SPORTS DIGEST:MOTOR SPORT: Jari-Matti Latvala's hopes of securing second place in the World Rally Championship were dealt a blow as he lost the lead of Wales Rally GB with a puncture on yesterday's final stage. His misfortune leaves Sebastien Loeb, the winner in Wales in 2008 and 2009, with a 1.8 second lead over Petter Solberg.
Irish squad for Russian camp
BOXING:Irish officials have named World and European Youth champions Joe Ward, Ray Moylette and Jason Quigley in a 12-man squad for an 11-day training camp with Russia in Russia.
European bronze medallists Eric Donovan and Ross Hickey are also included along with European Union champions David Oliver Joyce and Con Sheehan. Ireland, which finished in second spot behind Russia in the medals table at the 2010 European Championships, are the only international team invited to Russian training camps. Prior to the 2008 Olympics Ireland trained with the Russians in Vladivostok and Ken Egan, Paddy Barnes and the late Darren Sutherland claimed Irelands only medals in Beijing.
Joe Wards inclusion has raised the prospect that the Moate light-heavyweight will enter the 2011 Irish Senior Championships and challenge Ken Egan, who will be aiming for 11 titles in a row. Squad in SPORTS ROUND-UP
Cusack ton sets up big Irish victory
CRICKET:All-rounder Alex Cusack hit an unbeaten century as Ireland recorded a comprehensive 218-run victory over a Pune selection in the second of their uncapped matches in India yesterday, writes Emmet Riordan.
Operating as a makeshift opening batsman after coach Phil Simmons re-jigged his starting line-up, Cusack made 100 off 107 balls, including three fours and five sixes before retiring after making it to three figures.
Former New Zealand international Hamish Marshall made 72 in his first innings in Irish colours, sharing in a 164-run stand with Cusack for the third wicket as Ireland posted 301 for nine. In reply the local side could only muster 83 runs with all five Irish bowlers claiming wickets. Pembroke’s Allan Eastwood was the pick of the attack with three for 29, while there were two apiece for Nigel Jones and the spin duo of George Dockrell and Albert van der Merwe.
ICC set date for hearing
CRICKET:
The three Pakistan players facing spot-fixing charges will have their hearings in front of an International Cricket Council Anti-Corruption Tribunal in January.
Seamers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir and previous Test captain Salman Butt are currently suspended by the ICC due to charges relating to the fourth Test against England in the summer.
Asif waived his right to challenge the sanction, while Amir and Butt lost appeals. Michael Beloff QC, who chaired the Code of Conduct Commission, will also chair the hearing against the trio from January 6th-11th in Doha.
Niland turns on the style
TENNIS:Conor Niland turned on the style yesterday to dump out the top seed, and clinch a semi-final place, in the ATP Challenger Tour event in Loughborough, England.
After being pushed to three sets in his previous two contests, against unseeded British duo Jamie Baker and Joshua Milton, ranked 358 and 404 respectively, number five seed Niland made short work of Germany’s Bjorn Phau in the quarter-finals, overcoming his opponent on a 6-3 6-4 scoreline. Niland takes on Danish player Frederik Nielsen today after he defeated Italy’s Stefano Galvani 7-5 7-5 with a place in the final at stake.
London clubs preferred choice
SOCCER:West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur were short-listed yesterday as the preferred tenants for London's 2012 Olympic stadium.
The Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) will now enter into final negotiations with both clubs.
A decision is expected in the first half of next year
Soderling eases into last four of Paris Masters
TENNIS:Sweden's Robin Soderling eased into the semi-finals of the Paris Masters yesterday with a straight-sets win over Andy Roddick.
The fourth seed had eight break points during the match, but two proved enough as he overcame the eighth-seeded American 7-5 6-4.
Soderling will next face home favourite Michael Llodra, whose remarkable run in Paris continued yesterday with a dominant display against Nikolay Davydenko. Unseeded Llodra, who knocked out defending champion Novak Djokovic in the last eight, broke the Russian 10th seed four times as he recorded a 7-5 6-1 victory in one hour and 15 minutes. Number one seed Roger Federer secured his place in the last four in the day’s second session with a routine 6-1 7-6 (7/4) win over Jurgen Melzer.
