 0 2 2 2 7 -2 7Crewe 7 1 2 1 6 7 0 2 1 3 5 -3 7Norwich 7 1 3 1 5 4 0 0 2 1 4 -2 6Burnley 7 1 2 1 10 7 0 0 3 3 7 -1 5Cardiff 6 1 1 1 5 6 0 1 2 4 6 -3 5Plymouth 7 0 1 2 3 6 1 0 3 2 6 -7 4Sheff Wed 6 0 1 1 1 2 0 2 2 1 4 -4 3Millwall 7 0 1 3 2 5 0 0 3 2 9 -10 1


Brentford 8 3 1 0 6 1 2 1 1 6 4 +7 17Scunthorpe 8 3 1 0 6 2 2 1 1 8 6 +6 17Huddersfield 8 3 0 1 7 6 2 1 1 7 4 +4 16Swansea 7 3 0 1 12 4 2 0 1 8 6 +10 15Rotherham 8 2 1 1 9 3 2 1 1 2 2 +6 14Southend 8 2 1 1 7 5 2 1 1 6 4 +4 14Port Vale 8 3 1 0 5 0 1 1 2 4 7 +2 14Tranmere 8 2 2 0 9 4 1 1 2 2 3 +4 12Walsall 8 2 1 1 8 9 1 2 1 4 4 -1 12Bradford 8 2 0 2 5 4 1 2 1 5 4 +2 11Barnsley 7 3 1 0 6 1 0 0 3 2 6 +1 10Bournemouth 8 1 3 0 3 1 1 1 2 4 7 -1 10Oldham 8 2 0 2 6 5 1 1 2 4 8 -3 10Hartlepool 8 0 2 2 4 7 2 1 1 5 4 -2 9Colchester 8 2 1 1 5 4 0 2 2 3 6 -2 9Chesterfield 8 1 0 3 4 6 2 0 2 7 8 -3 9Gillingham 7 2 0 1 4 4 0 3 1 2 5 -3 9Blackpool 8 1 1 2 3 5 1 2 1 4 7 -5 9Yeovil 8 1 2 1 4 5 1 0 3 3 7 -5 8Swindon 8 2 0 2 9 8 0 1 3 0 4 -3 7Nottm Forest 7 1 0 2 3 4 1 0 3 6 8 -3 6Bristol City 7 1 3 0 6 4 0 0 3 1 10 -7 6MK Dons 7 0 3 0 3 3 0 2 2 3 6 -3 5Doncaster 8 0 1 3 2 5 1 1 2 4 6 -5 5

Current form and next fixtureWWDDW Sep 17 v Huddersfield (a)WWDWW Sep 17 v Doncaster (a)WLWWD Sep 17 v Brentford (h)aWWWLL Sep 13 v Milton Keynes (a)WLWWD Sep 17 v Nottm Forest (a)WWWLD Sep 17 v Tranmere (h)LWDWL Sep 17 v Colchester (h)DDWWL Sep 17 v Southend (a)LWDLD Sep 17 v Chesterfield (h)DWLLD Sep 17 v Yeovil (h)WLDWL Sep 13 v Gillingham (a)LDDWL Sep 17 v Swindon (h)LLLDW Sep 17 v Gillingham (a)WLDLD Sep 17 v Swansea (h)WDLDD Sep 17 v Port Vale (a)WLWLL Sep 17 v Walsall (a)LDLWD Sep 13 v Barnsley (h)LWWLD Sep 17 v Bristol City (a)WWLLL Sep 17 v Bradford (a)LLLWD Sep 17 v Bournemouth (a)LLWLL Sep 17 v Rotherham (h)LDDWL Sep 17 v Blackpool (h)LDDDL Sep 13 v Swansea (h)LLLLW Sep 17 v Scunthorpe (h)


Notts County 8 3 1 0 6 2 1 3 0 5 4 +5 16Grimsby 8 1 1 2 4 5 4 0 0 6 2 +3 16Carlisle 8 2 0 2 4 4 2 2 0 3 1 +2 14Rochdale 8 2 1 1 9 5 2 0 2 8 6 +6 13Chester 8 1 2 1 10 9 2 2 0 4 2 +3 13Darlington 8 2 1 1 5 3 1 3 0 8 7 +3 13Leyton Orient 8 1 0 3 5 9 3 1 0 7 4 -1 13Wycombe 8 1 3 0 6 2 1 3 0 8 7 +5 12Wrexham 7 3 0 1 7 2 0 2 1 2 3 +4 11Cheltenham 8 2 2 0 7 3 0 3 1 3 5 +2 11Peterborough 8 1 1 2 2 2 2 1 1 6 4 +2 11Northampton 8 1 2 1 5 5 1 3 0 4 3 +1 11Barnet 8 1 1 2 4 5 2 1 1 7 6 0 11Stockport 8 0 4 0 7 7 1 2 1 6 6 0 9Shrewsbury 8 1 2 1 4 3 1 1 2 3 5 -1 9Lincoln City 7 1 2 0 3 2 0 3 1 4 5 0 8Bristol Rovers 7 0 1 2 3 5 2 1 1 7 7 -2 8Oxford Utd 7 1 3 0 6 5 0 1 2 2 5 -2 7Rushden & D 7 0 3 1 3 5 1 1 1 3 4 -3 7Boston Utd 8 1 3 0 8 7 0 1 3 4 10 -5 7Mansfield 8 1 1 2 7 6 0 2 2 5 9 -3 6Macclesfield 7 1 2 0 5 4 0 0 4 2 8 -5 5Bury 8 1 1 2 5 5 0 1 3 2 8 -6 5Torquay 8 1 1 2 4 5 0 1 3 1 8 -8 5

Current form and next fixtureDDWWD Sep 17 v Shrewsbury (a)WWLWW Sep 17 v Torquay (h)WWDLW Sep 17 v Cheltenham (a)LWLWW Sep 17 v Mansfield (h)DLWWD Sep 17 v Bristol Rovers (h)DDWDW Sep 17 v Oxford (h)WLLDL Sep 17 v Wrexham (h)DDDDW Sep 17 v Barnet (h)WWDLD Sep 13 v Lincoln (a)LDDWD Sep 17 v Carlilse (h)LWDDW Sep 17 v Lincoln (a)DDWWD Sep 17 v Macclesfield (a)LDLLW Sep 17 v Wycombe (a)DWDDD Sep 17 v Rushden (a)LWWDD Sep 17 v Notts County (h)DDDWL Sep 13 v Wrexham (h)DWLWL Sep 13 v Oxford (h)DLDLD Sep 13 v Bristol Rovers (a)DLLDD Sep 13 v Macclesfield (a)WDLDL Sep 17 v Bury (h)DLLDL Sep 17 v Rochdale (a)LDWLL Sep 13 v Rushden (h)DLLDL Sep 17 v Boston (h)WLLDL Sep 17 v Grimsby (a)

Crewe (1) 1 Derby (0) 1Rivers 30 Bisgaard 49Crewe Turnbull, Moss, Foster•, McCready, Tonkin, Lunt,Billy Jones, Vaughan, Varney, Rivers (Gary Roberts 70),Johnson (Steve Jones 79) Subs not used Williams, Walker,Higdon.Derby Camp, Kenna, Davies•, Michael Johnson•, SethJohnson, Bisgaard (Peschisolido 85), Thirlwell, Idiakez,Bolder, Smith, Tudgay (Barnes 73) Subs not used: Poole,Holdsworth, Nyatanga.Att 5,958. Ref I Williamson

SaturdayBurnley (2) 3 Cardiff (2) 3Elliott 1, 23 Jerome 8James O’Connor 89 Loovens 45

Purse 72 (pen)Burnley Coyne, Duff, McGreal, Sinclair• (Lowe 90),Harley, James O’Connor, Hyde, Elliott• (Bermingham 80),Branch (Spicer 72), Akinbiyi, Noel-Williams Subs not usedJensen, McCann.Cardiff Alexander, Whitley, Purse, Barker•, Loovens,Ledley, Koumas, Weston, Cooper (Parry 83), Jerome,Ricketts• (Lee 86) Subs not used: Ardley, Margetson, Cox.Att 10,431. Ref P Walton

Coventry (0) 1 Reading (0) 1Page 87 Doyle 68Coventry Bywater, Duffy (Whing 59), Page•, Shaw•,Hall, Flood (Morrell 66), Jorgensen• (Wood 77), Doyle•,McSheffrey, Adebola, Scowcroft Subs not used Ince,Heath.Reading Hahnemann, Murty, Sonko, Ingimarsson, Makin,Little (Oster 88), Harper, Gunnarsson, Convey, Lita(Obinna 89), Doyle Subs not used: Hunt, Stack, Baradji.Att . Ref A Hall

Crystal Palace (1) 2 Hull (0) 0Morrison 27Johnson 89Crystal Palace Kiraly, Boyce, Ward, Fitz Hall, Borrowdale,Soares (Riihilahti 65), Hughes, Watson•, Morrison(Butterfield 75), Johnson•, Macken• (Andrews 89) Subsnot used Popovic, Speroni.Hull Myhill, Coles, Delaney, Cort, Edge, France (Price 62),Welsh, Woodhouse (Ellison 76), Elliott, Barmby (Green62), Brown Subs not used: Burgess, Duke.Att 18,630. Ref K Wright

Leeds (0) 3 Brighton (1) 3Healy 65, 70 Knight 28Douglas 90 Carole 51

Gregan 83 (og)Leeds Bennett, Kelly, Butler, Gregan, Harding, Richardson(Douglas 57•), Einarsson, Derry, Lewis (Blake 80),Healy•, Hulse (Cresswell 57) Subs not used Sullivan,Kilgallon.Brighton Henderson, Hart, Butters, McShane, Reid,Carole, Hammond•, Carpenter, Jarrett (Kazim-Richards69•), Robinson (Oatway 88), Knight Subs not used:Nicolas, Elphick, Chaigneau.Att 21,212. Ref M Pike

Leicester (2) 2 Sheff Wed (0) 0de Vries 10, 12Leicester Douglas•, Maybury, Johansson, Dublin,Sheehan, Sylla (Wilcox 88), Gudjonsson, Williams, Hughes(Kisnorbo 78), Hammond (Hume 77), de Vries Subs notused Henderson, McCarthy.Sheff Wed Lucas, Simek, Wood, Coughlan, Ross (Corr 79),Eagles, Whelan•, Rocastle •(Brunt 68), O’Brien, Peacock,Graham (Bullen 68) Subs not used: Adamson, Lee.Att 22,618. Ref G Salisbury

Luton (0) 1 Wolverhampton (1) 1Nicholls 79 Cort 25

Luton Beresford, Edwards•, Coyne, Heikkinen (Perrett87), Davis•, Underwood, Nicholls•, Robinson, Brkovic,Feeney• (Showunmi 70), Howard Subs not used Morgan,Holmes, Brill.Wolverhampton Oakes, Edwards, Lescott, Gyepes•,Naylor, Kennedy•, Anderton (Olofinjana 60), Seol(Cameron 88), Ricketts, Miller (Clarke 28•), Cort Subsnot used: Craddock, Postma.Att 10,248. Ref L Probert

Millwall (0) 1 Preston (1) 2Hutchison 51 Jones 19

Agyemang 77Millwall Marshall, Vincent, Paul Robinson, Phillips, Dunne,Elliott• (Simpson 82), Hutchison•, Igoe (Fangueiro45•), Livermore•, May, Hayles Subs not used Craig,Morris, Jones.Preston Nash, Mears, Lucketti, Davis, Hill•, Jones, O’Neil• (Etuhu 45), McKenna•, Sedgwick (Alexander 73),Dichio (Agyemang 60), Nugent Subs not used: Lonergan,Nowland.Att 7,674. Ref M Jones

Norwich (2) 2 Plymouth (0) 0Doumbe 20 (og), Ashton 37Norwich Green, Colin•, Shackell, Fleming, Drury, Marney(Henderson 83), Safri, Hughes, Brennan, McVeigh (Lisbie73), Ashton Subs not used Gallacher, Jarrett, Doherty.Plymouth Larrieu, Barness, West, Doumbe, Brevett(Capaldi 76), Wotton, Aljofree, Djordjic (Buzsaky 83),Norris, Evans•, Chadwick (Derbyshire 74) Subs not used:McCormick, Gudjonsson.Att 23,981. Ref B Knight

Sheff Utd (1) 2 Ipswich (0) 0Kabba 5, 90Sheff Utd Kenny, Bromby, Short, Morgan, Unsworth, Ifill(Gillespie 77), Jagielka, Montgomery, Alan Quinn,Shipperley (Tonge 89), Kabba Subs not used Nalis, Kozluk,Armstrong.Ipswich Price•, Sito•, Naylor•, De Vos, McEveley,Peters, Magilton, Horlock•, Currie, Parkin, Bowditch(McDonald 65) Subs not used: Supple, Garvan, Richards,Wilnis.Att 21,059. Ref P Dowd

Southampton (1) 1 QPR (1) 1Higginbotham 37 Shittu 32Southampton Niemi, Hajto, Lundekvam, Powell,Higginbotham, Prutton (Kosowski 75), Oakley (Wise 85),Quashie, Belmadi, Jones (Ormerod 75•), Fuller Subs notused Smith, Cranie.QPR Royce, Bignot, Shittu, Santos•, Milanese, Moore,Bircham•, Doherty (Lomas 68), Cook, Furlong (Langley90), Sturridge• (Nygaard 60) Subs not used: Evatt,Ainsworth.Att 25,744. Ref R Beeby

Stoke (0) 0 Watford (1) 3Devlin 24, Young 67King 72 (pen)

Stoke Simonsen•, Buxton, Duberry•, Hoefkens•,Broomes, Harper (Gallagher 60), Brammer•, Chadwick(Dyer 84), Kolar (de Goey 71), Mbuyi, Sidibe Subs notused Henry, Taggart.Watford Foster, Chambers, Mackay, Carlisle, Stewart•(Bouazza 77), McNamee, Blizzard (Bangura 83), Spring,Devlin (Doyley 66), Young, King Subs not used:Chamberlain, DeMerit.Att 14,565. Ref N Miller

LEADING GOALSCORERS (TOTAL)6 Akinbiyi (Burnley); Jerome (Cardiff); Kabba (SheffUtd)5 Cort (Wolverhampton); Johnson (Crystal Palace);King (Watford); Lita (Reading)

Barnsley (2) 2 Nottm Forest (0) 0Conlon 41Shuker 45Barnsley Colgan, Austin, Reid, Carbon•, Williams, Shuker,Kay•, Burns•(Wroe 71), Devaney, Hayes (Nardiello 74),Conlon (Richards 82) Subs not used Flinders, Tonge.Nottm Forest Pedersen, Eaden, Breckin, Cullip•, Padula,Southall (Perch 56), Gardner, Commons•, Dobie, Taylor(Friio 45), Johnson (Dadi 10•) Subs not used: Morgan,Gamble.Att 10,080. Ref L Mason

Blackpool (0) 1 Hartlepool (0) 2Wright 70 Sweeney 86

Istead 90Blackpool Pogliacomi, Grayson, Butler, Clarke, Edwards,Wiles, Southern•, Doolan (McGregor 78), Donnelly,Vernon (Murphy 58), Parker (Wright 58) Subs not usedEdge, Prendergast.Hartlepool Konstantopoulos, Darren Williams, Nelson•,Collins, Humphreys•, Maidens (Istead 71), Sweeney,Tinkler (Turnbull 88), Butler, Proctor (Foley 72), Daly Subsnot used: Provett, Jones.Att 5,494. Ref P Robinson

Brentford (0) 1 MK Dons (0) 0O’Connor 62 (pen)Brentford Nelson•, O’Connor•, Sodje, Turner, Frampton,Rankin (Peters 73), Hutchinson, Pratley•, Tabb, Fitzgerald(Campbell 58), Gayle Subs not used Lewis, Bankole,Osborne.Milton Keynes Dons Baker, McClenahan, Morgan, Mills,Carrilho (Rizzo 64), Small (Kamara 29), Mitchell•, McKoy,Crooks, Platt, Wilbraham• Subs not used: Smith, Palmer,Harding.Att 5,862. Ref G Lewis

Chesterfield (1) 3 Bournemouth (0) 0Larkin 27Allison 53Nicholson 79Chesterfield Roche, Davies, Hazell, Blatherwick,Nicholson, Hall• (Clingan 70•), Niven, Allott, Hurst,Larkin (Smith 85), Allison (Folan 69) Subs not usedMuggleton, O’Hare.Bournemouth Stewart, O’Connor, Gowling, Young, Hart(Foley 45), Surman, Stock (Fletcher 70), Browning, Cooke,Hayter, Rodrigues Subs not used: Whisken, Pitman,Hudson.Att 3,540. Ref C Boyeson

Colchester (3) 3 Doncaster (1) 2Iwelumo 1 Forte 5McDaid 23 (og) McIndoe 54 (pen)Foster 27 (og)Colchester Davison, White (Stockley 61), Baldwin,Richards, Elokobi (King 90), Halford, Izzet•, Watson,Yeates (Hunt 65), Iwelumo, Williams Subs not usedGerken, Guy.Doncaster Warrington, McGuire, Foster, Albrighton,McDaid, Mulligan (Predic 70), Green• (Neil Roberts 77),Ravenhill, McIndoe, Fortune-West, Forte Subs not used:Stephen Roberts, Budtz, Heffernan.Att 2,721. Ref P Taylor

Oldham (0) 0 Huddersfield (2) 3Schofield 27Taylor-Fletcher 37, 72

Oldham Day, Forbes, Scott•, Owen, Tierney, Liddell,Wellens•, Bonner, Butcher (Porter 61), Killen (Beckett70), Warne• Subs not used Eyres, Edwards, Smith.Huddersfield Rachubka, Holdsworth, Nathan Clarke, TomClarke, Adams, Brandon, Carss (Collins 90), Worthington,Schofield, Abbott, Taylor-Fletcher (Mendes 81) Subs notused: Hudson, McCombe, Senior.Att 6,803. Ref C Foy

Rotherham (0) 3 Gillingham (0) 0McLaren 46Burton 81Butler 90Rotherham Cutler, Worrell, Barker, Gilchrist•, Robertson,Mullin•, McLaren, Williamson, Keane, Butler, Burton(Otsemobor 87) Subs not used Montgomery, Campbell-Ryce, Hurst, Vernazza.Gillingham Brown, Cox, Jackman (Hessenthaler 82), Rose,Hope (Shields 61), Crofts, Flynn•, Jarvis, Pouton•(Hislop 82), Harris, Byfield Subs not used: Crichton,Corneille.Att 4,253. Ref A D’Urso

Scunthorpe (2) 2 Port Vale (0) 0Hinds 32Keogh 37Scunthorpe Musselwhite, Stanton, Crosby, Hinds,Williams, Taylor (Sparrow 85), Ryan, Baraclough, Beagrie,Sharp, Keogh Subs not used Capp, Johnson, Byrne,Corden.Port Vale Goodlad, Rowland, Pilkington, Collins, James,Sonner (Cardle 68), Cornes• (Birchall 68), Dinning•,Cummins, Paynter, Lowndes Subs not used: Brain, Porter,Holmes.Att 5,694. Ref B Curson

Swansea (1) 7 Bristol City (0) 1McLeod 45, 69, 87 Cotterill 81Akinfenwa 50Trundle 58 (pen), 71Britton 75Swansea Gueret, Ricketts (Anderson 73), Austin•,Iriekpen, Tate, Martinez, Britton• (Robinson 77), McLeod,Bean•, Akinfenwa (Connor 76), Trundle Subs not usedMurphy, Goodfellow.Bristol City Phillips, Jamie Smith•, Carey• (Murray 54),Fortune•, Keogh•, Orr (Wilkshire 65), Golbourne,Gillespie (Stewart 54), Brown•, Bridges, Cotterill Subsnot used: Grant Smith, Skuse.Att 13,662. Ref T Bates

Swindon (0) 1 Southend (1) 2Fallon 90 Barrett 2

Gray 88Swindon Heaton, Smith•, Ifil, Collins, Gurney•, Nicolau(Roberts 71), Whalley (Thorpe 45), Miglioranzi, Pook,Fallon, Cureton (Shakes 45) Subs not used Bulman,Jenkins.Southend Flahavan•, Wilson•, Hunt, Edwards, Barrett•,Gower, Maher, Cole, Guttridge• (Bentley 84), Goater(Prior 90), Lawson (Gray 66) Subs not used: Griemink,Smith.Att 4,785. Ref M Fletcher

Yeovil (0) 2 Walsall (1) 1Jevons 65 Fryatt 34 (pen)Gall 70Yeovil Weale, Amankwaah, Fontaine, Skiverton••, Miles, Gall, Way, Johnson, Jones (Jevons 45), Bastianini, Alvarez (Davies 45) Subs not used Terry, Collis,Harrold.Walsall Oakes, Pead•, Gerrard, Westwood, Fox, KrisTaylor, Osborn (Wright 73), Kinsella (Standing 73), Wrack(Husbands 33•), Leitao, Fryatt Subs not used: Dann,Gilmartin.Att 9,579. Ref P Armstrong

LEADING GOALSCORERS (TOTAL)8 Windass (Bradford)7 Abbott (Huddersfield); Burton (Rotherham);McLeod (Swansea)5 Fryatt (Walsall); Greenacre (Tranmere); Lowndes(Port Vale); Taylor-Fletcher (Huddersfield); Trundle(Swansea)

Barnet (1) 2 Leyton Orient (1) 3Grazioli 1, 90 Ibehre 40

Alexander 75, 89Barnet Flitney, Hendon, King•, Batt, Charles, Sinclair,Lee, Soares (Roache 56), Graham, Bailey, Grazioli Subs notused Tynan, Strevens, Bowditch, Norville.Leyton Orient Garner, Lockwood•, Mackie, Miller,McMahon, Carlisle, Easton, Simpson, Zakuani, Alexander,Ibehre (Echanomi 83) Subs not used: Barnard, Keith,Morris, Tudor.Att 3,722. Ref M Messias

Boston Utd (1) 3 Rochdale (1) 2Whelan 8, 58 (pen) Holt 16White 76 Griffiths 53Boston Utd Abbey, White, Ellender•, Futcher (Greaves67), Maylett, Noble, Ross, McCann, Joachim (Dudfield 89),Lee, Whelan• (Thomas 72) Subs not used Talbot, Wright.Rochdale Gilks, Clarke, Griffiths, Boardman, Gallimore•,Warner (Lambert 66), Jones, Cooksey, Brisco•, Goodall(Sturrock 80), Holt Subs not used: McArdle, Jaszczun,Woodhall.Att 2,274. Ref A Penn

Bristol Rovers (0) 0 Lincoln City (0) 0Bristol Rovers Shearer, Hinton, Anderson, Elliott, Gibb,Hunt, Disley (Carruthers 77), Leary•, Ryan, Agogo, Louis(Walker 45) Subs not used Forrester, Lescott, Bass.Lincoln City Marriott, Cryan, Morgan, McCombe, Beevers(Hughes 89), Keates, Brown, Kerr, Mayo, Birch (MarvinRobinson 90), Asamoah (McAuley 90) Subs not used:Ryan, Molango.Att 5,057. Ref T Parkes

Carlisle (0) 2 Macclesfield (0) 0Hawley 77Glenn Murray 82Carlisle Williams, Arnison (Nade 57), Livesey, Gray,Aranalde, Lumsdon, McGill, Adam Murray, Billy, Hackney(Glenn Murray 77), Hawley (Murphy 85) Subs not usedMcClen, Westwood.Macclesfield Fettis, Sandwith, Morley, Swailes, Briscoe,Harsley (Beresford 80), Russell, Whitaker, McIntyre, Bullock,Townson (Miles 70) Subs not used: Barras, Deasy, Smart.Att 5,190. Ref T Leake

Mansfield (1) 2 Darlington (1) 2Brown 9, 64 Clarke 39

Ndumbu-Nsungu 74Mansfield Pressman, Peers, Jelleyman, Day, Baptiste,Dawson (Lloyd 73), Uhlenbeek, Coke, Rundle (Birchall 77),Barker, Brown Subs not used Buxton, Hjelde, Arnold.Darlington Bossu, Valentine, Clarke, Hutchinson•,Martis•, Wainwright (Ndumbu-Nsungu 70), Dickman(Jameson 34), Peacock, Logan, Sodje, Johnson Subs notused: Wijnhard, Thomas, Duke.Att 2,803. Ref P Miller

Northampton (0) 1 Bury (1) 1Gilligan 83 Whaley 26Northampton Harper, Crowe, Dyche, Chambers, GavinJohnson, Bradley Johnson (Galbraith 63), Hunt (Gilligan69), Taylor, Low, McGleish, Jess Subs not used Bunn,Rowson, Brett Johnson.Bury Edwards (Dootson 48), Challinor, Scott, Hardiker•,Sedgemore, Flitcroft•, Mattis, Barry-Murphy, Kennedy,Smart•, Whaley Subs not used: Fitzgerald, Youngs,Barlow, Buchanan.Att 5,147. Ref D Deadman

Notts County (0) 1 Chester (0) 1Hurst 56 Davies 70Notts County Pilkington, Wilson, Baudet, O’Callaghan,Ullathorne, Pipe, Edwards, Gill, Palmer (White 45), Hurst(Sheridan 77), Scoffham• Subs not used Marshall,McMahon, Martin.

