+ Sarra has high expectations for league—He finds himself alongside playing greats and business barons but Chris Sarra might just be the most interesting face on rugby league's new independen...

+ Australians face barrage of dope tests—Multi-pronged doping blitz puts Australia's top athletes under unprecedented surveillance.

+ Cricketer bailed on assault—Australian cricketer Luke Pomersbach, facing charges of molestation and assault in India, says he will fight the charges that have derailed his return...

+ 'Sponge' bags opening with Westwood—Mike Waite spent nearly 30 years caddying for many masters including Rodger Davis, Ian Baker-Finch, Michael Campbell, who won the 2005 US Open while h...

+ New coaching brigade sure to turn A-League on its head—Don't look now, but football in Australia just changed shape, right from its very DNA. You won't see it until late next season or more likely the foll...

+ Banjo, Fred and Alan came at the game from different angles—Big punters of the past were dwarfed by Alan Woods, who spiced his action with Filipino bar girls and ecstasy. Woods, from Murwillumbah, struck gold a...

+ Miata, Black Caviar two of a kind—The stars have aligned for the Sandown Greyhound Racing Club. On Thursday, it will hold the richest staying race in the country and have the incompara...

+ Treuer to get marching orders—The NSW Harness Racing Club is set to flex its muscle to force a move of the time-honoured Treuer Memorial at Bankstown from its traditional December ...

+ Despite one-day snub, Ponting not prepared to pull up stumps yet—RICKY PONTING says he paid the ultimate price as an international one-day player because he put the national team ahead of himself, and the former Aus...

+ Rocket takes on Missile challenge—HIS swim times say it even if he's not prepared to yet - James ''The Rocket'' Roberts is gunning for James ''The Missile'' Magnussen in what is shapin...

+ Arnold breathes easy after passing test—Racing NSW stewards ordered apprentice Shane Arnold to front up at Scone yesterday as officials breath-tested all riders on the second day of the huge...

+ Gai's dark horse brings in Jewel while creaming More Strawberries—GAI WATERHOUSE once again left punters reeling as the stunning Saturday sequence of winners continued when the trainer took out yesterday's Dark Jewel...

+ Invest sworn in as top Oaks contender—SYDNEY trainer Clarry Conners admitted to nearly swearing in the grandstand at jockey Peter Mertens during yesterday's $175,000 The Roses at Doomben.

+ Raiders look the goods for Stradbroke—SYDNEYSIDERS Mental and Tiger Tees emerged as lightweight chances in the $1 million Stradbroke after dashing wins.

+ Brazill back but mentor thinks only of fighting a familiar foe—FRIENDS will become foes for 60 minutes as NSW Swifts captain Kimberlee Green hosts her former pupil Ashleigh Brazill and the West Coast Fever today.

+ Davo blues over Slade hit—A SHAKEN and furious Will Davison has hit out at fellow driver Tim Slade, adamant the Stone Brothers driver knowingly pushed him wide at turn three, s...

+ Stoner has earned the right to slow things down a bit—Casey Stoner's supposedly ''shock announcement'' during the week that he will retire from MotoGP at the end of this season should not come as too much...

+ The flying Kangaroos—With 20 times their weight jarring down at every jump, Australia's sandpit stars need cotton-wool training before the Games, writes Daniel Lane.

+ Dame not up to cups—Trainer Pat Carey says winter staying races rarely yield spring cup winners.

+ Track comes under fire—Two horses die at Flemington meeting, and two jockeys suffer falls.

+ Track gets blame for falls drama—Two horses killed and leading apprentice taken to hospital after a fall.

+ Clarke unfazed by wedding critics—MICHAEL CLARKE is well aware of criticism coming his way for not inviting his teammates to his surprise wedding during the week to Kyly Boldy.

+ Magic coach wary of falling prey to avenging Eagles—BROADMEADOW coach Damien Smith is preparing his side for what he believes will be its toughest football game of the season, hosting Edgeworth at the W...

+ The kids are all right, as girl power threatens to take over—Female riders are having a huge influence in the country apprentices' premiership this season. Five of the top 10 are young women, headed by Rachael M...

+ Slugfest to spark in Munich—There will be no snore-draw - Chelsea and Bayern Munich are desperate for victory.

