first-up

Once these trail-blazing colonial visitors had disembarked at Plymouth in 1905, on the face of it the first-up fixture against the county XV would have seemed daunting enough, for Devonshire rugby then was a power in the land.

How the original All Blacks went down in the annals of history Frank Keating 2010

Thirty years ago when the first-up heir to the throne, Prince Charles, married Prince William's mother, Diana, there was no remote whisper of a debate about whether invitations should go to sporting figures of the times, say cricket's Geoffrey Boycott or football's Kevin Keegan.

Royalty has finally become wedded to the national sporting obsession | Frank Keating 2011

He had conceded after the patchy first-up win that his concentration was a problem – and here was the evidence.

Andy Murray finds mojo against Starace while Roger Federer crashes out 2011

Certainly, President Bush's first-up account of his growing alcoholism, and his decision, at age 40, to give up drinking, has the ring of honesty; moreover it is remarkable inasmuch as few recovering addicts or successfully recovered ones are able to maintain their commitment to reform without the support of organizations like AA.

Nigel Hamilton: George W. Bush -- and Selective Memory Nigel Hamilton 2010

Certainly, President Bush's first-up account of his growing alcoholism, and his decision, at age 40, to give up drinking, has the ring of honesty; moreover it is remarkable inasmuch as few recovering addicts or successfully recovered ones are able to maintain their commitment to reform without the support of organizations like AA.

Nigel Hamilton: George W. Bush -- and Selective Memory Nigel Hamilton 2010

Earlier, Nadal, too, had his awkward moments in what should have been a first-up stroll.

Andy Murray snuffs out recovery by Jérémy Chardy to win in Cincinnati 2010

Certainly, President Bush's first-up account of his growing alcoholism, and his decision, at age 40, to give up drinking, has the ring of honesty; moreover it is remarkable inasmuch as few recovering addicts or successfully recovered ones are able to maintain their commitment to reform without the support of organizations like AA.

Nigel Hamilton: George W. Bush -- and Selective Memory Nigel Hamilton 2010

Certainly, President Bush's first-up account of his growing alcoholism, and his decision, at age 40, to give up drinking, has the ring of honesty; moreover it is remarkable inasmuch as few recovering addicts or successfully recovered ones are able to maintain their commitment to reform without the support of organizations like AA.

Nigel Hamilton: George W. Bush -- and Selective Memory Nigel Hamilton 2010

Certainly, President Bush's first-up account of his growing alcoholism, and his decision, at age 40, to give up drinking, has the ring of honesty; moreover it is remarkable inasmuch as few recovering addicts or successfully recovered ones are able to maintain their commitment to reform without the support of organizations like AA.

Nigel Hamilton: George W. Bush -- and Selective Memory Nigel Hamilton 2010

Certainly, President Bush's first-up account of his growing alcoholism, and his decision, at age 40, to give up drinking, has the ring of honesty; moreover it is remarkable inasmuch as few recovering addicts or successfully recovered ones are able to maintain their commitment to reform without the support of organizations like AA.

Nigel Hamilton: George W. Bush -- and Selective Memory Nigel Hamilton 2010