Chester MacKenzie, Hessey, Bolland (Dimech 18), Artell,McNiven, Drummond, Curtis (Davies 62), Walker, Branch,Lowe, Richardson (Blundell 69) Subs not used: Vaughan,Bertos.Att 5,404. Ref N Swarbrick

Oxford Utd (2) 2 R & D’monds (0) 2Sabin 24 Taylor 54Roget 25 Grainger 58Oxford Utd Turley, Stirling (Bradbury 60), Ashton, Roget,Robinson, Hackett, Mansell, Hargreaves, Gray, Sabin,Campbell (Davies 71) Subs not used Tardif, Basham,Willmott.Rushden & D’monds Young, Dempster•, Gulliver,Okuonghae•, Kelly, Pearson, Savage, McCafferty(Grainger 28), Nicholls•, Taylor (Chillingworth 78),O’Grady Subs not used: Woodman, Wark, Joseph.Att 4,189. Ref S Mathieson

Peterborough (0) 0 Grimsby (0) 1Gary Jones 48

Peterborough Tyler, St. Ledger, Burton, Arber, Holden,Newton, Carden, Gain, Farrell (Semple 74), Quinn(Benjamin 67), Logan (Crow 59) Subs not used Harrison,Plummer.Grimsby Mildenhall, McDermott, Whittle, Robert Jones,Croft•, Cohen (Barwick 46), Kamudimba Kalala•,Bolland, Parkinson (Gritton 45), Reddy, Gary Jones (Newey79) Subs not used: Ramsden, Crane.Att 4,263. Ref G Sutton

Stockport (2) 3 Wycombe (2) 3Easter 15, 80 (pen) Tyson 13, 21 (pen), 53Malcolm 45Stockport Ikeme, Briggs, Vaughan•, Clare, Robertson,Malcolm, Boshell, Wolski (Allen 60), Hamshaw(Greenwood 83), Easter, Dje (Bramble 55) Subs not usedSpencer, Le Fondre.Wycombe Talia•, Senda, Johnson, Williamson, Easton•,Betsy, Lee (Dixon 83), Oakes, Burnell, Tyson (Bloomfield71), Mooney• Subs not used: Williams, Torres,Stonebridge.Att 3,507. Ref C Oliver

Torquay (2) 2 Shrewsbury (1) 1Connell 2 Langmead 28Garner 45Torquay Marriott, Lawless, Woods, Sharp, Hill, Sow(Coleman 75), Garner, Hockley, Kuffour, Connell,Constantine (Sako 82) Subs not used Skinner, Priso,Hancox.Shrewsbury Hart, Herd, Hope, Walton, Sharp, Tolley•(Hogg 81), Sorvel, Ashton (Denny 58), McMenamin,Stallard (Smith 60), Langmead Subs not used: Whitehead,Thompson.Att 2,287. Ref G Hegley

Wrexham (1) 2 Cheltenham (0) 0Holt 8Walters 69Wrexham Ingham, Linwood (Spender 50), Warhurst, Holt,Bennett, Mark Jones (Mackin 83), Ferguson, DannyWilliams, Smith, Walters•, Foy (McEvilly 86) Subs notused Michael Jones, Mike Williams.Cheltenham Higgs, Gill, Townsend (Caines 79), Taylor,Victory, Wilson, Finnigan •(Bird 45), McCann, Melligan,Spencer (Vincent 67), Odejayi Subs not used: Brown,Rose.Att 3,671. Ref R Booth

LEADING GOALSCORERS (TOTAL)9 Tyson (Wycombe)7 Holt (Rochdale)6 Agogo (Bristol Rovers)5 Birch (Lincoln City); Easter (Stockport); Hurst(Notts County); Lambert (Rochdale)

Championship League One League Two

BANK OF SCOTLAND PREMIERLEAGUEP W D L F A Pts

Hearts 6 6 0 0 19 4 18Celtic 6 4 1 1 16 8 13Kilmarnock 6 4 1 1 16 10 13Hibernian 6 4 1 1 11 6 13Rangers 6 3 1 2 10 8 10Inverness CT 6 2 2 2 7 6 8Aberdeen 6 2 1 3 8 9 7Motherwell 6 2 1 3 13 16 7Dundee Utd 6 1 2 3 8 13 5Falkirk 6 1 1 4 4 11 4Dunfermline 6 0 2 4 4 11 2Livingston 6 0 1 5 2 16 1

Livingston (1) 1 Hearts (3) 4Dalglish 45 Skacel 11, Webster 278,405 Hartley 34, 63 (pen)

SaturdayCeltic (1) 2 Aberdeen (0) 0Zurawski 13 59,607Petrov 61

Falkirk (0) 1 Rangers (1) 1McBreen 78 Novo 39 (pen)6,500

Hibernian (1) 2 Dundee Utd (1) 1O’Connor 18 (pen) Brebner 14Sproule 70

Inverness CT (1) 1 Motherwell (0) 2Brewster 25 McDonald 664,018 Kinniburgh 70

Kilmarnock (2) 3 Dunfermline (1) 2Dodds 8 Burchill 4Boyd 33 Derek Young 67Invincibile 90 4,737

LEADING GOALSCORERS (TOTAL)7 Hartson (Celtic)6 Brewster (Inverness CT); Skacel (Hearts)4 Boyd (Kilmarnock); Hamilton (Motherwell);McDonald (Motherwell); Miller (Dundee Utd); Nish(Kilmarnock); Prso (Rangers); Sproule (Hibernian)3 Beattie (Celtic); Brebner (Dundee Utd); Jankauskas(Hearts); Lovell (Aberdeen); Novo (Rangers);O’Connor (Hibernian); Smith (Aberdeen); Thompson(Celtic); Zurawski (Celtic)

BELL’S SCOTTISH LEAGUE, FIRST DIVISIONP W D L F A Pts

Ross County 5 3 2 0 7 3 11St Mirren 5 3 1 1 6 4 10Dundee 5 2 2 1 8 7 8Hamilton 5 2 2 1 5 4 8Clyde 5 2 2 1 6 6 8St Johnstone 5 2 1 2 8 6 7Airdrie Utd 5 2 1 2 6 4 7Stranraer 5 1 1 3 4 6 4Brechin 5 0 3 2 3 5 3Queen of South 5 0 1 4 1 9 1

Brechin 1 Clyde 1; Dundee 0 Airdrie Utd 2; Queen ofSouth 0 St Mirren 1; St Johnstone 1 Ross County 1;Stranraer 1 Hamilton 2

SECOND DIVISIONP W D L F A Pts

Gretna 5 4 1 0 13 4 13Morton 5 3 1 1 6 3 10Ayr 5 2 3 0 9 6 9Raith 5 3 0 2 11 9 9Alloa 5 2 2 1 9 6 8Partick 5 1 3 1 7 8 6Peterhead 5 1 2 2 6 9 5Forfar 5 1 1 3 6 11 4Dumbarton 5 0 2 3 4 8 2Stirling 5 0 1 4 3 10 1

Alloa 1 Forfar 1; Ayr 2 Partick 2; Morton 0 Gretna 2;Peterhead 1 Dumbarton 0; Raith 5 Stirling 2

THIRD DIVISIONP W D L F A Pts

Berwick 5 5 0 0 14 4 15Stenhousemuir 5 4 1 0 14 4 13East Fife 5 3 0 2 8 9 9Queens Park 5 2 1 2 9 8 7Cowdenbeath 5 2 0 3 4 4 6Arbroath 5 1 2 2 5 7 5Montrose 5 1 2 2 4 6 5Albion 5 1 1 3 7 11 4East Stirling 5 1 1 3 7 12 4Elgin 5 0 2 3 4 11 2

Albion 2 East Fife 4; Arbroath 1 Stenhousemuir 1;Cowdenbeath 0 Berwick 1; East Stirling 1 Montrose 1;Elgin 2 Queens Park 2

HIGHLAND LEAGUEP W D L F A Pts

Huntly 6 4 2 0 18 5 14Forres Mechanics 5 4 0 1 13 6 12Fraserburgh 6 3 3 0 10 5 12Cove Rangers 5 3 2 0 14 6 11Inverurie Locos 6 3 1 2 11 5 10Clachnacuddin 6 2 2 2 9 11 8Deveronvale 5 2 1 2 10 8 7Keith 5 2 1 2 10 8 7Nairn County 6 2 1 3 9 10 7Lossiemouth 6 2 1 3 6 14 7Buckie Thistle 5 1 3 1 6 3 6Rothes 6 2 0 4 8 13 6Brora 6 2 0 4 7 14 6Wick Academy 5 1 1 3 3 8 4Fort William 6 0 0 6 4 22 0

Cove Rangers 5 Brora 1; Forres Mechanics 4Clachnacuddin 1; Fort William 1 Huntly 9;Fraserburgh 1 Buckie Thistle 0; Nairn County 3Lossiemouth 0; Rothes 2 Keith 5; Wick Academy 0Inverurie Locos

ITALYP W D L F A Pts

Juventus 2 2 0 0 5 0 6Livorno 2 2 0 0 3 1 6Udinese 2 2 0 0 2 0 6Milan 2 1 1 0 4 2 4Fiorentina 2 1 1 0 4 3 4Palermo 2 1 1 0 4 3 4Lazio 2 1 1 0 2 1 4Internazionale 2 1 0 1 5 3 3Roma 2 1 0 1 3 1 3Sampdoria 2 1 0 1 4 4 3Chievo 2 1 0 1 1 1 3Siena 2 1 0 1 3 4 3Ascoli 2 0 2 0 1 1 2Cagliari 2 0 1 1 2 3 1Messina 2 0 1 1 2 3 1Lecce 2 0 1 1 1 2 1Parma 2 0 1 1 1 2 1Reggina 2 0 0 2 2 6 0Treviso 2 0 0 2 0 4 0Empoli 2 0 0 2 0 5 0

Cagliari 1 Lazio 1; Roma 0 Udinese 1; Chievo Verona 1 Parma 0; Empoli 0 Juventus 4; Lecce 0 Ascoli 0; Messina 2 Fiorentina 2; Sampdoria 3 Reggina 2; Treviso 0 Livorno 1Saturday: Milan 3 Siena 1; Palermo 3 Internationale 2

NETHERLANDSGroningen 0 Sparta 1; Twente Enschede 0 VitesseArnhem 1; Feyenoord 3 NEC Nijmegen 0; NAC Breda 4ADO Den Haag 1Saturday: AZ Alkmaar 7 RBC Roosendaal 0; PSV Eindhoven 1 Utrecht 0; Heerenveen 1 Heracles Almelo 2; Willem II Tilburg 0 AjaxAmsterdam 2 Friday: RKC Waalwijk 2 Roda JC Kerkrade 0 Leading standings: 1 AZ Alkmaar P4 Pts12; 2 Feyenoord 4–12; 3 RKC Waalwijk 4–12

FRANCERacing Lens 1 Girondins Bordeaux 1; Sochaux 0Marseille 1Saturday: AC Ajaccio 1 AS Nancy 0; Lyon 2 Monaco 1; Metz 0 Lille 2; Nice 0 St Etienne 1; Paris St Germain 1 Strasbourg 0; Rennes 3 Auxerre 1; Toulouse 0 Le Mans 2; Troyes 1 Nantes 0 Leading standings: 1 Lyon P6 Pts16; 2 Paris StGermain 6–13; 3 Racing Lens 6–11

GERMANYBorussia Dortmund 2 Cologne 1; Hertha Berlin 3 VfLWolfsburg 0; Saturday: Kaiserslautern 1 Werder Bremen 5;Nuremberg 1 Bayern Munich 2; Bayer Leverkusen 1Schalke 04 1; Borussia Moenchengladbach 2 MSVDuisburg 1; Mainz 1 Hamburg SV 3; Hanover 96 2

Eintracht Frankfurt 0; VfB Stuttgart 1 ArminiaBielefeld 1Leading standings: 1 Bayern Munich P4 Pts12; 2 Werder Bremen 4–10; 3 Hamburg SV 4–10

SPAINP W D L F A Pts

Celta Vigo 2 2 0 0 5 2 6Deportivo Coruna 2 2 0 0 2 0 6Athletic Bilbao 2 1 1 0 4 1 4Getafe 2 1 1 0 3 1 4Barcelona 2 1 1 0 2 0 4Valencia 2 1 1 0 3 2 4Sevilla 2 1 1 0 2 1 4Real Madrid 2 1 0 1 4 4 3Osasuna 2 1 0 1 2 2 3Cadiz 2 1 0 1 2 2 3Real Betis 2 1 0 1 1 1 3Espanyol 2 1 0 1 2 3 3Real Sociedad 2 1 0 1 2 4 3Real Zaragoza 2 0 2 0 2 2 2Villarreal 2 0 1 1 2 3 1Alaves 2 0 1 1 1 2 1Atletico Madrid 2 0 1 1 0 1 1Racing Santander 2 0 0 2 0 2 0Malaga 2 0 0 2 1 4 0Real Mallorca 2 0 0 2 0 3 0

Barcelona 2 Real Mallorca 0; Getafe 1 AthleticBilbao 1; Malaga 1 Espanyol 2; Racing Santander 0 Cadiz 1; Real Sociedad 2 Alaves 1; Real Zaragoza 2 Valencia 2; Villarreal 1Sevilla 1Saturday: Deportivo La Coruna 1 Atletico Madrid 0; Real Betis 1 Osasuna 0; Real Madrid 2 CeltaVigo 3

BELGIUMLokeren A Lierse A (abandoned after 20min);Standard Liege 1 Beveren 3Saturday: Ghent 2 Racing Genk 0; Anderlecht 3 Excelsior Mouscron 1; Charleroi 1 SV Roeselare 1; Club Bruges 2 St Truiden 1; La Louviere 0 Cercle Bruges 0; Westerlo 3 FC Brussels 0; Zulte Waregem 2 GerminalBeerschot 1Leading standings: 1 Anderlecht P5 Pts13; 2 Standard Liege 4–12; 3 Club Bruges 5–11

PORTUGALAcademica 0 Vitoria Setubal 1; Boavista L FC Pacos de Ferreira L; Estrela Amadora 2 Naval 1; Gil Vicente 0 Nacional Madeira 1; Uniao Leiria 0Maritimo 0.Saturday: Porto 3 Rio Ave 0; Sporting Lisbon 2Benfica 1Friday: Vitoria Guimaraes 0 Braga 2Today: Penafiel v BelenensesLeading standings: 1 Porto P3 Pts9; 2 Braga 3–9; 3 Sporting Lisbon 3–9

NATIONWIDE CONFERENCEP W D L F A Pts

Exeter 7 5 2 0 13 3 17Grays Athletic 7 4 3 0 16 7 15York 7 4 2 1 10 5 14Stevenage 7 4 1 2 13 8 13Morecambe 7 4 1 2 10 6 13Accrington Stanley 7 4 1 2 10 8 13Dag & Red 7 3 3 1 14 8 12Kidderminster 7 3 3 1 11 8 12Halifax 7 3 2 2 9 5 11Hereford 7 3 2 2 8 4 11Altrincham 7 3 1 3 6 10 10Gravesend 7 3 1 3 9 14 10Scarborough 7 2 2 3 9 11 8Woking 7 2 1 4 10 13 7Southport 7 2 1 4 10 15 7Cambridge Utd 7 2 1 4 5 10 7Forest Green 7 1 3 3 6 8 6Canvey Island 7 2 0 5 9 13 6Tamworth 7 1 3 3 5 10 6Burton Albion 7 1 2 4 8 12 5Crawley Town 7 1 2 4 6 11 5Aldershot 7 1 1 5 8 16 4

Altrincham 0 Dag & Red 5; Burton Albion 0Accrington Stanley 2; Crawley Town 3 Canvey Island1; Exeter 4 Cambridge Utd 0; Forest Green 1 York 2;Grays Athletic 2 Kidderminster 2; Halifax 4 Tamworth0; Morecambe 5 Aldershot 2; Scarborough 3Gravesend 1; Stevenage 0 Hereford 0; Woking 1Southport 0

NATIONWIDE NORTHP W D L F A Pts

Northwich 7 6 1 0 23 8 19Stafford Rangers 7 5 1 1 11 5 16Hucknall 7 5 0 2 12 9 15Nuneaton 7 4 2 1 15 7 14Barrow 8 4 2 2 18 11 14Kettering 7 4 2 1 10 7 14Droylsden 7 3 3 1 14 9 12Stalybridge 7 3 3 1 15 11 12Harrogate Town 7 4 0 3 13 12 12Hinckley Utd 7 3 2 2 13 12 11Leigh RMI 7 3 1 3 11 12 10Lancaster City 7 2 3 2 9 10 9Worksop 7 2 2 3 6 7 8Gainsborough 7 2 2 3 9 11 8Hednesford 7 2 2 3 10 14 8Alfreton Town 7 2 1 4 9 13 7Moor Green 7 1 3 3 9 16 6Worcester 7 1 2 4 7 12 5Workington 8 1 2 5 11 19 5Vauxhall Motors 7 1 1 5 9 16 4Hyde 7 0 3 4 9 14 3Redditch 7 1 0 6 7 15 3

Alfreton Town 2 Redditch 1; Droylsden 2 Barrow 2;Gainsborough 1 Hinckley Utd 2; Hednesford 1Northwich 4; Kettering 0 Stafford Rangers 1; Nuneaton3 Lancaster City 0; Stalybridge 4 Moor Green 1;Vauxhall Motors 4 Leigh RMI 4; Worcester 0 Hucknall1; Workington 2 Harrogate Town 4; Worksop 1 Hyde 1

NATIONWIDE SOUTHCambridge City 1 Basingstoke 0; Eastleigh 1 Welling3; Farnborough 4 Carshalton Ath 0; Havant and W 3Histon 1; Hayes 2 Bishop's Stortford 0; Lewes 1Newport County 0; Maidenhead Utd 1 Yeading 2; StAlbans 5 Eastbourne Borough 0; Sutton Utd 1 BognorRegis Town 0; Weston-S-Mare 0 Dorchester 4;Weymouth 2 Thurrock 0Leading standings: 1 Sutton Utd P7 Pts18; 2 Histon7–16; 3 Cambridge City 7–15

CIS INSURANCE IRISH CUPGroup Stage: Ards 0 Linfield 7; Armagh City 1Coleraine 2; Cliftonville 2 Dungannon Swifts 4;Glenavon 1 Ballymena 2; Glentoran 3 Institute 2;Larne 1 Lisburn Distillery 5; Limavady 2 Loughgall 1;Portadown 2 Newry 1

VAUXHALL MASTERFIT RETAILERS WELSHPREMIER

P W D L F A PtsNewtown 3 3 0 0 8 2 9T.N.S. 4 2 2 0 7 3 8Caernarfon 3 2 1 0 11 3 7Carmarthen 4 2 1 1 6 3 7Llanelli 3 2 0 1 9 3 6Rhyl 3 2 0 1 7 4 6Cwmbran 3 2 0 1 6 7 6Haverfordwest 4 1 2 1 6 5 5Welshpool Town 4 1 2 1 7 7 5Airbus UK 3 1 1 1 5 3 4Grange Quins 3 1 1 1 3 4 4Porthmadog 3 0 3 0 4 4 3Port Talbot 3 0 3 0 3 3 3Aberystwyth 4 0 3 1 4 7 3Newi Cefn Druids 3 0 2 1 4 6 2Caersws 4 0 1 3 3 14 1Connah’s Quay 3 0 0 3 2 8 0Bangor City 3 0 0 3 2 11 0

Caersws 0 TNS 2; Carmarthen 2 Welshpool Town 0;Rhyl 1 Cwmbran 2

EIRCOM LEAGUEFirst Division: Cobh Ramblers 1 Dundalk 1; KilkennyCity 2 Kildare County 0

NATIONWIDE WOMEN'S PREMIER LEAGUE CUP First round: AFC Wimbledon 5 West Ham 2; AstonVilla 4 Everton 6; Blackburn Rovers 5 Curzon Ashton0; Cardiff 1 Sunderland 5; Chelsea 3 Bristol City 5(aet); Doncaster Rvrs 5 Liverpool 0; Fulham 1 ManCity 1 (aet); Leeds Utd 1 Bristol Academy 2; Millwall 1Nottm Forest 0; Newcastle 3 Middlesbrough 4 (aet);Portsmouth 1 C Palace 0; Stockport 0 Birmingham 4;Tranmere 2 Brighton 0; Watford 3 Southampton 0

Current form (last result on left) and next fixtureWWWWL Sep 13 v Brighton (a)DWDWW Sep 13 v Crystal Palace (h)WWDWW Sep 13 v Norwich (h)DWWLD Sep 13 v QPR (a)DDWWW Sep 13 v Ipswich (a)DWDLW Sep 13 v Millwall (h)DWWDL Sep 13 v Sheff Wed (a)WWDLL Sep 13 v Burnley (h)WWWDL Sep 13 v Reading (a)DLDWW Sep 14 v Coventry (h)LWLWW Sep 13 v Hull (a)LLWWD Sep 13 v Southampton (h)LDWWL Sep 13 v Stoke (h)WDLDD Sep 13 v Cardiff (a)DLDLW Sep 13 v Luton (h)DWDLD Sep 13 v Sheff Utd (h)DDLWL Sep 14 v Derby (a)DLLDD Sep 13 v Plymouth (a)WLLLD Sep 13 v Watford (a)DLDLW Sep 13 v Preston (a)DDLLW Sep 13 v Leicester (h)LLLLL Sep 13 v Crewe (h)LDLLD Sep 13 v Leeds (h)LLLLL Sep 13 v Wolves (a)



Formula one Belgian grand prix

Hartley doublehelps giveHearts room at the top

Scottish PremierleagueEwan Murray Almondvale

Livingston 1 Hearts 4Dalglish 45 Skacel 11, Webster 27

Hartley 34 63pen

Paul Hartley completed a tremendousweek with a double to seal a 4–1Premierleague win for Hearts at Liv-ingston yesterday.

The Scotland international had beencommended for his displays in the WorldCup qualifiers against Italy and Norwayand he grabbed a brace at Almondvale toextend the Jambos' lead at the top of thetable to five points.

Hearts’ majority shareholder VladimirRomanov had spent yesterday morning inEdinburgh, briefing the club’s supporterson his plans to increase the capacity ofTynecastle Stadium, install a hotel at theground and continue to bankroll signingswhich Hearts could never have dreamedof even a year ago. He then travelled tothis easy win in West Lothian on a sup-porters’ bus.

It was all routine fare for followers ofHearts these days and, if the Lithuanianbanker was to tell them that Santa Clausreally did exist, you get the feeling theywould most likely believe it, perhaps withgood reason.

These are not just heady times at Heartof Midlothian — they are verging on theincredible. George Burley’s side have nowwon their opening six SPL matches, a featnot achieved by the Edinburgh club sincerationing was in force. And at a time whenKofi Annan may be a necessary visitor toBurley’s dressing room, it was hearteningto see Scots to the fore in claiming threepoints after the Czech midfielder RudiSkacel’s early opening goal.