+ Britain backs down on doping—Track and field athlete Dwain Chambers and cyclist David Millar can now compete.

+ Meet Mr 55: 12 birdies, two eagles and one lawn to mow—ANNIKA SORENSTAM always dreamed of the perfect round of golf. She called it ''Vision 54'' - a birdie on each of the 18 holes - but the closest the now...

+ Henry puts his house on a return to London—City (almost) choke but win it, United win but lose it, QPR lose but stay up, Bolton draw but go down … Panthers slay the Dragons in the mountains … S...

+ Bargain buy Tinszelda looks just fine to Northam—DODGY front legs weren't a concern for Scone trainer Rodney Northam, whose confidence in Tinszelda was justified when the juvenile carted off yesterda...

+ Martin loves to excel in the saddle—TIM MARTIN hasn't needed to jump on today's Scone Guineas favourite Pampelonne but not so the Gerry Harvey-owned Love Excels.

+ Moody to repel Kiwi challenge in a brilliant Doomben Cup—THE good gamble card, particularly with Manighar, comes into play at today's outstanding Doomben meeting, where strong credentials are generally match...

+ Snowden set for another helping of Scone's jam—DARLEY STUD head trainer Peter Snowden has the chance today at Scone to win a couple of home-town features for the second year in a row.

+ Bak blooms at 32, wins first grand tour stage—SESTRI LEVANTE, Italy: Spaniard Joaquim Rodriguez retained the Giro d'Italia's race leader's pink jersey after Thursday's 12th stage, won by Denmark's...

+ Doohan won't rule out star rider's return—FIVE-TIME MotoGP champion Mick Doohan says Casey Stoner will go down as one of the greatest riders in world championship history, and believes the 26-...

+ One-time Irish dancer keeps her feet firmly on the pound—UNTIL a few years ago, Clare Geraghty was more likely to break into a reel, slip or jig than a sprint or jog.

+ Rivals ready in roster race for top talent—Ian Crook wants new strikers, but Tony Popovic needs a whole team.

+ Vodafone mute on a move into V8s—TEAM VODAFONE boss Roland Dane has refused to speculate on the driving future of Casey Stoner, who has been linked to a move to V8 Supercars after ann...

+ Why Stoner is the best of this generation despite doing it his way—FOR most people it came as a shock. But to those looking closely the signs were there.

+ London rained kippers at Games fit for their times—THERE was the daily diet of kippered herrings. The incessant rain that made the running track a soggy mess. And the climax to the cut-price opening ce...

+ Lismore ace toast of golf with 55—Rhein Gibson is now the talk of the golfing world after a 16-under 55 in Oklahoma.

+ Powers that be need to use their heads—IF you didn't see the Four Corners program ''Hard Knocks'' on ABC last Monday night, you should have. It was a devastating profile of the terrible da...

+ No great escape for Cats this time as Magpies take points in rematch—IT wasn't the grand final replay in any sense. Whereas the 2011 finale featured three scintillating quarters and a final quarter rout by the Cats, thi...

+ Pomersbach on sexual assault charges—New Delhi: West Australian cricketer Luke Pomersbach has appeared in court in New Delhi after allegedly sexually assaulting a woman then beating her f...

+ WA cricketer Luke Pomersbach arrested in India—WA cricketer Luke Pomersbach has reportedly been charged with assault in India following an incident at a party in Bangalore.

+ Casey Stoner: the no-nonsense champion who has always done things his way—For most people it came as a shock. But to those looking closely the signs were there.

+ Dad's army take scenic route to Brisbane carnival riches—THIS is a great comeback story. Not one but three - horse, jockey and trainer-cum-foreman Len Morton.

+ Gun Tommy wants more cream with Strawberries—GAI WATERHOUSE and Tulloch Lodge's No.2 jockey Tommy Berry are in scintillating form. Waterhouse and Berry continued their winning run at Canterbury o...

+ Lass and Lynette to open Freedman-Rogerson book—The partnership between Hall of Fame trainers Lee Freedman and Graeme Rogerson could land its first official winner at Scone today. Dats A Lass goes a...

