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Ashley Cole charged by FA over abusive
tweet
The England and Chelsea left-back has been charged with
improper conduct and/or bringing the game into disrepute for his
‘twats’ tweet Page 2
Robin van Persie will not face action over
‘elbow’ on Yohan Cabaye
Robin van Persie, Cheik Tioté and Robert Huth will not face
retrospective FA action over incidents in Sunday’s matches Page 2
Leicester’s Welford Road omitted from
2015 Rugby World Cup
The Olympic Stadium has been named as a potential venue for the
2015 tournament while the biggest club rugby ground in England
misses out Page 2
Chris Robshaw: ‘Of Usain Bolt reveals Horse racing tips: Nathan Cleverly to
course I’d like to he will go for a third Tuesday 9 October face Ryan Coyne in
stay on as England sprint hat-trick at Rio Page 7 light-heavyweight
captain’ Page 3 2016 Page 6 title defence Page 9
NFL roundup: Drew
We did not entice Marco Botti has Brees passes Johnny Heather Watson
Kevin Pietersen to Moohaajim on course Unitas TD record for breaks into the
send texts, say South for Middle Park at Saints Page 8 second round at HP
Africans Page 5 Newmarket Page 6 Open Page 10
guardian.co.uk © Guardian News and Media Limited 2012 guardian.co.uk
Registered in England and Wales. No. 908396. Registered office: PO Box 68164, Kings Place, 90 York Way, London, N1P 2AP
Page G24 Sport Monday October 8 2012 18:16 GMT
It is understood that the match referee Howard Webb did not
see the incident during the game, but on reviewing television
Ashley Cole charged by FA over abusive evidence he did not deem it worthy of a sending-off offence, so
tweet no further action will be taken.
The Newcastle manager Alan Pardew said after the game that
• Left-back charged with improper conduct he felt the incident warranted further investigation, saying: “He
• Governing body follows Chelsea in has looked at Yohan and he has elbowed him, and I think that
perhaps needs to be looked at, if I am honest.
disciplining Cole
“There’s a bit of history from last year and I don’t know if
Press Association Robin has been caught up in that, but that was just a little bit
unsavoury. I actually thought Yohan wouldn’t have gone down
if he hadn’t done something. I didn’t see it myself, but I have
obviously seen it on the replay and it looks like he has looked at
him and put his elbow there.”
The “history” referred to by Pardew was an incident
involving Van Persie, then an Arsenal player, and Newcastle’s
Dutch goalkeeper Tim Krul which took place last season.
No action will be taken either in regard to Newcastle
midfielder Cheik Tioté, who appeared to stamp on Tom
Cleverley’s leg, or to the Stoke defender Robert Huth, who was
involved in a similar incident with the Liverpool forward Luis
Suárez.
In both cases, the incidents were seen by officials at the time
and therefore no further action can be taken.
Ashley Cole has been charged by the FA with improper
conduct and/or bringing the game into disrepute following his
abusive tweet.
Photograph: Carl Recine/Action Images
Leicester’s Welford Road omitted from
Ashley Cole has been charged by the Football Association with
2015 Rugby World Cup
conduct which was “improper and/or brought the game into
disrepute”, the governing body has confirmed. • Olympic Stadium selected as a potential
The Chelsea left-back called the FA a “bunch of twats” on venue
Twitter in a hashtag after he was accused of being an unreliable • Tigers angered by World Cup 2015 snub
witness in his statement supporting John Terry’s defence
against the charge he racially abused Anton Ferdinand. Press Association
The charge by his country comes two days after confirmation
by the Chelsea manager, Roberto Di Matteo, that Cole would be
punished by his club.
“We’ve got a social media policy at the club and there’s going
to be a disciplinary process – action – against the tweet and
that’s how I’ll leave it,” the Italian said.
“The image of the club is very important to us of course. We
have rules, and anybody who breaks the rules faces disciplinary
action against them. We strive to have high standards and
hopefully, going forward, we can be better at showing those.”
Robin van Persie will not face action
over ‘elbow’ on Yohan Cabaye Leicester’s Welford Road, which hosted matches at the 1991
and 1999 Rugby World Cups will not get the chance to do so in
2015. Photograph: Paul Harding/Action Images
• Pair clashed in Manchester United’s 3-0
win over Newcastle Welford Road, the home of Leicester Tigers and the biggest club
rugby ground in England, has been axed as a potential venue for
• Cheik Tioté and Robert Huth also in the
the 2015 World Cup.
clear with FA Gloucester’s Kingsholm is the only Aviva Premiership
Press Association rugby ground on a list that includes the Olympic Stadium,
Twickenham, Wembley, the Millennium Stadium and some of
The Manchester United forward Robin van Persie will not face
the biggest club football stadiums.
retrospective action from the Football Association over an
Welford Road, which has been Leicester’s home for 120
apparent elbow to the face of the Newcastle United midfielder
years, has been left off the long list of 17 venues published by
Yohan Cabaye gu.com/p/3bvpp in Sunday’s Premier League
the tournament organisers, England Rugby 2015.
match at St James’ Park.