For it was Hartley and Andy Webster,two stars of their national team’s 2–1 winin Oslo, who cemented this victory. CraigGordon, who rightly earned praise notonly for his display in Norway, but also fornullifying the threat of Italy at Hampdenlast Saturday, confirmed his worth againby producing an early candidate for saveof the season late in the second half.

After Rangers dropped two points atFalkirk on Saturday, Hearts hold a five-point lead over Gordon Strachan’s Celticand are eight in front of the Ibrox club.And with an impressive goal difference —

Raikkonen keeps Alonso waiting Alan Henry Spa-Francorchamps

Fernando Alonso remained a tantalisingsix points short of becoming the youngest-ever world champion yesterday afterbringing his Renault home second in theBelgian grand prix behind his key rivalKimi Raikkonen in a McLaren.

Alonso now leads the championship by25 points with 30 still at stake over theremaining three races. Jenson Buttonjoined the two title contestants on thepodium after a fine third place in his BAR-Honda 007 and Mark Webber drove wellto take fourth for Williams-BMW.

The race took place in treacherouslytricky conditions with the damp track justtoo dry for rain tyres and just too slipperyfor dry rubber. This dilemma called forfine judgment from the drivers and manyof them made the wrong call, switching todry tyres too early with the result thatthey were forced to return to the pits forunscheduled second stops earlier thanthey would have liked.

Most of the quickest competitors optedfor the halfway house of intermediaterubber, which proved well suited to theconditions as the track dried out painfullyslowly in the closing stages of the race.The prospects for a dominant McLaren 1–2were wiped out two laps from the end,when Raikkonen’s team-mate Juan PabloMontoya spun off after he was caught byAntonio Pizzonia’s Williams-BMW, whichhad just resumed on dry tyres after itsfinal refuelling stop.

Montoya had led from the start but, asthe track dried out, Raikkonen closed induring their second stint. Montoya calledin for his second refuelling with 11 of the

race’s 44 laps to go. But Raikkonen piledon the pressure to squeeze into the leadafter he made his second stop two lapslater, after which he was able to reel offthe remaining miles for his sixth win ofthe season.

“Conditions were pretty difficult today,” said Alonso. “We did our maxi-mum but the car was quite light and mov-ing around a lot, so we decided to driveour own race. We did not want to take anyrisks and so played things safe for thechampionship. We had the car set up fordry conditions, so it was very difficult inthe wet, but the car was certainly quick onthe straight.

“I think Kimi has the possibility of win-ning all the remaining three races but Ionly need six points from those races,

whatever happens to him. We have a newaerodynamic package coming for theBrazilian grand prix in a fortnight’s timeand I hope we can get closer to beating theMcLarens in a straight fight.”

The race was disrupted after 10 lapswhen the safety car had to be deployed sothat marshals could clear up the debrisfrom Giancarlo Fisichella’s Renault whichhad crashed heavily at the tricky EauRouge corner. Immediately after thesafety car was withdrawn, a flurry of yel-low flags at the La Source hairpin signalledmore drama as Takuma Sato badly mis-judged his braking, ramming his BAR-Honda into the back of Michael Schu-macher’s Ferrari and the two cars skiddedto an inelegant halt jammed nose-to-nosein the escape road.

Schumacher, who was hoping that thewet conditions might at least allow him amoderately competitive race after awholly dismal season, was clearly notamused by Sato’s misjudgment, the latestin a long line of slips by the Japanese dri-ver which will hardly help his prospectsof being retained next year.

Sato’s team-mate Button was wellsatisfied with his day’s work. “I wasstruggling with oversteer from the start,”said the British driver, “but we made someadjustments at the first stop. Then weswitched to dry tyres, which was a mis-take, so I had to come back for intermedi-ates. After that the car was fine and I wasable to catch up with the leaders. At thelast stop we didn’t change the set ofintermediates and that gave us a quickerpace towards the finish than the other carsaround us.”

Qualifying at Spa is always a nerve-racking affair thanks to the unpre-dictability of the weather, a stark realitythrown into graphic relief when Friday’ssecond free practice session wascompletely washed out by a torrentialdownpour.

From the outset qualifying was goingto be a gamble, particularly for the Miche-lin runners. Either they used the softeroption tyre, very quick but probably notquite durable for a race distance in thehope that the race would take place in thedry, or they could use the slower, harderprime tyre and hope that the track wouldbe dry on Sunday. In the event nobodyhad the perfect chassis set-up and the raceturned into an exercise in compromiseand improvisation from which Raikkonenand Alonso emerged the most convincingproponents.

Kimi Raikkonen, left, gets the jump on Fernando Alonso on the opening lap before going on to win yesterday’s Belgian grand prix Photograph: Gero Breloer/EPA

Red Bull buy-up puts Ecclestone in the driving seat Alan Henry Spa-Francorchamps

With the wily political adroitness whichhas been the touchstone of his career asformula one’s consummate powerbroker,Bernie Ecclestone has neatly cleared apath which will see the Minardi team passinto the ownership of Red Bull by the endof the season.

This is more than simply a matter of thebillionaire Red Bull founder DietrichMateschitz tossing over £19m in smallchange to buy his second formula oneteam within 12 months. By givingMateschitz his support, Ecclestone hasfurther strengthened his hand as he worksto see off the threat of a possible break-away world championship in 2008.

Under their new ownership Minardiwill join Ferrari, the main Red Bull squad

and Jordan on Ecclestone’s side of thepolitical divide. “Now it’s just a questionof Bernie picking off Toyota and FrankWilliams then the rest of the paddock willhave no alternative but to fall in line,” saidanother team principal yesterday.

It is likely that Minardi will now becomeeffectively a Red Bull junior team with thenovices Vitantonio Liuzzi and Scott Speedracing their Cosworth-engined cars in2006 alongside the Red Bull-Ferraris ofDavid Coulthard and Christian Klien.

The sale of Minardi will also see thedeparture from the formula one paddockof its previous owner, the airline ownerPaul Stoddart, who clashed with the FIApresident Max Mosley earlier in the yearover the way in which the governing bodyimplemented its rule changes for 2005.

“I am going to miss this paddock very,very badly,” said Stoddart. “When I came

in five years ago it was facing almost cer-tain doom and although we haven’t hadthe on-track success that we had hopedfor, we have managed to produce what Ihope will be a new world champion inFernando Alonso.”

Meanwhile the tyre supplier Michelinyesterday clashed with the FIA after an-nouncing that it will supply only fiveteams in 2006, leaving Toyota andWilliams to join Ferrari, Jordan andMinardi in the Bridgestone camp.

Michelin also warned it could withdrawfrom formula one at the end of next yearif the FIA insisted on having a single tyresupplier from 2008.

“We need the FIA to clarify the reasonsfor the single tyre,” said the firm’s chiefexecutive Edouard Michelin. “We havelimited trust in the transparency and gov-ernance of the FIA. Sometimes we won-der if there is anything wrong by winningby fair means.”

The FIA is unlikely to be impressedwith such sabre-rattling. “Mr Michelinshould be aware that the proposal did notcome from the FIA, but all the competingteams,” said a waspish statement autho-rised by Mosley. “There are powerful ar-guments for a single tyre in formula one.If Mr Michelin is not aware of these sim-ple facts he shows an almost comical lackof knowledge of modern formula one.”

‘Now it’s just a questionof Bernie picking offthe Toyota teamand Frank Williams’

Hearts’ PaulHartley ended afine week with twogoals for the leagueleaders after hisimpressive displayfor Scotland

Full results

1 Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) 10ptsMcLaren-Mercedes 1hr 30min 01.295sec

2 Fernando Alonso (Sp) 8ptsRenault +28.394sec

3 Jenson Button (GB) 6ptsBAR-Honda +32.077sec

4 Mark Webber (Aus) 5ptsWilliams +01:09.167

5 Rubens Barrichello (Bra) 4ptsFerrari +01:18.136

6 Jacques Villeneuve (Can) 3ptsSauber +01:27.435

7 Ralf Schumacher (Ger) 2ptsToyota +01:27.574

8 Tiago Monteiro (Por) 1ptJordan +1 lapAlso Classified

9 Christian Klien (Aust)Red Bull +1 lap

10 Felipe Massa (Bra)Sauber +1 lap

11 Narain Karthikeyan (India)Jordan +1 lap

12 Christijan Albers (Neth)Minardi +2 laps

13 Robert Doornbos (Neth)Minardi +3 lapsNot Classified

14 Juan Pablo Montoya (Col)McLaren +4 laps

15 Antonio Pizzonia (Bra)Williams +5 laps

16 Jarno Trulli (It)Toyota +10 laps

17 David Coulthard (GB)Red Bull +26 laps

18 Michael Schumacher (Ger)Ferrari +31 laps

19 Takuma Sato (Japan)BAR +31 laps

20 Giancarlo Fisichella (It)Renault +34 laps

Drivers’ championship1 Fernando Alonso 1112 Kimi Raikkonen 863 Michael Schumacher 554 Juan Pablo Montoya 505 Jarno Trulli 43

6 Giancarlo Fisichella 417 Ralf Schumacher 378 Rubens Barrichello 359 Jenson Button 3010 Mark Webber 29

Laps 44 Fastest lap Ralf Schumacher 1.51.453, lap 43

Constructors’ championship1 Renault 1522 McLaren-Mercedes 1463 Ferrari 904 Toyota 805 Williams-BMW 59

6 BAR-Honda 317 Red Bull-Cosworth 278 Sauber-Petronas 179 Jordan-Toyota 1210 Minardi-Cosworth 7

Burley’s team have scored 19 goals andconceded only four in these openingmatches — Hearts look in fine fettle beforeAlex McLeish takes his team to Tynecastleon Saturday week.

Skacel bundled home from two yardsafter a cute knockdown from Hartley dur-ing an opening period in which Heartswere utterly dominant against theleague’s bottom side. Webster, again thesubject of English transfer speculation lastweek, had time and space to head a sec-ond goal past the despairing RoddyMcKenzie as the game approached thehalf-hour point and the Edinburgh clubwere already on easy street.

Hartley’s first goal of the afternoon, theculmination of the kind of fine, sweepingmove which has been the hallmark ofHearts’ season thus far, merely com-pounded Paul Lambert’s side’s agony.

Paul Dalglish had been a spectator atParkhead for Celtic’s comfortable 2–0 winover punchless Aberdeen on Saturday andhe was reduced to the same role for his 57minutes on the field yesterday. He was onhand, though, to score from two yards justseconds before half-time, after Gordonhad only managed to block Graham Bar-rett’s 18-yard free-kick.

Perhaps unsurprisingly the second period was a low-key affair. Graham Bar-rett’s shirt-tug on Jamie McAllisterhanded Hartley the chance to score hissecond of the afternoon, and the formerCeltic target made no mistake as he buriedthe ball low to McKenzie’s left after 62minutes. From then on, it was party timefor the visiting fans who had all but filledthree-quarters of Almondvale Stadium.Six games down, 30 to go — and more people are beginning to believe the impossible.Man of the match: Rudi Skacel (Hearts)



Rugby union Guinness Premiership

Newcastle ill at ease as operationsidelines Wilkinson for six weeksNorman Harris Kingston Park

Newcastle 14 Bristol 16

Proceedings opened dramatically with anRAF rescue helicopter landing in the mid-dle of the pitch to deliver a newly-kittedFlash the Falcon. It would have meant agood deal more if the RAF could havedelivered a fully re-furbished JonnyWilkinson. That, they couldn’t do —Wilkinson was in hospital recovering froman appendix operation that had remaineda closely guarded secret until yesterday.

The fly-half suffered his latest setbackon the Falcons pre-season tour of Japanthree weeks ago. It is perhaps a pity thatwhat was then described as a grumblingappendix couldn’t have been removed atthe time. As it is, Wilkinson, who was dueto be on the bench yesterday, is expectedto be out for four to six weeks after theoperation on Friday afternoon.

However, Dave Walder has now playedfly-half often enough in Wilkinson’sabsences to look the part. His game wasin good order, apart from a couple of latepenalty misses. What undid Newcastle,and gave Bristol a second successivevictory, was the strength of their pack `tboth the set-piece and breakdown.

Deceptively, confidence glimmeredfrom Newcastle’s early touches. A highWalder punt confused Bristol’s outsidebacks, with a penalty conceded at thesubsequent goal-line scramble. Walderconverted but his side’s 3–0 lead wasshort-lived.

The warning for the home side came ina short-side break by the fly-half JasonStrange who delivered a brilliant insidepass to the full-back Bernardo Stortoni.Although nothing came of that, the sameinstincts and anticipation soon combinedto cut Newcastle apart again. This timeStrange’s break involved Rob Higgitt,before Perry, a new signing from Coven-try, finished off, his strength and swerveunderlining his promise.

Strange landed a good conversion fromout wide and kicked two penalties. Walderadded only one for Newcastle —havingspurned another from 30 metres and infront — after a break by Jamie Noon washalted with a tackle that earned VaughanGoing a yellow card. Despite his absence,Newcastle struggled to impose them-selves and trailed 13–6 at half-time.

Barkley’s left foot trips up wobbly BathMike Averis Recreation Ground

Bath 9 Northampton 17

Even after close on two decades coachingtop teams in Australia and Europe, JohnConnolly feels that there is precious littlehe can do about the sad decline of whatwas once a match-winning asset beforeBath meet Leicester at the weekend.

Olly Barkley’s left foot, occasionallygood enough to kick for England, is so outof sorts that on Saturday it seemed todevelop a perverse mind of its own.Attempting a penalty from 30 metres out and to the right of the posts — the ideal position — the foot stuttered, like a golfer with the yips, barely grazingthe ball which rolled, end over end for 10 metres without getting off theground.

That made it four misses from sevenkickable attempts and curtains for a Bathside which, for the second week running,

should have been coasting rather thanlosing. Against Bristol on the opening dayof the season Barkley stabbed threeattempts wide before handing over toChris Malone. On Saturday they replayedthe script — Barkley landing two from five— before the Australian tried twice with-out luck, although his first did wobble itsway to the upright.

“Last week we kicked three out ofseven and this week three out of nine.They kick them in training, but not in thegame,” said Connolly. “Dave Alred [Eng-land’s kicking coach, who has helped re-model Barkley’s action] was down in theweek and Olly kicked magnificently. Iguess goalkickers have bad runs for what-ever reason. I haven’t got an answer forit.”

However Connolly was less under-standing about the botched break byMalone and Barkley 13 minutes from timethat gifted Seamus Mallon the sole try ina lacklustre game that was notable onlyfor the defence under constant pressureof Carlos Spencer and Bruce Reihana and

For an extended period after theresumption, a newly-aggressive Newcas-tle enjoyed a period of sustained pressurewithin 10 metres of the Bristol line.

There was a rapid succession of scrumsand tap penalties but all without a result.Bristol’s defence was quick to move upand commited. But Newcastle’s mainproblem was that they could not trusttheir scrum.

While Strange extended Bristol’s leadto 10 points with his third penalty, Waldermissed a kickable penalty on 72 minutesand another soon after. It hardly seemedthat either would have changed the gameanyway, since Newcastle would still haveneeded a try to win.

However, after 11 minutes of injurytime they finally managed it. Recycled balland thrusting drives created a doublechance on the left. FirstStuart Grimes puthis head down and went for the line,ignoring a three-to-one advantage on hisleft. Newcastle won the ball again and thistime made it count, Noon flying throughthe air for a try in the corner. That meanta crucial touch-line conversion attemptby full-back Matt Burke. The crowd washushed, but not the Bristol defenders asthey charged out wth cries of “Go! Go!”The kick missed by some distance.Newcastle: Burke; May, Noon, Mayerholer, Elliott; Walder (Flood,84), Charlton (Grindal, 58); Ward (Peel, 40), Thompson, Morris(Paoletti, 63), Perry (Parling, 63), Grimes, McCarthy (Finnegan,40), Charvis (capt), Dowson.Try: Noon. Pens: Walder 3.Bristol: Storton; Robinson, Higgitt, Contepomi, Going; Strange,Perry; Hilton (Clarke, 66, Hilton 86), Regan (Nelson, 67),Crompton, Sambucetti, Llewellyn (Winters, 52), Salter (capt),Short, Lewis (Ward-Lewis, 66).Try: Perry. Con: Strange. Pens: Strange 3.Sin-bin: Going, 31.Referee: R Debney (Leicestershire). Attendance: 6,661.

Gloucester slaves to quality of MercierPaul Rees Kingsholm

Gloucester 21 Sale 18

When you are down and desperate, anywin will do, but Gloucester’s first homevictory in the regular league season sincethe middle of February highlighted, ratherthan camouflaged, the fault lines in theirgame. Torrential rain, rolling mauls andthe booming boot of the returning fly-halfLudovic Mercier were just enough to seeGloucester home. They took the lead forthe first time with the last move of thematch, a rumbling drive from a lineout

which resulted in a penalty try when Saleconceded their 23rd penalty of the after-noon having lost two forwards to the sin-bin in the desperate, scrambling finish.But even a draw would have been morethan the home side merited.

The re-signing of Mercier should improve Gloucester’s goal-kicking successrate, though he missed four of his eight attempts on Saturday, but his presence inthe opening two rounds of the Premier-ship has diluted the tactical influence ofHenry Paul at inside-centre.

Paul is Gloucester’s creative hub, andwhile the conditions against Sale madehandling hazardous and risk-taking per-ilous, Gloucester’s one decent move of theday was fashioned when Paul, in his ownhalf, invited the replacement centre JackAdams to make an angled run and freedhim with a perfectly timed pass whichopened up the defence.

Whereas Paul struck up an almost in-tuitive relationship in recent seasons withDuncan McRae, now in semi-retirementhaving taken up a position on the coach-ing staff, Mercier is less willing to delegateand guides Gloucester down narrowerchannels.

“I think Ludo is a different player to theone who left us a couple of years ago,” saidthe Gloucester captain Phil Vickery. “Hisdistribution skills are excellent and wehave not really felt the benefit of that inthe first two matches because one was atense local derby and the rain poured in

the other. His return is a big boost for us.”The conditions did not stop Sale fromachieving width: they put moves togetherwith alacrity while Gloucester were besetby uncertainty, but Kingsholm is not theplace to come if your lineout is malfunc-tioning. Sale struggled on their ownthrow, so much that they stopped con-testing when it was Gloucester’s turn, adecision which cost them the match be-cause they lacked legal means to deal withtheir hosts’ mauling.

Sale were leading by four points whenthe game went into nine minutes of stop-page time. When Charlie Hodgson’s kickwas charged down by Andy Hazell — theone blemish in another impressive displayby the fly-half — Gloucester seized a posi-tion they were not to squander. Roy May-bank awarded them a penalty try afterSale collapsed a maul which was about tomake its way over their line after AdamEustace’s lineout take. “Sale were slickerand smarter than us, but we had the rawpower,” said the Gloucester head coachDean Ryan.Gloucester: Goodridge; Foster, Tindall (Adams, 49), Paul,Thirlby (McRae, 80); Mercier, Thomas; Collazo (Powell, 79),Azam (Davies, 71), Vickery (capt), Eustace, Brown, Buxton(Narraway, 76), Hazell, Forrester.Tries: Azam, penalty try. Con: Mercier. Pens: Mercier 3.Sin-bin: Vickery, 21.Sale: Larrechea; Cueto, Taylor, Sevalai’i (Todd, 62), Robinson(capt); Hodgson, Courrent; Sheridan, Titterrell (Bruno 43),Stewart, Lobbe, Schofield (Lund, 67), White, Jones, Chabal(Anglesea, 79).Tries: Chabal, Cueto. Con: Hodgson. Pens: Larrechea 2.Sin-bin: Jones 80, Sheridan 80Referee: R Maybank (London).Attendance: 10,500.

for the amount of rain that fell upon theRec.

It was a “poor call in poor conditions,”said the Bath director of coaching of Mal-one’s ambitious off-load. Instead of find-ing Barkley, the pass cannoned off Mal-lon’s right ear, looped gently into his armsand the 24-year-old Ulsterman, whoearned a year’s contract with Northamp-ton by sending them a video, swept 50yards to the corner.

“The next two [away to Leicester andNewcastle] were always going to be tough,now we are going to be tested,” saidConnolly. “Times like this you have to cir-cle the wagons and play tight as a team.It’s no use ranting and raving and scream-ing.”Bath: Perry; Finau, Higgins, Barkley, Welsh; Malone (Dunne, 70),Wood; Barnes (Stevens, 56), Mears, Bell, Borthwick (capt),Grewcock; Beattie, Scaysbrook, Feaunati (Delve, 70).Pens: Barkley 3.Sin bin: Finau, Grewcock.Northampton: Reihana (capt); Lamont, Clarke, Mallon, Cohen;Spencer, Robinson (Howard, 85); Smith, Hartley (Thompson, h-t), Sturgess (Budgen, 64); Lord, Damien Browne; Soden, Fox,Daniel Browne (Lewitt, 56).Try: Mallon. Pens: Reihana 4.Sin bin: Daniel Browne.Referee: D Rose (RFU). Attendance: 10,060.

Newcastle’s Anthony Elliott is sentflying by Bristol’s Vaughan Going

Exiles pay the penalty asDrahm turns the screwWilliam FotheringhamMadejski Stadium

London Irish 15 Worcester 20

Before their first home match of thePremiership season, the London Irishwebsite ran a picture of a field gun blast-ing out a rugby ball-shaped shell with thewords Let Battle Commence. Yesterdaythey ended up firing blanks after a last-gasp Worcester rally deprived them of awin which had seemed likely to take themto the top of the table until two minutesbefore the end of regulation time.

Irish failed to build on a five-point leadat the break and were unable to capitaliseon a spate of Worcester errors in the sec-ond half. With four minutes left they werepenalised for coming round the wrongside of a ruck under their own posts.

Bravely, Worcester opted for the scrumand when the Irish front row stood upthey were awarded a penalty try, to thedisgust of the home fans, who thoughttheir side had cleared the ball. A drop-goalfrom Shane Drahm shortly afterwardsmeant Irish had to score at least a con-verted try to win. With the home crowdbaying for blood, the visitors put up analmighty defence in their own 22 for sixminutes of injury time, surviving PatSanderson’s absence in the sin-bin to takethe win.

“We want to show we can compete inthe top half of the Premiership,” saidBrian Smith, the London Irish director ofrugby, but to do so his side can no longerafford to slip up in their home games asthey did last season. They have not wonhere since November 2004 and urgentlyneed to end a run of home defeats thatnow extends to six — their poorest leaguerun since the 1993-94 season.

Until two minutes from full-time, theExiles still enjoyed the five point lead theyhad held at the end of the first half, thanksto a brace of tries from their wing ScottStaniforth, who chipped on after 10 min-utes and went to ground inches inside thedead-ball line for the try, converted byBarry Everitt.

Although the fly-half missed a nastily-

angled penalty, the Irish backs continuedto threaten and the visitors’ cause was nothelped when Drahm missed a sitter of apenalty in front of the posts just after tak-ing over from the injured James Brown.

Within minutes, however, the Warriorswere on level terms, against the run ofplay, after the No8 Drew Hickey wasdragged down just yards from the line,and a spate of surges at close-range endedin the prop Tony Windo diving over withthe help of the French centre ThomasLombard, with Drahm converting.

Almost immediately, at the other endof the pitch, the other Frenchman, OlivierMagne of London Irish, was not to be out-done, and showed his class with a per-fectly-delivered chip kick to the Warriors’22, taken perfectly by Staniforth.

