The Sports Matrix: Monday 11 July 2011

RFU in turmoil as chairman resigns

The RFU crisis deepened yesterday as Martin Thomas resigned from his position as chairman. Less than nine weeks until the start of the World Cup, the sport’s governing body has also yet to appoint a chief executive and performance director. MORE

Golden GB look ahead to Olympics

Team GB yesterday took home 10 medals, including four golds, from the final round of the World Cup in Lucerne, Switzerland. The success means the team are looking strong to qualify boats for next year’s Olympics and the World Championships next month. MORE

Vinokourov breaks leg on day of drama

Two serious contenders were forced out of the Tour after crashes yesterday. Alexandre Vinokourov broke a leg, while the young Belgian Jurgen van den Broeck also retired injured. Britain’s Bradley Wiggins is already out after crashing on Friday. MORE

Powell: ‘Cowards’ shirked penalties

England coach Hope Powell criticised her players after their World Cup penalty exit to France. “Other players should have come forward and they didn’t,” she said after injured players such as Kelly Smith had to take kicks. “That’s weak, it’s cowardice.” MORE

Fuel shortage costs Hamilton podium

Lewis Hamilton has revealed his slowing pace towards the end of yesterday’s race was to preserve fuel. After climbing from 10th to third, Hamilton said: “With 21 laps to go, I had to save fuel. Massively. So I had to give [Mark] Webber the position.” MORE

Liverpool bemoan Anfield red tape

Liverpool’s claim council bureaucracy may force them to leave Anfield rather than redevelop it. Ian Eyre, the managing director, yesterday lamented “barriers to our ambition”. The club are considering a building a stadium in nearby Stanley Park. MORE

Opinion: James Lawton

Despite his usual absence of humility, we saw yesterday the best of Lewis Hamilton, the superb natural born racer. He drove with trademarked self-belief and adventure away from 10th to finish fourth. MORE

Alonso capitalises on Red Bull error to win thriller

Fernando Alonso took advantage of a rare Red Bull error at Silverstone yesterday to win Ferrari’s first grand prix since South Korea last year. Sebastian Vettel took an early lead in bizarre conditions – half the circuit was dry, the other half wet – but a delay during a pit stop on the 27th lap allowed the Spaniard a race-winning lead. Vettel finished in second place, with team-mate Mark Webber in third. Lewis Hamilton, who started back in 10th, rose to fourth, just ahead of Felipe Massa. Alonso saw the historical significance in winning for his team yesterday – Ferrari’s first grand prix triumph was at Silverstone 60 years ago. “Today means a lot to all the guys here and the people working at Ferrari who are the sons and daughters of the guys who were here 60 years ago,” he said. MORE

Webber exit likely after defying orders

Mark Webber has fuelled rumours of his departure from Red Bull after disobeying team orders in the final stages of yesterday’s British Grand Prix. Webber challenged team-mate Sebastian Vettel for second place despite instructions not to do so. MORE

Donald triumphs at Scottish Open

Luke Donald achieved his third win of 2011 yesterday, winning a shortened Scottish Open, as he made the best possible preparation for this week’s Open. Colin Montgomerie, though, did not do enough and so will miss his first Open for 22 years. MORE