Sporting News of the Week

Football

· Jose Enrique moves to Liverpool for £6million.

· Tottenham v Everton is postponed due to the London riots.

· Fabregas finally realises his dream with a move to Barcelona worth £35million.

· Barca then win the 2nd Leg of the Super Cup 3-2 (5-4 on aggregate) at the Nou Camp in a physical affair. Fabregas assists Messi’s winner.



Cricket

· Alastair Cook hits a career best 294 as the records tumble on the third day of the Edgbaston test, with England declaring on 710/7 after Eoin Morgan scored a century, and Pietersen, Strauss and Bresnan all hit fifties. England win by an innings and 242 runs to go 3-0 up in the series and claim the Number 1 Test Team spot.

· England win by an innings an 8 runs to secure a 4-0 whitewash at the Oval. 235 runs from Bell and a big Pietersen hundred got the hosts to 591/7dec. India were then removed for 300 following a peerless Dravid century. Graeme Swann then took a 5 wicket-haul to get the Indians 283 all out after a supreme 91 from Tendulkar.


Golf

· Keegan Bradley makes it four first-time Major champions for the season as he secures the PGA Championship. Tiger Woods enjoyed opposite fortunes as he missed the cut.


Tennis

· Andy Murray wins the Cincinati Open after Novak Djokovic had to retire mid-way through the final.

SPORTING NEWS OF THE WEEK 10

HEADLINERS AT COMMONWEALTH GAMES

A Few Of The Gold Medals!

Leon Baptiste, Athletics.
Tom Daley x2, Diving.
Rebecca Adlington x2, Swimming.
Liam Tancock x2, Swimming.
Fran Halsall, Swimming.
James Goddard, Swimming.
Imogen Cairns, Gymnastics.
Luke Folwell, Gymnastics.
Andy Turner, Athletics.
Steve Walton, Shooting.


FOOTBALL
· Ian Holloway is given a touchline ban after his altercation with a referee.
· Liverpool’s bidders are turned down by RBS as the Scouse club are left in further turmoil.

Internationals

Tuesday 12th October
European Championship Qualifying
Azerbaijan 1 - 0 Turkey
Kazakhstan 0 - 3 Germany
Belgium 4 - 4 Austria
Armenia 4 - 0 Andorra
Slovakia 1 - 1 Rep of Ireland
FYR Macedonia 0 - 1 Russia
Faroe Islands 1 - 1 Northern Ireland
Estonia 0 - 1 Slovenia
Belarus 2 - 0 Albania
France 2 - 0 Luxembourg
Finland 1 - 2 Hungary
San Marino 0 - 2 Moldova
Holland 4 - 1 Sweden
Latvia 1 - 1 Georgia
Greece 2 - 1 Israel
Switzerland 4 - 1 Wales
England 0 - 0 Montenegro
Denmark 2 - 0 Cyprus
Iceland 1 - 3 Portugal
Liechtenstein 0 - 2 Czech Republic

European Championship Qualifying
France 2 - 0 Romania
Israel 1 - 2 Croatia
Kazakhstan 0 - 2 Belgium
Austria 3 - 0 Azerbaijan
Germany 3 - 0 Turkey
Armenia 3 - 1 Slovakia
Andorra 0 - 2 FYR Macedonia
Rep of Ireland 2 - 3 Russia
Serbia 1 - 3 Estonia
Northern Ireland 0 - 0 Italy
Slovenia 5 - 1 Faroe Islands
Luxembourg 0 - 0 Belarus
Albania 1 - 1 Bosnia-Herzegovina
Hungary 8 - 0 San Marino
Moldova 0 - 1 Holland
Georgia 1 - 0 Malta
Greece 1 - 0 Latvia
Montenegro 1 - 0 Switzerland
Wales 0 - 1 Bulgaria
Cyprus 1 - 2 Norway
France 2 - 0 Romania



F1
· Vettel takes pole and victory at Suzuka as the Championship starts to turn into a 3-horse race between Mark Webber, Fernando Alonso and Vettel himself. Webber was 2nd, with Alonso 3rd as 14 points separate the 3 with three races remaining.


TENNIS

· Novak Djokovic retained his ATP China Open Title as he disposed of David Ferrer in 2 sets.
· Caroline Wozniacki enjoyed a great week as she become World No.1 as well as winning the ATP China Open Title dispatching Vera Zvonerava 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.


BOXING
· New Commonwealth Heavyweight Champion Derek “Del Boy” Chisora has accepted a fight with Wladimir Klitschko in Germany on 11th December. If victories the Londoner would then face Wladimir’s brother Vitali.
· Devon Alexander and Tim Bradley are set to fight on 29th January in a WBC, IBF and WBO World Light-Welterweight Unification bout with the winner likely to fight Amir Khan.
· Michael Sprott claimed the Prizefighter Heavyweight Crown after beating Matt Skelton on a split decision at York Hall, Bethnal Green.
· James DeGale is set to take on British Super-Middleweight Champion Paul Smith in Liverpool on 14th December.
· Frank Warren is putting together another boxing showpiece for his 30th anniversary of boxing. Kel Brook, Matt Macklin and Nathan Cleverly are set to be appearing.