guardian.co.uk © Guardian News and Media Limited 2012 guardian.co.uk
Page G24 Sport Monday October 8 2012 18:16 GMT
The Leicester chairman, Peter Tom, was both astounded “Our vision for Rugby World Cup 2015 is to ensure that we take
and angered by the snub. “We are hugely disappointed to learn this prestigious tournament to as many parts of the country
that Welford Road will not play a part in England’s hosting as possible and we believe that the geographical spread of
of the Rugby World Cup in 2015,” he said. “It is home to the venues selected will enable us to maximise the reach of the
best-supported and most successful club in the history of the tournament.
professional game in this country and, as such, we believe it is “In addition, we will be selecting further venues for
worthy of Rugby World Cup status. training and team base camps that will ensure that the rugby
“Who can forget that both head coach and captain community is at the very heart of Rugby World Cup 2015.”
of England’s World Cup-winning team in 2003 [Sir Clive
Woodward and Martin Johnson], and several other members of
the squad and backroom staff, spent major parts of their own Chris Robshaw: ‘Of course I’d like to stay
careers in Leicester colours? on as England captain’
“The current England squad also contains a sizeable number
of Leicester players, many of whom have been introduced to
the sport as fans at Welford Road and have come through the
The Harlequins flanker is about to begin
club’s academy structure to first team and then international a defining two months for his club and
honours. country
“It is that kind of heritage and dedication to the
Donald McRae
development of the game that makes the name of Leicester
Tigers and Welford Road stadium known throughout the rugby-
playing world.
“Welford Road is the largest designated club rugby stadium
in England, an iconic home of the sport in this country and
home to the most successful club in the history of a thriving,
competitive and successful league structure yet it will not be at
the table when it comes to hosting a global rugby event in this
country.
“That the organisers of RWC2015 do not think this an
appropriate venue for its fixtures is disappointing and
confusing both for the professional club game in this country
and for its supporters.”.
Gloucester’s Kingsholm is the only Aviva Premiership rugby
ground on a list of 17 potential venues chosen by tournament Chris Robshaw will lead Harlequins against Biarritz this
organisers England Rugby 2015, with 12 Premier League and weekend. Photograph: David Rogers/Getty Images
Football League grounds included as well as Wembley and the Down a dingy corridor, and in a small room littered with dirty
Olympic Stadium. The home grounds of Manchester United, kit and muddy boots, the England rugby union captain sits on
Newcastle United, Sunderland, Aston Villa and Southampton a hard wooden bench with a relaxed grin. The gritty backdrop
have all been included after expressing an interest in staging of a cramped dressing room at his club’s training ground
World Cup matches. suits Chris Robshaw far more than some swanky television
Outside the Premier League, ER2015 has included Brighton’s studio or corporate sponsor event. Over the last year, leading
Amex Stadium, Bristol City’s Ashton Gate, Pride Park in Derby, both England and Harlequins, the Premiership champions,
Coventry’s Ricoh Arena, Elland Road in Leeds and Stadium MK Robshaw has seen his share of glamorous locations. Winning
in Milton Keynes. the English league’s player of the season in May also guaranteed
Leicester is still represented by the King Power Stadium, his appearance in a tuxedo and dress shirt – but Robshaw looks
which has a capacity of more than 32,000 and, the tournament happiest in this stark setting.
organisers believe, more suitable off-field facilities than Welford It’s still far from easy and, settling down for a break on
Road. another long day at Harlequins’ base at the University of Surrey
Critics argue the World Cup should be utilising more rugby in Guildford, Robshaw seems briefly weary. He might still be
grounds but ER2015 has to sell 2.9 million tickets to cover the smiling but he leans his head against the brick wall and, in that
£80m guarantee owed to the International Rugby Board. moment, it’s possible to see how much rugby takes out of its
ER2015 will confirm the final list of 10-12 venues early in leading performers. Robshaw is in the midst of a draining roll of
the new year, once the tournament match schedule has been club matches – with a run of tough Premiership games leading
formulated. The pool draw is being held on 3 December in to the start of the even more demanding Heineken Cup this
London. weekend as Harlequins begin a serious tilt at European glory at
Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium was in the original bid document home to Biarritz.
but it does not feature on the shortlist, replaced by the Olympic Yet all this is just a prelude to the most brutally competitive
Stadium. of all months when, in November, England play successive
ER2015 are in talks with the Olympic Park Legacy Company internationals against Fiji, Australia, South Africa and New
over the future use of the stadium, which has obvious Zealand. Stuart Lancaster, England’s coach, suggested recently
attractions following the success of London 2012. that he has not decided on his captain while also acknowledging
Andy Cosslett, the England Rugby 2015 chairman, said: Dylan Hartley’s rival claims. All this should be enough to make
guardian.co.uk © Guardian News and Media Limited 2012 guardian.co.uk
Page G24 Sport Monday October 8 2012 18:16 GMT
Robshaw need a quiet lie-down in a darkened dressing room We’ve got more experience and that’s starting to show.
but, instead, he sits up straighter. “It’s everyone’s goal in our squad that we should be in a
“It adds to the excitement,” he says cheerfully. Robshaw position to win the World Cup in 2015. Stuart has made that
even laughs when asked if he was surprised by the leadership clear and everyone’s bought into that. We’re all driven by
debate – for it would be a real shock if, after a successful year in that goal but we want to start achieving success now. And it’s
tandem as England’s new coach and captain, Lancaster should exciting when you look at the November fixtures. All four of our
jettison Robshaw. opponents are so different and that adds to the challenge. In
“I didn’t hear about it until one of the guys here told me preparing for each one we’re going to have to be very smart.”
