Summer barbecues have barely had time to be rained off yet footballers have, earlier than ever it seems, returned to competitive action. Last Sunday’s Community Shield fixture, the curtain raiser on the English domestic season, pitched together two managers more likely to exchange blows than pleasantries on the Wembley touchline. Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger claimed ner-ner-ne-ner-ner rights over Chelsea’s José Mourinho, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s first-half goal proving enough to seal the silverware.
Chelsea Ladies had fared better at Wembley the previous day, Ji So-yun’s goal beating Notts County Ladies in the first Women’s FA Cup final to be staged at the national stadium. The 30,710 who watched may been less than the sport’s governing body had hoped for, but it still represented a record for the fixture and continued the upward trajectory of the women’s game created by England’s bronze medal at last month’s Women’s World Cup.
Finn back in the swing
The momentum of this summer’s Ashes series swung as dramatically as the deliveries from England’s bowlers during the hosts eight-wicket defeat of Australia in the third Test at Edgbaston last week. The visitors, winners of the second Test at Lord’s by a crushing 405 runs, were this time restricted by James Anderson’s first innings figures of 6-47 and Steven Finn’s second innings figures of 6-79. For Finn it marked a triumphant return to Test cricket 18 months after being flown home early from an overseas tour where a drastic loss of form led England’s then one-day coach Ashley Giles to label him “unselectable”. England led the five-match series 2-1 going into fourth Test at Trent Bridge, which began on Thursday, where they were without the injured Anderson.
Grand finish from Inbee Park
Wayward putting, a tense swing – the yips that can affect even the most nerveless professional golfers on big occasions – were never a problem for the positively metronomic Inbee Park in the Women’s British Open at Turnberry, Scotland. The world number No 1 completed a career grand slam with her seventh major title, posting a final round of 65 to finish the day seven under par and three shots clear of fellow South Korean, Ko Jin-young. The title marked the 27-year-old’s sixth major win in her past 14 attempts. “This is the greatest day of my life, for sure,” said Park. “I never thought I could achieve the grand slam but now I’ve finally done it.”
IOC go with the throw
Great news for fans of Ultimate Frisbee, Disc Golf and Freestyle: the International Olympic Committee (IOC) have officially recognised flying disc sports. The announcement was made at an IOC session in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, last Sunday, prompting national sporting bodies everywhere to begin combing beaches, parks and campsites for potential gold medallists.