CRICKET
· India have wrapped up a 2-0 series victory over Australia with a win in Bangalore.
Australia 478allout – M. North 128, R. Ponting 77, T. Paine 59, S. Watson 57. Singh 4-128.
India 495allout – S. Tendulkar 214, M. Vijay 139. M. Johnson 3-105.
Australia 223allout – R. Ponting 72. Z. Khan 3-41, Oija 3-57.
India 207/3 – C. Pujara 72, S. Tendulkar 53*.
INDIA WIN BY 7 WICKETS!

SPORTING NEWS OF THE WEEK 6

FOOTBALL

• Safety fears hit football as 3 legs are broken in 3 days. The unlucky recipients were; Bobby Zamora, Luka Modric and Antonio Valencia.

• Europa League – Man City 2 v 0 Salzburg: Silva and Jo the scorers.

 Liverpool 4 v 1 Steaua Bucharest: Ngog x2, Cole and Leiva

CRICKET

• England win both the 1^st and 2^nd ODI’s versus Pakistan;

1^st ODI

England – 274/6 (41overs) = S Davies 87, Trott 70, Strauss 41, Bopara 35*.

Pakistan – 250/9 (41overs) = K Akmal 53, U Akmal 43.

ENGLAND WIN BY 24 RUNS.

2^nd ODI

Pakistan – 294/8 (50overs) = K Akmal 74, Shafiq 74, Broad 4-81.

England – 295/6 (49.3overs) = Strauss 126, Trott 50.

ENGLAND WIN BY 4 WICKETS

• Clydesdale Bank Semi-Final’s;

1^st Semi

Somerset – 312/6 (40overs) = Trescothick 76, Compton 55, Suppiah 42*, Butler 36.

Essex – 217allout (29.3overs) = Foster 58.

SOMERSET WIN BY 95 RUNS.

2^nd Semi

Yorkshire – 257/5 (40overs) = Rudolph 106, Brophy 64.

Warwickshire – 260/6 (35overs) (D/L) = Chopra 76, Bell 57.

WARWICKS WIN BY 4 WICKETS ON D/L.

• The sad news has emerged that Andrew “Freddie” Flintoff, one of England’s finest ever all-rounders, has been forced to retire from all forms of cricket due to a troublesome knee. His presence will be missed from the game but his legacy will live on forever as a superb athlete, player, character and performer.

TENNIS

• A great couple of week’s tennis at Flushing Meadows for the US Open has come to an end. After defeating Novak Djokovic in a superb finale in 4 sets, Rafa Nadal finally completed his career slam. This came alongside Kim Clijsters beating Zvonareva in the Women’s tournament.
• The best match of the tournament was not the final though. Instead the epic semi-final between Djokovic and Federer which went to 5 sets with Djokovic finally prevailing after having gone 1-0 and 2-1 down. It was a match played with heat, intensity and rhythm and was the very finest brand of tennis that has been seen for quite some time.
• A very close friend of mine, Pearl, is a huge Djokovic fan. I would like to pay homage to her as, though her hero put her through just about every emotion (something relayed quickly on to me!) she never lost hope in him and supported him to the bitter end with great pride. She also taught me much about the passion in tennis and I must admit, I have more of a soft-spot for Djokovic than I did, even supporting him in his semi and final! “I am so proud of Nole”, says Pearl. “He played so well, I was crying when he had his match point against Federer after Federer had had two of his own”.

A magnificent spectacle for tennis and here’s to hoping for more of it next season!

FORMULA ONE

• After taking a brilliant pole-position, Ferrari man Fernando Alonso backed it up with a superb victory in front of the Tifosi to kick-start his championship challenge. After having been overtaken by Button to the opening corner things didn’t look good for him. His pit-stop managed to catapult him ahead of Button – who finished 2^nd – and he never looked back.

BOXING

• Amir Khan agrees a defence of his WBA light-welterweight title against Marcos Maidana for December 13^th in Las Vegas.

• Wladimir Klitschko successfully retained his IBF and WBO Heavyweight belts against Samuel Peter, stopping him in the 10^th round in front of the Frankfurt crowd.

• Ricky Hatton has entered rehab after allegations of cocaine snorting has appeared.

SPORTING NEWS OF THE WEEK 5

FOOTBALL

· Theo Walcott, Michael Dawson and Jermain Defoe all pick up injuries on international duty as England win twice, ruling them all out for at least 6 weeks.
· Robin Van Persie’s ankle injury is to keep him out for 6 more weeks.

