Cricket: England 444 for 5 at close in fourth Test
MELBOURNE, Dec 27, 2010 (AFP) – - England were 444 for five to hold an overall lead of 346 runs over Australia at the close on the second day of the fourth Ashes Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Monday.
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@theashes makes it to Aussie
Ashley Kerekes has travelled halfway across the world to hold a cricket bat for the first time, so it was no surprise that she was wielding the willow at Sydney Airport yesterday.
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The report is rubbished
Calcutta/Johannesburg: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has rubbished reports that Cricket South Africa (CSA) had lodged a complaint against umpire Steve Davis.
Read more on The Telegraph

No. 5: Successful spring for VSU
In 2010, Valdosta State’s spring sports teams were all winners. This was one of the most successful springs in Valdosta State sports history. Both the softball team and the men’s tennis team were national runners-up.
Read more on The Valdosta Daily Times

Nadal to face Federer in Abu Dhabi final
Top-Ranked Rafael Nadal defeated Tomas Berdych 6-4, 6-4 Friday and will face Roger Federer in the final of the World Tennis Championships.
Read more on Seattle Times

Fire destroys Rubin’s house
Lafayette fire officials say the home of 1990s tennis star Chanda Rubin burned down during an intense thunderstorm.
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Poms are contenders
They were surprise losing 2007 World Cup finalists and England’s elite rugby director Rob Andrew believes his country is a true contender for next year’s New Zealand edition.
Read more on allblacks.com

Des Kelly: Roy Hodgson does a Gerald Ratner… and it’s curtains
It was his Gerald Ratner moment. Roy Hodgson looked out at the sea of microphones and, in a fury over his team’s defeat and humiliated by the jeers and chants from the crowd, the Liverpool manager decided to say his piece.
Read more on Daily Mail

‘We got bullied in the first half’
RUGBY:PLENTY OF wind but no water was the story from Belfast last night. The lack of hot showers at Ravenhill meant the victorious Leinster squad had to amble onto their coach for what promised to be a journey home that had some interesting aromas floating around the cabin.
Read more on The Irish Times

Leeds Carnegie v Gloucester: MacKay charged with starting Leeds’s revival
Aviva premiership: New year, new look – new hope? (31/12/2010 18:57:59)
Read more on Yorkshire Post Today

Manchester United’s Ferguson Recalls Players After Son Is Fired: Roundup
The following is a roundup of soccer stories from U.K. newspapers, with clickable links to the Web.
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Sign-up for Medford Community Schools Indoor Soccer
Registrations are now underway for Medford Community Schools Indoor Soccer.
Read more on Medford Transcript

December 31 Owen Injured
Every four years England start talking about winning a second World Cup but on this day in soccer history in 2005 the Three Lions were dealt a blow when go-to scorer Michael Owen was injured.
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Sports Shorts
Soccer team crowned fall champs read more
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Boxing Day bargain hunt
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Boxing coach teachers strength, stamina to team
It takes a special person to be a special boxer. Demands on the body are severe. Senses tend to go numb. And denial of the finer things in life is a given.
Read more on Cleburne Times-Review

Public safety key on this night
If Boxing Day is one of the busiest days for retailers, so too is New Year’s Eve for those responsible with ensuring public safety. Grande Prairie RCMP will continue their Check Stop program in conjunction with partners including Alberta Sheriffs and city and county Enforcement Services officers.[...]
Read more on Grande Prairie Daily Herald-Tribune

Cricket-India 205 & 228 v South Africa 131 & 111-3 – close
South Africa were 111 for three, needing 192 more runs to win the match and clinch the series, at stumps on the third day of the second test against India at Kingsmead on Tuesday.
Read more on Reuters via Yahoo! UK & Ireland Sport

Judge holds over all charges for Ardmore burglary suspect
A judge in Ardmore Thursday held over all charges of a man who police say burglarized homes on Cricket Avenue and Simpson Road. He is also accused of stealing the car keys and the car of a neighbor he was playing video games with.
Read more on Main Line Times

Brisbane Int draw serves Stosur well
SAM Stosur received a favourable start to her Brisbane International campaign but faces an all-Australian smash-up if she proceeds in the tournament.
Read more on The Courier Mail

Rain stops play for Russian star
Tennis superstar Maria Sharapova had to cancel her first practice because of Auckland’s bad weather.The Russian-born sporting sensation, who arrived at Auckland International Airport about 8.40am yesterday after a flight from…
Read more on The New Zealand Herald

Year in Review 2010: Girl Power!
Make no mistake about it, the girls teams flourished this year. The Reedley College womens tennis team rolled to another Big 8 Conference title.
Read more on The Reedley Exponent

In want to improve and win Grand Slams: Bopanna
Chennai, Dec 30 : India’s Davis Cupper Rohan Bopanna today said the coming together of Leander Paes and Mahesh Bbupati again would be great for Indian tennis.
Read more on New Kerala

New Year Honours List 2011 in full
Here is a complete list of New Year’s Honours bestowed by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth for 2011.
Read more on Daily Telegraph

Graeme McDowell receives MBE honor from Queen Elizabeth II in New Year list | European Tour | PGA.com
Graeme McDowell ended 2010 as the No. 6-ranked golfer in the world, and was named the player of the year by both the U.S. and the European golf writers.
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World Cup referee Howard Webb honoured by Queen
LONDON (Reuters) – World Cup final referee Howard Webb has been awarded an MBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours.
Read more on Reuters via Yahoo! Philippines News

Hope basketball’s Logan Neil making smooth transition from fall soccer season
When fall turns to winter, Hope College junior Logan Neil shifts his focus from blocking shots on the field to making them on the court. The transition from playing goalie on the soccer team to playing guard for the basketball team has been smoother this year for Neil, and it’s showing. The Flying Dutchmen return to action tonight when they host the Russ DeVette Holiday Tournament at DeVos …
Read more on The Holland Sentinel

Villa gives trial to Colorado F Cummings
Aston Villa’s manager Gerrard Houlier stands on the touchline as his team loose 4-0 at Manchester City during their English Premier League soccer match at The City of Manchester Stadium, Manchester, England, Tuesday Dec. 28, 2010. NO INTERNET/MOBILE USAGE WITHOUT FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION PREMIER LEAGUE(FAPL)LICENCE. EMAIL info@football-dataco.com FOR DETAILS.
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Sports Briefs
The Solvang Green Dragons of the U8 division went undefeated for the 2010 soccer season this year. The players showed good sportsmanship, excellent effort and improvement throughout the season.
Read more on The Santa Ynez Valley News