Clan-Members » Pettitte in the seventh. Dustin Pedroia reached and went to

Leicester boss Richard Cockerill believes the Tigers have more quality across the board as they look to improve on last seasons semifinal appearances in domestic and European competitions.The Tigers launch their Aviva Premiership campaign at Gloucester on Friday, where a powerful Leicester line-up that includes England centre Manu Tuilagi and World Cup-winning South Africa international JP Pietersen, will look to put down an immediate marker.We have to improve our consistency and understand within the playing group and coaching its about winning, rugby director Cockerill said.Sometimes, on a wet and windy day, you have to play a style of rugby that wins you the game rather than trying to always out-play sides, which maybe at times we were guilty of.We have to improve our set-piece and our accuracy, but also that little bit of nous on how to win those close games.Overall, we were pretty happy [with last season], but you want to try to win something. We had two semifinals and two losses, which is disappointing, but I am pleased with how were progressing our game.We have strengthened our squad again -- less numbers and more quality, we think, across the board.Gloucester finished 17 points and four places behind Leicester last term, showing only a marginal improvement on the previous campaign, so consistency will be high on the agenda at Kingsholm.We know weve been very close, rugby director David Humphreys said. I think in six of the 10 Premiership games that we lost, we were leading after 70 minutes.But thats the nature of this league. It is so competitive, and in any match there can be very little between the two teams, so you always have to perform at your very best.Unfortunately for us, we didnt do that, or have that level of consistency that the very good teams have.But we feel like weve made some good improvements over the last few months after a disappointing ending to last seasons league campaign, so we are looking forward to it.We are all of the view that weve underachieved over the last couple of seasons in Premiership rugby, so this is a big year for us.Newcastle and Sale Sharks are also in action on the Premierships opening night, with Sale parading six newcomers -- including half-backs AJ MacGinty and Mike Phillips -- at Kingston Park.The Falcons, meanwhile, hand a debut to former Leicester back Vereniki Goneva, and Newcastle rugby director Dean Richards said: Overall, within the squad, we have retained our core and everyone is working well together.Confidence is high -- we have a much better squad than last year, and everyone is vying for selection. There is competition all over the place, and we are chomping at the bit to get into the games.Sale beat us up here in the final game of last season, which really disappointed us.We have a bit of a point to prove because we felt we could, and should, have won that game.You can say Sale have lost people like Tommy Taylor and Danny Cipriani, but they have brought in good players like Rob Webber and AJ MacGinty.We know they are a strong side, they will come to play rugby and to take us on physically. We have a lot of respect for what they can offer, but at the same time the belief in our own ability to challenge them. Tomas Nosek Jersey . Thats not a comment on the suspension that banished the Portland Winterhawks general manager and coach from his Western Hockey League teams bench for most of the 2012-13 season. Ryan Reaves Golden Knights Jersey . Following a lopsided 5-2 loss against the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday night, Paul MacLean told reporters that "theres a lack of focus, theres a lack of leadership and theres a lack of preparation" with his struggling team. That came on the heels of Bryan Murray taking the unusual step of going into the locker room at the Prudential Center and addressing the players himself. http://www.goldenknightssale.com/authentic-shea-theodore-golden-knights-jersey/ . The 18th player to shoot 60 on the tour, Jamieson settled for par on the final hole when his 15-foot birdie chip grazed the edge of the hole and stayed out. After opening with rounds of 66 and 73 to make the cut by a stroke, he had 11 birdies in the bogey-free round. William Carrier Golden Knights Jersey . Rob Manfred, baseballs chief operating officer, testified last week during the grievance filed by the players union to overturn Rodriguezs 211-game suspension. A person familiar with the hearing, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Associated Press on Saturday that Manfred testified the sport