■GOLF
Ormsby grabs one-shot lead
An eagle on the final hole allowed Australia’s Wade Ormsby to record a round of 65 and seize a one-shot lead at the halfway stage of the Saint Omer Open on Friday. The 29-year-old started the day on one-under, five strokes behind Swedish overnight leader Fredrik Andersson Hed, but he braved windy conditions to storm to the top of the leaderboard. Orsmby’s 65 took him to seven-under, one shot ahead of England’s James Morrison, who produced a 69 to follow his opening round of 67. Christian Nilsson of Sweden sits on five-under after a 69, while his compatriot Andersson Hed will begin day three on four-under after carding a two-over 73.
■SOCCER
Setanta loses EPL matches
The English Premier League said on Friday it had terminated its contract with troubled Irish broadcaster Setanta and would sell off the broadcaster’s 46 live matches for next season. The pay-TV company failed to make a scheduled payment of £30 million (US$49 million) to the Premier League by an evening deadline. Last-ditch efforts by Setanta to put together a rescue package were unsuccessful. The Premier League was now expected to announce early next week who has won the rights to show the matches.
■SOCCER
Egypt players robbed
About US$2,300 was stolen from the hotel rooms of Egypt’s soccer team while they were beating Italy 1-0 at the Confederations Cup, Beeld newspaper reported yesterday. The money was stolen from the rooms of five players during Thursday’s game. Another US$860 was burgled from a room of a representative from sports clothing manufacturer Puma. Egypt representative Inas Mazhar told Beeld the team was celebrating the upset victory when it realized the money was missing. “We are disappointed, but it’s their own fault,” Mazhar was quoted as saying. “There are safes, but they left the money outside. It’s over now. This can happen anywhere. This will not spoil our experience.”
■SOCCER
David Villa not for sale
Spanish Primera Liga side Valencia on Friday insisted that star striker David Villa was “not for sale,” despite earlier reports that he was on the brink of a transfer to Real Madrid. The decision, if confirmed, could force Real to look for other forwards, with Spanish media pinpointing France international Karim Benzema of Lyon or Atletico Madrid’s Uruguayan star Diego Forlan as possible alternatives. Real were hoping to capture Villa for a fee in the region of 40 million euros (US$56 million). Real Madrid president Florentino Perez had said on Thursday that the completion of a deal between the clubs was “a matter of time,” but Valencia’s new president, Manuel Llorente, said on Friday that Villa “is not for sale, he is the best striker in Europe and we want him to continue with us.”
■RUGBY LEAGUE
Drunken coach fines himself
Brad Fittler, a former Australia rugby league Test captain and coach of the Sydney Roosters club, fined himself A$10,000 (US$8,102) yesterday after drunkenly trying to get into a woman’s hotel room. Fittler, who played 14 Tests for Australia from 1991 to 2001, was found wearing only shorts and heavily intoxicated early on Friday by police after the female occupant of the room made a complaint. “I take this opportunity to apologize for my behavior on Thursday night, I brought embarrassment to the club, myself and my family,” Fittler said yesterday.
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