· John Toshack is sacked as manager of Wales.

· Gerard Houllier is set to take over the reins at Villa Park.


CRICKET

· Eoin Morgan and Michael Yardy are main stars as England cruise to victory against Pakistan in both T20’s.

· Somerset are due to play Essex in the first Clydesdale Bank 40/40 semi-final, with Yorkshire and Warwickshire contesting the other.


GOLF

· After much speculation, Tiger Woods is handed a wildcard for the Ryder Cup by captain Corey Pavin along side; Zach Johnson, Stewart Cink and Rickie Fowler.


TENNIS

· Novak Djokovic will take on Roger Federer in the First US Open semi-final after the Serbian defeated; Troicki, Petzschner, Blake and Fish. Federer beat; Dabul, Beck, Matthieu and Melzer to find his spot in the semi. The other two quarter finals are between; Wawrinka v Youzhny and Nadal vs Verdasco.



BOXING

· Audley Harrison and David Haye agree terms for a World Heavyweight Championship bout for the first all-British title fight in this weight range for 17 years.

· Ricky Burns defeated Roman Martinez in a unanimous points victory to claim the WBO Super-Featherweight Title in Glasgow.


FORMULA ONE

• Ferrari manage to dodge charge of team orders in use after FIA investigation.

SPORTING NEWS OF THE WEEK 3

• Tottenham lose first leg of first Champions League game 3-2, after being 3-0 down after 28 minutes away from home against the Swiss outfit, Young Boys. Roman Pavlyuchenko scored a brilliant second after Bassong got Spurs on the board.

• Babel gives Liverpool a 1-0 advantage of Trabzonspor in Europa League with the away leg next Thursday.

• Aston Villa draw 1-1 with Rapid Vienna away in their Europa League opener, with youngster Roy Bannan scoring after another youngster, Mark Albrighton set him up.

• Alastair Cook gives his Test career a much needed kick-start with 110 in the 2nd innings of the 3rd Test versus Pakistan as England lose at the Oval after a collapse with England falling from 194-3 to 222 all out following Cook’s dismissal as well as having been 94/7 in the first innings.

England 233 (Prior 84*) Wahab 5-63
Pakistan 308 (Ali 92*) Swann 4-68
England 222 (Cook 110) Amir 5-52
Pakistan 148/6 (Butt 46) Swann 3-50
Pakistan win by 4 wickets.

• William Gallas secures North London switch from Arsenal to Tottenham
• French International defender Squillaci comes to Arsenal for rumoured fee of £6.5million.
• Algerian defender Haliche moves to Fulham.
• ·Mario Balotelli makes his long awaited move to Man City history with supposed £24million bid.
• Liverpool misfit Alberto Aquilani is sent on loan to Juventus with a permanent deal to the Old Lady looking on the cards.
• Craig Bellamy makes eventual shock move to Cardiff after too many personal differences with City see him left out in the cold.

• Roger Federer wins in Cincinatti in the run up to the US Open after beating Mardy Fish in the final.

• New Zealand defeat South Africa in a thriller of a rugby match in front of 95,000 at Soccer City, the All Blacks win narrowly 29-22 to break Bok hearts.

• Theo Walcott and Andy Carroll grab hat-tricks in the Premier League as Newcastle, Arsenal and Chelsea all beat Aston Villa, Blackpool and Wigan 6-0 respectively.

SPORTING NEWS OF THE WEEK 2

• Tyson Gay won again this week, although he was not racing Usain Bolt in Crystal Palace. He won in a time of 9.78seconds, the fastest time in the World this year.



• Hampshire became T20 Champions this week in a highly dramatic finish against Somerset in a last over that contained byes straight to the keeper and a runner for the last ball. Hampshire won on wickets lost after they hit 173/5 the same amount of runs Somerset got for 6 wickets.



• Steve Coppell and Kevin Blackwell both left their clubs this week. Coppell due to mutual consent. Blackwell was given the sack after the Blades lost 3-0.



• James Milner made his big money move to Man City, with Craig Bellamy going from one City to another, Manchester to Cardiff.



• The Toronto Masters saw some brilliant tennis which culminated in a Murray, Federer final. Murray had to beat Nadal, Nalbandian and Monfils to get through with Federer beating Djokovic and Berdych. Murray won 7-5, 7-5 in the final after having broken and been broken by Federer several times in a match that had an hour long rain break. Congrats Andy!



• German Golfer Martin Kaymer lifted the USPGA trophy at Whistling Straits after having beaten Bubba Watson in a playoff by a single shot over three holes. Young Irishman Rory McIlroy was only a few shots of the pace for the whole tournament.



• The Premier League got underway once more, providing some excellent scenes such as Blackpool’s victory and Paul Scholes’ individual performance at Old Trafford on Monday night.