about it,” Robshaw says, jerking his thumb down the passage Robshaw took charge of Harlequins in even more onerous
to the distant sounds of his Quins team-mates. “I’ve loved circumstances. He became club captain in 2010 when the
captaining my country and it’s a huge honour but it’s only ever club was still reeling from their shameful immersion in the
been on a tournament-by-tournament, and even game-by- Bloodgate saga – after their former coach Dean Richards
game, basis. I presume it will continue in that vein. Whether engineered a fake blood replacement during a Heineken Cup
it’s myself or someone else we will get told a week before a quarter-final. “We had a lot of drama at the club,” Robshaw
tournament or a series of internationals that we’re captain. remembers. “We like to say and even think that it didn’t affect
There’s still so much rugby to be played this month.” us – but it did. We didn’t win a game in the Heineken the
The only logical reason for Lancaster delaying confirmation following season but it was great for the squad to rebuild and
of Robshaw’s appointment is the possibility that the flanker last year we won the Amlin Cup [European rugby’s second-tier
could yet be injured – just as he was in the second Test against club tournament]. I really think that was a turning point and it
South Africa in the summer. Robshaw broke his thumb in the drove us to become Premiership champions this year. It bound
midst of sparking a revival against the Springboks at Ellis Park us together and washed away all the bad stuff.”
and was forced to miss the last match of the tour. With the Just as Robshaw has gelled so well with Lancaster at
series already lost, Hartley took over as captain and England England, he has enjoyed an especially productive relationship
drew the third Test. Has Lancaster been in touch with Robshaw with Conor O’Shea – who replaced the disgraced Richards in
during the past week? 2010. “Stuart and Conor are very similar. They’re deep thinkers
“No. I speak more regularly to Graham Rowntree [forwards and they both have a very systematic and positive approach.
coach]. I think the captaincy question will be resolved between They have the belief to back us to go out there and play rugby.
Stuart and whoever he chooses a week or two before the Conor’s probably the most positive man I’ve ever met. That
autumn internationals. Like any manager or coach he will keep rubs off on the players as we look towards the Heineken.
his cards pretty close to his chest. “Last season, first up, we played Toulouse and we were
“Of course I’d love to stay on as captain. The best moment of probably a bit in awe of them. It was a big game at their place
my career was when I led the guys out at Twickenham against but we ground out a win. But then we went over to Ireland
Wales [after Robshaw had captained a beleaguered England for the last game and the rain came down at Connacht. They
to successive away wins in the opening two fixtures of last hadn’t won a match the whole tournament and we just needed
season’s Six Nations against Scotland and Italy]. Obviously all to win to reach the quarters. But they beat us. It was hard to
the wins on the road are great but to lead England out at home take but would we have won the Premiership then? During
against Wales and to sing the national anthem with 80,000 the Heineken quarters we had a weekend off and that helped
other people was incredible. The hairs on the back of your neck get a little freshness back into the legs. Still, this year, we want
stand up and those are the kind of days why you play the sport. to do special things in both competitions – and we go back to
“Although the result didn’t go the way we wanted [with Connacht for our second match.”
England suffering their only defeat of the tournament in Harlequins should beat Connacht this time and their group is
a narrow loss] it was my most special day as a player. The made considerably easier by the presence of the inexperienced
atmosphere was unbelievable and it was my first time playing at Italian club Zebre. But is it possible for an English team to win
Twickenham for England. I’d only been to one other Test – as a the Premiership and the Heineken Cup in the same season?
spectator for my 18th birthday – and Charlie Hodgson and Mark “I’m sure it is,” Robshaw says. “You need a great squad and to
Cueto were in that England side against South Africa. I remind be lucky with injuries. The Heineken Cup is special because it’s
them of that every now and then.” so tough to win. That’s why you have to be so impressed when
Robshaw, in contrast, is still a comparative international you look at what Leinster have done – winning it three times
novice. He was appointed England’s captain at the start of in four years. People say they have an advantage because they
this year after winning just one cap. Lancaster was similarly can concentrate on the Heineken but I love the intensity and
unproven as a coach in the Test arena but, together, they lifted competitiveness of our league.”
England out of the moribund chaos that had characterised The toll on Robshaw’s body is obvious but, typically, he just
their World Cup this time last year. Robshaw is too pragmatic grins again as he considers the constant battering he endures.
to expect his re-appointment as captain to be a formality. But, “I’m 26 now and the old body feels OK. The physios are good
as his expression glows and his voice becomes impassioned, he and I bought one of those machines which ices and compresses
does not sound like a leader about to be replaced. at the same time. So if you’ve had a knock or are a bit stiff or
“We’ve won games away in the Six Nations and we got a swollen you put the machine on at night. And if you’ve turned
draw in South Africa. From those experiences we can work an ankle it’s like putting on a big blow-up sock.”
out how to take this structure to a new level. Things are now Robshaw raises a wry eyebrow when asked what his
different to the start of the year. Back then some guys were on girlfriend makes of his sexy night-time rituals? “Yeah, it goes
zero caps, or one cap, and we’ve played eight Tests since then. down really well with Camilla! But she doesn’t mind. We met at
guardian.co.uk © Guardian News and Media Limited 2012 guardian.co.uk
Page G24 Sport Monday October 8 2012 18:16 GMT
a rugby dinner almost two years ago and she is half-Kiwi, half-
Welsh. So she likes rugby.”