Continuing the cut-and-thrust, Drahmresponded with a drop-goal after ahandling error under pressure by theExiles’ flanker Keiron Dawson, but thiswas countered almost immediately by a35-metre penalty from Everitt. Irish wereunable to capitalise later on, however, andpaid a heavy price.London Irish: Armitage; Staniforth, Penney, Catt (capt), Bishop;Everitt, Willis; Hatley (Collins, 65), Russell (Flavin, 5), Hardwick(Skuse, h-t), Casey, Roche (Strudwick, 75), Magne, Dawson,Murphy (Gustard, 65).Tries: Staniforth 2. Con: Everitt. Pen: Everitt:Sin bin: Armitage, 55Worcester: Delport (Tucker, 75); Hylton, Rasmussen, Lombard,Hinshelwood; Brown (Drahm, 25), Gomarsall (Powell, 67);Windo, Van Niekerk (Fortey, 52), Horsman (McDonald, 80 ),Murphy, Gillies, Vaili (Horstmann, 67), Sanderson (capt), Hickey.Tries: Windo, Hickey. Cons: Drahm 2. Drop goal: Drahm 2Sin bin: Horsman, 47, Sanderson, 80Referee: M Fox (RFU). Attendance: 7,118

Rees states a runaway case Ian Malin Causeway Stadium

Wasps 29 Leicester 29

Six meetings in less than 10 months andEngland’s premier two clubs are stillimpossible to separate. Leicester, asWasps’ director of rugby Ian McGeechanruefully observed, travelled home morecontent than his champion side with adraw but, after a summer dominated byNew Zealand, another side in black shirtsstill looks set fair for an English winter.

But the margins between defeat andvictory are often wafer-thin and the resulthere hinged on Leicester’s Andy Goodemissing the only place-kick of 15 in theafternoon and a late attempted drop-goal.And, like Goode, Wasps best player wouldnot have known whether to laugh or cry.

The flanker Tom Rees was celebratinghis 21st birthday yesterday on crutchesafter damaging his right ankle. But in 47minutes the England Under-21 captainshowed it may be sooner rather than laterbefore he steps into the senior side withMcGeechan comparing him to the youngRichard Hill.

Rees, playing at blind-side flanker,showed a wing’s pace in outstripping aflat-footed Leicester defence to run in twofirst-half tries. But he fell awkwardly af-ter the break and watched the rest of the

game from the touchline, ice-packstrapped to his ankle.

“He’s one of the best ball-carrying back-rows I’ve ever seen,” said his captain JoeWorsley. “He’s quick and strong and hasgot the raw potential to be a future Eng-land player.”

Rees chose the afternoon to demon-strate his skills at the end of a week inwhich Leicester’s Lewis Moody, a man hecould replace in England’s back row, wasbanned for a month by his club for punch-ing the Leeds lock Jordan Crane in hiscomeback in an A team game last Monday.

Moody still faces a Rugby FootballUnion disciplinary hearing and his coachPat Howard said that Leicester were back-ing Twickenham’s zero-tolerance policyon foul play. “We don’t believe the repu-tation we have as a club is a fair one whichis why we have taken this stance withLewis. But he’s tried to apologise toJordan Crane and he’ll be back for us andEngland. Lewis is a physical player butthere is a line you can’t cross.”

Howard’s stance will be appreciated byWorsley who was bitter at being punchedfrom behind by Neil Back in the Leicesterflanker’s final game for the Tigers, theChampionship play-off final at Twicken-ham last May. Wasps won that match andshould have won this, presenting Leices-ter with their two tries when Alex Kingflung a wayward pass that was interceptedby Tom Varndell and when Harry Ellis tookadvantage of a lineout won by Wasps tohack the ball on and outpace Paul Sackey.

An exhilarating first half, when thesides were locked together at 23–23, wasfollowed by 40 minutes when they werebogged down quite literally. The heavensopened and suddenly open rugby was outof the question. The Buckinghamshireskies echoed to claps of thunder. But, ifthe rugby gods were unhappy, they mustbe pretty hard to please. Wasps: Van Gisbergen; Sackey, Waters, Abbott (Hoadley, 78),Voyce; King, Reddan (M Dawson, 51); Payne, Ibanez, J Dawson(Bracken, 48; J Dawson, 79), Shaw (Lock, 71), Birkett, Rees(Hart, 47), O’Connor, Worsley (capt).Tries: Rees 2. Cons: Van Gisbergen 2. Pens: Van Gisbergen 5.Leicester: Murphy; Tuilagi, Lloyd, Gibson (Broadfoot, 76),Varndell (Healey, 70); Goode, Ellis; Holford (White, h-t), Chuter,Moreno, Cullen (L Deacon, 49), Kay, B Deacon (Abrahams, 65),Jennings, Corry (capt).Tries: Varndell, Ellis. Cons: Goode 2. Pens: Goode 5.Sin-bin: Jennings, 28.Referee: D Pearson (Northumberland). Attendance: 8,459.

Four kicks from Ludovic Mercier wereenough to help Gloucester to victory

London Irish’s Mike Catt brings downBen Hinselwood of Worcester

The talented young Wasps flanker Tom Rees is helped off the field



Rugby union Guinness Premiership

Tougher disciplinary rules are a help, not a hindrance

The Premiership season is barely twoweekends old and the citing commis-sioners are busy. Leicester’s LewisMoody, Drew Hickey of Worcester andmy Sarries team-mate Nicky Little havealready been caught up in new, tougherdisciplinary procedures which meanthat a wayward fist or elbow can leave aplayer with a ban of anywhere betweentwo weeks and 12 months.

I’m all for it. One of the things thathas changed dramatically in the 10 yearssince I began to play rugby at the highestlevel is that I, for one, feel much safer onthe pitch. I’ll never forget, early in my

career, running past a team-mate whohad just had his jaw broken in threeplaces with a punch. The culprit gotaway with it, simply because the gamewas not as well refereed as it is now.

I’d put much of it down to the benigninfluence of television. So manymatches are televised now — whereasbefore it would be just one or two — andthere is no difficulty getting access tothe footage. The advent of citing fromvideo means there is far greater obliga-tion on referees to perform to the veryhighest standard.

In France we used to refer to a phe-nomenon called promotion cassoulet,which basically was a feeling — right orwrong, I don’t know — that the ref mightbe better disposed towards the hometeam if he had been well fed before kick-off. The incident involving my team-mate was an away game, needless to say.

I had my jaw broken in a matchagainst Castres when I was playing forToulouse, and was on soup for a month.That happened when I was breaking up afight between two rather larger guys, soon that day I resolved only to get

involved only in my own category — fly-weight. Seriously, there are other fac-tors in rugby. It’s the only game whereyou can exact revenge on someone bybeing physical with them and staywithin the rules. It’s easy to loseyour head when the red mistdescends, but just as in civilianlife we are all responsible for ouractions, so there is no point inwailing if you get punished.

Timing is also importantwhen you look at last week’sflurry of citings. There is always arun of suspensions early on,simply because the pressure is so

immense in the first couple of weeks ofthe season. Perhaps the hot weather

had an effect as well. Then again,the old joke goes that in winterplayers fight to keep warm, so,

tongue in cheek, youmight suggest thatspring and autumnare when playersare at their bestbehaved.There has been a

culture change inrecent times. The increased,

constant pressure toperform is actually adeterrent, even though itmakes players morestressed and morelikely to get frus-trated. Clubs are wellaware that if they losethe services of ahighly paid player for

several weeks,they willsuffer, and theresult could be

serious. Thus they are more strict — thefact that Leicester slapped a ban onMoody before the citing commissionersmet shows that they are desperate to beseen to be acting.

The arrival of the video and the highchance of getting cited and bannedmeans that the attitude towardsviolence has changed more generallyas well. A few years ago it used to be“well done, punching someone meansyou have balls”, now everyone — fans,managers, media — is more aware ofwhat is at stake if you are banned for awhile, so they think you are a bloodyfool instead.

There’s also more contact among theplayers. If you see more of the guys inother teams, you are — generally — lesslikely to swing a fist at them. I havedistant memories of playing in a Frenchchampionnat with 40 teams in it. Nowthere are only 14, and the Premiership,of course, is down to 12. You knowpretty much everyone and there is morerespect all round. It’s one area at leastwhere you can say the game is moving inthe right direction.

Leicester’s ban onMoody shows theyare desperate to beseen to be acting

Scarbrough flairleaves Leeds inthe basement

Saracens’ Dan Scarbrough is brought up short by Iain Balshaw yesterday Photograph: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

Robert Kitson Vicarage Road

Saracens 34 Leeds 16

Saracens’ fans still await their first com-petitive glimpse of Andy Farrell but a con-vincing demolition of Leeds yesterdayoffered substantial consolation. Bettersides than the Tykes will find Watford anunforgiving place to visit this season andSteve Diamond’s team look set to be aforce to be reckoned with in the monthsahead.

Even worse for Leeds, now bottom ofthe table after two blank rounds, was theidentity of their chief tormentor. Beforethe game disintegrated as a spectacle amida welter of late substitutes, there was nomore dangerous runner on the field thanDan Scarbrough, the former Tykesfavourite, who scored one eye-catchingtry and comfortably outshone his oppo-site number and possible England rivalIain Balshaw.

In front of Scarbrough there is also farmore collective purpose about Saracensthese days after a depressing sequence ofmoribund seasons. “No egos, no excuses”is the director of rugby Diamond’s mantraand an injection of northern common-sense has visibly made Saracens a tougherteam to beat. At a pinch yesterday thiscould have qualified as a north-countryderby, with eight of the home squad hav-ing previously represented either Leeds,Sale or Newcastle. With Diamond and thecoach Mike Ford offering flat-vowelledadvice from the touchline, the place ismore Coronation Street than EastEndersthis autumn.

Yesterday’s plot contained relativelyfew twists once Saracens, with Leeds’sformer scrum-half Alan Dickens dictatingthe play, had opened up a 27–3 half-timelead and the home side’s bonus point wasin the bag by the 52nd minute. Momen-tum was established as early as the fifthminute, Ben Skirving catching a longrestart and instigating a sweeping raidwhich ended with Thomas Castaignèdeshowing good speed to outpace threeLeeds pursuers.

A couple of Glen Jackson penalties keptthe scoreboard ticking over as Leeds con-spicuously failed to make the most ofsome promising build-up work, too manyhopeful passes going astray. Yetanother turnover led to a well-taken try by Kevin Sorrell, re-splendent in natty orange mitts,but the most popular score wasScarbrough’s 38th- minute ef-fort which left Balshawclutching a handful of thinair. Scarbrough is a Yorkshirelad to his core but, aftershoulder and hamstringinjuries last season, was in nomood to worry about upsetting his

old mates. The watching England attackcoach Joe Lydon will have taken due note.

Saracens’ strength in depth was furtherillustrated when their hooker Matt Cairnsscored their fourth try from a rolling mauland was immediately replaced by themore hirsute Irish Lion Shane Byrne. Inhis brief time on the field Byrne added fur-ther solidity to what is a distinctly pow-erful Saracens pack; size still matters, bothin rugby and newspapers.

Leeds, by comparison, were lacklustre,their only try coming when Chris Murphycharged down an attempted clearance byJackson nine minutes from the end. It isa long season but slow starters can swiftlyget sucked into a morass of self-doubtfrom which it can be difficult to escape.Their new All Black signing Justin Mar-shall, watched from the stands by his oldteam-mate Andrew Mehrtens, did his bestto spark some life into proceedings but toooften disappeared up blind alleys. As wellas bad light at The Oval yesterday, therewill be increasing gloom at Headingley.

Scarbrough’s face lit up, though, afterthe match. “I managed only seven gameslast year and had a never-ending run withinjury,” he said. “I felt I played reasonablywell but all credit to the forwards. Theybeat them up front from the first minuteand gave us a platform to attack.”Saracens: Scarbrough; Haughton, Castaignède (Harris, 60),Sorrell, Vaikona (Russell, 48); Jackson, Dickens (Bracken, 60);Yates, Cairns (Byrne, 53), Visagie, Chesney (Raiwalui, 32),Vyvyan(capt), Sanderson (Randell, 60), Seymour, Skirving.Tries: Castaignède, Sorrell, Scarbrough, Cairns. Cons: Jackson 4.Pens: Jackson 2.Leeds: Balshaw; Snyman, Jones, De Marigny, Doherty (Stimpson,72); Ross (Biggs, h-t), Marshall (Care, h-t); Isaacson (Cusack, h-t), Rawlinson (Bulloch, h-t), Kerr, Hooper (capt; Murphy, 60),Palmer, Morgan, Thomas (Parks, h-t), Dunbar.Try: Murphy. Con: De Marigny. Pens: Ross, De Marigny. Drop-goal: Balshaw. Referee: T Spreadbury (Somerset). Attendance: 6,190.

Leeds’ former scrum-halfAlan Dickens dictatedplay to help open up animpressive half-time lead

Thomas Castaignède

Section:GDN PS PaGe:16 Edition Date:050912 Edition:03 Zone: Sent at 11/9/2005 21:21 black


Sport

Johns touches downand the Wolves take offRugby leagueAndy WilsonHalliwell Jones Stadium

Warrington 33 Leeds 16

So that is what all the fuss is about.Andrew Johns made the most hypeddebut of the Super League’s first decadebut justified his reputation as the world’sbest player to such an extent that therewill be no less anticipation ahead of hissecond Warrington appearance at Hull thisFriday.

He did not do anything absolutely bril-liant, just a lot of things that were very,very good — from the touchline conver-sion to Henry Fa’afili’s first-minute try, the first of his six goals from sevenattempts, to the 35-metre drop-goal thatseemed to secure the Wolves’ first victoryin 10 matches against the Super Leaguechampions.

“Before you ask the question, theanswer is yes, he is that good,” said War-rington’s coach Paul Cullen. “It’s not justwhat he does himself but what he’sextracted from the other players. One ortwo of them have found gears which, tobe fair, I didn’t think they had.”

Afterwards, as he rushed betweentelevision interviews and a whistlestoptour of Warrington’s packed corporatefacilities — seldom can so much flesh havebeen pressed in so little time — Johns wasalready pumping Cullen for informationabout Hull, a further indication of hisdetermination to prolong his English play-ing stint until next month’s Old Traffordgrand final.

“Anyone can do a one-off,” said the 31-year-old, whose 80-minute performancewas all the more remarkable as it cameafter less than four days to recover fromjet lag and take control of a new team,despite suffering from a dead leg. “Thechampion teams can do it four or fivetimes in a row.”

But the bookmakers who slashed War-rington’s grand final odds when Johns’ssigning was announced will be revisingthem further after this debut, althoughtougher challenges lie ahead than a Leedsteam who have now lost four consecutivematches: notably Bradford at Odsal,where Warrington will have to halt theBulls if they are to reach Old Trafford.

However, Saturday night was not thetime to dwell on such considerations. Itwas an occasion as much as a rugbymatch, with Warrington opening a tem-porary second souvenir shop to cater forthe demand for their “Joey” Johns mer-chandise, eight blue-chip companiesnamed as Johns supporters in the AndrewJohns Commemorative Matchday Maga-zine, and so many supporters waiting out-side the foyer for a last glimpse of the greatman that mere mortals were advised toleave via a side door.

“I didn’t realise how big it was going tobe,” said Brian Carney, Great Britain’s newvice-captain, who was one of many play-ers from other Super League clubs whoturned up to watch Johns in the flesh.“People just wanted to be here, even tosee him warm up. He’s a special player andit’s been a special night.”Warrington Wolves: Grose; Fa’afili, Martin Gleeson, Kohe-Love,Bridge; Briers, Johns; Leikvoll, N Wood, P Wood, Swann, Noone,Clarke.Substitutes: Mark Gleeson, Lima, Bracek, Riley.Leeds Rhinos: Mathers; Calderwood, Walker, Smith, Bai; Sinfield,Burrow; Jones-Buchanan, Dunemann, Ward, Lauitiiti, Poching, Ellis.Substitutes: McGuire, Diskin, McDermott, Scruton.Referee: A Klein (Silsden)

Morley so rusty in debut winAndy Wilson Odsal

Bradford 52 Huddersfield 34

Adrian Morley emulated Andrew Johns bymaking a winning debut for Bradford yes-terday, although the Sydney-based GreatBritain forward played a far less signifi-cant role.

After being introduced as an 18thminute substitute, Morley made littleimpact and the Bulls were trailing 34–18to an inspired Huddersfield when he wastaken off with 19 minutes remaining.

But without their short-term signing,Bradford ran in six tries in the last 17 min-utes to extend their winning run to sevenmatches, and regain third place fromJohns’s Warrington.

Two of those six went to LesleyVainikolo, who had hitherto been closelywatched following his six-try feat againstHull last weekend, although it was the in-fluential Paul Johnson who triggered thefightback by ducking over for his secondfrom close range.

Stuart Fielden, Lee Radford and BradMeyers also crossed as Huddersfield’s de-fence collapsed, although indiscipline layat the root of most of their problems asWayne McDonald and Marcus St Hilaireconceded unnecessary penalties to puttheir team-mates under pressure.

That was a betrayal of a sparklingattacking performance in which StanleyGene, Brad Drew and Eorl Crabtreeexcelled. Gene set up two of the four triesthat earned a 24–18 half-time lead andscored another, with Drew’s imaginativekick laying on the fourth try, which wastaken by James Evans.

Johnson, Ian Henderson and Paul Dea-con scored Bradford’s first-half tries butthe Bulls lost their full-back Michael With-ers with a rib injury.

After the break Crabtree capped hispowerful performance with a quality trywhich can only have enhanced hisprospects of a Great Britain debut in thisautumn’s Tri-Nations series, then moregood work from Gene sent Lee Green-wood in at the corner.

But Bradford’s storming finish gaveMorley a winning start, even if by then hewas merely a spectator. “His exact wordsto me were that he was completely off thepace,” Bradford’s coach Brian Noble saidof his new signing. “We’ll get a whole lotmore out of him once he’s settled in. Wewere all a bit flat in the first half but oncethey decided to roll their sleeves up theywere pretty awesome.”Bradford Bulls: Withers; L Pryce, B Harris, Hape, Vainikolo; IHarris, Deacon; Peacock, Henderson, Fielden, Johnson, Meyers,Radford.Substitutes: Paul, Radford, Lynch, Morley.Huddersfield Giants: St Hilaire; O’Hare, Evans, De Vere,Greenwood; Thorman, Gene; Jackson, Drew, Gannon, Nero,Jones, Crabtree.Substitutes: March, Smith, Grayshon, McDonald.Referee: K Kirkpatrick (Warrington)

Creamer stars as US earn their Solheim stripes GolfLawrence Donegan Carmel

Thumped by Europe’s women in Swedentwo years ago, a determined UnitedStates’ team gained revenge at Crook Stickgolf club in Indiana yesterday, winning the2005 Solheim Cup 15∫–12∫, a narrowmargin, certainly, but one that reflectedthe ebb and flow of an enthralling contestduring which the hosts’ superior strengthin depth proved the decisive factor.

It will come as little consolation to theEuropean captain Catrin Nilsmark and herteam, but the outcome could have beenmore decisive. Tied at breakfast at 8–8, theEuropeans looked to be toast before lunchafter losing the first five singles matches.Annika Sorenstam provided relief fromthe red, white and blue tide by defeatingBeth Daniel by a margin of 4&3, and Catri-ona Matthew then beat Wendy Ward 3&2.The arrival of some French resistance inthe shape of Solheim rookie Gwladys Nocera, who pulled off a shock defeat of

Cristie Kerr, briefly raised the prospectthat Europe might somehow tie the matchoverall and retain the trophy, but thosewins merely delayed the euphoric homecelebrations by an hour or so.

The decisive blow was struck in match11, when Meg Mallon holed a six-foot puttto ensure she could not lose to KarenStupples, thereby giving the home sidethe required 14∫ points for victory. Mal-lon, who went on to win her match, is thepersonification of all that is best in golf —sporting in defeat and generous in victory— and she richly deserved her moment ofglory. However, the same cannot be saidabout some of her more exuberant team-mates, especially Christina Kim, who despite a modest personal contributionset new lows (or highs, depending on yourallegiance) in fist-pumping, high-fivinggracelessness over the three days.

Still, the Europeans could have fewcomplaints about what took place insidethe fairway ropes. The US were simply toogood too far down the line-up, a statementbest illustrated by the fate of Laura Davies,

who endured the worst beating of her Sol-heim Cup career — and her golfing life —by the teenager Paula Creamer. Hard toimagine though it is, the 7&5 margin flat-tered the English player, who had pro-vided a solid presence, as well as three important points, over the first two days.

Creamer, who arrived on the 1st teeflaunting more Stars and Stripes flags thanan Indianapolis car showroom, was mag-nificent, birdying six of the first nine holesto reach the turn six up. She stretched herlead to seven at the 10th before Davieswon the 11th with a birdie — a momentthat gave her the chance to indulge in anironic victory celebration.

The next match in the series will bestaged at the Halmstad club in Sweden,when Nilsmark’s successor faces an unenviable task. By then, the US team willbe bolstered by Morgan Pressel, who wonthe US women’s amateur this summer bya record 9&8 margin, and by Michelle Wie,presuming of course that the ambitiousyoung Hawaiian is not otherwise occupiedwith trying to qualify for the Ryder Cup.

The Australian half-back Andrew Johns, regarded as the best player in the world,makes a compelling debut for Warrington against Leeds Rhinos Paul Ellis/AP

Injury leavesCalzaghe withbroken dreamsBoxingJohn Rawling Cardiff

The injury jinx that has blighted Joe Calza-ghe’s career struck again when a brokenleft hand forced him to box virtually one-handed for three quarters of the fight onhis way to a points victory over theKenyan Evans Ashira to defend his WorldBoxing Organisation world super-middleweight title for a record 17th time.

The undefeated 33-year-old Welshmanwas hoping to provide a spectacularknockout for the sell-out crowd at theCardiff Arena. But Calzaghe was left bit-terly disappointed, not least because theinjury forced the immediate postpone-ment of his career-defining title unifica-tion contest against the undefeatedInternational Boxing Federation cham-pion, Jeff Lacy, of the United States. Vic-tory over the 35-year-old Ashira shouldhave paved the way for a fight betweenthe two champions in London onNovember 5 but any fight must now waituntil February at the earliest to give Calza-ghe time to recover.

Calzaghe began the contest in explosivestyle, almost flooring Ashira in the secondround after a series of two-fisted attacksthat left the Kenyan dazed and cut. But hisdamaged hand — hurt in the third — meantCalzaghe was forced to revert to safety-first tactics, boxing his way to a landslidepoints victory by scores of 120–107 andtwo of 120–108 on the judges’ cards.

“I caught him in the third round withan uppercut, then hit him on the top of hishead with my left hand and felt it go,” saidCalzaghe. “Next round I tried to throw acombination and the pain was excruciat-ing. From then on I could only use onehand. But I am a champion. I would have

loved to have got a knockout but a cham-pion can adjust and that is what I did.”

The promoter Frank Warren confirmedhe would attempt to reschedule a Calza-ghe-Lacy fight but the picture could befurther complicated if the American nowdecides to fight another opponent first.

Ashira’s promoter Don King wasenthralled by another eye-catching dis-play from the Olympic silver medallistAmir Khan as the 18-year-old picked upthe second win of his professional careerby out-pointing the rugged Baz Carey ofCoventry in four one-sided rounds.

“He has the power and movement of aSugar Ray Robinson,” enthused the 72-year-old promoter. “He seems a really nicekid and looks a great prospect to me. Hehits hard, moves well and has such greatbalance. He is really exciting.”

Warren and King had talks after thefight about a possible world title challengefor the British and Commonwealth heavy-weight champion Matt Skelton. Since Kingholds the contract of World Boxing Asso-ciation champion John Ruiz, IBF titleholder Chris Byrd and the WBO championLamone Brewster, it seems highly likelyan opportunity could open up for the 38-year-old Skelton in December.

Amir Khan’simpressive pointswin left Don Kingcomparing the 18-year-old with Sugar Ray Robinson

Sport in brief

Cricket

Lancashire arepromotedLancashire beat Essex by eight wicketsat Chelmsford yesterday to become thefirst side to win promotion in theCounty Championship. Requiring 155runs for victory after dismissing theiropponents for 227, Lancashire werenever in trouble. The architect of thecounty's seventh win of the season wasthe Indian spinner Murali Kartik whofinished with 10 for 168.