wasnt concerned whether Bosch distributed performance-enhancing drugs to minors because MLBs interest was his relationship with players under investigation. Cody Eakin Jersey . -- Linebacker Myles Jack ran for four touchdowns, defensive end Cassius Marsh caught a scoring pass, and No.BOSTON -- Andy Pettitte changed his ways. Alfonso Soriano just keeps going. The Yankees outfielder had three hits and drove in four more runs -- giving him 18 RBIs in his last four games -- and Pettitte avoided his recent first-inning troubles to lead New York to a 10-3 victory over the AL East-leading Boston Red Sox on Friday night. Soriano, who was traded to New York from the Chicago Cubs last month, was 3 for 4 with a hit-by-pitch and a three-run homer in the third that made it 6-0. "Here we go again," Soriano said as he approached reporters after the game. "I think the motivation (is) going back to the Yankees, trying to help the team win." The Yankees won for the fifth time in six games and sent the Red Sox to their third consecutive loss. With Tampa Bays victory over Toronto, Bostons lead in the division was trimmed to one game; the Yankees are 7 1/2 games back in the division and 5 1/2 back in the AL wild-card race. "Youre looking at a powerful right-handed hitter in the middle of the lineup who caught fire since he came over," Red Sox manager John Farrell said. "Its had an enormous (impact) on their offence." Alex Rodriguez had a pair of singles while getting booed loudly in his first appearance in Boston since he was suspended 211 games in baseballs latest steroid scandal. Rodriguez, who is allowed to play pending his appeal, was also mocked by fans with chants of "You do steroids" and signs that said, "A-Roid" and "AFraud." "That reaction was pretty close to usual," he said. "Were in playoff baseball. Every game means the world to us. Were trying to stay very focused in here." Pettitte (8-9) had allowed a run in the first inning in a franchise-record eight consecutive starts. But this time he retired the first eight Red Sox batters before Will Middlebrooks singled in the third. In all, Pettitte allowed three runs -- none earned -- on six hits and a walk, striking out five in 6 2-3 innings to win for the first time in six starts. "It was one of those nights were I felt like everything was working," Pettitte said. "It was a big win for us. Weve got to win this series. Weve got to win a lot of seriees.dddddddddddd" Mark Reynolds, who was released by the Cleveland Indians last week, hit a two-run homer over the Green Monster in the second to give the Yankees a 3-0 lead. He is the 14th player in franchise history to homer in his first Yankees at-bat. Felix Doubront (8-6) allowed seven runs -- six earned -- on eight hits and two walks, striking out four in four innings. It was the first time in 17 starts that he allowed more than three earned runs and just the second time all season. "Two swings cost us five runs," said Farrell, whose team also committed three errors for the second time in three games. "This wasnt one of our more sharp efforts." The Red Sox trailed 7-1 when they finally got to Pettitte in the seventh. Dustin Pedroia reached and went to second on an error, then scored when David Ortiz line a ball off the left field Wall. But Soriano threw Ortiz out trying to stretch it into a double. One out later, Stephen Drew doubled and Mike Napoli walked and Jarrod Saltalamacchia singled in a run to make it 7-3. Pinch-hitter Mike Carp tried to take first base, claiming he was hit in the foot by a pitch in the dirt, but was called back by home plate umpire Bill Welke. Carp was called out on strikes two pitches later and he slammed his helmet to the ground and was quickly ejected. Boston also threatened in the eighth, getting runners on first and second with one out. But Ortiz lined it to Rodriguez, who was shifted into the shortstops position, and he threw to second to double off Shane Victorino. Ichiro Suzuki had one hit, a run-scoring Baltimore chop in the three-run ninth, giving him 3,995 combined in the major leagues and Japan. NOTES: Yankees SS Derek Jeter (strained right calf) shifted his rehab program to the Yankees minor league complex in Tampa, Fla., where he took 34 swings over five rounds of batting practice. He also fielded 43 grounders and made throws to first base. ... Robinson Cano singled in the fourth to extend his hitting streak to 11 games. ... The attendance of 38,143 was a season-high at Fenway Park. ... The Red Sox committed three errors -- Pedroia, Drew and pitcher Rubby De la Rosa -- and the Yankees had two, both by shortstop Eduardo Nunez. ' ' '