He is even more indebted to his mother, Patricia, for
We did not entice Kevin Pietersen to
Robshaw lost his dad when he was only five. His father, Alan, send texts, say South Africans
was an architect and just 40 when he died after a heart attack.
“It’s hard to tell how it affected me,” Robshaw says, “because • South Africa board criticises David
you don’t know how you would’ve turned out if life had been Collier’s smokescreen
different. You imagine so many different scenarios. But my
• ‘This is absolute rubbish,’ says chief
mum has been brilliant at raising me and my two brothers and
giving us so many opportunities. She’s sacrificed a lot. Mum
executive
and her sister run two nursing homes – and they worked really Press Association
hard so mum could pay for my education at Millfield because
she knew I needed extra help with my dyslexia and that I’d have
so many chances to do well at sport there. And, of course, that’s
where I got picked up by Harlequins. So I owe a lot to mum.”
Harlequins, in turn, owe much to Robshaw – as, surely,
England will over the next few years. In the barren setting
of an empty dressing room there is no need for Robshaw to
make any grandstanding speech. Instead he offers one last
quiet but telling reminder of the philosophy that underpins
his leadership. “When I was given the captaincy at Quins I
was quite young and thought I had to do everything. I know
differently now. Every now and then you have to shout and
have the hard chats but I understand the job better than ever.
The starting point is to go out there and personally justify why
David Collier, the ECB Chief executive, who claimed Kevin
you should be in the team by playing well and doing everything
Pietersen had been set up by England’s opponents this
you’ve been asked. To show that willingness and commitment
summer, has been criticised by the South Africa board.
is all that really matters. The rest will follow.”
Photograph: POOL/PA Wire/PA
Cricket South Africa has dismissed a claim made by the England
and Wales Cricket Board’s chief executive, David Collier,
that South Africa’s players provoked Kevin Pietersen to send
inflammatory text messages as “absolute rubbish”.
It took until last week for Pietersen and the ECB jointly to
agree a process for his return to the England set-up after he was
dropped following a series of “provocative” messages he sent to
opponents during the second Test at Headingley in August.
Collier had said on Sunday that the South Africans had a
“definite policy” to antagonise Pietersen. “This is absolute
*
rubbish,” CSA’s acting chief executive, Jacques Faul, said.
“What is particularly disappointing is that I had a face-to-face
meeting with Mr Collier when I was in London for the Lord’s
Test match.
“He did not raise this allegation with me then and I would
have thought as a matter of courtesy and decency he would
have spoken to me about it before going public in the media.
From Beirut to Big Brother, “It is not the way CSA goes about its business and it is not
Murdoch to Millionaire, the way the ECB has done business with us in the past either. It
discuss the hot topics in the is very disappointing because in the past our relationships with
the ECB have always been cordial and constructive.
media on not one, but two blogs “This [the Pietersen affair] is an internal ECB matter in which
Organ Grinder and Greenslade we do not wish to be involved. It served as a distraction to our
players that we did not need during the Test series.”
blogs.guardian.co.uk/ Collier had not held back in his criticism of the South
organgrinder/ Africans, believing the Blackberry Messenger texts were used as
a way to gain an advantage over England.
blogs.guardian.co.uk/ “It is a very thin line between fair and unfair,” Collier said.
greenslade/ “These [messages from Pietersen] were responses to messages
from certain members of the South Africa team and I would
not condone an England player doing it if it was the other way
around, and I certainly think they [South Africa] provoked the
situation.”
guardian.co.uk © Guardian News and Media Limited 2012 guardian.co.uk
Page 6 G24 Sport Monday October 8 2012 18:16 GMT
The manager of the South Africa cricket team, Mohammed a lot of work into [it] since I was a senior athlete. I continue to
Moosajee, denied that his players provoked Pietersen and work hard, continue staying focused and pushing myself so
described the allegations made by Collier as “irresponsible”. for me that’s the focus right now to see how fast I can go and I
“For them to turn around and get our players involved is definitely try to go faster each year.”
really, really unfair,” he said. “Kevin Pietersen knows he sent
the messages to our players. The fact David hasn’t had sight of
those messages, for him to make insinuations that the Proteas Marco Botti has Moohaajim on course
players instigated this whole fracas is both irresponsible and for Middle Park at Newmarket
unfair. We confirmed initially that it was all banter.”
Faul spoke with Collier on Monday morning to discuss the
comments, although CSA would not reveal what was said
• Italian trainer targets first British Group
between the two while the ECB was not available for comment. One winner
• Stable have Joshua Tree ready for
Woodbine International
Usain Bolt reveals he will go for a third
Will Hayler at Newmarket
sprint hat-trick at Rio 2016
• Jamaican will defend 100m, 200m and
4x100m titles
• Rules out switch to long jump and 400m
Press Association
Moohaajim, pictured winning the Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury,
heads to Newmarket on Saturday for the Middle Park Stakes.
Photograph: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images
A personal milestone may be in sight for one of Newmarket’s
hottest properties should Moohaajim be able to supply Marco
Botti with a first British Group One winner in Saturday’s Middle
Park Stake.
Usain Bolt celebrates winning the 200m at London 2012
At a time when other trainers in the town are feeling the
and will go for three more sprint gold medals at Rio 2016.
pinch and scaling back, the Italian Botti recently opened a new
Photograph: Tom Jenkins
yard on the Snailwell Road that will accommodate up to 95
Usain Bolt has revealed he plans to defend his Olympic sprint horses, with yearlings and those out of training remaining at his
titles in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 and not switch disciplines. The existing Green Ridge base on the other side of town.
Jamaican declared himself a “living legend” after retaining his Along with Moohaajim Botti has other important targets in
100 and 200m titles at London 2012, as well as being a member the weeks ahead, with Joshua Tree heading to Woodbine for
of his country’s victorious 4x100m relay team. this weekend’s Canadian International, while Jakkalberry is
He had previously suggested he could seek a new challenge already in quarantine in Australia ahead of his planned runs in
in Rio, saying he wanted to have a go at the long jump, while he the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup.
has continually been linked with the 400m, despite repeatedly But Moohaajim represents an interesting new link for the
insisting he does not want to step up in distance. trainer, as the first horse he has trained for Sheikh Mohammed
But, speaking on a trip to New Zealand, Bolt confirmed his Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, a cousin of Sheikh Mohammed who
only intention is to go for a hat-trick of winning all three sprint owns the Abington Place stables in Newmarket and a number
golds for a third time in Brazil. of horses, many of whom race for Mike de Kock in South Africa
“Rio is about going and defending my titles,” Bolt said. “I and Dubai.
don’t want to try any different events at Rio, because at Rio Botti was approached by representatives of the sheikh before
I will just defend my titles to show the world that there is a April’s Breeze-up sales in the town and this colt, purchased by
possibility that I can do it again. To do the three-peat, that is the the trainer for £210,000, was the result.
focus.” “I liked him a lot and so did David Redvers, who was the
Bolt’s main focus for next year are the World Championships underbidder, but I think he did the fastest or the second-fastest
in Moscow and he said he would not be taking things easy now time of the whole day and he was a good-looking horse, with
the Olympics are over. the pedigree to suggest he would make a three-year-old,” said
“It’s all about hard work. When I was doing great when I was Botti.
young, people used to say I was fast for my age, but I have put A winner on his debut, Moohaajim finished only fifth in
guardian.co.uk © Guardian News and Media Limited 2012 guardian.co.uk
Page G24 Sport Monday October 8 2012 18:16 GMT
the Prix Morny next time out behind Reckless Abandon, with
whom he will renew rivalries on Saturday. But he still looked
very much in need of the experience that day and subsequently
Horse racing tips: Tuesday 9 October
impressed when taking the Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury last
month. Gull Rock at Leicester is the best bet of the
Botti confirmed that Adam Kirby, who rode Reckless day
Abandon to the first two wins of his career, will retain his
Will Hayler
partnership with Moohaajim.
“I didn’t really go into the details but Adam has told me he
is going to ride and he knows the horse well,” said the trainer.
“I’m hoping we don’t get soft ground. Good to soft will be OK
but soft ground would be frustrating. He’s a good mover.”
Given his owner’s keenness to tackle Dubai’s big prizes in
the past, Botti might have expected that the UAE 2,000 Guineas
would be on the agenda for Moohaajim but instead the colt will
remain with Botti over the winter to be aimed at next spring’s
European Classics.
His pedigree gives hope that one mile could be within his
stamina range and Botti believes as much himself, saying:
“There was no reason why we couldn’t have run him at seven
furlongs this season but, with the Dewhurst [over seven
furlongs] on the same day [as the Middle Park], we thought it They race on Tuesday at Leicester, above, where Gull Rock is
best to stick with the stiff six.” the best bet of the day. Photograph: Simon Cooper/PA
Such comments once again highlight the confusion over Brighton
Newmarket’s calendar which since last year has seen two 2.20 Nenge Mboko 2.50 Arctic Admiral 3.20 Backstage Tour
similarly prestigious championship contests for colts shunted 3.50 Beacon Lady 4.20 Tawseef 4.50 Katmai River (nb) 5.20 See
to within 35 minutes of each other. The Storm
It is with some justification that Newmarket bill the meeting Catterick
as Future Champions Day, given the horses that have won both 2.00 My Claire 2.30 Star Request 3.00 Heaven’s Guest 3.30
races in the past, but common sense dictates that it is surely Kolonel Kirkup 4.00 Blue Dune 4.30 Arley Hall 5.00 Dotty
worth taking another look at the running order. Darroch 5.35 Three Darlings
With three further championship contests for two-year-olds Leicester
– the Cheveley Park Stakes, Fillies’ Mile and Royal Lodge Stakes 2.10 Thakana 2.40 Gull Rock (nap) 3.10 Priestley’s Reward
– also taking place a fortnight earlier at the Cambridgeshire 3.40 Linguine 4.10 Require 4.40 Last Fighter 5.10 Secret
meeting, Newmarket’s racing programme has become jumbled Gesture 5.40 Boy The Bell
since the Champion Stakes and other contests were removed to Wolverhampton
create Ascot’s Champions Day card. 5.30 Dana’s Present 6.00 Kay Gee Be 6.30 Free Island 7.00 Up
Newmarket’s managing director, Amy Starkey, described Ten Down Two 7.30 Daaree 8.00 Tis Rock ‘N’ Roll
herself as “a big fan of Champions Day”, as might be expected
given that Jockey Club Racecourses, Newmarket’s parent
company, are the biggest shareholder in British Champions
Series Ltd.