EquestrianismZara Phillips, 24, on Toytown, emulatedher mother, The Princess Royal — win-ner in 1971 — to secure individual gold atthe European Eventing Championshipsat Blenheim, Oxfordshire, and Britain’ssixth consecutive European team title,ahead of France and Germany.Gillian Newsum

GolfRetief Goosen put himself in line for athird European Tour order of merit witha one-shot victory at the GermanMasters. The South African’s firstEuropean success of the season, whichtook him to the top of Europe’s moneylist at the expense of the New ZealanderMichael Campbell, came after he fired afive-under-par 67 to finish on 268, 20under par. Goosen started the finalround in a four-way tie for the lead andinitially fell back when he double-bogeyed the 2nd, having taken a penaltyshot after hitting into trees and thenthree-putting.

BoxingZahir Raheem produced the upset of theweekend with his defeat of Erik Moralesby unanimous decision after a 12-roundWBC lightweight bout at the StaplesCenter in Los Angeles. The defeat wasonly the third for Morales in 12 years andthe first time he had lost to anyone otherthan Marco Antonio Barrera.



Sport

Tennis US Open

Arc de Triomphe now the reason for optimism among Motivator team

Clijsters wins popular vote for first grand slamStephen Bierley Flushing Meadows

It was entirely in keeping with Kim Cli-jsters’ character that, having finally wonher first grand slam title, she turnedbriefly towards her family and coach, herblue eyes brimming with joy, before spin-ning round and running to console herbeaten opponent, Mary Pierce. This wasthe type of considerate gesture that hasmade her so popular both on and off thecourt, and why this win is such a delight.

“Too nice to be a champion” has beena tag that the 22-year-old Belgian hasborne with typical good humour for rathertoo long. She could have pointed, in herdefence, to the 27 titles she has won onthe WTA Tour, but she did not. She couldhave made excuses for her previous fourdefeats in slam finals, three of themagainst her fellow Belgian Justine Henin-Hardenne. She did not.

Pressed on the point during the lastcouple of weeks, Clijsters replied with a

smile: “Well, Roger Federer is a nice guyand he seems to be able to win themajors.” And now she has done, defeat-ing Pierce 6–3, 6–1 in a match of limitedquality but with an ending that satisfiedalmost everybody.

Having beaten first Venus Williams inthe quarter-finals, and then the top seed,Maria Sharapova of Russia, in the semis,Clijsters had underlined her position asthe pre-tournament favourite, althoughthose of a nervous disposition gripped thesides of their seats and bit their lips as shewarmed up to face Pierce. They need nothave worried.

As a most glorious late summer sunsetinfused the Manhattan skyline with glow-ing reds and oranges, Clijsters instantlyimposed her greater athleticism on the 30-year-old French woman. Pierce, havingwon the Australian Open in 1995 and theFrench Open in 2000, was looking toextend this five-year symmetry under thefloodlights of the Arthur Ashe Stadium.She came nowhere close.

At the French Open this year Pierce hadplayed much compelling tennis to reachthe final, only to lose tamely 6–1,6–1 toHenin, which prompted her to apologisetearfully to the Parisians. She could haverepeated such apologies here but wiselysensed that the New York crowd might bealtogether less sympathetic.

Pierce had been accused of gamesman-ship after her semi-final victory over Rus-sia’s Elena Dementieva when, having lostthe first set, she took two medical time-outs lasting 12 minutes which totally dis-rupted Dementieva’s rhythm. So whenPierce, her right thigh heavily taped,called for the trainer again during the firstset against Clijsters, it immediatelyprompted some mild booing.

Clijsters had just suffered a mini-crisis,winning only two points out of 10, withPierce cutting her lead from 4–1 to 4–3, butshe instantly steadied herself to take theopening set in 37 minutes. Then, and onlythen, Pierce had some extra taping placedaround her thigh and also slipped away

for a bathroom break. But she was carefulto get back before the crowd grew restlessor, worse still, ugly.

By the end of the second set they werecheering her, although not because theyhad suddenly taken her to their hearts.New Yorkers being New Yorkers theywanted value for money, and for Pierce to

much of last year, when a left wrist injurythreatened her career, she worked excep-tionally hard on her fitness. She also mat-ured mentally. True, she double faultedas the finishing line approached, andmissed her first championship point, butthe only time the hearts of her fans andfriends skipped a beat was when sheclimbed up to greet her family, balancingprecariously on a railing.

Clijsters has already said she intendsretiring within the next two or three yearsso that she can start a family, althoughhaving acquired her first major she maychange her mind. If she can maintain thishard-court form into next year, then shewill stand an excellent chance of winningthe Australian Open too.

The overriding hope for next year isthat the leading women will stay fit at thesame time. Heart-warming as it was to seeClijsters succeed here, the standard of thewomen’s tournament was not high, withthe number of genuinely competitivematches depressingly low.

RacingGreg Wood

The focal point switched with giddyingspeed through a weekend that included aClassic in Yorkshire and a meeting of thegenerations in Ireland, but Paris is whereit finished, and Paris, for the next threeweeks, is where it will remain. HurricaneRun, Shawanda and Pride were theprincipal winners on Arc Trial day atLongchamp yesterday, and with Motiva-tor, the Derby winner, and Scorpion, whotook Saturday’s St Leger, also likely to bepointed towards the Bois de Boulogne, the85th running of the Prix de l’Arc deTriomphe could also be one of the finest.

Hurricane Run has tightened asfavourite for the Arc with most bookmak-ers after an untroubled defeat of Runawayin the Group Two Prix Niel. Coral cutAndre Fabre’s colt to 2-1 (from 5-2),although totesport were less impressed,going 11-4 (from 3-1).

“He's appreciated a break and he had aspring in his step today,” Kieren Fallon,

Hurricane Run’s jockey, said. “It's allsystems go for the Arc now.”

Shawanda’s victory in the Group OnePrix Vermeille was more visually impres-sive, although Dash To The Top, her mainrival on paper, virtually refused to race,which made the favourite’s task muchmore straightforward. The Aga Khan’s fillywas cut to 4-1 (from 6-1) by Hills, whilePride, a stablemate at Alain de Royer-

Dupre’s yard, is 14-1 from 33-1 with Coralafter her defeat of Alkaased in the Prix Foy.

Yet, while the official Arc trials tookplace at Longchamp yesterday, the suspi-cion remains that the weekend’s bestprep-run was that of Motivator, who fin-ished half a length behind Oratorio in theIrish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.

The result was an exact replica of theEclipse Stakes at Sandown in July, whenMotivator was beaten for the first time inhis career. The Derby winner is still with-out a win since Epsom in June though thatcould well come in Paris in 20 days’ timeas the obvious conclusion from Saturday’srace was that Motivator is a top-class mile-and-a-half horse who is not quite a matchfor the best at 10 furlongs.

Motivator travelled supremely well, hitthe front half a furlong too soon as thepacemakers dropped away, and was onlypassed by Oratorio in the last 100 yards. Ifhe gets a longer lead in Paris, allowingJohnny Murtagh to deliver a final thrustinside the last quarter-mile, it is hard tosee what might be able to reel him in.

Motivator had Azamour, the King

George winner, behind him in Ireland,too, which lends rather more weight to theform than some of the rag-tag also-rans inyesterday’s falsely run contests atLongchamp. As Michael Bell, Motivator’strainer, watched the replay of the raceagain and again on the big screen by theLeopardstown paddock, you could senseboth satisfaction and anticipation.

“I suppose you’d have to say that over10 furlongs, Oratorio seems to be a neckor so better than our horse,” Harry Her-bert, the racing manager for the Royal As-cot Racing Club, which owns Motivator,said. “But this is a 12-furlong horse, andthat was very obvious today. Longchampis where you will see him at his best.”

Scorpion, who outstayed a small fieldon desperate ground to take the St Leger,also deserves to take his place in the fieldon October 2. He was only half a lengthbehind Hurricane Run in the Irish Derby,after all, but Longchamp is not a stiff track,and it must be doubtful whether thegoing will be demanding enough to givehim a serious winning chance.

The warmest glow of an autumnal

weekend, certainly, was at Leopardstown,where a couple of dozen members of theRoyal Ascot Racing Club had gathered towatch Motivator. Even allowing for thefact that they are living out one of racing’swildest fantasies, and are realistic enoughto know that their colt owes themnothing, there was a palpable feeling ofoptimism in the damp air.

Then it was time for handshakes, kissesand “see you in Paris” as they said theirgoodbyes.

Or should that be au revoirs?

Belgium’s Kim Clijsters celebrates her first grand slam title following her 6-3, 6-1 defeat of France’s Mary Pierce in the US Open final Lucy Nicholson/Reuters

Mary Pierce, afterapparently againbeing troubled byinjury, reflects onher second grandslam final defeat of the year

Ron Cox’s tip of the day

Dhekraa (3.50) MusselburghMusselburgh on a Monday is notusually the preferred port of call forrunners owned by Hamdan AlMaktoum but this one has been sent350 miles from Newmarket. Dhekraaran creditably in Group races prior towinning a Haydock nursery lastmonth and the speed she showedthere suggests this drop to 5f will notworry her. Jarvis has a 40% strike-rate over five years at Musselburgh.

extend the final into a third set. This wasnever likely. Flexibility, strength andquickness are the essence of the Belgian’sgame and, faced with these, Pierce crum-pled into a sorry heap.

“In my other slam finals I never reallyfelt like I was moving properly,” said Clij-sters. During her enforced absence for



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Main event

The week ahead

GOODWOOD2.00 (5f): 1, Empress Jain, PRobinson (7-1); 2, Indecent Proposal(20-1); 3, Qusoor (12-1). 7-2 FavKillarney Beauty. 14 ran. ¬, hd. (MJarvis) Tote: £7.30; £2.70, £5.40,£5.10. Ex: £169.70. CSF: £145.70.Tricast: £1,655.78. NR: Capital Lass.2.35 (1m 2f): 1, Lunar Promise, J PSpencer (8-1); 2, Grande Roche (7-1);3, Play Up Pompey (20-1). 7-2 Jt FavsClambake, Montfleur. 12 ran. 3∫, 1Ω.(A Jarvis) Tote: £8.40; £2.30, £2.40,£4.50. Exacta: £71.10. CSF: £56.13.NR: Court Ruler.3.05 (1m 2f): 1, David Junior, J PSpencer (15-8 Fav); 2, Hazyview (15-2); 3, Andean (9-4). 8 ran. 1∫, ¬. (BMeehan) Tote: £2.80; £1.10, £2.10,£1.60. Exacta: £16.90. CSF: £16.01.NR: Persian Majesty.3.40 (1m 1f): 1, The Gaikwar, Mr EWhillans (11-4 Fav); 2, Jubilee Dream(10-1); 3, Parisien Star (5-1). 10 ran.1¬, hd. (R Harris) Tote: £3.60; £1.30,

£3.50, £2.20. Exacta: £38.90. CSF:£33.12. Tricast: £137.20. NR: ThePlayer (5-1) withdrawn not underorders, Rule 4 applies to board pricesprior to withdrawal. Deduct 15p inthe £. New market formed.4.15 (6f): 1, Nudrah, R Hills (1-3Fav); 2, Pantomime Prince (4-1); 3,Theatre Royal (14-1). 5 ran. 1, hd. (JDunlop) Tote: £1.30; £1.10, £1.80.Exacta: £2.40. CSF: £2.13. NR: LoyalRoyal, Scandal Keeper (5-6, not underorders. Rule 4 applies to board pricesprior to withdrawal. Deduct 50p in the£. New market formed).4.50 (6f): 1, Pic Up Sticks, I Mongan(20-1); 2, Borderlescott (5-1); 3,King’s Caprice (22-1). 4-1 Fav OceanGift. 13 ran. hd, 1∫. (B Powell) Tote:£18.20; £4.20, £2.30, £5.50. Exacta:£225.70. CSF: £108.25. Tricast:£1,516.16. Trifecta: £820.40.NR: Lindbergh.5.25 (1m): 1, Deeper In Debt, R Miles(4-1f); 2, Lizarazu (9-1); 3, Prime

Offer (14-1); 4, Kareeb (7-1). 19 ran.(J Akehurst) Tote: £5.80; £2.20,£2.60, £3.40, £2.80. Ex: £47.40.CSF: £39. Tricast: £503.64.JACKPOT: Not won. Pool of£22,986.50 carried forward toMusselburgh today.Q’POT: £9.60. P’POT: £434.80.

CARLISLE2.15 (6f): 1, Musical Guest, C Catlin(9-4 Fav); 2, Myths And Verses (11-1);3, Vegas Boys (3-1). 15 ran. 2∫, nk. (MChannon) Tote: £3.00; £1.40, £2.90,£2.10. Exacta: £23.40. CSF: £25.08.Tricast: £78.47. NR: Bella Fiorella.2.50 (6f): 1, Bo McGinty, P Hanagan(11-2 Fav); 2, Prince Namid (11-1); 3,High Ridge (10-1). 15 ran. 2∫, hd. (RFahey) Tote: £6.00; £2.80, £4.80,£2.20. Exacta: £57.90. CSF: £61.16.Tricast: £613.19.NR: Cd Flyer, Sir Desmond.3.20 (5f): 1, Brave Bear, D Allan (10-1); 2, Flying Heart (14-1); 3, Briery

Lane (14-1). 5-1 Fav Flying Tackle. 15ran. 1, ¬. (T Easterby) Tote: £8.10;£2.60, £5.20, £2.90. Ex: £54.80. CSF:£121.22. Tricast: £1,493.35. NR:Lake Wakatipu, Malahide Express (7-1,not under orders. Rule 4 applies to allbets. Deduct 10p in the £).3.55 (7f): 1, Kahlua Kiss, F Norton(16-1); 2, Zaharath Al Bustan (10-11Fav); 3, Elegant Times (4-1). 13 ran. ∫,hd. (W Muir) Tote: £20.00; £3.60,£1.10, £1.70. Exacta: £54.40.CSF: £31.24. NR: Montjeu Abu.4.30 (1m): 1, Abstract Folly, ANicholls (4-1); 2, Maynooth Prince(16-1); 3, Sonic Anthem (9-1). 7-2Fav Outrageous Flirt. 13 ran. 1Ω, shd.(J Bethell) Tote: £4.80; £1.70, £5.70,£3.70. Exacta: £102.00. CSF: £62.62.Tricast: £430.01. NR: Komreyev Star(10-1, not under orders. Rule 4 appliesto board prices prior to withdrawal.Deduct 5p in the £), Layed Back Rocky,New England, Trappeto.5.00 (1m 4f): 1, Great View, E Ahern

(7-2 Fav); 2, Zarova (17-2); 3, Barella(20-1). 13 ran. 1Ω, ∫. (Mrs A King)Tote: £4.70; £1.80, £3.10, £8.00.Tote Exacta: £28.90. CSF: £33.06.Tricast: £532.12. NR: Alam, BethanysBoy, Danzatrice, General Max. Q’POT: £46.10. P’POT: £80.20.

STRATFORD2.25 (2m 6f 110yds): 1, StarMember, D R Dennis (2-1 Fav); 2, AirGuitar (5-1); 3, Cirrus (7-2). 14 ran.1Ω, 9. (Ian Williams) Tote: £3.10;£1.80, £1.50, £1.70. Ex: £23.50. CSF:£10.85. NR: Munny Hill, The Baillie.3.00 (3m): 1, Charango Star, T JMurphy (9-4); 2, Phar From Frosty(10-11 Fav); 3, Sarahs Quay (11-2). 4ran. 2, dist. (W Goldsworthy) Tote:£2.60. Exacta: £4.90. CSF: £4.67. NR:Boobee, Unleash.Only three finished3.30 (2m 6f 110yds): 1, Little Task, PAspell (7-1); 2, Nightwatchman (4-1);3, Good Potential (5-1). 5-2 FavCaptain Cloudy. 8 ran. 2, 20, 5, 2∫, 7.

(J Wainwright) Tote: £8.40; places£2.00, £1.70, £1.50. Tote Exacta:£19.90. CSF: £33.48. Tricast:£146.53. NR: Kilindini, Qabas.4.05 (2m 1f 110yds): 1, Glengarra, TDoyle (3-1); 2, James Victor (7-1); 3,Young Owen (16-1). 6-4 Fav Specular(AUS). 6 ran. dist, 4. (D Gandolfo)Tote: £4.30; places £1.60, £2.50. ToteExacta: £22.80. CSF: £22.16. Tricast:£272.92. NR: Jazz Night, JoeyTribbiani.4.40 (2m 110yds): 1, MisterMoussac, R Thornton (4-1); 2, LooksThe Business (16-1); 3, Buffalo Bill (4-1). 3-1 Fav Polished. 10 ran. 8, 2∫, ∫,∫, 20. (Miss Kariana Key) Tote: £4.80;places £1.50, £3.30, £2.60. ToteExacta: £112.50. CSF: £63.24.Tricast: £272.96. NR: BanninghamBlaze, Feanor, Fortune Point, JackDurrance, Nesnaas, Sandabar, Scippit,Sir Night.QUADPOT: £29.30.PLACEPOT: £123.10.

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Musselburgh Jackpot card with form guide

RON COX TOP FORM

2.20 Twinned Quadrophenia (nb)2.50 Cherished Number Cherished Number3.20 Snow Symphony Mocha Java3.50 Dhekraa (nap) Triskaidekaphobia4.20 Piroetta Whatatodo4.50 Bendarshaan Considine5.20 King After Joshua's Gold

Course Flat. Right-handed, oval track of almost 1Ωm with sharp turns and 4f run-in.Straight 5f. Going Good, good to firm in places.Draw No significant advantage.Leadingcourse trainers last five years M Johnston 32-138 (23.2%), A Berry 28-298 (9.4%), DNicholls 17-139 (12.2%). Leading jockeys F Lynch 24-196 (12.2%), P Hanagan 24-213(11.3%), J Fanning 15-168 (8.9%). Seven day winners 3.50 Multiple. Blinkered first time2.20 Little Elver; 2.50 United Nations; 3.20 Snow Symphony; 4.20 Courageously; 5.20Wood Dalling. Visored None. Wears tonguestrap 2.20 Compton Lad, 4.20 Miss L'Augeval,4.50 Speightstown, 5.20 Kalani Star, Wood Dalling. Wears cheekpieces first time None.

2.20 Racing Uk Channel 432 Maiden AuctionStakes (Class 5 ) 2YO 5f ⁄ £3,374

1 (1) 6 BAHAMIAN DUKE (62) K R Burke 8.9 N Callan 892 (8) 0004 STANLEY WOLFE (21) J Moffatt 8.9 P Mulrennan (3) 823 (3) 3230 TWINNED (58) J S Moore 8.9 M Fenton 884 (6) 630400 COMPTON LAD (2) D Nolan 8.7 Hayley Turner (3) 855 (9) 005 DISPOL SAMURAI (14) T Barron 8.7 G Gibbons 806 (4) 4 MANDARIN ROCKET (37) Miss L Perratt 8.7 P Hanagan 867 (2) 35005 ACTIVE AUDIENCE (43) A Berry 8.4 P Mathers(5) 878 (7) 000500 LITTLE ELVER (14) N Wilson 8.2 A Nicholls ∂ 779 (5) 2 QUADROPHENIA (11) J Given 8.2 Dale Gibson 90

Betting 5-2 Quadrophenia, 11-4 Twinned, 10-3 Active Audience,8-1 Bahamian Duke, 12-1 Mandarin Rocket, 14-1 Stanley Wolfe.

Form The James Given-trained Quadrophenia can only improve on a half-length second to The Terrier on her debut at Redcar earlier this month and looks the one tobeat here, though Twinned has his sights lowered following a six lengths 15th of 25 behindLady Livius at Newbury in July. Active Audience was a four lengths 5th of 7 behind Curtailat Chester on her latest start but lacks a bit of scope, unlike Bahamian Duke who lookedvery green when an eight lengths 6th of 12 behind Alugat on his debut at Beverley in Julyand will know more now. Mandarin Rocket was quickly outpaced and made littleimpression when a well-held fourth of six at Ayr on his debut at the beginning of lastmonth. Dispol Samurai hardly showed more promise when 15 lengths behind in fifth ofeight on his latest outing over seven furlongs at Newcastle than when finishing well downthe field on his first two attempts.

2.50 Bank Of Ireland Claiming Stakes (Class 5 ) 1m 1f ⁄ £3,406

1 (4) 300004 MOUNT VETTORE (11) K G Reveley 4 10.0 A Culhane 812 (8) -00006 UNITED NATIONS (J14) N Wilson 4 9.12 D R McCabe ∂ 803 (14) 002056 KHANJAR (11) K R Burke 5 9.9 N Callan 894 (1) 526404 BOLTON HALL (13,BF) R Fahey 3 9.8 P Hanagan 87

5 (12) 003000 MAREN (8) D Nicholls 4 9.8 Hayley Turner (3) 856 (7) 302221 SAWWAAH (11,D) D Nicholls 8 9.8 A Nicholls ∂ 887 (5) 000103 CHERISHED NUMBER (21,D) I Semple 6 9.6 T Eaves ∂ 908 (6) 054535 BALLYHURRY (18,C,D,BF) J Goldie 8 9.4 F Lynch 879 (9) 0- LEXICON (361) Miss S Forster 5 9.4 A Mullen (5) 8210 (2) 200405 OMAN GULF (11) J Given 4 9.4 J Fanning 8611 (10) 0-6005 TRAIANOS (6) P Cole 3 9.3 R Hills 7912 (3) 000064 SANDY BAY (21) W G Harrison 6 8.13 D McGaffin ∂ 7813 (13) 603005 WESTERN ROOTS (J16) I McInnes 4 8.13 P Mathers (5) 8614 (11) 000544 ORANGINO (18) J Haldane 7 8.11 D Mernagh 77

Betting 9-2 Sawwaah, 6-1 Bolton Hall, 13-2 Ballyhurry, 7-1 Khanjar, Oman Gulf,8-1 Maren, Cherished Number.

Form Cherished Number wasn't far behind Sawwah when finishing a one anda half length third to Dark Charm at Hamilton last month and is 6lbs better off today.Sawwaah got first run on Mystic Man when gaining a deserved victory at Redcar earlier thismonth (Oman Gulf fifth and Khanjar sixth). This is not much better and he's unlikely to befar away again. Bolton Hall may have seen too much daylight when a seven lengths 4th of8 behind Kabis Amigos at Ripon last time and is capable of better, while Ballyhurry usuallyruns well at this track and was only beaten two lengths when 5th of 14 behind MerlinsProfit here last month, though this trip probably stretches his stamina.

3.20 Scottish Racing Maiden Auction Stakes (Class 5 ) 2YO 1m ⁄ £3,374

1 (2) 43 MOCHA JAVA (6,BF) P Cole 8.13 N Callan 902 (4) 00 FOLLOW MY TRAIL (9) B Smart 8.11 Paul Eddery 833 (1) 04 THINK LUCKY (17) M Johnston 8.11 J Fanning 854 (8) 000004 FEELIN IRIE (9) N Tinkler 8.9 Kim Tinkler 845 (3) 60 SNOW SYMPHONY (12) D M Simcock 8.9 A McCarthy ∂ 876 (5) 034206 TALLYHOBYE (9) J Weymes 8.9 P Mulrennan (3) 897 (7) 002 MISTER MAQ (17) M Dods 8.7 T Eaves ∂ 888 (9) 0 DANCERS OF KERRY (36) E J O’Neill 8.4 G Gibbons 809 (6) 005 MUNAA (9) K R Burke 8.2 Dale Gibson 86

Betting 5-2 Mocha Java, 4-1 Tallyhobye, 9-2 Feelin Irie, 5-1 Think Lucky,6-1 Snow Symphony, 14-1 Dancers Of Kerry.

Form After a solid debut at Warwick, Mocha Java was a little disappointingwhen only finishing a two and a half lengths third to Roscommon at Catterick last Tuesday.Turned out quickly again here, he may be worth another chance. Tallyhobye was behindFeelin Irie and Munaa when 6th of 15 behind Ditton Dancer at Thirsk earlier this monthand has had plenty of chances. Mister Maq was a one length second to Suits Me (ThinkLucky fourth) at Newcastle last month and may be improving.