+ Manighar to join pantheon of greats—Enhanced by the Peter Moody-Luke Nolen factor, Manighar, once a European plodder, promises to maintain the strength of the Doomben Cup as one of Austr...

+ Thommo still burns with hunger for winners—THOSE who doubted Robert Thompson had a future in racing wouldn't have thought the national champion would ride at Lae in Papua New Guinea.

+ Eliza Park conquers all with son of Mossman—Eliza Park's announcement this week of its bold move to establish a breeding division in Queensland received a tremendous boost with the news it had b...

+ Mundine's shot at US lands little lower than Pretty Boy—ANTHONY MUNDINE admits he was on the verge of giving up on his ambition to fight in the US as well as granting Danny Green a rematch when he received ...

+ Popovic vows to deliver 'good brand' to west—TONY POPOVIC might have never coached a professional match in his life but at noon yesterday, Football Federation Australia handed over the keys to th...

+ Bichel out but favours a former international—Andy Bichel rules himself out of contention to be Australia's next bowling coach.

+ Punters only have eyes for Manighar—Former English galloper has firmed from $4 to $2.40 to win Doomben Cup.

+ Late starter Trengove's early chance—JESS TRENGOVE thought she was a chance to go to Rio in 2016. A young and promising distance runner, her Olympic dream was focused on South America.

+ Mundine's got Game - and maybe Snoop Dogg too—Anthony Mundine is set to work with Jeff Fenech ahead of his first US fight and hopes to have rap stars Game and Snoop Dogg in his corner for the July...

+ Mundine's got Game - and maybe Snoop Dog too—Anthony Mundine is set to work with Jeff Fenech ahead of his first US fight and hopes to have rap stars Game and Snoop Dogg in his corner for the July...

+ Gossip mags caught behind as Clarke says 'I do' in secret—ANNOUNCED on Twitter - to groans of despair from magazine editors - Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke and his girlfriend Kyly Boldy wed in sec...

+ Shinn cops ban after dangerous race ride—TROUBLED jockey Blake Shinn was deemed by Racing NSW stewards to have placed rival Brenton Avdulla ''in severe danger on two occasions'' in a rough-ho...

+ Shinn banned for 'dangerous' ride—Troubled jockey deemed by Racing New South Wales stewards to have placed rival Brenton Avdulla 'in severe danger on two occasions' in a rough-house ra...

+ Trainer's second coming—It may be fitting that a horse named Second Effort is establishing a winning streak as the football season intensifies.

+ Go west: Popovic to coach new Sydney side—THE A-League's western Sydney club will make its first official signing today with Tony Popovic finally agreeing to join the club as their inaugural m...

+ Five IPL players suspended over no-ball fixing allegations—DELHI: Five Indian Premier League players have been suspended from cricket as fresh fixing allegations hit the game and threatened to further tarnish ...

+ Games chief vows to fight budget cut—THE Australian Olympic Committee's chef de mission, Nick Green, has hit back at the federal government's plan to cut sports funding and is prepared to...

+ Pup ties the knot—Australian Cricketer Michael Clarke married Kyly Boldy, an Australian model, yesterday.

+ Popovic to coach Western Sydney—Tony Popovic has finally made his decision - he'll be coaching the new Western Sydney A-League team next season.

+ The madness of Mike—Mike Tyson has gone from boxing's wild child to devoted family man. But he still has to work on his temper, he tells Celia Walden in an interview

+ Five IPL players suspended over corruption claims—New Delhi: Five Indian Premier League players have been suspended from cricket as fresh fixing allegations hit the game and threatened to further tarn...

+ Doping ban ends Olympic dream—A doping suspension has cost Australia's top female boxer, three-time national champion Bianca Elmir, a virtually guaranteed Olympic berth.

+ Athlete's expenses and funding are poles apart—Nicole Kyriakopoulou is among several of Greece's London Olympics-bound athletes hamstrung by lack of funds and decrepit facilities.

+ No favours for Cup, RVL tells locals—No protection system to be introduced to guarantee a specific number of locally trained or owned runners in the Melbourne Cup.

+ City contrite for Tevez taunt—Manchester City apologises after Carlos Tevez held up a placard with the text 'R.I.P. Fergie' while aboard City's open-top bus.

