Apology from sacked Ward
Rugby league: Danny Ward, the Great Britain prop dismissed by Leeds Rhinos this week for drink-related incidents, admitted his embarrassment and apologised for the misconduct that led to his contract being terminated. He had received two official warnings, over a drink-driving prosecution and alleged misbehaviour on a club trip to France last year, when the club acted after a recent third episode.
His agent, Ron Hill, who is confident that Ward, 25, will be signed by another club in time for the new season next month, said in a statement yesterday: “Danny is deeply embarrassed and upset by the termination of his contract.”
Biaggi goes down the Rossi route
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Motorcycling: Max Biaggi delivered a clear message to his former MotoGP rival, Valentino Rossi, as he splashed around Silverstone yesterday in a Formula One car. Biaggi had nine laps in a car provided by the Midland team — formerly Jordan — to discover whether he has the talent to make the switch from two wheels to four. There seems little chance that he will, given his age, but Biaggi, 34, said: “I don ‘t close the door to opportunities.”
Rossi, the multiple MotoGP champion, is weighing up whether to make the leap, with Ferrari beckoning.
Foster seals win but Price suffers
Bowls: After the departure of three seeds on Tuesday, the first three matches in the WBT World Indoor Singles Championship at Potters Leisure Resort, Norfolk, yesterday went to form as Jonathan Ross, Paul Foster and Greg Harlow all won. Foster, the holder and No 1 seed, beat Gordon Charlton 7-6, 10-2. Ross defeated Ian “Rocky” Stone, of Australia, 10-1, 8-3 and Harlow edged out Robert Newman 7-6, 7-5. Another favourite fell last night when Barry Browne, from Belfast, beat John Price, the 1990 champion and No 7 seed, 7-8, 10-1, 2-1.
Troubles continue in Ocean Race
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Sailing: The list of technical failures in the Volvo Ocean Race lengthened yesterday with Torben Grael’s Brasil 1 becoming the first of the seven boats to suffer a dismasting. The rig came down in three pieces in about 18 knots of breeze in the southern Indian Ocean. None of the crew was injured and the mishap will have little bearing on the race because Brasil 1 was in sixth place for this leg from Cape Town to Melbourne. Mike Sanderson’s ABN Amro One was still leading, 50 miles ahead of ABN Amro Two with 650 miles to sail to Melbourne.
Hatton snubs golden shot
Boxing: Ricky Hatton looks set to snub an offer from Oscar De La Hoya that could have meant him sharing the billing with the six-weight world champion on his farewell show. De La Hoya is to have his final bout against Ricardo Mayorga for the WBC light-middleweight title on May 6 and Hatton, the WBA and IBF light-welterweight champion, was being considered for the show but is now likely to sign a three-bout deal with Dennis Hobson and an American company, believed to be Banner promotions. Under that deal, Hatton’s next bout would be in late April or May against Naoufel Ben Rabah, a Tunisian-born Australian.
Balfour breaks British record
Swimming: Kirsty Balfour, of Edinburgh, shattered the British record over 200 metres breaststroke, winning in 2min 22.73sec at the Stockholm round of the World Cup last night as Great Britain extended their tally of medals by one gold, one silver and three bronze.
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Melanie Marshall brought more cheer. After a best time of 53.82sec to claim silver in the 100 metres freestyle, Marshall, 23, took bronze over 400 metres. Liam Tancock, in the 50 metres backstroke, and Chris Cook, in the 100 metres breaststroke, also won bronze.
English pair beat attack of nerves
Badminton: Nathan Robertson and Gail Emms looked comfortable as they made a winning start in their attempt to become the first home players in a quarter of a century to retain a title at the Yonex All-England Championships. But despite a 15-4, 15-3 victory over Shuichi Nakao and Aki Akao, of Japan, at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham, there were moments of anxiety. “I didn’t feel nervous until 20 minutes before the match and suddenly I felt really sick,” Emms said. “You think it’s going to be easy, but when you come on to court it’s not.”
Cruickshank wins Olympics place
Skiing: Roger Cruickshank, from Banchory, Kincardineshire, has qualified for next month’s Winter Olympics in Turin less than a year after being told that he would never ski again. Last March, Cruickshank suffered an horrific crash, shattering his left tibia, and required a metal plate to be inserted in his leg. But Cruickshank sealed his Olympic dream yesterday by finishing seventeenth in a Europa Cup downhill race in Sella Nevea, Italy. “It is a triumph for mind over matter, and I can’t wait for the opportunity,” Cruickshank, 23, said.