3.50 Bank Of Ireland Nursery Handicap (Class 2 ) 2YO 5f ⁄ £12,087

1 (2) 161004 TRISKAIDEKAPHOBIA (13,D) K R Burke 9.7 J Fanning 902 (12) 31240 SUPERCAST (26,D) J S Moore 9.7 G Gibbons 813 (8) 1501 DHEKRAA (32) M Jarvis 9.7 R Hills 884 (10) 411263 FIGARO FLYER (21,D) P Howling 9.5 A Culhane 865 (9) 31 COME OUT FIGHTING (21,D) P Blockley 9.2 F Lynch 896 (4) 60105 MYTTON’S PRIDE (66,D) A Bailey 8.10 Hayley Turner(3) 797 (6) 464100 HOWARDS PRINCE (3,D) I Semple 8.9 A Mullen (5) 82

8 (5) 242101 MULTIPLE (6,D) J A Osborne 8.9 (6lb ex) M Fenton 879 (11) 31 GUTO (13,D) K Ryan 8.8 N Callan 8610 (3) 6521 PICCELINA (31,D) D M Simcock 8.6 A McCarthy 8511 (7) 303232 ROTHESAY DANCER (18) J Goldie 8.5 A Nicholls 8312 (1) 052 SANDWITH (19) J Moffatt 8.5 P Hanagan 80

Betting 5-1 Triskaidekaphobia, 6-1 Piccelina, 7-1 Figaro Flyer,Come Out Fighting, 8-1 Dhekraa, Multiple, Guto.

Form Triskaidekaphobia hasn't been disgraced in much better companylately, finishing a five and a half lengths 4th of 8 behind Playful at Ripon last time. Despitetop weight, he is entitled to go close today. Multiple is turned out again under a penaltyafter she won at Catterick last Tuesday, where she beat Rosthwaite by a length, whilePiccelina tries to follow up her Folkestone win last month in a maiden auction event. Thelightly raced Guto won at Ripon last time, beating Lucksin by two and a half lengths, andhas more scope than Figaro Flyer, while Come Out Fighting needs to improve on his winat Hamilton to land this. Dhekraa battled hard for victory at Haydock last month, however,and is clearly a tough filly.

4.20 Scottish ‘Saltires’Cricket Team Handicap (Class 6 ) 3YO 1m ⁄ £3,455

1 (1) 023621 BURNLEY AL (18,C) R Fahey 9.4 P Hanagan 892 (2) 630650 COURAGEOUSLY (24,D) P Cole 9.3 N Callan ∂ 863 (5) 000044 WAYWARD SHOT (18,D) M W Easterby 9.3 P Mulrennan (3) 844 (14) 0-50 PIROETTA (15) J A Osborne 9.3 M Fenton 775 (4) 332045 JUST BOND (9) B Smart 9.2 D McGaffin 856 (8) 64-66 NEIL’S LEGACY (27) Miss L Perratt 9.2 T Eaves 747 (9) 305056 DISPOL ISLE (9) T Barron 9.1 G Gibbons 898 (11) 0065 ALISDANZA (59) G A Swinbank 9.1 J Fanning 879 (3) -00000 MISS L’AUGEVAL (12) N Tinkler 9.1 Kim Tinkler 7910 (10) 640201 WHATATODO (17,D) M Bell 8.13 Hayley Turner (3) 9011 (13) 120000 FANTASY DEFENDER (18,C) J J Quinn 8.12 A Mullen (5) ∂8312 (12) 00-06 MAYNOOTH PRINCE (21) I McInnes 8.10 P Mathers (5) 8013 (7) 020140 CADOGEN SQUARE (15) D Chapman 8.4 P M Quinn 8614 (6) -00004 GRACEFUL FLIGHT (19) P Midgley 8.4 D Mernagh 82

Betting 5-1 Burnley Al, 6-1 Whatatodo, 7-1 Courageously, Cadogen Square,8-1 Fantasy Defender, Maynooth Prince.

Form Whatatodo showed improved form to make all at Bath last month,beating Raul Sahara by two lengths. Though 5lbs here, she is well drawn for a front-runnerand could follow up. Burnley Al won over 7f here last month beating Zoripp by half-a-length (Wayward Shot and Fantasy Defender behind) and has to be respected, whilethere could be more to come from the lightly raced Alisdanza, who caught the eye when afive and a half lengths 5th of 11 behind Boo at Carlisle in July. Piroetta has shown somepromise in three maidens and will appreciate this trip but is not obviously well treated.

4.50 Bank Of Ireland Handicap (Class 5 ) 2m ⁄ £5,025

1 (1) 005260 BENDARSHAAN (14) M Johnston 5 10.0 J Fanning 892 (2) 461040 CONSIDINE (2,D) P Howling 4 8.13 F Lynch 903 (3) /602-6 OSTFANNI (J14) M Todhunter 5 8.10 P Mathers (5) 874 (4) 104305 ROUGE ET NOIR (7) K G Reveley 7 8.9 A Culhane 88

5 (5) 0-0605 SPEIGHTSTOWN (17) P Cole 3 8.8 N Callan 87

Betting 7-4 Bendarshaan, 5-2 Considine, 7-2 Rouge Et Noir, 6-1 Ostfanni,10-1 Speightstown.

Form Considine was beaten 26 lengths when 7th of 12 behind Golden Boot atChester on Saturday but clearly didn't handle the soft ground and has to be given anotherchance. He probably sees out this trip better than Bendarshaan, who is on a decent markbut has been generally below-par this term and was beaten 13 lengths when 9th of 12behind Bollin Thomas at Epsom last time. Rouge Et Noir flattered to deceive when a fivelengths 5th of 9 behind stablemate Celtic Carisma at Newcastle earlier this month and is aninfrequent winner, but Ostfanni has won twice over hurdles since a five lengths 6th of 12behind Greenwich Meantime at Haydock and can't be ignored. Speightstown is winless infive career handicap attempts but is now a stone below his original rating and warrantsrespect on the basis of his running-on five lengths fifth of seven last time. The extra threefurlongs here will help.

5.20 Scottish RacingYour Best Bet Handicap (Class 6 ) 1m ⁄ £3,472

1 (14) 23R500 SAROS (8,C,D) B Smart 4 9.4 D McGaffin 882 (11) 031332 JOSHUA’S GOLD (2,D,BF) D Carroll 4 9.2 D Tudhope (3) ∂903 (8) 322330 KALANI STAR (2) I McInnes 5 8.13 P Hanagan ∂ 874 (12) 064000 ANTHEMION (2,D) Mrs J McGregor 8 8.11 A Mullen (5) 805 (5) 310654 SEDGE (11) P Midgley 5 8.11 A Culhane 896 (6) 022330 BABY BARRY (21,D) Mrs G Rees 8 8.8 N Callan 837 (2) 036000 KING AFTER (28) J R Best 3 8.8 Hayley Turner (3) 878 (13) 006664 THORNABY GREEN (2,C) T Barron 4 8.5 G Gibbons ∂ 859 (4) 244030 HEADLAND (44) D Chapman 7 8.4 A Nicholls ∂ 8910 (10) 0-0000 WOOD DALLING (2) W G Harrison 7 8.4 Paul Eddery ∂ 8211 (1) 0/000- RO ERIDANI (J457) Miss S Forster 5 8.4 P Mathers (5) 7612 (3) 000006 MARENGO (2,D) M Polglase 11 8.4 Dale Gibson 8113 (9) 00/00- SECOND WIND (317) D Nolan 10 8.4 D R McCabe 7314 (7) /00500 GOLDEN REMEDY (17) A Dicken 4 8.4 J Fanning 71

Betting 5-1 Kalani Star, 11-2 Joshua's Gold, 13-2 Saros, 7-1 Baby Barry,Thornaby Green, Headland.

Form The consistent Joshua's Gold looked all over the winner over this C&Don Saturday (Thornaby Green and Kalani Star behind) but was thwarted by Tokewanna'slate thrust. Providing he's none the worse for those exertions, he should go close again.Sedge looked back to his best when fourth to Attacca at Carlisle earlier this month, whileSaros is dropped in grade and is better than he showed behind Typhhon Ginger at York lasttime (raced on the oppositie side to the others). Headland is on a fair mark at present butbetter over distances short of this.

Folkestone runners and riders

RON COX TOP FORM

2.30 Commentary Commentary3.00 Discotheque Discotheque3.30 Rubenstar Blue Jeans4.00 Special Lad Special Lad4.30 Valiant Shadow Pearl’s A Singer (nap)5.00 Elizabethan Age Bazelle

Course Flat. Right-handed, undulating track of 1m3f with 2∫f run-in. Straight 7f. GoingGood to Firm.Draw Low numbers best 3.30.Leading course trainers last five yearsR Hannon 12-81 (14.8%), M Channon 12-87 (13.8%), Mrs A Perrett 11-55 (20%). Leadingjockeys S Drowne 16-83 (19.3%), R L Moore 13-74 (17.6%), L Dettori 10-27 (37%). Sevenday winners None. Blinkered first time 3.30 Art Historian. Visored 3.30 Crimson. Wearstonguestrap 2.30 Melodic Score, 3.00 Tiana, 3.30 Wizby. Cheekpieces first time None.

2.30 Moorcroft Racehorse Welfare CentreMaiden Stakes (Class 5 ) 2YO 7f ⁄ £3,816

1 (6) 03 CABOURG (35) C Egerton 9.0 S Drowne 892 (3) 0 FLOATING BANKER (22) P Winkworth 9.0 P Doe 883 (7) INFLUENCE R Hannon 9.0 R Hughes —4 (8) JAMES THE THIRD S C Williams 9.0 J-P Guillambert —5 (10) KARSHAAN P Winkworth 9.0 R Smith (3) —6 (14) 0 KING OF FRANKS (16) N Callaghan 9.0 J F Egan 877 (13) KRISCHERA B Meehan 9.0 J F McDonald —8 (9) 0 MELODIC SCORE (17) S bin Suroor 9.0 L Dettori 869 (4) 22 MILITARY CROSS (14) W Haggas 9.0 DOUBTFUL —10 (1) NAMID REPROBATE P Cole 9.0 R L Moore —11 (5) 0 TEN SHUN (14) J A Osborne 9.0 E Ahern 8512 (12) THE GREAT DELANEY Miss D McHale 9.0 R Keogh (7) —13 (2) 4 COMMENTARY (28) W Haggas 8.9 T E Durcan 9014 (11) RUBILEO Mrs A Perrett 8.9 S W Kelly —

Betting 9-4 Military Cross, 3-1 Cabourg, 13-2 Influence, 7-1 Melodic Score,8-1 Commentary, 12-1 Namid Reprobate.

3.00 betfredpoker.com Median Auction MaidenStakes (Class 5 ) 2YO 6f ⁄ £3,630

1 (3) 50 GALA JACKPOT (18) A Balding 9.0 L Keniry 842 (5) 0 MIGHTY OBSERVER (21) M Tompkins 9.0 E Ahern 853 (1) 0 SECRET LIAISON (7) Sir M Prescott 9.0 J-P Guillambert 874 (4) 06 CARN LADY (50) J Fanshawe 8.9 J D Smith 865 (7) 64 DISCOTHEQUE (10) B Meehan 8.9 D Holland 906 (10) 0 MEDDLE (17) J Jay 8.9 S Drowne 807 (8) OASIS SUN J R Best 8.9 T P Queally —8 (2) ROCHESIS Miss K Boutflower 8.9 P Doe —9 (11) SOFIE W Haggas 8.9 Liam Jones (7) —10 (9) 5003 THE CITY KID (9) P Evans 8.9 P Cosgrave 8911 (6) 0 TIANA (31) J Gosden 8.9 L Dettori 88

Betting 3-1 Discotheque, 5-1 The City Kid, 7-1 Meddle, 15-2 Tiana,8-1 Secret Liaison, Sofie.

3.30 betfredcasino.com Nursery Handicap (Class 5 ) 2YO 6f ⁄ £4,381

1 (12) 6433 POWER ASSISTED (28) C Wall 9.7 J Quinn 852 (5) 552024 BLUE JEANS (32) R Hannon 9.6 R Hughes 903 (6) 010621 YOUNG FLAVIO (33,D) J Bradley 9.3 S Drowne 884 (2) 5060 ART HISTORIAN (16) P Cole 9.3 R L Moore ∂ 845 (7) 0652 RUBENSTAR (8) M Tompkins 9.3 E Ahern 87

6 (4) 52660 CRIMSON (16) M Channon 9.2 T E Durcan ∂ 897 (13) 523556 PICCOSTAR (36) A B Haynes 9.2 R Smith (3) 838 (8) 650 HIGH OCTAVE (14) B Powell 9.2 G Baker 829 (10) 623432 SAPPHIRE STORM (6) Miss D McHale 8.13 Saleem Golam (5) 7810 (1) 103040 CASABLANCA MINX (5,C,D) Mrs H Sweeting 8.12

R Kingscote (5) 8011 (11) 004 SHROPSHIRELASS (24) P S McEntee 8.9 Donna Caldwell (7) 7912 (14) 640 MAGIDENE (154) J R Best 8.7 T P Queally 7713 (9) 000106 BAYTOWN VALENTINA (41) P S McEntee 8.6 J F Egan 8114 (3) 150306 WIZBY (7,D) P Evans 8.6 F P Ferris 86

Betting 9-2 Young Flavio, 13-2 Rubenstar, 7-1 Power Assisted, Sapphire Storm,8-1 Blue Jeans, Casablanca Minx.

4.00 Kent Veg Handicap (Class 5 ) 3YO 6f ⁄ £4,259

1 (5) 300010 MATSUNOSUKE (20,D) A Coogan 9.4 Saleem Golam (5) 852 (9) 143142 ROSAPENNA (31,CD) C Wall 9.4 S O’Hara (7) 893 (6) 20-530 CLOVE (14) J A Osborne 9.3 S W Kelly 874 (1) -22516 PATTERNMAKER (31,D) W Jarvis 9.2 E Ahern ∂ 865 (2) 001136 SPECIAL LAD (15,C,D,BF) P Cole 9.1 R L Moore 906 (7) 231456 DIAMOND KATIE (23) R Guest 9.1 C Catlin 847 (3) 632210 HEWARAAT (15,D) B Hills 8.12 R Hughes 888 (8) 200640 MAJESTICAL (12) J Bradley 8.5 P Fitzsimons 839 (4) 400064 PIPER LILY (22) M Blanshard 8.4 M Halford (5) ∂82

Betting 4-1 Rosapenna, 5-1 Special Lad, Hewaraat, 6-1 Patternmaker,7-1 Matsunosuke, 8-1 Clove, Diamond Katie.

4.30 Sterling Cross Handicap (Class 5 ) 3YO 1m 4f ⁄ £4,204

1 (5) 0034 ENGLISH VICTORY (12) T Mills 9.4 S W Kelly 852 (10) 261200 BUSACO (19,CD) J Dunlop 9.2 I Mongan 863 (7) 211F53 PEARL’S A SINGER (17,D) M Bell 8.13 L Dettori 904 (6) 140543 SAN DENG (9) W Muir 8.9 R Hughes 845 (4) 000-21 TI ADORA (27) P D’Arcy 8.8 J F Egan 836 (9) 0-0134 SHINY THING (26) A King 8.8 Dane O’Neill 897 (3) -00121 CUP OF LOVE (9,C) R Guest 8.7 S Whitworth 888 (2) 0002 VALIANT SHADOW (26) W Jarvis 8.6 T P Queally 829 (8) 0-034 TIEGS (21) Mrs A L King 8.4 J Quinn 8710 (1) 000-0 LOITOKITOK (110) P Cundell 8.4 C Catlin 81

Betting 5-1 Pearl's A Singer, 11-2 Ti Adora, Cup of Love, 6-1 Busaco,15-2 Valiant Shadow, 8-1 English Victory, San Deng, Shiny Thing.

5.00 St Nicholas Court Farms Maiden Fillies’Stakes (Class 5 ) 3YO 1m 1f 149yds ⁄ £3,858

1 (3) 6-3252 BAZELLE (53) P D’Arcy 8.11 J F Egan 902 (4) 544 BLING BLING (22) Mrs A Perrett 8.11 E Ahern 843 (1) 220-54 ELIZABETHAN AGE (16) W Haggas 8.11 L Dettori 884 (5) 22432 LILAC MIST (39) H Cecil 8.11 J Quinn 875 (2) 6-4 MAMBO PRINCESS (44) J Gosden 8.11 R Havlin 89

Betting 2-1 Bazelle, 9-4 Lilac Mist, 4-1 Elizabethan Age, 6-1 Mambo Princess,7-1 Bling Bling.

Redcar selections

2.10 Rose Of Inchinor 2.40 Don’t Tell Sue (nb)3.10 Regal Connection 3.40 Red Opera4.10 Dalida 4.40 New Wave 5.10 Brut 5.40 Kawn



Sport

Cricket scoreboards

Rugby unionGUINNESS PREMIERSHIPLondon Irish 15 Worcester 20Newcastle 14 Bristol 16Saracens 34 Leeds 16SaturdayBath 9 Northampton 17Gloucester 21 Sale 18Wasps 29 Leicester 29

CELTIC LEAGUEBorders 8 Llanelli Scarlets 14SaturdayEdinburgh 34 Connacht 3Leinster 26 Glasgow 21Munster 37 Ospreys 10

NATIONAL LEAGUEOneBedford 47 Doncaster 17Coventry 13 Rotherham 22Exeter 21 London Welsh 10Newbury 25 Cornish Pirates 26Otley 15 Harlequins 18Pertemps Bees 24 Plymouth Albion 13Sedgley Park 12 Nottingham 29

TwoBlackheath 30 Halifax 14Esher 27 Redruth 8Harrogate 8 Barking 13Manchester 18 Launceston 6Stourbridge 7 Moseley 20Waterloo 51 Orrell 0Wharfedale 34 Henley 10

Three NorthBradford & Bingley 24 Blaydon 11Cleckheaton 10 Leicester Lions 17Darlington 53 Macclesfield 1 8Hull Ionians 42 Kendal 21Nuneaton 28 New Brighton 20Preston Grasshoppers 47 Fylde 13Tynedale 14 Darlington M Pk 16

Three SouthBracknell 11 Havant 10Bridgwater & Albion 15 Hertford 20Cinderford 0 North Walsham 34Dings Crusaders 18 Cambridge 20Rosslyn Park 26 Reading 15Southend 30 Old Patesians 10Westcombe Park 30 Lydney 24

PRINCIPALITY BUILDING SOCIETY PREMIERSHIPAberavon 37 Cardiff 20Bedwas 29 Maesteg 10Bridgend 37 Glamorgan Wdrs 29Carmarthen 6 Pontypool 3Cross Keys 43 Llandovery 0Llanelli 24 Ebbw Vale 3Newport 26 Swansea 19Pontypridd 25 Neath 21

ASDA WELSH NATIONAL LEAGUEFirst Division Beddau 29 UWIC 6Bonymaen 33 Caerphilly 11Cwmllynfell 30 Merthyr 6Fleur De Lys 11 Llangennech 27Llanharan 24 Builth Wells 8Narberth 16 Blackwood 8Newbridge 16 Whitland 3Waunarlwydd 22 Ystrad Rhondda 13

BT SCOTLAND PREMIERSHIPFirst Division Aberdeen GSFP 30 Heriots Rugby Club 27Ayr 38 Boroughmuir 10Melrose 25 Hawick 11Stewart’s Melville FP 25 Currie 14Stirling County 23 Biggar 26Watsonians 25 Glasgow Hawks 28

Second Division Dundee HSFP 5 Cartha QP 0Hillhead/Jordanhill 13 Edinburgh Acads 32Jed-Forest 37 GHA 14Kelso 27 Haddington 20Murrayfield Wndrs 15 Berwick 20Selkirk 39 Gala 15

Third Division East Kilbride 5 Kirkcaldy 11Ellon 23 Hamilton 17Livingston 27 Dunfermline 22Musselburgh 19 Edinburgh Univ 12Peebles 9 RHC 7

Rugby leagueENGAGE SUPER LEAGUE

P W D L F A PtsSt Helens 27 23 1 31010 505 47Leeds 27 21 0 61118 479 42Bradford 26 16 1 9 954 632 33Hull 27 15 2 10 740 640 32Warrington 26 16 0 10 729 670 32London 27 12 2 13 732 708 26Wigan 27 13 0 14 662 696 26Huddersfield 27 12 0 15 720 755 24Salford 27 10 0 17 529 718 20Wakefield 27 10 0 17 690 965 20Widnes 27 6 1 20 588 980 13Leigh 27 2 1 24 4311190 5

Bradford (18) 52 Huddersfield (24) 34Henderson, Johnson 2, St Hilaire, Evans,Deacon, Vainikolo 2, Gene, March,

Fielden, Meyers, Crabtree, Greenwood.Radford. Goal: Goal: Thorman 5.Deacon 8. Att: 13,207Wakefield (20) 30 Hull (16) 32Wainwright, Jeffries, Carvell, Swain,Domic, Elima, Raynor, Chester,Buchanan. Goal: Cooke, Faumuina.March 5. Goal: Brough 4.