+ Herd joins Socceroos—Holger Osieck's stealthy transformation of the Socceroos continues apace.

+ Debt and regret—As London prepares to welcome the world to its Olympics, Helena Smith visits the misplaced extravagance, desolation and despair of the 2004 Athens Gam...

+ Osieck plays it safe with Cup squad—IF IT ain't broke, don't fix it. That's the maxim Holger Osieck applied when he selected his squad for the World Cup qualifiers next month.

+ Doping ban ends Elmir's dream—The Olympic dream of Canberra's national champion boxer Bianca Elmir is in tatters after she was slapped with a provisional doping ban just 14 hours b...

+ Mankini bet traps Olympic shooter—Olympian Russell Mark is a straight shooter, and soon-to-be mankini model.

+ Record-setter Groth quick to raise game—It was between points that Sam Groth realised he had set an unofficial world record.

+ Confusion reigns over Stradbroke handicaps—JOHN O'SHEA, the trainer of Stradbroke favourite Sea Siren, led a chorus left confused by the weights for next month's $1 million group 1 released yes...

+ Easy Ryder: Hesjedal in the pink but faces a gruelling race ahead—LAGO LACENO: Allan Peiper, the Australian sports director who is guiding the US Garmin-Barracuda team through a dream start to the Giro d'Italia, has ...

+ Carney in driver's seat to put Blues on right track—They say good things come in threes and for 2010 Dally M medallist Todd Carney, it has never rung truer. After inspiring Cronulla to the biggest upset...

+ Overseas stayers fetching a premium—Prices rising as Australian trainers and owners scour Europe and America for Cup runners.

+ Slings and arrows: Olympic archers battle it out in court—THE battle for a spot on the archery team at the London Olympics has spilt over from the shooting range to the courts, with a young woman accusing her...

+ 'Noisy neighbours' have key to the city—So often in sport, the details bear little relationship to the manner in which they were accumulated.

+ Rival's father targeted me for harassment: Olympic hopeful—The battle for a spot in Australia's archery team for the London Olympics has spilled over from the shooting range to the courts, where a teenager has...

+ Australian Ice Hockey League wrap: week three—Perth Thunder's first road trip proves the AIHL's newest team will be more than competitive.

+ Australian Ice Hockey League wrap week three—Perth Thunder's first road trip proves the AIHL's newest team will be more than competitive.

+ Crook to be named new Sydney FC coach—Sydney FC will today name their assistant coach Ian Crook as their full-time head coach after he agreed to take over the position left vacant by Vitez...

+ Black Caviar's 21st was all about teamwork on track—Poetry with little motion was produced by Luke Nolen on Black Caviar in Saturday's Goodwood at Morphettville. It was an armchair ride for her 21st con...

+ English can't wait to see superstar in the flesh—TRAINER Peter Moody has been told to expect overwhelming interest from the English media and public when his champion mare Black Caviar arrives at Asc...

+ Martin heads home with a star on the rise—TRAINER Tim Martin is eyeing off next month's Stradbroke Handicap but first he is targeting Saturday's Scone Guineas with his untapped three-year-old ...

+ Waterhouse closing on Waller - what odds a photo finish?—Gai Waterhouse has re-energised the Tulloch Lodge machine at Randwick - and now for another Sydney trainers' premiership. A two-year lull led to Water...

+ Mawingo on trial for cups—Australian Bloodstock's Jamie Lovett sees it as a challenge for the German galloper.

+ Front runner for London carries weight of the nation—Damon Kelly has more than just strength training on his mind, writes Dominic Bossi.

+ Swifts show some steel to seal close win—NSW SWIFTS have mounted a strong claim as contenders for the trans-Tasman championship with a courageous three-point comeback win against Melbourne Vi...

+ Caviar whets UK tastes—Trainer Peter Moody told to expect overwhelming interest from English media and public.

+ Sky Blues prepared to end lengthy search by promoting Crook to top job—SYDNEY FC's youth coach Ian Crook is emerging as the latest candidate to fill the vacant coaching position at the club.

+ Gamble on two penalties spurs dramatic turnaround—IF THE Queensland Reds go on to defend their Super Rugby title, or even make some noise in the finals, they will look back to a stretch of play before...

+ Maldonado gives Williams cause to cheer—PASTOR MALDONADO has withstood great pressure from Ferrari's Fernando Alonso to take the Spanish Grand Prix, making Williams the fifth team to win thi...

+ Hansen changes gear and mindset—PORTO SANT'ELPIDIO: Adam Hansen has taken on more than the physical challenge of the Giro d'Italia over the first week of the gruelling event. The Aus...

+ Porter enjoying the great game, away from harsh spotlight—For so many players, professional golf is a squirrel's cage. Round and round they go; the occasional superb round, the less occasional victory keeps t...

+ Track trials and name changes: it's all go at Eastern Creek—What does everyone think of V8 Supercars contesting three track configurations in three heats as a highlight of their return to Eastern Creek Raceway ...

+ Front-running Vo inspired an 'erk' - then an enduring love—'As you slide down the banister of life you are bound to pick up a splinter or two in the arse,'' Jeff Perry, the unsung hero of the Vo Rogue saga, ex...

+ Miata shines as jewel in the Crown—Victorian prizemoney is at record levels and the first of Sandown's riches will be handed out on Thursday when two quality fields contest the group 1 ...

+ On track for the best option—The battle between the future and the past for harness racing in Sydney has clubs and the governing body at loggerheads.

+ A royal send-off after 21st for Caviar—BLACK CAVIAR bid farewell to Australian racing for now in emphatic style at Morphettville yesterday before another sell-out crowd of 30,000. The wonde...

+ Lay-off was just the ticket for Trickett—Despite numerous swimmers making comebacks, only one made it to London, writes Daniel Lane.

+ Thompson and Ryan keep their rides for Gunnedah Cup—Todd Howlett reckons you'd have to use a crowbar to get senior statesman Robert Thompson off in-form Quindelop in today's $20,000 Gunnedah Cup (1600m)...

+ Swifts coach determined to shake up the team—NSW SWIFTS coach Lisa Beehag will continue to pull the surprises against the undefeated Vixens today despite her team's poor response to last week's c...

+ Nation's pioneers should forever be stars of the game—'Dad, who's Oscar Crino?''

+ Happy Waterhouse comes up trumps once again with Kinnersley—GAI WATERHOUSE is starting to amaze herself. For the past 14 Saturdays in Sydney, a Waterhouse runner has graced the winner's enclosure. And like yest...

+ Olympiakos a test for Victory and its new coach—This is, in truth, a game Victory's new boss could probably do without.

+ Apprentice well-schooled in his trade—Most apprentice jockeys come out of their time by their early 20s.

+ Hay List hope—Connections hopeful class sprinter will return to racetrack after fracturing his leg.

+ Now the world awaits—For the second time in a fortnight Adelaide embraces unbeaten wonder mare.

+ Breen still hopes for a second chance—OLYMPIC aspirant Melissa Breen said she had accepted her chance of selection in the Australian Olympic team was in the ''lap of the gods'' - and the R...

+ Weighing the past and the present a vital link to the future—Choosing the best of the best is a way of passing on the game's heritage to the next generation.

+ Winning is all that matters, declares Moody—Trainer Peter Moody says that it did not matter if Black Caviar won by half an inch.

+ Hackett hurt by party-boy portrayal—GRANT HACKETT has been painted as a party boy with drinking issues by some sections of the media who have been reporting about his marriage bust-up wi...

+ Blues face Olympic test before Jets turn up the heat—CHARLESTOWN CITY BLUES coach Mark Wilson is expecting his side's toughest test since their promotion to the NBN State League when they face Hamilton O...

+ No medicine balls for the new doctor Shaq—THE WRAP NRL moves to knock out concussion … Arnold gives Sydney the blues and stays with Central Coast … Swans' run comes to an end ̷...

+ Big effort in late husband's memory—JULIE PLAYFAIR will have a head full of melanoma statistics and thoughts of her late husband, Angus, when she runs in next weekend's Sydney Morning He...

+ 'It's not good, but I loved every minute'—RON GIBBS played nearly 200 first-grade games, counting a stint in England in the late 1980s. ''I would have been concussed in over half of them,'' he...

+ Arbib ready to make mark, as Sky Blues make intentions known—SYDNEY FC are showing signs of getting their act together. They have to. The imminent arrival of a team from western Sydney has halved the market, and...

+ Bowling coach hunt after McDermott's surprise exit—CRAIG McDERMOTT'S unexpected resignation has left Cricket Australia with a gaping hole in its Ashes planning, with several fancied bowling coaches com...

+ Hard knocks: why a blow to the head can have such devastating consequences—A CONCUSSION is a mild form of brain trauma caused by an external blow to the head that forces the brain to move around within the skull. Depending on...

+ Trainers in awe of people's champ—On the subject of Black Caviar's greatness, they are unanimous, writes Patrick Bartley.

+ Hickman hopes blinkers fix Lass—IN A BID to reignite the career of group 1 winner Mirjulisa Lass in today's Lord Mayor's Cup at Rosehill, trainer Greg Hickman has gone for his gear b...

+ If Buffering is fit, he will lead BTC Cup rivals a merry chase—BLACK Caviar invades Morphettville and Doomben is hopeful about Buffering, but Gai Waterhouse carries the main interest at Rosehill Gardens chasing he...

+ Reith fills book with rides for leading stables—WORKAHOLIC Christian Reith had a good look at leading BTC Cup contender Beaded at Warwick Farm on Tuesday. While Beaded staved off retirement with a s...

+ Trainer has tough mare ready to ramble—TRAINER Robert Pearse doesn't have a Black Caviar but the Randwick horseman does have Nash Rambler.

+ Johnson toe injury a 'career-saver'—Mitchell Johnson might have retired had he not injured his toe last year.

+ Search on for bowling coach—Craig McDermott's resignation leaves Cricket Australia with a gaping hole in Ashes planning.

+ No drama, just City is slicker—Manchester City can win its first EPL title in 44 years with a home victory over QPR.

+ Ready, set, go: FFA's time is now—The governing body must learn from the mistakes and failures of the past and focus on rebuilding the brand.

+ D'Arcy deal blows up in swim fans' faces—THE weird thing? The weirdest thing? That would be that even this far down the track, even after all the court cases, all the publicity, all the fore...

+ Shelley out to build on Commonwealth silver with London selection—WHILE thousands of runners may be in a state of nervous anticipation about running 21.1 kilometres next weekend, spare a thought for marathon man Mich...

+ McDermott quits as Australia's bowling coach—The man who resurrected Australia's fast bowlers, Craig McDermott, has quit after only a year in the job, leaving the team in the hunt for a new fast-...

+ Australia's Next Top Fighter: audition call—Think you've got what it takes to make it in the Ultimate Fighting Championships?

+ Pay talks continue—Cricket Australia team performance chief concerned over key Argus report recommendation.

+ Adebisi carries Forster's hopes of a maiden group 1—THE winner of last year's BTC Cup walked from the stables of Desleigh Forster, and the Eagle Farm trainer hopes her gun sprinter Adebisi can follow in...

+ ATC reveals grand plans for hotel, conference facility—T he Australian Turf Club's plans for a four-star, apartment-style motel at Randwick racecourse were released yesterday. The eye-catching development ...

+ Colic claims champion Northerly—THE death of the fighting tiger, Hall Of Fame member Northerly, has added to a sad week in racing. Only days after Vo Rogue died at age 28 in Queensla...

+ Quinton leaves it up to crafty Schofield to get best of Irna—DON'T expect eight-time premiership-winning jockey Ron Quinton to be handing out riding instructions to fellow international Glyn Schofield.

+ No margin for error from Mulley—The skill and audacity of Athol Mulley would be required to achieve margin manipulation with the champion Black Caviar in tomorrow's Goodwood at Morph...

+ Duporth quick out of gates with show stealer—Duporth, one of the three stallions produced by the superb broodmare Staging standing at stud in the Hunter Valley, had the greatest possible start to...

+ Caviar even better second time round—The crowd at Morphettville can expect even more from Black Caviar, says Peter Moody.

+ Puncture fails to leave team flat—In the Giro d'Italia there is usually another day to race, another opportunity to seize.

+ Johnson still in mix for Tests—Mitchell Johnson is back and is 'certainly, absolutely' in contention to resume his Test career.

Last new 20/5/12 8:29am.