Daily Post

Barnes Goes Back to Drawing Board[ ... ]

Lescott Out - but Still About [ ... ]

Lescott's Silence Speaks Volumes

Coventry 2 Everton 2 THE locals came to salute one of their own. But for Everton, the man of the moment was conspicuous by his absence yesterday.

Flintoff Makes the Aussies Edgy ; All-Round Assault Sets Up Thrilling Final Day

RATHER like the natural world, Test cricket is a redblooded and wonderfully uncompromising business. Those who doubt this need only be present on such afternoons as the 21,000 crowd enjoyed at Edgbaston yesterday when Andrew Flintoff's attacking batting and the England attack's probing bowling set up their side's opportunity to go 2-0 up with two to play in this compelling Ashes series.

Ashes Hero Hails Birmingham Buzz

ANDREW FLINTOFF hailed the unique Edgbaston atmosphere after opening up the chance for England to take a 2-0 lead in the Ashes. All-rounder Flintoff cracked 74, his highest Test score on home soil since Australia's last tour here four years ago, to help England towards a 113-run lead on first innings.

Rover Ups Stakes ; in Brief

RACING: Doncaster Rover continues on the upgrade and trainer David Brown has ambitious plans for him at home and abroad following his success in the Listed Flight Centre Chester Queensferry Stakes on the Roodee. Brown said of the Phillip Makin-ridden winner: "This is a good horse and he has so much more to show yet.

Witter to Prove He's No Quitter ; in Brief

BOXING: Junior Witter believes he still has a future in the ring at the age of 35 despite losing a world title challenge he had framed as a make or break fight. British boxer Witter failed to regain the vacant WBC light- welterweight title he had lost in Nottingham 15 months ago when he handed American southpaw Devon Alexander the famous green belt after quitting at the end of the eighth round in California.

An Easy Finnish ; in Brief

RALLYING: Mikko Hirvonen took his first win on home soil at the Rally of Finland to extend his World Rally Championship lead over Sebastien Loeb to three points. Hirvonen and Citroen driver Loeb had looked set for a titanic battle for victory when they were virtually inseparable during Friday's stages, but a puncture for Loeb ensured the Blue Oval driver had the cushion to pace himself to the finish in his home town of Jyvaskyla.

Davies Caps Day by Clinching Spot ; in Brief

GOLF: England's Laura Davies clinched her 11th successive Solheim Cup cap today to extend her record of playing in every match since the event began in 1990. The 45-year-old finished down the field on 14 over par after a closing 74 in the Ricoh Women's British Open at Royal Lytham and would have been left needing a wild card if two Europeans had gone past her on the points table.

Not the Homecoming Sp P Paniards Had Hoped For

Espanyol 3 to Liverpool 0

Barnes Goes Back to Prenton Park's Drawing Board

MANAGER John Barnes admits he's having to "go back to the drawing board" as he attempts to fill the defensive vacancies in his Tranmere squad. At least one of the centrebacks Barnes had lined up for a loan move to Prenton Park this summer won't be coming because the circumstances at his club have changed.

Rovers Showing Signs of Promise

Tranmere 1 Shrewsbury 1 TRANMERE found enough second-half cohesion to finish their pre- season programme on a positive note at Prenton Park on Saturday.

Wallasey Win to Stay On the Up

WALLASEY maintained their remarkable rise in the Business Assistance Liverpool Competition Premier League with a 69-run victory at home to relegation threatened Formby. The fifth-placed Wirral club have now won eight of their last nine league games with only runaway leaders Bootle getting the better of them.

Lancashire Make White Rose Wilt at Old Trafford

MAL LOYE and VVS Laxman both recorded hundreds to help Lancashire push for a County Championship victory against Yorkshire at Old Trafford yesterday. The pair shared a thirdwicket partnership of 225 in 64 overs and were the mainstays of Lancashire's first innings total of 489 for five declared in reply to the visitors' 181 all out.

Caddick Ready for His First Class Exit

ANDY CADDICK has announced his retirement from firstclass cricket at the end of the current season. The 40-year-old former England pace bowler confirmed his decision at the close of the third day's play in Somerset's LV County Championship match against Nottinghamshire at Taunton.

Orrell Red Triangle Storm to the Top of the League

ORRELL Red Triangle are the new leaders in the Liverpool Competition First Division after an impressive threewicket victory at Liverpool. Ashley McDonald (47) and James Titmuss (47) shone with the bat for the Aigburth club but it was slow going and they finally declared on 212-8 off 71.4 overs.

The Mother of All Victories

CATRIONA MATTHEW became the first Scot ever to win one of the four majors in women's golf - a mere 11 weeks after becoming a mother for the second time. Playing only her second tournament since returning to the game, Matthew took the Ricoh British Open at Royal Lytham by three strokes from Australian Karrie Webb.

Tidy in Final but She Can't Clean Up

ROYAL BIRKDALE'S Kelly Tidy missed out on the FirstPoint USA English Girls' Championship following a gallant run to the final. Lincolnshire's Holly Clyburn produced sparkling golf in heavy rain and wind to take the trophy at North Wilts on Sat u r day.

Caldy Cut Down to Size by Wavertree

WAVERTREE extended their lead at the top of the Bromborough Paints Merseyside and Southport Alliance with a 111 runs success at Caldy. Narender Negi hit 78 and the bowler to do the damage was Matt Nation with 8-45.

Chester's Giant Step Away From the Drop

CHESTER Boughton Hall took a giant step out of the ECB Premier Division's relegation zone when they beat Macclesfield in a truncated programme of games in the Chapel Press Cheshire County League. Macclesfield plundered a toiling Chester attack to post an impressive 235-4. Chester more than matched that, running out winners by eight wickets thanks largely to an unbeaten 103 from lefthander Trevor Fabien, recently secured from Prescot & Oddysey.