Legend Giggs hands United the title
Man United legend Ryan Giggs, making a record-equalling 758th appearance for the club, secured his side the Premier League title by scoring the goal that finished off Wigan. In the end it did not matter as Bolton came from behind to draw with Chelsea, but by the time Matt Taylor scored Bolton's equaliser in stoppage time the Londoners knew the game was up. For 80 minutes, however, the title hung in the balance. United knew a win would be enough, and they were leading 1-0 thanks to a Ronaldo penalty when news came through that Chelsea had also scored. That meant a Wigan equaliser would cost them the championship. But then on came Giggs to make the game safe and guarantee himself a 10th league title. There was more bad news for Chelsea when John Terry was stretchered off with a serious arm injury that could rule him out of the Champions League final. (The First Post)
Fulham complete the great escape
Birmingham and Reading scored four goals apiece in resounding victories - but both were relegated as Fulham, who managed just the one goal, secured their Premier League status with the slenderest of wins at Portsmouth. While Blackburn and Derby were being put to the sword by the other relegation candidates, Fulham were struggling at Fratton Park. But that all changed when Danny Murphy scored the most important goal of the afternoon in the 76th minute sparking wild scenes of celebration among the London club's supporters. Elsewhere Everton secured fifth, and a UEFA Cup spot, with a 3-1 win over Newcastle and Manchester City's season ended in ignomy as they were annihilated 8-1 by Middlesbrough - not the exit Sven Goran Eriksson would have been hoing for. (The First Post)
Massa secures Istanbul hat-trick
Felipe Massa powered to his third successive Turkish Grand Prix victory, despite a spirited challenge from Lewis Hamilton - who adopted an unconventional three stop strategy. The British driver passed Massa in middle section of the race, but he could not hold on and had to settle for second in front of Kimi Raikkonen. However, McLaren will take comfort from their new-found competitiveness and the fact they were able to split the two Ferraris. Hamilton started well, leapfrogging team-mate Heikki Kovalainen - who later suffered a puncture - and pressuring Massa before taking the lead in the 24th lap. However, Hamilton ended the race fighting to hold second. The result leaves Raikkonen seven points clear of Massa and Hamilton who are tied on 28 points. (The First Post)
Flintoff out of Tests with strain
The vexed debate over whether Andrew Flintoff should be in the England squad for the first Test against New Zealand has been cut short after the injury prone all-rounder was ruled out of the first two Tests of the summer with a side strain. "The longer he goes without playing Test cricket, the less likely he is to make a substantial return," writes Scyld Berry in the Sunday Telegraph. "But the wounds would have been much uglier if he had played against New Zealand and broken down then, because the new regime of England selectors would have been honour-bound to fall upon their swords." (Sunday Telegraph)
Pleasure and pain for Carberry
There was pleasure and then, immediately, pain for England Lions opener Michael Carberry yesterday. He was struck down with cramp as he celebrated completing a fine century against New Zealand and had to be stretchered off. However, Lions carved out a 282-run lead reaching 275-5 at the close. "Andrew Flintoff's latest injury and Paul Collingwood's fitness worries provided a much-needed extra dimension to the performance of the England Lions," says Simon Wilde in the Sunday Times. "Beforehand, nobody much cared if they roared or not: it was probable that none would make the squad for the Lord's Test; afterwards, it was possible that both a fast bowler and batsman might be included in an England 13 this morning." (Sunday Times)
Last-gasp Tigers make play-offs
Leicester secured the final Premiership play-off place with an amazing last gasp win over Harlequins. Winger Tom Varndell touched down in the dying seconds to put the Tigers in front and secure a bonus point at Welford Road. The 31-28 win, along with Sale's failure to beat London Irish, earned Leicester a top four finish. As Paul Ackford in the Sunday Telegrapgh writes, after 65 minutes Leicester's season was over. "No play-offs, no Heineken Cup next season, and probably a new head coach." But after Varndell's heroics "everything is back on the table for the Tigers. Beat that Lazarus." (Sunday Telegraph)
"Anything can happen in this league because it is always so tight. Nobody would have bet £1 on us today, but we are in the play-offs." Leicester's head coach, Marcelo Loffreda, appears to have been canvassing opinion on his team's chances at the bookies.
Gutsy Gloucester earn top spot
It wasn't high scoring but the West Country derby between Gloucester and Bath was a thrilling spectacle. After a scoreless second half Gloucester won the bragging rights, and a play-off advantage, with an 8-6 victory. "This was a derby day at the end of the regular season with home advantage in the play-offs at stake, a context that in its own right made things compelling enough. But then the teams came out and instead of hurling themselves into a time-honoured pile-up, opted for the style of the season. The Premiership's mini-final flowered, a response to the rising sap of the entire season," writes Eddie Butler in the Observer. (Observer)
