22 METROSPORT Thursday, December 17, 2009 D Fielding questions: Kearney rugby OShea takes over at Quins FORMER Ireland fullback Conor OShea has been appointed the new director of rugby at Harlequins. The 39-year-old will fill the vacancy created by Dean Richards resignation earlier this year following his role in the Bloodgate scandal which subsequently saw him land a three-year worldwide coaching ban. Former London Irish rugby director OShea will begin his new job in March after beating out illustrious candidates including British and Irish Lions chief Ian McGeechan and ex- Scotland boss Frank Hadden. OShea, a regular pundit on RTs rugby coverage, said: When approached by Harlequins, a club with an exciting squad, committed coaches and support staff, it was a challenge I had to take on. Aerial attack holds no fear for Kearney Rob KeaRney has told Llanelli Scarlets they are welcome to keep kicking high balls in his direction ahead of the Welsh sides visit to the RDS on Saturday, writes Gareth Makim. Leinster full-back Kearney continued his imperious fielding form when the teams met last weekend in the first leg of their back-to-back Heineken Cup clashes as the defending champions ran out convincing 32-7 winners, and the Ireland star is expecting another aerial bombardment this time around. [Im happy] provided Im catching them, Kearney said. Its not so nice when you drop the first couple, youre praying then that they dont kick to you. but once I keep holding on to them, Im happy enough to have people kicking at me. Leinster team-mate Gordon Darcy expressed his shock that South africa sent so much ball in Kearneys direction during Irelands recent victory over the world champions given the full-backs displays on the highveld for the Lions during the summer, and Kearney claimed the fact that Scarlets out-half Stephen Jones, a fellow Lions tourist, adopted the tactic was evidence of the current trend towards kicking in the modern game. I was a little [surprised]. I just think it re-emphasises the point that kicking is a bigger part of the game now. Regardless of the opposition, teams continue to kick high balls and long into territory. Its the game-plan for a lot of teams, to play in the opposition half. SOCCEr premier league FORMULA ONE: The future of the Renault team is secure after a large stake in the team was sold to Luxembourg-based Genii Capital. The company said the team would stay as Renault and maintain the ethos that took them to titles in 2005 and 2006. Renault are one of three manufacturers still in F1 after the recent departures of Honda, Toyota and BMW. Renault has decided to maintain its commitment to F1 and welcomes the perspective of a strategic partnership with Genii Capital, said a statement. Both partners will operate the team together. gaa: Clare are expected to appoint ger Sparrow Oloughlin as their new hurling manager after mike mcNamara resigned from the post at a county board meeting on Tuesday night. mcNamara had become embroiled in a lengthy dispute with his players, who passed a vote of no confidence in the manager in October following a dismal 2009 season. Double all- ireland winning forward Oloughlin could be installed as the new boss at a county convention tonight. SNOOKER: Ken Doherty is confident he can halt his slide down the rankings and power his way back into the worlds top 16 in 2010. And the 1997 world champion is hoping this weeks Six Reds World Championship in Killarney in which the game is played with half-a- dozen reds rather than 15 will be his launchpad back to the games elite. Doherty, 40, has slipped to 44th in the world, but the Dubliner said: My form is definitely picking up and I feel I am playing a lot better than I have been for a while. Im really determined to climb the rankings and get back to where I was. Determined: Doherty SPORTDigest CriCKeT: england have some hard work to do if they are to establish a winning position on day two of the first Test against South africa at Centurion. andrew Strauss won yesterdays toss and chose to bowl but, after a slice of luck for Stuart Broad which saw home captain graeme Smith depart for a duck, South africa went on to reach stumps at 262 for four. Jacques Kallis was the mainstay, hitting a sturdy 112 not out, while spinner graeme Swann kept england in the hunt with the wickets of ashwell prince and aB de Villiers. Evras praying for Red Devils AFTER Jamie Carragers prayer for an end to Liverpools woes, Patrice Evra has followed his example and urged his Manchester United team-mates to go to church in a bid to solve their injury crisis. Having already ruled John OShea and Jonny Evans out until January, and Gary Neville joining Rio Ferdinand on the injured list, Nemanja Vidic and Wes Brown have now both been struck down. And as the only fit defender left, church-going Evra (pictured) thinks his team-mates should turn to the almighty. He said: The injuries are getting worse. I have told everyone they need to go to church every day and pray. It is a difficult time. But the squad is strong and we have players like Michael Carrick and Darren Fletcher who can play at the back. EMILE HESKEY insists complacency will not be allowed to jeapordise Aston Villas bid to stay in the hunt for Champions League qualification. Villa climbed back into the third place with Tuesdays 2-0 win at Sunderland, with England striker Heskey scoring his third goal in five games. Boss Martin ONeill was quick to play down Villas chances of remaining in the top four, but Heskey said: We have put ourselves in a great position and just have to keep there. But we are not getting carried away, we just want to carry on and keep getting the points. We will see how we go over the Christmas period. This is the busiest period and we have a lot of games. We will see how we come through and where we go from there. It is interesting as people will probably feel that we might die off a little bit. But hopefully we can stay up there. Heskey opened the scoring when he ran on to James Milners pass to fire pass Black Cats keeper Marton Fulop before Milner made sure of the points with a 30-yard stunner after the break. Christmas key for Emile Centurion Torres on target in Reds win By DaViD KeNNeDy FERNANDO TORRES scored on his 100th Liverpool appearance to seal a victory against Wigan at Anfield. In the week of the 50th anniversary of Bill Shanklys first match at the club, the per- formance would not have impressed the legendary manager but it was a welcome relief for current boss Rafael Benitez. It was only Liverpools fourth win in 16 matches and just their second at Anfield since September 26, but it will do much for the teams shaky confidence. Spain striker Torres was not fit enough to start but came on for fellow goalscorer Dav- id Ngog in the 64th minute and scored 15 minutes later when he pounced on an Emer- son Boyce error and fired home at the sec- ond attempt for his 61st goal for the club. Liverpool, who are up to sixth with this win, had taken the lead in the ninth minute when the impressive Ngog headed home Fabio Aurelios inswinging cross ahead of a hesitant Chris Kirkland for his sixth goal of the season. But after Torres struck, Charles NZogbia set up a nervy finale when the Frenchman cut into the penalty area and slammed a left-foot shot past Jose Reina. Wigan have now won just two of their last ten outings and are only two points clear of the relegation zone, having conceded more goals than any other Premier League team, with 17 in their last four away games. Heading the charge: David Ngog, right, rises above the lunge of Wigan keeper Chris Kirkland to head liverpool in front at anfield Picture: EMPICS livErpOOl 2 wigan 1 liverpool: Reina, Carragher, Skrtel, Agger, Insua, Benayoun (Aquilani 81), Mascherano, Gerrard, Aurelio (Lucas 60), Kuyt, Ngog (Torres 64). Booked: Mascherano. Wigan: Kirkland, Melchiot, Boyce, Bramble, Figueroa, Scharner, Gomez (KOumas 82), Diame (Scotland 58), Thomas, NZogbia, Rodallega. Booked: Thomas. referee: Phil Dowd MATCH FACTS index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html24.html25.html26.html27.html