Att: 5,721Widnes (18) 36 Leigh (10) 20Ballard 2, Connolly, Owen, J Duffy,J O’Neill, Watts, Jackson, Forber.Finnigan. Goal: Goal: Owen 2.Myler 6. Att: 5,293SaturdayWarrington (18) 33 Leeds (12) 16Fa’afili, M Gleeson, Mathers, Diskin,Grose, Swann, Bai. Goal:N Wood. Goal: Sinfield 2.Johns 6. Drop Goal:Johns. Att: 13,024

LHF HEALTHPLAN NATIONAL LEAGUEOne

P W D L F A PtsWhitehaven 18 16 0 2 648 307 32Castleford 18 15 0 3 683 368 30Hull K R 17 12 0 5 547 379 24Halifax 18 10 0 8 604 467 20Doncaster 18 10 0 8 485 470 20Rochdale 18 9 1 8 468 502 19Oldham 18 6 1 11 455 545 13Batley 18 5 0 13 417 574 10Featherstone 18 3 2 13 454 648 8Barrow 18 1 0 17 299 832 2

Barrow 10 Hull KR 42Batley 12 Castleford 54Featherstone 22 Doncaster 46Halifax 46 Oldham 20Rochdale 20 Whitehaven 44

TwoP W D L F A Pts

York 18 15 0 3 683 356 30Dewsbury 18 13 1 4 526 350 27Workington 17 12 1 4 487 426 25Swinton 18 11 0 7 623 434 22Hunslet 18 11 0 7 476 385 22Gateshead 18 8 1 9 516 508 17Sheffield 18 8 0 10 414 529 16Keighley 18 4 1 13 359 471 9Blackpool 18 3 0 15 356 623 6London Skolars 18 2 0 16 258 620 4

Hunslet 26 Gateshead 16Keighley 16 Workington 20Swinton 18 Dewsbury 22SaturdayLondon Skolars 6 Blackpool 20

ThreeP W D L F A Pts

Bradford D Hill 17 17 0 0 822 213 34Bramley 18 16 0 2 832 231 32St Albans 18 14 0 4 770 349 28Warrington 18 10 1 7 683 382 21Sheffield Hillsbro 18 9 1 8 444 514 19Hemel 18 8 0 10 409 523 16Coventry 19 7 0 12 543 659 14Huddersfield U 18 5 0 13 466 679 10Gateshead 18 3 0 15 359 765 6Essex 18 0 0 18 1811194 0

Essex 4 Sheffield Hillsbro 56Hemel 42 Gateshead 40Huddersfield U 4 Bradford D Hill 58St Albans 52 Coventry 28

NATIONAL CONFERENCEPremier Division

P W D L F A PtsOldham St Annes 5 5 0 0 152 91 10Wigan St Patricks 5 5 0 0 125 71 10Leigh MR 4 4 0 0 135 58 8Thornhill 5 2 1 2 75 66 5Eccles & Salford 5 2 1 2 94 114 5Siddal 5 2 0 3 97 83 4Skirlaugh 5 2 0 3 85 93 4Oulton Raiders 5 2 0 3 92 120 4Shaw Cross Sharks 5 2 0 3 59 92 4Wath Brow Hornets 5 2 0 3 90 133 4Hull Dockers 4 1 0 3 82 60 2East Hull 4 1 0 3 70 94 2

Wigan St Judes 4 1 0 3 50 88 2Leigh East 5 1 0 4 79 122 2

East Hull 18 Oldham St Annes 38Leigh MR 32 Shaw Cross Sharks 14Oulton Raiders 2 Leigh East 12Siddal 20 Hull Dockers 8Thornhill 14 Wigan St Judes 18Wath Brow Hornets 16 Skirlaugh 19Wigan St Patricks 40 Eccles & Salford 6

First DivisionP W D L F A Pts

West Hull 2 2 0 0 76 10 4Thatto Heath 2 2 0 0 69 20 4Rochdale Mayfield 2 2 0 0 88 42 4York Acorn 2 2 0 0 62 36 4West Bowling 2 1 1 0 37 18 3Eastmoor Dragons 2 1 0 1 56 38 2East Leeds 2 1 0 1 42 44 2Hunslet Warriors 2 1 0 1 36 40 2Milford Marlins 2 1 0 1 50 66 2Ince Rose Bridge 2 0 1 1 28 29 1Askam 2 0 0 2 38 60 0Ideal Isberg 2 0 0 2 20 49 0Walney Central 2 0 0 2 36 78 0Castleford Lock Lane 2 0 0 2 2 110 0

East Leeds 22 Ideal Isberg 12Eastmoor Dragons 32 Askam 12Rochdale Mayfield 40 Milford Marlins 22Thatto Heath 50 Castleford Lock Lane 2Walney Central 16 York Acorn 30West Bowling 10 Ince Rose Bridge 10West Hull 16 Hunslet Warriors 10

Second Division P W D L F A Pts

Widnes St Maries 2 2 0 0 106 6 4Castleford Panthers 2 2 0 0 56 6 4Crosfields 2 2 0 0 72 24 4Huddersfield Sharks 2 2 0 0 54 22 4Ovenden 1 1 0 0 12 4 2Millom 2 1 0 1 38 42 2Featherstone Lions 2 1 0 1 36 42 2Egremont Rangers 2 1 0 1 38 57 2Cottingham Tigers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Stanningley 2 0 0 2 12 22 0Normanton Knights 1 0 0 1 20 32 0Saddleworth Rangers 2 0 0 2 27 66 0Waterhead 2 0 0 2 20 76 0Heworth 2 0 0 2 18 110 0

Crosfields 40 Waterhead 4Featherstone 32 Egremont 12Heworth 14 Huddersfield 44Millom 2 Castleford 26Ovenden 12 Stanningley 4Saddleworth 2 Widnes St Maries 40

GolfGERMAN MASTERS (Cologne)Final scores (GB/Ire unless stated; *=amateur): 268R Goosen (SA) 67 68 66 67. 269 J M Olazabal (Sp) 6865 70 66; D Lynn 68 67 67 67; N Dougherty 71 64 6668; H Stenson (Swe) 71 66 64 68. 270 Howell 72 6666 66. 271 P Casey 67 67 71 66; A Wall 71 62 68 70.272 A Cabrera (Arg) 70 68 67 67. 273 R Gonzalez(Arg) 67 71 71 64; K Ferrie 68 72 66 67. 275 MCayeux (Zim) 66 69 72 68; B Langer (Ger) 67 69 7168; P Fulke (Swe) 68 69 69 69; N Fasth (Swe) 69 7165 70; S Drummond 68 68 68 71. 276 T Bjorn (Den)71 70 69 66; S Dodd 69 70 70 67; S Khan 69 69 6969; S Dyson 72 68 67 69; P Golding 71 66 68 71; TLevet (Fr) 71 66 67 72. 277 A Coltart 73 68 67 69; FAndersson Hed (Swe) 69 70 66 72; J-F Lima (Por) 7169 65 72. 278 C Cevaer (Fr) 71 71 70 66; CSchwartzel (SA) 67 72 72 67; L Slattery 72 66 71 69;G Storm 69 69 70 70; R Green (Aus) 70 70 66 72.279 M Olander (Swe) 71 68 72 68; P Broadhurst 6968 73 69; J Lomas 73 65 71 70; B Dredge 66 75 6870; J M Lara (Sp) 67 74 66 72. 280 M Campbell (NZ)71 69 73 67; S Hansen (Den) 71 71 70 68; P Senior(Aus) 66 72 72 70; B Lane (NZ) 66 72 70 72. 281 GMcDowell 71 70 70 70; I Woosnam 75 67 68 71. 282J Bickerton 72 70 71 69; A Marshall 66 71 74 71; DMcGrane 71 70 70 71; M Hensby (Aus) 71 71 68 72; SWebster 69 72 68 73. 283 M Tunnicliff 74 68 73 68;M Lundberg (Swe) 71 71 72 69; C Rodiles (Sp) 72 6774 70; R Karlsson (Swe) 68 73 71 71; P Hanson (Swe)69 73 70 71; R Russell 72 70 70 71; G Fernandez-Castano (Sp) 71 67 73 72; S Little 69 71 70 73. 284N Zitny (Aut) 67 72 76 69; A Forsyth 69 71 74 70; LOosthuizen (SA) 70 70 74 70; R-J Derksen (Neth) 75

65 72 72; M Brier (Aut) 66 73 72 73; I Garrido (Sp)73 67 71 73. 285 J Haeggman (Swe) 70 71 71 73; SStruver (Ger) 70 68 73 74; B Rumford (Aus) 70 72 6974; J Backstrom (Swe) 71 66 72 76. 286 I Poulter 7270 74 70. 287 A Oldcorn 68 73 74 72; A Bossert(Switz) 72 69 73 73; P O’Malley (Aus) 71 71 72 73.288 D Carter 71 71 74 72. 290 M Siem (Ger) 71 7075 74; J-F Remesy (Fr) 74 68 71 77.

USPGA BELL CANADIAN OPEN (Vancouver)Leading third-round scores (US unless stated): 204M Calcavecchia 65 67 72. 205 J Parnevik (Swe) 66 7267; C Barlow 70 70 65. 206 R Moore 69 70 67. 207 JKelly 72 66 69; S Ames (Can) 73 70 64; B Davis (Eng)70 71 66; V Singh (Fij) 73 66 68. 208 C Franco (Par)68 70 70; B Heintz 68 70 70. 209 M Harris 72 70 67;T Immelman (SA) 71 68 70; K Na (Kor) 70 72 67. 210J Sindelar 70 71 69; R Sabbatini (SA) 73 68 69; BBaird 70 72 68; B Crane 74 66 70. 211 T Purdy 67 7272; B Andrade 70 73 68; C DiMarco 70 73 68; SMcCarron 68 72 71; T Armour III 70 71 70; J Huston69 72 70; J Snyder III 71 69 71; F Langham 72 70 69;T Pernice Jnr 68 72 71; L Glover 65 72 74; M Kuchar72 67 72. 212 J H McLean 71 72 69; M Tiziani 73 6970; S Collins (Aus) 73 69 70; J Hart 69 72 71; MGronberg (Swe) 68 70 74; A Atwal (Ind) 72 67 73.213 R Pampling (Aus) 71 73 69; H Mahan 71 70 72; PTomasulo 73 70 70; D Stiles 71 71 71; C Stadler 7072 71; A Baddeley (Aus) 69 71 73. 214 B Estes 73 7071; B Geiberger 68 71 75; J Rose (Eng) 74 66 74; SDunlap 67 77 70; B Bateman 71 72 71; S Gutschewski70 74 70. Also: 221 G Owen (Eng) 73 71 77.

SINGAPORE OPEN (Singapore )Leading final scores : 271 A Scott (Aus) 70 69 6765. 278 L Westwood (Eng) 71 71 68 68. 279 A Buckle(Aus) 71 65 72 71. 281 Ted Oh (Kor) 69 70 72 70.282 Thongchai Jaidee (Tha) 67 73 68 74. 284 A Kang(US) 67 72 72 73; M Pearce (NZ) 68 70 71 75. 286Prom Meesawat (Tha) 73 71 72 70; N O’Hern (Aus)71 68 73 74; E Michaels (US) 69 67 71 79. 287Chapchai Nirat (Tha) 67 74 74 72; Lu Wen teh (Tpe)71 73 71 72. 288 Liang Wen chong (China) 70 73 7273. 289 T Pilkadaris (Aus) 71 70 75 73; J Randhawa(Ind) 74 69 72 74. 290 Lin Keng chi (Tpe) 72 71 7572; Chawalit Plaphol (Tha) 71 71 75 73; D Bransdon(Aus) 74 74 72 70; M Mamat (Sin) 73 74 70 73; APresnell (Aus) 75 72 67 76. 292 K Horne (SA) 71 7773 71; G Norquist (US) 73 74 70 75. 293 M Both(Aus) 69 72 77 75; A Que (Phi) 69 79 71 74; C Harris(US) 73 74 72 74; Sung Mao Chang (Tpe) 72 70 7675; F Minoza (Phi) 70 73 73 77.

EUROPEAN TELIA CHALLENGE (Waxholm,Stockholm )Leading final scores: 280 C Nilsson (Swe) 66 67 7275; M Hagen (Nor) 72 68 72 68 (Hagen wins sudden-death play-off at fourth extra hole). 282 T Tuovinen(Fin) 69 71 71 71; M P Atlevi (Swe) 72 69 69 72. 283S Jeppesen (Swe) 76 69 70 68; J Wade (Aus) 68 72 7073; J-B Gonnet (Fr) 72 68 69 74. 284 J A Larsen (Nor)75 67 70 72. 285 A S Hansen (Den) 73 73 71 68; GClark 72 73 70 70; F Mansson (Swe) 71 73 71 70.

SOLHEIM CUP (Carmel, Indiana)USA 15.5 Europe 12.5 (US first): Singles: J Inksterbt S Gustafson 2&1; P Creamer bt L Davies 7&5; PHurst bt T Johnson 2&1; L Diaz bt I Tinning 6&5; CKim bt L Kreutz 5&4; B Daniel lost to A Sorenstam4&3; N Gulbis bt M Hjorth 2&1; W Ward lost to CMatthew 3&2; M Redman lost to C Koch 2&1; C Kerrlost to G Nocera 2&1; M Mallon bt K Stupples 3&1; RJones halved with S Pettersen.Foursomes: C Kim & N Gulbis bt G Nocera & L Kreutz4&2; P Creamer & J Inkster bt L Davies & M Hjorth3&2; L Diaz & W Ward lost to S Gustafson & C Koch5&3; M Redman & P Hurst bt A Sorenstam & CMatthew 2up.Fourball: B Daniel & J Inkster halved with I Tinning &T Johnson; R Jones & M Mallon halved with SGustafson & S Pettersen; C Kerr & P Creamer bt CKoch & C Matthew 1upy; P Hurst & C Kim lost to LDavies & A Sorenstam 4&2.

SCANDINAVIAN SENIOR OPEN (Copenhagen)Leading final scores: 196 B Longmuir (Scot) 66 6664. 200 G Cali (It) 68 65 67. 201 B Cameron (Eng) 6969 63. 202 M Gray (Scot) 69 69 64; D J Russell (Eng)72 67 63. 204 G Encina (Chile) 68 67 69. 205 HCarbonetti (Arg) 66 67 72; E Darcy (Ire) 71 65 69; IMosey (Eng) 71 66 68; K Spurgeon (Eng) 68 68 69.206 M Foster (Eng) 69 69 68; T Gale (Aus) 68 67 71;T Horton (Eng) 70 67 69; D O’Sullivan (Ire) 70 65 71;M Poxon (Eng) 73 68 65; N Ratcliffe (Aus) 69 70 67;G Watine (Fr) 69 69 68.

TennisUS OPEN (Flushing Meadows)Men: Semi–finals: A Agassi (US) bt R Ginepri (US)6–4 5–7 6–3 4–6 6–3; R Federer (Switz) bt L Hewitt(Aus) 6–3 7–6 4–6 6–3.Women: Final: K Clijsters (Bel) bt M Pierce (Fr) 6–36–1.Doubles: Final: L Raymond & S Stosur (US/Aus) bt EDementieva & F Pennetta (Rus/It) 6–2 5–7 6–3.

LTA FUTURES (Nottingham)Men: Final: J Goodall (GB) bt R Bloomfield (GB) 7–67–6.Doubles: Final: O Charroin & F Sundsten (Fr/Nor)bt L Childs & M Lee (GB) 6–3 3–6 6–3.

BRITISH TOUR (Boston)Men: Final: M Taylor (Cambridgeshire) bt B Wagstaff(Cambridgeshire) 7–6 6–7 7–6.Women: Final: L Cox (Berkshire) bt N Hillyer(Warwickshire) 6–2 3–6 6–1.

AthleticsWORLD FINALS (Monte Carlo)Men: 100m: 1 Marc Burns (Tri) 10.00sec. 800m: 1W Bungei (Ken) 1.47.05. 1500m: 1 I Heshko (Ukr)3.33.50. 5,000m: 1 S Sihine (Eth) 13.39.40. 110mHurdles: 1 A Johnson (US) 13.09. 400m Hurdles: 1B Jackson (US) 48.05. High Jump: 1 V Moya (Cub)02.35m CR. Long Jump: 1 D Phillips (US) 8.46m CR.Javelin: 1 T Pitkdmdki (Fin) 91.33m CR. Shot: 1 ANelson (US) 21.92m CR.Women: 200m: 1 A Felix (US) 22.27sec CR. 400m: 1S Richards (US) 49.52. 800m: 1 Z Calatayud (Cub)1.59.07 CR. 3,000m: 1 M Defar (Eth) 8.47.26. 100mHurdles: 1 M Perry (US) 12.54. Discus: 1 N Sadova(Rus) 63.40m. Pole Vault: 1 Y Isinbayeva (Rus)04.74m. Triple Jump: 1 H Devetzm (Gr) 14.89m SB.

BadmintonBELGIUM INTERNATIONAL (Mechelen)Men: Quarter-finals: B Joppien (Ger) bt B Rafn(Den) 15–3 15–1; N Kidd (Eng) bt R Massing (Neth)15–5 15–3; A Boesen (Den) bt A Woelk (Ger) 15–315–6; E Pang (Neth) bt A Ghaffar (Eng) 15–7 15–2.Semi-finals: Joppien bt Kidd 15–6 15–8; Boesen btPang 15–3 15–7. Final: Boesen bt Joppien 15-315–6.Doubles: Quarter-finals: I Kindervater & K Hopp(Ger) bt S Stoyanov & M Popov (Fr) 9–15 15–5 15–7;C Langridge & C Tonks (Eng) bt F Mawet & W Claes(Bel) 15–10 17–14; R Spitko & M Fuchs (Ger) bt JSoren Schulz & P Neubacher (Ger) 15–7 5–2 ret; RMiddleton & I Palethorpe (Eng) bt E Pang & K Ridder(Neth) 15–13 11–15 15–12. Semi-finals:Kindervater & Hopp bt Langridge & Tonks 17–159–15 15–9; Spitko & Fuchs bt Middleton &Palethorpe 15–9 15–8. Final: Kindervater & Hopp btSpitko & Fuchs 15-6 15-10.Women: Quarter-finals: X Huaiwen (Ger) bt ENozdran (Ukr) 11–4 11–3; S Hughes (Scot) bt R vanCutsen (Neth) 11–3 11–4; A Nieminen (Fin) bt NDescamps (Bel) 7–11 11–0 11–3; J Schenk (Ger) bt ARice (Can) 11–7 11–7.Semi-finals: Huaiwen btHughes 11–1 7–11 11–4; Schenk bt Nieminen 11–34–11 11–2. Final: Huaiwen bt Schenk 11-4 11-1.Doubles: Quarter-finals: J Schenk & N Grether(Ger) bt N Weckstrom & A Nieminen (Fin) 15–5 15–0;J Day & R Howard (Eng) bt K Schnaase & C Bott (Ger)15–10 15–6; E Mason & I Bankier (Scot) bt H Olver &H Connor (Eng) 3–15 15–13 15–10; M Pfeiffer & BOverzier (Ger) bt L Griga & E Nozdran (Ukr) 15–817–15. Semi-finals: Schenk & Grether bt Day &Howard 15–6 15–10; Pfeiffer & Overzier bt Mason &Bankier 15–2 17–14. Final: Schenk & Grether btPeiffer & Overzier 15-6 15-1.Mixed Doubles: Quarter-finals: J Day & CLangridge (Eng) bt R Adcock & J Wallwork (Eng)8–15 15–11 15–5; T Dettmann & A Lillie (Ger) bt WClaes & N Descamps (Bel) 15–7 15–7; R MIddleton &S Bok (Eng) bt J Schoettler & G Koehler (Ger) 15–1215–9; K Hopp & B Overzer (Ger) bt M Honey & HConnor (Eng) 15–10 15–5. Semi-finals: Dettmann &Lillie bt Day & Langridge 15–10 12–15 15–6; Hopp &Overzier bt Middleton & Bok 15–10 15–6. Final:Hopp & Overzier bt Dettmann & Lillie 15-4 17-14.

BaseballMAJOR LEAGUENY Yankees 2 Boston 9; Washington 0 Atlanta 4; LADodgers 3 San Diego 1; San Francisco 2 Chicago Cubs5; Tampa Bay 2 Toronto 3; Chicago White Sox 5 LAAngels 10; Cleveland 7 Minnesota 5; Detroit 4 KansasCity 3; Milwaukee 5 Houston 7; Philadlephia 6 Florida7; Cincinnati 6 Pittsburgh 2; St Louis 4 NY Mets 2;Texas 4 Oakland 5; Colorado 5 Arizona 8; Seattle 3Baltimore 5. Friday: Cleveland 4 Minnesota 2; Detroit2 Kansas City 12; NY Yankees 8 Boston 4; Washington8 Atlanta 6; Philadelphia 12 Florida 5; Cincinnati 4Pittsburgh 8; Tampa Bay 2 Toronto 7; Chicago WhieSox 5 LA Angels 6 (12 inns); Milwaukee 7 Houston 4;Texas 8 Oakland 9; St Louis 3 NY Mets 2; Colorado 1Arizona 7; Seattle 3 Baltimore 2; San Francisco 2Chicago Cubs 1; LA Dodges 1 San Diego 3.

BoxingPROFESSIONAL BILL (Cardiff)WBO Super Middleweight title: Joe Calzaghe(Wales) bt Evans Ashira (Ken) Unan pts.Light-Welterweight: Amir Khan (Eng) bt Baz Carey(Eng) pts.

CyclingVUELTA A ESPANAStage 15 (Cangas de Onis to Branillin; 191km): 1 R Heras (Sp) Liberty Seguros 4hr 53min 53sec; 2 S Sanchez (Sp) Euskaltel at 32sec; 3 J PascualRodriguez (Sp) Comunidad Valenciana 46; 4 M Scarponi (It) Liberty Seguros 2.28; 5 M Ardila(Col) Davitamon - Lotto 3.11; 6 C Garcia Quesada(Sp) Comunidad Valenciana 3.12; 7 M Aerts (Bel)Davitamon - Lotto 3.19; 8 O Pereiro (Sp) Phonak3.47; 9 C Sastre (Sp) Team CSC same time; 10 S Devolder (Bel) Discovery Channel 4.09; 11 R Plaza (Sp) Comunidad Valenciana 4.33; 12 O Sevilla (Sp) T-Mobile 4.45; 13 F Mancebo (Sp)Illes Balears 4.47; 14 T Danielson (US DiscoveryChannel 5.03; 15 D Atienza (Sp) Cofidis 5.08; 16 J Sanchez (Sp) Fassa Bortolo 5.0; 17 J M Mercado(Sp) Quick-Step 5.17; 18 D Menchov (Rus) Rabobank;19 F J Lara (Sp) T-Mobile; 20 A Garcia Quesada (Sp)Comunidad Valenciana al l st. General classification:1 R Heras (Sp) Liberty Seguros 61hr 47min 40sec; 2 D

(Japan) Suzuki; 5 K Muggeridge (Aus) Honda; 6 A Pitt(Aus) Yamaha; 7 M Neukirchner (Ger) Honda; 8 N Abe(Japan) Yamaha; 9 S Martin (Aus) Petronas; 10 P Chili(It) Honda; 11 J L Toseland (Sp) Ducati; 12 G Bussei(It) Kawasaki; 13 T Corser (Aus) Suzuki; 14 S Gimbert(Fr) Yamaha; 15 B Bostrom (US) Honda.Championship Standings: 1 T Corser (Aus) 389pts;2 C Vermeulen (Aus) 329; 3 N Haga (Japan) 239; 4 JToseland (GB) 215; 5 R Laconi (Fr) 214; 6 YKagayama (Japan) 211; 7 A Pitt (Aus) 137.

BRITISH SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP (Oulton Pk)Race One: 1 R Kiyonari (Japan) Honda; 2 G Lavilla(Sp) Ducati; 3 J Reynolds (GB) Suzuki; 4 L Haslam (GB)Ducati; 5 G Richards (GB) Kawasaki; 6 J Haydon (GB)Suzuki; 7 T Hill (GB) Yamaha; 8 K Harris (GB) Honda; 9G Mason (GB) Honda; 10 M Rutter (GB) Honda.

SpeedwayITALIAN GRAND PRIX (Lonigo)1 T Rickardsson (Swe); 2 J Crump (Aus); 3 G Hancock(US); 4 L Adams (Aus); 5 B Pedersen (Den); 6 AJonsson (Swe); 7 H Andersen (Den); 8 S Nicholls (GB);9 T Chrzanowski (Pol); 10 L Richardson (GB) Overall final standings: 1 Rickardsson 196 pts; 2Crump 154; 3 Adams 107; 4 N Pedersen (Den) 102; 5Hancock 100; 6 B Pedersen 90; 7 T Gollob (Pol) 83; 8Jonsson 80 (all qualify for 2006 GP series); 9 Nicholls72; 10 A Lindback (Swe) 71. Also: 13 Richardson 55.

SquashROTARY HELIOPOLIS OPEN (Cairo)First round: M Abbas (Egy) bt S Moustafa Kamel(Egy) 11–3 11–2 11–5; L Jan Anjema (Neth) bt GRyding (Can) 11–4 11–9 4–11 11–6; P Barker (Eng)bt B Ball (Eng) 11–10 11–6 11–3; K Darwish (Egy) bt JBarrington (Eng) 11–9 11–5 11–5.

WOMEN’S SEATTLE OPEN (US)Quarter-finals: R Grinham (Aus) bt N Grainger (US)7–9 9–6 9–3 9–3; T Bailey (Eng) bt S Kitchen (NZ);9–1 9–6 9–4; N David (Mas) bt A Waters (Eng) 9–410–8 7–9 9–5; V Atkinson (Neth) bt J Duncalf (Eng)9–0 3–9 0–9 9–5 10–8. Semi-finals: Grinham btBailey 9–6 7–9 9–2 3–9 9–6; Atkinson bt David 7–99–3 9–6 9–1.

FRIZZELL COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIPFirst Division (Final day of four)

Middlesex v KentLord’s: Middlesex (12pts) drew with Kent (9).Kent: First innings 384 (R W T Key 94, J M Kemp 102,A Khan 58no).Middlesex: First innings 550-9 dec (B L Hutton 152,O A Shah 128, J W M Dalrymple 76, E C Joyce 68).Kent: Second innings*D P Fulton c Shah b Richardson ............................9R W T Key c Joyce b Dalrymple ............................52M van Jaarsveld st Scott b Golwalkar ..................26M J Walker lbw b Dalrymple ..................................0D I Stevens lbw b Golwalkar ................................15J M Kemp b Richardson ......................................30A J Hall not out ..................................................37†N J O’Brien c Weekes b Golwalkar ........................9M M Patel not out ................................................0Extras (b1, lb6, w1, nb6) ....................................14

Total (for 7, 72.4 overs) ..................................192Fall: 15, 90, 93, 104, 118, 166, 192.Did not bat: S J Cook, A Khan.Bowling: Trego 6-1-27-0; Richardson 16-6-38-2;Betts 5-1-16-0; Hutton 4-0-13-0; Golwalkar 25.4-12-41-3; Dalrymple 16-1-50-2.Umpires: D J Constant and J H Evans.

