| Buderus returns after RFL quash ban • Australian hooker had been handed one-match suspension• Jones-Buchanan could also make return for RhinosDanny Buderus will be free to play when the Super League champions Leeds aim to reach their fourth consecutive Grand Final after the Rugby Football League's appeals panel quashed a suspension imposed by the disciplinary committee for the second time in a week.The Australian hooker had been banned for one match after being found guilty of a spear tackle in the Rhinos' 27-26 win at Wigan in the first round of the play-offs last Sunday night. But the appeals panel agreed to lift the ban having been shown the incident from a different angle, just as they had in rescinding a one-match suspension imposed on the Hull forward Lee Radford last Wednesday night.To add to the confusion, they refused Buderus's appeal against the guilty verdict and his £300 fine. But the latter will be a small price to pay for him or Leeds, who have already lost the England internationals Jamie Peacock and Danny McGuire to serious knee ligament injuries, but could yet be boosted by the return of Jamie Jones-Buchanan for their qualifying semi-final on Saturday week at home to one of the winners of this weekend's elimination semis.Paul Deacon has been omitted from Wigan's squad for the first of those games against Hull KR, apparently confirming initial fears that the recurrence of a groin problem he suffered against Leeds will rule him out for the rest of the season.Leeds RhinosSuper LeagueRugby leagueAndy Wilsonguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Bisons tear up turf for new drainage As the Buffalo Bisons head into the off-season, crews have started a series of renovations at Coca-Cola Field, starting with a new drainage system and playing field. feeds.bizjournals.com |
Adlington wins England's first medal • Adlington claims bronze in unfavoured 200m freestyle• Wales's Jazmin Carlin wins silver behind Kylie PalmerRebecca Adlington won England's first medal of the Commonwealth Games, a bronze in the 200m freestyle. By the end of the evening session England had added two more medals at the swimming arena. Michael Rock swam a brilliant 200m butterfly in the outside lane, but was just beaten to gold in the final 20 metres by South Africa's Chad Le Clos. England's men's 4x100m freestyle team added another silver in the final race of the evening, their first medal in that event in 12 years. With 50m to go they were actually leading Australia, but again were squeezed in the final length. Scotland's David Carry also won bronze in the 400m freestyle.Wales's Jazmin Carlin beat Adlington to the silver and both were over three-quarters of a length behind Australia's Kylie Palmer, who took gold in 1.57.50sec. Adlington trailed along in seventh place for the first three lengths, before producing a strong finish to move up past her team-mate Jo Jackson and take third in a time of 1.58.47. Jackson finished fifth. "I couldn't see a thing, I couldn't see past Jo," said Adlington, who was swimming in lane seven. "I thought I'd get fourth or fifth so I'm very happy to have got third."The 200m is not Adlington's specialist distance, and this was the first time she has swum the event at an international meet. She had struggled to qualify from the heats in the morning. She was only sixth-fastest going into the final, and finished third in her heat. She blamed that on her preparation. "It's like nothing I've ever done before, we had to get up before 4am to leave the village in time, it was all crazy."Rebecca AdlingtonSwimmingCommonwealth Games 2010Andy Bullguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Gough slams reliance on Aussie coaches • 'John Buchanan's loyalties are with Australia'• Coach said KP could be 'major problem' in AshesDarren Gough criticised England's reliance on Australian coaches yesterday after John Buchanan paraded his true loyalties by questioning Kevin Pietersen's team spirit ahead of the Ashes.Buchanan was employed by the England and Wales Cricket Board on a freelance basis this summer and had private discussions with England's team director, Andy Flower, about the Ashes series but that has not stopped him suggesting that Pietersen could be "a major problem" in the Ashes series.His attack on Pietersen is another embarrassment for the ECB, coming so soon after the defection of Dene Hills, who will abandon his role as England's academy batting coach midway through the Ashes series to become assistant coach and team analyst for Cricket Australia in time for the third Test in Perth.Gough, one of England's most inspirational fast bowlers with 228 wickets in 58 Tests, said: "This is what happens when you employ a freelance Australian coach. When it boils down to it, John Buchanan's Ashes loyalties are with Australia. He just works for England for the money."Gough's irritation was echoed by Michael Vaughan, the former England captain, who broke off from a drive through London to complain on Twitter: "Interesting... we pay him to come over and then he writes this... very helpful."Buchanan, who was Australia's coach when they lost the Ashes in England in 2005, said: "Pietersen is a quality player and he could be an incredible strength for them but, if he's not scoring runs, he could become a major problem for the batting line-up and the entire team. Andy Flower has been trying to work on that."Pietersen hasn't done himself or the team any favours with his recent Twittering. Two of the things that will be tested in Australia are strength and unity and clearly he hasn't understood his role within the team yet."One senior ECB source stressed that Buchanan had never been on a formal contract and that, despite the unfortunate timing of Hills's departure, England had enjoyed benefits from other Australians such as Rod Marsh, the former Academy head, and the bowling coach Troy Cooley.Despite his misgivings over Pietersen, Buchanan believes England can be "world leaders within the next three years". He said: "They seem to have a new mental toughness and they are more consistent, except for the odd glitch, which is mainly Pietersen. They need to retain this united spirit and sense of purpose."Pietersen averages more than 50 against Australia, and Gough is adamant that he could again prove to be England's trump card once the Ashes series begins in Brisbane on 25 November."Kevin Pietersen's team spirit is as good as anyone's," Gough said. "I've just been on holiday in Mexico for a week with Andrew Flintoff and he says the same thing. He is a good man to have in the dressing room. KP has a good chance of being's England's best player in the Ashes. It annoys me when you employ an Australian and he comes out with suggestions like that."Buchanan has form when it comes to trying to undermine Pietersen. He was Australia's coach when they beat England 5-0 four years ago and after Australia had won inside three days at Melbourne he called Pietersen aloof and criticised him for exposing tailenders to the strike at the end of innings."He certainly talks about himself as a team player – I don't personally see any evidence of that," Buchanan said at the time. He criticised the fact that Pietersen was one of five players not to attend England's official Christmas lunch and even used his employment as a deep fielder to suggest: "He always seems to be distanced from the rest of the group."England cricket teamKevin PietersenECBAustralia cricket teamCricketDavid Hoppsguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Federer wins Stockholm Open, ties Sampras with 64 ATP titles Roger Federer beat Germany's Florian Mayer 6-4, 6-3 to win the Stockholm Open on Sunday, matching Pete Sampras' record of 64 career titles. rssfeeds.usatoday.com |