But, caught between trying to maintain some of the old
chronology for these contests and facing up to the fact that a
race such as the Fillies’ Mile deserves better than to take place
in front of a moderate Friday crowd, Starkey must consider the
possibility of further changes to the programme.
*
“We are always looking at how we can we move things
forward” was her diplomatic comment but her decision to offer
all students with ID free entry to Saturday’s meeting as part of
the ‘Racing For Jobs’ initiative shows that she understands the
importance of getting bums back on seats at the track. The Guardian digital edition
Moohaajim was one of 12 entries for the Middle Park at
Monday’s five-day confirmation stage, with Aidan O’Brien
Read the Guardian on the web
leaving in a team of four as he searches for his first British two- exactly the way it was printed.
year-old winner of the year. The unbeaten New Approach heads With award-winning Guardian
the 15 left in the Dewhurst.
photography accessible from
anywhere in the world.
guardian.co.uk/digitaledition
guardian.co.uk © Guardian News and Media Limited 2012 guardian.co.uk
Page 8 G24 Sport Monday October 8 2012 18:16 GMT
treatment for leukemia that was recently diagnosed.
Luck came through with just what Pagano wanted getting
NFL roundup: Drew Brees passes the Colts (2-2) to .500. And they did it despite trailing 21-3 at
Johnny Unitas TD record for Saints halftime. After Adam Vinatieri gave Indy its first lead at 22-21
with a 28-yard field goal, Aaron Rodgers threw an eight-yard TD
Saints quarterback makes touchdown pass pass to James Jones to make it 27-22 with 4:30 left before the
for 48th straight game, breaking record set Colts rallied.
by Baltimore Colts great Falcons 24 Redskins 17
Michael Turner ran 13 yards for the go-ahead score with 2:46
Associated Press to play, and Atlanta knocked Robert Griffin III out of the game.
The Falcons are 5-0 for the first time in franchise history. Matt
Ryan completed 34 of 52 passes for 345 yards as Atlanta handed
Washington (2-3) an eighth consecutive home loss.
Griffin left the game in the third quarter after being hit in the
head on a sack by linebacker Sean Weatherspoon. Coach Mike
Shanahan said “RG3” has a “mild concussion”. Kirk Cousins
took over and threw a 77-yard touchdown pass to Santana Moss
to give the Redskins a fourth-quarter lead, but the fourth-round
pick also threw two interceptions in the final two minutes.
Patriots 31 Broncos 21
Tom Brady won his latest showdown with Peyton Manning,
with the help of a career-high 151 yards rushing from Stevan
Ridley. In the 13th meeting between the star quarterbacks,
Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints passes against the San and the first since Manning left the Indianapolis Colts, Brady
Diego Chargers. Photograph: Jonathan Bachman/Reuters directed four scoring marches of at least 80 yards and the
Saints 31 Chargers 24 Patriots rushed for 252 yards.
Drew Brees set an NFL record on Sunday night with Brady improved to 9-4 against Manning, completing 23
touchdown passes in 48 straight games, breaking a mark set by of 31 passes for 223 yards and one touchdown and running
the Hall of Fame quarterback Johnny Unitas a half-century ago. for another. Manning was 31 of 44 for 345 yards and three
The record-setting scoring strike was a 40-yard pass to touchdowns but lost a fumble on a third-quarter sack. The
Devery Henderson. After the completion, Brees raced to the fumble led to Ridley’s eight-yard run that put the Patriots (3-2)
end zone to greet Henderson, who incidentally wears the same ahead 31-7 with about five minutes left in the third quarter.
No19 that Unitas wore for the Baltimore Colts. Manning then threw touchdown passes of two yards to Eric
The rest of New Orleans’ offense pursued and swarmed Decker and five yards to Brandon Stokley but Denver (2-3) lost a
around Brees in celebration. Brees then took the game ball to fumble with 3:42 remaining.
the sideline, where he continued to accept congratulations. Steelers 16 Eagles 14
Unitas set the record between 1956 and 1960 and no one Shaun Suisham hit a 34-yard field goal as time expired to
had come within 10 games until Brees began to close in late last give the Steelers a win. The Eagles (3-2) took the lead on a two-
season. Tom Brady of the New England Patriots has the third- yard touchdown pass from Michael Vick to Brent Celek with
longest streak, having extended his to 37 games Sunday in a 6:33 remaining, but the Steelers responded by driving 64 yards,
victory over Denver. including a pair of key third-down conversions by quarterback
Coach Sean Payton, assistant head coach Joe Vitt and general Ben Roethlisberger, to set up the winning kick.