(Second day of four)

Warwickshire v SurreyEdgbaston: Surrey (1pt) have scored 225 for nine intheir first innings against Warwickshire (3).Surrey: First inningsS A Newman c Trott b Ntini..................................12*M A Butcher c Trott b Brown..............................30M R Ramprakash c Powell b Carter ......................16R Clarke c Brown b Anyon ....................................63†J N Batty c & b Anyon ..........................................3A D Brown lbw b Anyon ........................................1Azhar Mahmood c Ntini b Carter..........................24T J Murtagh c Knight b Brown..............................30Saqlain Mushtaq not out ....................................31M Akram c Westwood b Brown ............................12Extras (lb3) ..........................................................3

Total (for 9, 58.1 overs) ..................................225Fall: 22, 50, 76, 119, 121, 128, 153, 197, 225.To bat: J W Dernbach.Bowling: Ntini 13-0-46-1; Brown 21.1-5-58-3;Carter 10-4-54-2; Anyon 14-0-64-3.Warwickshire: *N V Knight, I J Westwood, I J L Trott,J O Troughton, A G R Loudon, M J Powell, D R Brown, †T Frost, N M Carter, J E Anyon, M Ntini.Umpires: J W Holder and D R Shepherd.

P W L D Bt Bl PtsNottinghamshire 14 8 2 4 44 42 214Sussex 15 6 3 6 54 42 204Kent 14 6 1 7 53 38 194.5Hampshire 14 7 3 4 37 40 190.5Warwickshire 14 7 5 2 38 38 181.5Middlesex 15 4 4 7 51 41 175.5Surrey 14 3 3 8 47 40 152.5Gloucestershire 15 1 9 5 26 43 101Glamorgan 15 1 13 1 32 35 84.5(Not including unfinished match).

FRIZZELL COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIPSecond Division (Final day of four)

Somerset v NorthamptonshireTaunton: No play Saturday (rain). Somerset (10pts)drew with Northamptonshire (12).Somerset: First innings 396 (M J Wood 58, A V Suppiah 91, I D Blackwell 98; M S Panesar 4-66).Northamptonshire: First innings 574 (U Afzaal 112,D J G Sales 154, D G Wright 71, S P Crook 91no, J Louw 64; R L Johnson 4-118).Somerset: Second innings 163-4 (J D Francis 64, J C Hildreth 50).Umpires: I J Gould and N A Mallender.

Yorkshire v WorcestershireHeadingley: Yorkshire (10pts) drew withWorcestershire (10).Worcestershire: First innings 308.Yorkshire: First innings 317 (A McGrath 173no,Kabir Ali 4-79).Yorkshire: Second innings (overnight from Friday 89-2).A McGrath not out ............................................65M J Lumb not out ..............................................16Extras (b11, w1, nb2) ........................................14

Total (for 2, 25 overs) ......................................125Did not bat: I J Harvey, *C White, †S M Guy, T T Bresnan, R K J Dawson, G J Kruis, M F Cleary.Bowling: Kabir Ali 9-0-40-1; Mason 7-0-24-0; Malik 6-1-32-1; Shoaib Akhtar 3-0-18-0.Umpires: N G Cowley and M J Kitchen.

Leicestershire v DerbyshireGrace Road: Leicestershire (12pts) drew withDerbyshire (5).Leicestershire: First innings 552-6 dec (D D J Robinson 123, T J New 89, D Mongia 71, H D Ackerman 125, P A Nixon 50no).Derbyshire: First innings (overnight from Friday 62-3).S D Stubbings lbw b Willoughby ..........................25J Moss lbw b Broad..............................................14

P M Borrington b Willoughby ................................4*†L D Sutton c Robinson b Broad ........................18G Welch b Gibson ..................................................6A G Botha not out ..............................................34T Lungley b Masters..............................................5I D Hunter lbw b Mongia ......................................35Extras (b4, lb13, w1, nb2) ..................................20

Total (73.4 overs) ............................................190Fall cont: 62, 68, 95, 98, 114, 127.Bowling: Gibson 14-5-39-1; Masters 18-7-30-2;Willoughby 16-9-27-3; Broad 16-5-46-3; Maunders 6-1-13-0; Mongia 3.4-0-18-1.Umpires: A A Jones and R Palmer.

(Third day of four)

Essex v LancashireChelmsford: Lancashire (20pts) beat Essex (5) byeight wickets.Essex: First innings 267 (J D Middlebrook 50; M Kartik 5-93).Lancashire: First innings (overnight from Friday 139-4).S G Law lbw b Gough ..........................................18A Symonds c A Flower b Danish Kaneria ................98P J Horton c Foster b Bopara ................................19G Chapple c Adams b Middlebrook ......................70M Kartik c Cook b Danish Kaneria ..........................0S I Mahmood b Middlebrook ..................................0†W K Hegg not out ..............................................0Extras (b12, lb16, w2, nb8) ................................38

Total (87.3 overs) ............................................340Fall cont: 153, 214, 340, 340, 340.Bowling: Gough 14-5-41-1; Adams 20-8-37-2;Bopara 9-2-46-1; Danish Kaneria 36-6-136-4;Middlebrook 8.3-0-52-2.Essex: Second innings W I Jefferson c Anderson b Kartik ........................35A N Cook c Symonds b Anderson ..........................19G W Flower b Kartik ............................................13R S Bopara c Sub b Anderson ..............................42A Flower c Sub b Kartik..........................................5*R C Irani c Law b Mahmood ................................10D Gough c Sub b Kartik ........................................15†J S Foster c Chapple b Mahmood ........................24J D Middlebrook b Mahmood ..............................19A R Adams c Loye b Kartik ..................................19Danish Kaneria not out ........................................6Extras (b4, lb4, nb12) ........................................20

Total (63.2 overs) ............................................227Fall: 31, 63, 72, 84, 109, 134, 164, 202, 215.Bowling: Anderson 15-0-53-2; Chapple 7-2-42-0;Kartik 25.2-9-75-5; Symonds 10-1-28-0; Mahmood 6-0-21-3.

Lancashire: Second innings*M J Chilton c Foster b Danish Kaneria ................42I J Sutcliffe not out ............................................80M B Loye b Danish Kaneria ..................................16S G Law not out ..................................................13Extras (b1, lb1, nb2) ............................................4

Total (for 2, 51.5 overs) ..................................155Fall: 106, 126.Did not bat: A Symonds, P J Horton, G Chapple, †W K Hegg, M Kartik, S I Mahmood, J M Anderson.Bowling: Gough 7-1-24-0; Adams 6-2-32-0; Danish Kaneria 23-4-61-2; Middlebrook 13.5-3-30-0;Bopara 2-0-6-0.Umpires: M R Benson and T E Jesty.

P W L D Bt Bl PtsLancashire 15 7 2 6 43 44 209Durham 15 6 2 7 43 42 197Yorkshire 14 5 0 9 44 36 185.5Essex 15 5 4 6 46 35 175Worcestershire 15 5 7 3 48 44 168.5Northamptonshire 14 4 3 7 35 40 159Somerset 15 4 6 5 40 36 152Leicestershire 15 2 6 7 45 42 142.5Derbyshire 14 0 8 6 25 38 87

TOTESPORT LEAGUEFirst Division

Middlesex v GlamorganLord’s: Middlesex (4pts) beat Glamorgan (0) by fiveruns.MiddlesexP N Weekes c Hemp b Cosker ..............................58E T Smith c Wallace b D S Harrison..........................6O A Shah st Wallace b Cosker................................66J W M Dalrymple run out ....................................18S B Styris b Wharf ..............................................34E C Joyce not out ................................................37P D Trego not out ................................................6Extras (b4, lb3, w7) ............................................14

Total (for 5, 45 overs) ......................................239Fall: 11, 133, 151, 169, 209.Did not bat: *B L Hutton, †B J M Scott, M M Betts, C T Peploe.Bowling: D S Harrison 9-0-42-1; Davies 9-0-53-0;Wharf 9-0-50-1; Watkins 6-0-33-0; Croft 4-0-23-0;Cosker 8-0-31-2.Glamorgan*R D B Croft c Styris b Trego..................................0R E Watkins lbw b Trego ........................................3A G Wharf c Smith b Betts....................................40M J Powell not out ............................................83D L Hemp c Dalrymple b Styris ............................20D D Cherry st Scott b Dalrymple ..........................42R N Grant b Styris ..............................................27

†M A Wallace c & b Styris ......................................0D S Harrison run out ............................................3A P Davies b Peploe ..............................................0D A Cosker b Styris................................................3Extras (b1, lb6, w4, nb2) ....................................13

Total (43.4 overs) ............................................234Fall: 0, 33, 47, 81, 174, 219, 219, 227, 227.Bowling: Trego 4-1-31-2; Betts 7-0-42-1; Styris 8.4-0-56-4; Dalrymple 8-0-36-1; Weekes 7-0-29-0; Peploe 9-0-33-1.Umpires: G I Burgess and J H Evans.

Notts v WorcsTrent Bridge: Nottinghamshire (4pts) beatWorcestershire (0) by five wickets.WorcestershireS C Moore c Fleming b Sidebottom ......................20C H Gayle c Fleming b Sidebottom........................25*V S Solanki b Harris ............................................0G A Hick b Clough ..............................................15B F Smith run out ..............................................58†S M Davies c Ealham b Swann ............................43D A Leatherdale c Read b Harris ............................0Kabir Ali b Harris ................................................18Shoaib Akhtar c Read b Harris ..............................0R W Price not out ................................................0M N Malik not out ................................................5Extras (lb9, w7)..................................................16

Total (for 9, 45 overs) ......................................200Fall: 39, 49, 49, 76, 163, 169, 189, 189, 189.Bowling: Sidebottom 9-4-29-2; Harris 9-0-48-4;Ealham 9-0-39-0; Clough 9-0-32-1; Swann 9-0-43-1.NottinghamshireW R Smith c Solanki b Price..................................36A Singh lbw b Kabir Ali ........................................25*S P Fleming c Moore b Kabir Ali..........................73D J Hussey b Price ..............................................13S R Patel not out ................................................29†C M W Read c Gayle b Malik..................................0M A Ealham not out ............................................10Extras (lb7, w7, nb4) ..........................................18

Total (for 5, 41.2 overs) ..................................204Fall: 51, 100, 123, 177, 179.Did not bat: G D Clough, G P Swann, R J Sidebottom,A J Harris.Bowling: Shoaib Akhtar 8-1-35-0; Kabir Ali 8-0-52-2;Malik 6.2-0-32-1; Leatherdale 4-0-16-0; Price 9-0-24-2; Gayle 6-0-38-0.Umpires: B Leadbeater and N J Llong.

P W L T NR PtsEssex 14 11 1 0 2 59Middlesex 15 9 5 0 1 38Northamptonshire 15 7 6 0 2 32Glamorgan 14 5 5 0 4 28

Results

Nottinghamshire 15 5 7 0 3 26Worcestershire 14 5 8 0 1 22Hampshire 14 5 8 0 1 22Lancashire 14 5 8 0 1 22Gloucestershire 15 5 9 0 1 22

TOTESPORT LEAGUESecond Division

Yorkshire v DurhamHeadingley: Durham (4pts) beat Yorkshire (0) byseven wicktes.YorkshireI J Harvey c Muchall b Thorp ................................33M J Wood lbw b Williams ....................................13M J Lumb c Mustard b Plunkett ............................52*A McGrath run out ..........................................68A W Gale run out ................................................38J J Sayers not out ................................................8†S M Guy not out ................................................14Extras (lb6, w3, nb2) ..........................................11

Total (for 5, 45 overs) ......................................237Fall: 50, 56, 128, 206, 217.Did not bat: S A Patterson, D J Wainwright, D S Lucas,M F Cleary.Bowling: Williams 9-0-46-1; Thorp 7-0-22-1;Plunkett 8-0-63-1; Killeen 9-0-38-0; Breese 9-0-37-0;Benkenstein 3-0-25-0.Durham DynamosG M Hamilton c Harvey b Cleary ............................5J P Maher c Harvey b Harvey ................................48G J Muchall not out ..........................................101*D M Benkenstein st Guy b McGrath ....................26G J Pratt not out ................................................38Extras (lb2, w19, nb2) ........................................23

Total (for 3, 43.2 overs) ..................................241Fall: 27, 83, 132.Did not bat: C D Thorp, G R Breese, †P Mustard, L E Plunkett, B A Williams, N Killeen.Bowling: Cleary 9-0-51-1; Lucas 6-0-48-0; Harvey 7.2-2-29-1; Patterson 8-0-45-0; Wainwright 8-0-44-0; McGrath 5-0-22-1.Umpires: N G Cowley and M J Kitchen.

P W L T NR PtsSussex 16 11 4 0 1 43Durham 16 10 4 0 2 44 Leicestershire 17 9 7 0 1 38 Derbyshire 16 8 6 1 1 36Somerset 16 8 7 0 1 34Warwickshire 14 7 5 0 2 32Kent 16 6 8 0 2 28Surrey 16 6 9 0 1 26Yorkshire 15 5 10 0 0 20Scotland 16 2 12 1 1 12

Stefan Holm of Sweden in thehigh-jump world athletics final

Eladio Jimenez checks his gloveduring the Tour of Spain

Adam Scott plays a chip shotduring his win in Singapore

Menchov (Rus) Rabobank at 4min 30sec; 3 C Sastre(Sp) Team CSC 4.50; 4 F Mancebo (Sp) Illes Balears6.45; 5 C Garcia Quesada (Sp) Comunidad Valenciana8.02; 6 O Sevilla (Sp) T-Mobile 11.16; 7 R Plaza (Sp)Comunidad Valenciana 11.30; 8 T Danielson (US)Discovery Channel 12.05; 9 J M Mercado (Sp) Quick-Step 13.32; 10 S Gonzalez (Sp) Phonak 14.20; 11 M Scarponi (It) Liberty Seguros 14.53; 12 S Sanchez (Sp) Euskaltel 15.33; 13 M Ardila (Col)Davitamon - Lotto 15.56; 14 D Blanco (Sp)Comunidad Valenciana 22.21; 15 M A MartinPerdiguero (Sp) Phonak 24.14; 16 F J Lara (Sp) T-Mobile 24.31; 17 U Osa (Sp) Illes Balears 29.49; 18 D Atienza (Sp) Cofidis 29.54; 19 J Jufre (Sp) Relax30.11; 20 S Szmyd (Pol) Lampre - Caffita 34.25; 21 M Aerts (Bel) Davitamon - Lotto 34.41; 22 ABotcharov (Rus) Credit Agricole 34.47; 23 M Serrano(Sp) Liberty Seguros 35.32; 24 V Hugo Pena (Col)Phonak 36.54; 25 C Kern (Fr) Bouygues Telecom39.49; 26 M Calvente (Sp) Team CSC 42.29.

DartsBAVARIA WORLD TROPHY (Utrecht)Semi-finals: M King (Eng) bt M Adams (Eng) 5–1; GRobson (Eng) bt M Veitch (Scot) 5–0.

Ice hockeyELITE LEAGUENewcastle 1 Belfast 2 (ot).

MotorcyclingWORLD SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP (Lausitz)Round 10: Race One: 1 C Vermeulen (Aus) Honda; 2N Haga (Japan)Yamaha; 3 T Corser (Aus) Suzuki; 4 JToseland (GB) Ducati; 5 Y Kagayama (Japan) Suzuki;6 A Pitt (Aus) Yamaha; 7 M Neukirchner (Ger) Honda;8 L Lanzi (It) Ducati; 9 N Abe (Japan) Yamaha; 10 BBostrom (US) Honda; 11 G McCoy (Aus) Petronas; 12G Bussei (It) Kawasaki; 13 J L Cardoso (Sp) Yamaha;14 N Brignola (It) Ducati; 15 S Cruciani (It) Kawasaki.Race Two: 1 L Lanzi (It) Ducati; 2 C Vermeulen (Aus)Honda; 3 N Haga (Japan) Yamaha; 4 Y Kagayama


Kevin McCarraWhy there is

still hope for thePremiership’s

challengers

ILLU

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Sport The Ashes live on Guardian UnlimitedOver-by-over commentary from The Ovalguardian.co.uk/sport

Tomorrow ≥ Richard Williamsreports on the final nail-biting stages of England’s titanic Ashes battle

Frank Keatingoffers more inimitable insights into sport’s most entertainingcharacters

A week of wondering about chundering

Isee the casual vomit is comingback into fashion. Billy Connollyused to do a routine about his daysin the shipyards of the Clyde, wherethe casual vomit was very much thelingua franca. As Connolly told it, if

memory serves, grizzled shipbuildersback in the 1950s would sink four pintsof heavy ale at breakneck speed duringtheir lunch break and then, on the wayback to work, insouciantly unload thelot in the gutter, before ambling back totheir labours whistling.

Well, those days have returned; but before I probe that further, a littleexplanation for those of you picking upThe Guardian for the first time today,attracted no doubt by its thrillinglymodern European lines, which quiteclearly make it the next best thing to

living in a loft apartment overlookingCologne cathedral.

Having navigated your way to theback of this section, possibly in search ofthe crossword, you may be surprised tofind yourself in the middle of a debateon the etiquette of vomiting, rather thana learned deconstruction of the televi-sion coverage of arguably the biggestsporting event in Britain since 1966.

Quite simply, you are too late. This isostensibly a column about sport on TV —the word “ostensibly” having beeninserted by me into the job descriptionduring a change of shifts on the sportsdesk when nobody was looking — andmany of the issues arising from broad-cast sport have already been adequatelycovered here over the past 10 years,so we are ready to move on.

For instance, we have establishedbeyond any reasonable doubt that whenSky tells you their forthcoming broadcastof, say, Middlesbrough versus AstonVilla or Salford v Wakefield is likely to bean occasion of such orgasmic excitementit would be wise to cancel all arrange-ments and have a few boxes of tissueshandy, they are lying through theirteeth, and you might want instead to setthat night aside for cleaning the oven.

It was here — well, not here, exactly,but in the old paper — that we pointedout the folly of plucking from the after-

dinner circuit a former internationalfootballer who was a likeable andintelligent enough player with, let ussay, Watford and Liverpool, and thenexpecting him to master the art ofreading out-loud off an autocue withoutadopting the glazed eye and fixed grin of Archie Andrews with Peter Brough’shand up his backside — only a little more wooden.

Similarly, we were able to reveal thetruth which has so far escaped theproducers of Match Of The Day, that justbecause a personable, steely-haired,former international striker comes overas fairly amusing in a painstakinglyproduced series of big-budget potatocrisp commercials, that does not makehim a stand-up bloody comedian.

On the cricket issue, this column hasbeen more ambivalent. Having previ-ously espoused the view that there issomething uniquely pointless about acontest that can go on for five days andculminate in a draw — I think the phrase“like kissing your sister” may havefeatured — our current uncontroversialthinking on the subject is that it makesdynamite television, and that RichieBenaud is the grizzled god of cricketcommentary (you will note that this isalso a column with the confidence to usethe word “grizzled” twice in one piece).

I suspect the Ashes decider will have

confirmed my view, but am unable to go into more detail having spent the weekend at a friend’s wedding in New Jersey, and being unwilling to sitthrough all the Spring Lake Under-11inter-school basketball results waitingfor some acknowledgement that thegreatest cricket match in the history ofthe world was taking place.

If you have ever tried to find outabout Test cricket in the UnitedStates you will know that, incomparison, the problems of BasilRadford and Naunton Wayne inwar-torn Europe in The Lady

Vanishes are as nothing.It is still warm and sticky summer

here, which accounts for one of the twoincidents of casual vomiting Sky viewershave enjoyed recently. Andy Murray’sfirst-round match in the US Open tennis,

you may recall, was delayed for someminutes by the British wonder’s (literal)technicolour yawn after slurping downunwise quantities of vivid orange liquidwith the thirst of a Scots artisan on a 30-minute lunch break.

Murray is such a boy I half expectedsomeone to arrive with a bucket of sand,while young Murray was sent toMrs Alderson’s office for a quiet weep assomeone got in touch with his parents.But no, he continued as if nothing hadhappened and won his match. His laterelimination did nothing to alter my viewthat the boy is going to be unstoppablewhen he learns to take his drink.

Buckets of sand too, for theHarchester United dressing room, aftermidfielder Clyde Connelly deposited apavement pizza there in Sky’s soccersoap Dream Team, after discharginghimself from hospital where he wasbeing treated for the after-effects of asevere beating from one of his colleagues.

Dream Team is now into its ninthseason, and remains highly watchable.The players actually look like realfootballers, which is a trick Footballers’Wives never quite pulled off. Theproducers seem to understand that themore outlandish the plot lines, the moreimportant is that patina of realism. Infact I cannot be sure, but I think I sawsome little pieces of carrot.

Just because someone isamusing in big-budget crispcommercials doesn’t makehim a stand-up comedian

What’s rocking sport

In my car on the way to a game I play theProdigy. That's the sort of thing I grew upon. I was in the Cambridge team from 18 to21 and they got me going and ready for amatch then — really exciting, powerfulstuff. I'm 30 now and it's still working for me.

The music in the Wolves changing roomvaries from week to week: somebodybrings along a CD and someone else enjoysit so much they take it home and don'treturn it. The boys like hip-hop andremixed versions of whatever's in thecharts. It’s not too bad. I think I can livewith that, although I prefer Led Zeppelin,the Beatles and Jimi Hendrix. The onereally big song at Molineux is Jeff Beck'sHi-Ho Silver Lining. When we run out onto the pitch our fans sing Hi-Ho Wolver-hampton.

Away from football I have been paint-ing in oils for years: landscapes andportraits. For landscapes classical relaxesme, and if I'm doing a portrait of one ofmy musical icons — Hendrix perhaps, or

Lennon — I'll put a CD of theirs on in thebackground. But I never thought I'd findmyself listening to Tchaikovsky or who-ever. My tastes have certainly broadenedsince I was younger.

In the summer I went to see U2: theywere fantastic. I'd got tickets for Coldplayas well but had to go on tour with theteam. The wife went to see them insteadand said how good they'd been. I alsomissed Kylie Minogue because there wasa do on at the club. A lot depends onfinding dates that don't clash with myfootball: it'll probably be a while before Iget the chance to see the likes of U2 orColdplay again.

What annoys me is how Crazy Frog canstop Coldplay reaching No1 in the charts.There's no comparison between that andpeople who write their own lyrics andcompose their own tunes. The kids wantit, I suppose. At least Coldplay will bearound in 10 years' time. I hope so,anyway.

The defender JodyCraddock, 30, playsfor WolverhamptonWanderers. Theyhost Millwall in theChampionshiptomorrow

Lies, damn lies

Current temperature ofrelations between WayneRooney and DavidBeckham, in Celsius.

Percentage increase inCounty Championshipattendances afterEngland’s Ashes summer.

Not including confusedtourists looking for theLondon Eye.

Number of times AndreAgassi has been comparedto Peter Pan in the pastyear. In thousands.

Amount of sweat in litresshed hourly by MatthewHayden during his “gritty”Oval century.

Average amount of sweatshed hourly by Englandfans while Hayden batted.

Number of extra F1 fanscreated by end of MichaelSchumacher’s dominance.

England being useless . . .Those were the days. The England one-day team promote the 1999 WorldCup in the company of noted Britishsporting icon and bits-and-piecesunderwear model Caprice. By the end ofthe summer England would have exitedthe trophy at the first hurdle and lost afour-Test series to New Zealand to leave

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What we miss about cricket

themselves bottom of the worldrankings (behind Zimbabwe). Of thosepictured, Adam Hollioake and NeilFairbrother never played for Englandagain, while Graeme Hick, Robert Croftand Mark Ealham disappeared withinthe next couple of years. Looking atthem, you get the feeling they kind of knew it, too.

Top five1 Oasis Definitely Maybe2 Nirvana Nevermind3 The Beatles 1962-1966:

The Red Album4 Led Zeppelin Remasters5 Coldplay X&Y

Martin KelnerScreen Break

Made-up statistics we’d like to be true

Ryan GiggsUnited’s winger talks exclusively to Donald McRae about his Chelsea fears

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