A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Hamilton wants to keep his trophies
MOTOR SPORT:Lewis Hamilton says keeping his trophies will be a "push point" in talks over a new contract with McLaren. The 27-year-old former world champion has been with the McLaren "family" since the age of 11, spending his entire Formula One career with the team.
His current deal expires at the end of this year, though, and he heads into the month-long summer break – on the back of his second victory of the season in Hungary on Sunday – poised for talks over a fresh contract.
And he says an agreement which would see him allowed to keep the silverware he wins – it is a McLaren tradition for the team to keep the original, with the driver receiving a replica – could be crucial.
Hamilton said: “[McLaren executive chairman] Ron [Dennis] and the team have all the trophies in the cabinet and the drivers get replicas. In a lot of other teams, the drivers get their original trophies. As a racing driver, what you work for and what you want to take home are two things; one is your crash helmet and the other is your trophy. For me, they are priceless.”
Adam defended over Bale tackle
SOCCER:Charlie Adam's agent has defended the Liverpool midfielder after he was labelled a coward by Tottenham winger Gareth Bale.
Wales international Bale was left on crutches at the weekend following a bad tackle from Adam during the 0-0 draw between the two sides in Baltimore.
It was not the first such incident involving the pair, with Adam having injured Bale in a tackle in May 2011, causing ankle ligament damage which ruled the Spurs man out for three months.
Bale branded Adam “a bit of a coward” after the latest clash, but Adam’s representative Kenny Moyes claims such talk is “outrageous”.
Moyes said: “It doesn’t warrant a reply because everyone knows Charlie is not that type of player. Everyone in football knows he has no malice, or anything like that in him.”
Bale, 23, resumed light training yesterday after scans revealed the damage was not as serious as first feared.
Spurs manager Villas-Boas said: “Needless to say, we are extremely relieved Gareth has not been seriously injured.”
Hunt determined to prove his worth to new Wolves boss
SOCCER:Stephen Hunt has vowed to prove his worth to Wolves over the course of what could be his last season at the club.
“I’ve got a few things to bite my teeth into in terms of wanting to show what I can do on a consistent and long-term basis without picking up any injuries,” says the 30-year-old Republic of Ireland international, who must impress new boss Stale Solbakken if he wants to earn a new deal at the club.
“If I have that I know what Wolves will get. I’m here to show the manager what I’m capable of doing, and myself more so.
It doesn’t make any difference to me if I’m into the last year of my contract,” he insists, however. “I’ll always play the same way – even if I was out of contract, I’d continue to play the same way. That’s the way I am.”
Meanwhile, Stephen Kelly insists he is not concerned by the arrival at Fulham of former German international Sascha Riether.
“I feel I’ve made the number two shirt my own,” said the Dubliner. “I feel I was instrumental in us doing well last season and finishing ninth.”
– EMMET MALONE
Ireland under-19s come up short in first warm-up game
CRICKET:Ireland under-19s went down to a 10-run defeat to a Northern Territories under-19 side in Darwin yesterday in their first warm-up game ahead of the World Cup later this month.
Skipper George Dockrell, as well as Alistair Shields and Barry McCarthy, were rested, with North County’s Shane Getkate taking over as captain.
Gloucestershire’s Graeme McCarter was the pick of the Irish bowlers taking four for 52 as Northern Territories racked up 273 for 6 in their 50 overs on an excellent track.
An opening stand of 109 between Donemana’s Ryan Hunter (94) and Pembroke’s Robin Kelly (57) put Ireland right back in the game, but despite a fine unbeaten 54 from Getkate, the Irish came up just short, ending on 263 for 6.
– EMMET RIORDAN