manager Mickey Loomis – all three suspended in the NFL’s Pittsburgh running back Rashard Mendenhall ran for 81
bounty investigation – were permitted by the NFL at Brees’ yards and a touchdown in his first game of the season as the
request to attend the game. Unitas’ son, Joe, also was present. Steelers (2-2) avoided their first two-game losing streak in three
Brees, meanwhile, continued to play at the prolific pace that years.
had put him in position to break Unitas’ record in the first place. Vick completed 20 of 30 passes for 175 yards and two scores
His pinpoint pass to the back of the end zone in the second but fumbled twice for the Eagles, who couldn’t keep their string
quarter helped Marques Colston snag his 50th touchdown of narrow early-season victories going.
catch, tying the franchise record set by Joe Horn in 2006. Dolphins 17 Bengals 13
Colts 30 Packers 27 Reshad Jones intercepted Andy Dalton’s overthrown pass at
Andrew Luck capped a second-half comeback by throwing midfield with 1:22 left, preserving a win that ended two weeks
a four-yard touchdown pass to Reggie Wayne with 35 seconds of miserable, last-minute finishes for Miami. who had dropped
remaining that gave Indianapolis a stunning 30-27 victory over their past two games in overtime. The Dolphins held on against
Green Bay on Sunday in the Colts’ first game without coach the Bengals (3-2), who never got anything going consistently on
Chuck Pagano. offense and wasted a chance for a tighter finish.
Green Bay (2-3) had a chance to force overtime, but Mason Mike Nugent was wide right on a 42-yard field goal try
Crosby missed a 51-yard field goal with three seconds to with three minutes left, his first miss of the season giving
go. Luck then took a knee and time ran out and the team the Dolphins a chance to run down the clock behind rookie
celebrated. Missing was Pagano, who is in a hospital undergoing quarterback Ryan Tannehill, who was smooth in the toughest
guardian.co.uk © Guardian News and Media Limited 2012 guardian.co.uk
Page G24 Sport Monday October 8 2012 18:16 GMT
moments. for a touchdown. Wilson threw for 221 yards, while Marshawn
The Bengals got the ball back at their 20 following a punt Lynch ran for 85 yards for the Seahawks (3-2).
with 1:45 to go, but Dalton’s second interception sealed it. Newton threw for 141 yards on 12-for-29 passing, while the
Dalton was 26 of 43 for 234 yards with three sacks and two Panthers (1-4) managed 190 total yards. Their only touchdown
interceptions. came on Captain Munnerlyn’s 33-yard interception return early
Giants 41 Browns 27 in the third quarter.
Victor Cruz and Ahmad Bradshaw set career bests in leading Ravens 9 Chiefs 6
New York Giants over winless Cleveland. Cruz caught three Ray Rice ran for 101 yards and Justin Tucker made all three
touchdown passes from Eli Manning, covering three, seven and of his field-goal attempts for the Ravens in a low-scoring game.
28 yards, while Bradshaw surpassed his yardage on the ground Joe Flacco threw for 187 yards and was picked off once, but the
for the season with a career-high 200. He had 132 entering the Ravens (4-1) were still able to come up with enough points to
game. beat the Chiefs (1-4), who turned it over four times.
The Giants are 9-0 in games in which Bradshaw has rushed Matt Cassel threw for 92 yards, was intercepted twice and
for 100 yards or more. New York (3-2) also forced three credited with two lost fumbles before leaving in the fourth
turnovers, including Chase Blackburn’s interception in the end quarter with what the Chiefs described as a head injury. Brady
zone midway in the fourth quarter to clinch it. Quinn led Kansas City to another field goal by Ryan Succop.
The Browns are 0-5 for the first time since their return
season to the NFL, in 1999.
Vikings 30 Titans 7 Nathan Cleverly to face Ryan Coyne in
Percy Harvin pounded his way through Tennessee’s light-heavyweight title defence
defense for one touchdown rushing and another receiving
for Minnesota. Harvin caught eight passes for 108 yards for
• Welshman to fight American Coyne in Los
the Vikings (4-1), who have given up 33 points in winning
three straight games. Christian Ponder threw his first two
Angeles
interceptions after 143 attempts without one, but he still • 25-year-old eager to earn greater exposure
finished 25 for 35 for 258 yards and two scores against the in the US
reeling Titans (1-4).
Press Association
Matt Hasselbeck, starting in place of the injured Jake
Locker, went 26 for 43 for 200 yards, one touchdown and one
interception. Most of those gains came near the end with the
outcome no longer in doubt.
49ers 45 Bills 3
Alex Smith threw for a season-high 303 yards and three
touchdowns, Frank Gore ran for 106 yards and a score and San
Francisco amassed a franchise-record 621 yards.
Michael Crabtree and Vernon Davis each eclipsed 100 yards
receiving to back Smith, who threw TD passes of 43, 28 and 10
yards and surpassed 300 yards passing for only the third time in
his career.
Rian Lindell kicked a 31-yard field goal in the first quarter
before San Francisco scored the final 42 points to hand Buffalo
Nathan Cleverly hopes that he can win great exposure by
(2-3) its second straight embarrassing loss.
fighting in the United States next month. Photograph: James
Bears 41 Jaguars 3 Benwell/Action Images
Charles Tillman and Lance Briggs returned interceptions for
The WBO light-heavyweight champion Nathan Cleverly will
touchdowns and Chicago used stifling defense to overwhelm
defend his title against the American Ryan Coyne in Los
Jacksonville. The Bears (4-1) scored 38 unanswered points,
Angeles on 10 November, subject to receiving approval from the
including 35 in the second half, to win their third consecutive
sanctioning body.
game. The streak has everything to do with defense.
