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| Leeds Carnegie 14-26 Saracens Leeds Carnegie 14-26 SaracensSaracens did not have to be very good to beat Leeds today, just not as bad. On that basis they deserved the points, but for the most part this was a dispiriting and error-strewn afternoon's rugby in front of a crowd of less than 5,000.Even so the Saracens' director of rugby, Brendan Venter, said he was more than satisfied with a win which lifted his side to fourth in the Premiership, five points behind the unbeaten leaders, Northampton, whom they play on Sunday."I think the fact it was raining made things a little difficult, it threw people's timings off, but Leeds whupped us a couple of months ago," said the South African. "They're a tough team and conditions were in their favour. So it makes me proud that we ended up winning convincingly. Leeds are very good at disrupting teams but we were by far the better side and I think that's a sign of the progress we've made in the scrum."The game had its moments, albeit that you could count them on one hand. David Strettle, making his first start for Saracens following his try-scoring debut as a replacement against Sale last week, scored shortly before the half-hour, when Kameli Ratuvou took the ball into the tackle in the Leeds 22, creating enough space for the fly-half Derick Hougaard to slide a grubber kick over the line which Strettle touched down.Hougaard's missed drop goal shortly before the interval meant that Saracens led 13-0 at the break and Leeds – as they could only do – improved thereafter. But Saracens matched the home side's increased effort and their pack produced the best concerted drive of the match to put Schalk Brits over eight minutes from time for a try which rendered James Tincknell's late close-range effort irrelevant."In the last 30 minutes we played the sort of rugby we aspire to play, but if you want to be one of the big boys you have to play for 80 minutes, and we are not doing that," said Venter's opposite number, Andy Key.The only consolation for Leeds, who are bottom of the table without a win, is that they were in a similar position last season and recovered. But that was then and this is now, as Key acknowledged."Last season we played the rugby we had to stay up, but now with the different interpretations you have to play a different style," he said. "We have shown we can do that, but we just can't come out and play like we did in the first half."Leeds Carnegie Stephenson; Blackett, Tincknell, Barrow, Tadulala (Fa'afili, 61); Lewis‑Pratt (Hinton, 52), Mathie (Fury, 65); MacDonald (Hardy, 65), Thompson (Titterrell, 61), Gomez (Swainston, 55), Denton (Hohneck, 61), Wentzel (capt), Myall (Oakley, 55), Fourie, Browne.Try Tincknell Pens Lewis-Pratt, Hinton 2.Sin-bin Fourie, 38.Saracens Goode (Tagicakibau, 46); Strettle, Ratuvou, Barritt, Wyles; Hougaard, De Kock (Wigglesworth, 52); Carstens (Parr, 61), Reynecke (Brits, 52), Nieto (Du Plessis, 52), Borthwick (capt), Kruis (Smith, 61), Melck (Mordt, 73), Burger (Brown, 67), Joubert.Tries Strettle, Brits Pens Hougaard 4 Goals Hougaard 2.Referee S Davey (London). Attendance 4,774.PremiershipLeedsSaracensRugby unionRichard Raeguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Tony Kanaan jetlagged after Japan trip, but not ready to rest We're back from our annual trip to Japan for the Indy Japan 300 at Twin Ring Motegi still a little jetlagged and our bodies don't really know ... rssfeeds.usatoday.com |
PCB appoints Alam as team manager • Pakistan Cricket Board announcement expected shortly• Yawar Saeed stepped down from post after England tourThe Pakistan Cricket Board has brought back former coach Intikhab Alam to serve as the manager of the national team after the troubled tour to England.Sources in the Pakistan board told Reuters that it would be making an official announcement soon on Alam's appointment.Alam, who was coach of the national team until early this year, replaces Yawar Saeed who stepped down as manager after the controversial England tour.Alam was coach between October 2008 to the shambolic tour to Australia early this year after which he was replaced as coach by Waqar Younis.Pakistan cricket teamCricketguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Agent Josh Luchs, who admitted paying players, making rounds on radio shows Josh Luchs, the former sports agent that told his story about paying college players to Sports Illustrated, says that he does not regret his ... rssfeeds.usatoday.com |
Drug smuggler lands six-month ban • Criminal made £151 when Rascal In The Mix was beaten• Ruling body may tighten process by which owners are vettedThe process by which syndicate members are vetted may be changed after Stephane Hassiakos, described as "a non-nominated partner" in the filly Rascal In The Mix, was banned for six months for laying that horse on Betfair before a race at Southwell in November 2008.At the time Hassiakos had only recently been released from prison, having served four years of a nine-year sentence for masterminding a major drugs ring, which imported cannabis with a street value of £10m into north-west England.Only two members of a syndicate are required to register in full as owners with the British Horseracing Authority. Other members are simply listed as "non- nominated partners" on a horse's registration form. As such they are not subject to the BHA's "fit and proper person" test for owners.Paul Struthers, the BHA's spokesman, said that consideration may be given to a change in the rules that would require nominated partners to vouch for the "fit and proper" status of non- nominated partners."It would be very onerous for all concerned to require every partner in a horse to be fully registered," Struthers said. "It would mean a great deal more work for Weatherby's [racing's administrative service] and also a great deal more expense for owners."But a change to the responsibilities of the nominated owners is something we will look at, though it is not straightforward."Struthers also confirmed that Hassiakos's conviction for a serious criminal offence meant that it was "unlikely" he would pass the BHA's fit-and-proper test.At the hearing into the Southwell race today the BHA's disciplinary panel heard that Hassiakos placed two lay bets, risking a total of £513.79, before Rascal In The Mix made her debut in a maiden race at a starting price of 14-1. Hassiakos, having laid her at a substantially shorter price, stood to make £151.52 if she was beaten.In the race the filly was slowly away, but made progress under little pressure from her jockey, Dean McKeown, before finishing fifth, without ever being put into serious contention.McKeown had been given leave to continue riding by the BHA pending an appeal against a four-year ban for corruption offences. That leave was immediately revoked after his ride on Rascal In The Mix and McKeown, whose riding career is almost certainly over, is currently serving his suspension.Hassiakos admitted a breach of the rules of racing but said that he had not been aware that it was against the rules to lay a horse in which he had a share.The panel accepted that he had been "co-operative and straight throughout the investigation and inquiry", but "wished to make it clear that ignorance ... is not a valid argument" for a breach of the rules. It banned Hassiakos from the sport for six months from tomorrow.Horse racingDean McKeownGreg Woodguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |