Newcastle bounce back
So much work behind has gone into the technology and innovation on the boat and they are constantly trying to make the boat faster.
‘‘There’s six guys on the boat, but there’s 50 odd decision makers and shore crew who actually design and build the boat and they’re ultimately more important that the sailors.’’
Van Velthooven was keen to emphasise Team New Zealand are not a crew of show ponies and are going to Bermuda to win. Newcastle United sparked a noisy promotion party by beating 10-man Preston North End 4-1 at a packed St James’ Park to ensure a return to the Premier League at the first attempt.
Exactly 348 days after being relegated, Newcastle overcame their obvious nerves to bag a prize worth more than $AU140 million and retain an outside chance of pipping Brighton & Hove Albion to the Championship title.
Two tap-ins from Ayoze Perez, a well-worked Christian Atsu goal and a Matt Ritchie penalty, after Preston’s Paul Gallagher was sent off for handling on the line just past the hour mark, warmed the crowd of 50,212.
The only alarm came after 14 minutes when Preston’s Jordan Hugill threatened to spoil the celebrations with an equaliser, but Rafa Benitez’s side kept its cool to become only the second team in five years to return to the Premier League immediately after relegation.
Benitez said he was proud’’.
Newcastle are not expected to have any north-east derbies next season with Sunderland and Middlesbrough set to relegated from the Premier League this season. ‘‘really