Both fighters are unbeaten and the bout will form part of
Chicago has returned five interceptions for touchdowns in
the undercard for Abner Mares’ WBC super-bantamweight title
the last three weeks. Tillman and Briggs returned two of the
defence at the Staples Center.
team’s five interceptions for touchdowns in Monday night’s
The fight will be Cleverly’s fourth defence of his title and
34-18 victory at Dallas. Safety Major Wright returned one the
the first outside of the United Kingdom with the 25-year-old
previous week against St. Louis.
looking forward to establishing a name for himself in the United
The Jaguars (1-4) never recovered and played the final
States.
quarter amid a chorus of boos.
“I’m absolutely delighted for the opportunity, I’m really look
Seahawks 16 Panthers 12 forward to it,” he said. “It is a great opportunity for me to make
Russell Wilson threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Golden the next step in my career.
Tate with 35 seconds left in the third quarter and Seattle came “The timing is perfect, I think I have made a few defences of
up with four sacks against Cam Newton. Wilson shook off two my title and now it is time for me to go over to the States and
third quarter interceptions including one that was returned get some exposure and make a statement.”
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Page 10 G24 Sport Monday October 8 2012 18:16 GMT
Heather Watson breaks into the second Lewis Hamilton jumps the gun over
round at HP Open Jenson Button’s Twitter disrespect
• British No2 defeated Polona Hercog 6-4, • Hamilton mistakenly thought team-mate
6-4 in Osaka had unfollowed him
• Watson broke serve twice in second set • McLaren driver forced to backtrack after
Press Association realising his error
Press Association
Britain’s Heather Watson continued her progress in the Far
East with a straight-sets victory in the HP Open’s first round. McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton, right, has backed down after
Photograph: Kiyoshi Ota/Getty Images accusing his team-mate Jenson Button of a lack of respect.
Heather Watson has made an encouraging start to the HP Open Photograph: Martin Rickett/PA
in Osaka with a 6-4, 6-4 first-round victory over Slovenia’s Lewis Hamilton has been forced to apologise after taking a leaf
Polona Hercog. out of Catherine Tate’s book and accusing his McLaren team-
The British No2, at 71st in the world, ranked 10 places higher mate Jenson Button of disrespecting him on Twitter.
than Hercog, carved out 10 break points, taking three, as she Hamilton, who is leaving McLaren for Mercedes at the end
thrived on her opponent’s serve. of the year, was taking his cue from a tweet by a journalist
The 20-year-old took the opening set thanks to a single break suggesting Button had unfollowed him on the social
of serve and broke twice in the second to close out victory in networking site. It led Hamilton to criticise the 2009 world
one hour 29 minutes. champion.
Watson began 2012 as the world No92 and dropped further In a series of tweets on his official feed, Hamilton wrote:
following an ankle injury. She was as low as No129 in March “Just noticed @jensonbutton unfollowed, thats a shame. After
before beginning her surge up the rankings in Miami. 3 years as teammates, I thought we respected one another but
clearly he doesn’t.
“Funny thing is, we are STILL teammates! All good tho, I
plan on giving this team & fans all I got til I cross the finish line
in brazil!!!”
But the 27-year-old was left embarrassed when he realised
Button had not followed his Twitter account in the first place.
“My bad, just found out Jenson never followed me,” Hamilton
*
tweeted. “Don’t blame him! Need to be on Twitter more!”
The error marked the final chapter of a tough week for
Hamilton. His move to Mercedes was the talk of the paddock
at the Japanese Grand Prix and he refused to answer questions
Fantasy League Classic about it on Thursday.
His weekend was scarcely better on the track with a fifth-
Manage a squad of 16 players and place finish at Suzuka, with Sebastian Vettel winning, leaving
a budget of £75 million. £75,000 him 42 points adrift of the championship leader Fernando
worth of prizes to be won in weekly, Alonso, despite the Ferrari driver’s first-corner accident.
monthly and overall competitions. And Hamilton admitted after the race that his title hopes are
fading.
Beat your nearest and dearest in a “I am quite realistic, I know my situation, but the Red Bulls
friends league. are going to be hard to beat,” he said. “I got some points but
guardian.co.uk/fantasyleague there is not much more I can be happy with. The fight is still on
with Fernando not finishing so we will keep pushing.
“Everyone should be concerned [by Red Bull’s pace],
guardian.co.uk © Guardian News and Media Limited 2012 guardian.co.uk
Page 11 G24 Sport Monday October 8 2012 18:16 GMT
they are very quick, they are always very quick in Korea and
Sebastian has scored 50 points in the last two races, Fernando
should be more worried than I am.”
Hamilton’s Twitter apology is not the first time he has been
trigger happy on the social networking site. At the Belgian
Grand Prix he posted a picture of the telemetry from his and
Button’s qualifying laps, which the team quickly told him to
remove due to the sensitive nature of the data.
guardian.co.uk © Guardian News and Media Limited 2012 guardian.co.uk
