A round-up of other sports news in brief
Borthwick dropped from elite squad
RUGBY: Former captain Steve Borthwick has been dropped from England's 32-man elite squad and replaced by the uncapped Gloucester lock Dave Attwood.
England manager Martin Johnson has also axed wing Ugo Monye and centre Mathew Tait, while lock Louis Deacon and hooker Lee Mears join them in being relegated to the second-string Saxons squad.
Leicester scrumhalf Ben Youngs and prop Dan Cole are officially promoted into the seniors after establishing themselves in the Test team during England’s tour of Australia and New Zealand.
Wasps centre Dominic Waldouck has also been included, along with Leeds flanker Hendre Fourie.
FORWARDS: D Attwood (Gloucester), G Chuter (Leicester), D Cole (Leicester), T Croft (Leicester), P Doran-Jones (Gloucester), N Easter (Harlequins), H Fourie (Leeds), D Hartley (Northampton), J Haskell (Stade Francais), C Lawes(Northampton), L Moody (Bath), T Palmer (Stade Francais), T Payne (Wasps), S Shaw (Wasps), A Sheridan (Sale Sharks), S Thompson (Leeds), D Wilson (Bath), J Worsley (Wasps). BACKS: D Armitage (London Irish), C Ashton (Northampton), M Banahan (Bath), D Care (Harlequins), M Cueto (Sale Sharks), T Flood (Leicester), R Flutey (Wasps), B Foden (Northampton), S Hape (Bath), D Strettle (Saracens), M Tindall (Gloucester), D Waldouck (Wasps), J Wilkinson (Toulon), B Youngs (Leicester).
32 marathons, 32 counties, 32 days
MARATHON CHALLENGE:Long-distance runners Gerry Duffy and Ken Whitelaw will embark on an epic challenge this morning, setting off on a journey that will see the pair attempt 32 marathons in 32 counties in 32 days.
Starting in Longford, Duffy and Whitelaw will run the length and breadth of the county to raise funds for Irish Autism Action, Autism NI and the Irish Cancer Society. They will finish in their native Mullingar on August 2nd.
Darragh O Sé, Eamonn Coghlan, Henry Shefflin and John Treacy are but a few of the high-profile names who will join the duo at various stages along their journey.
Members of the public are also invited to come along. Details at www.32marathons.com.
Stirling start by Ireland
CRICKET: Ireland may be far from full strength for the defence of their World Cricket League Division One title in the Netherlands, but they proved far too strong for Kenya in yesterday's opening game as they eased to a seven-wicket win at the VOC grounds in Rotterdam.
Paul Stirling continued his fine form with the bat to guide Ireland’s chase of Kenya’s total of 163 almost to perfection before holing out for 87 with the victory line in sight.
It was the Middlesex right-hander’s highest score in One-Day Internationals, beating the 84 he made against the same opposition at Clontarf last July and a third half-century in his nine ODI innings.
There was also a maiden half-century for Clontarf all-rounder Alex Cusack, who finished unbeaten on 59, sharing in a match-winning stand of 127 for the second wicket with Stirling.
Stirling brought up his half-century off 55 deliveries, hitting six fours and a six, and was dropped on 70 and 82 before departing with Ireland nine runs short of victory.
Kevin O’Brien went without scoring before Andrew Poynter brought up victory with a single, leaving 61 balls to spare.
The day had got off to a bad start for Ireland when left-arm seamer Phil Eaglestone pulled up with a side strain during the warm-up and was replaced by Nigel Jones.
Despite the setback, Ireland bowled and fielded with real intent.
Left-arm spinner George Dockrell initiated Kenya’s collapse when he had top-scorer Alex Obanda caught by O’Brien for 40, with Jones then running out Jimmy Kamande without scoring.
– EMMET RIORDAN
