A roundup of today's other sports news in brief
Ireland on the path towards victory
CRICKET: Ireland were on course to claim full points from their Intercontinental Cup clash against Canada in Toronto yesterday, with Andre Botha's innings of 61 helping them to 124 for four, chasing 176 for victory before rain sent the sides from the pitch in the final session of the third day's play, writes Emmet Riordan.
Ireland had earlier let the hosts off the hook somewhat as Ashish Bagai (90) and Khurram Chohan (59) added 121 for the ninth wicket before Kevin O’Brien dismissed the pair to finish with figures of five for 39, his best international bowling figures.
Curran jumps to fifth place in Lincolnshire
EQUESTRIAN: Captain Geoff Curran and The Jump Jet, named this week as first reserve for the Irish eventing team at the upcoming World Equestrian Games, were lying in fifth place following yesterday’s first session of dressage at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials in Lincolnshire, writes Margie McLoone.
The Irish combination scored 48.8 penalties, which leaves them four points behind the leaders, Britain’s Mary King riding Apache Sauce. William Fox-Pitt is in second place on Macchiato (46.8), with fellow Briton, 21-year-old Laura Collett, who is making her Burghley debut, in third on the experienced Ginger May Killinghurst.
Ireland’s Sarah Wardell with Kilcluny finished 32nd of the 36 who rode their tests yesterday, while today she competes with Killeenduff Boy. Also riding today are Louise Lyons (Murphys Miracle) and Elizabeth Power (Kilpatrick River).
In show jumping, 11 teams will take part in today’s Spanish Nations’ Cup in Gibon, Representing Ireland will be Shane Breen (Carmena Z), Captain David OBrien (Mo Chroi), Cian OConnor (Splendor) and Dermott Lennon (Hallmark Elite).
Two Irish women in last four
SQUASH: Two Irish women made it through to the semi-finals of the Cannon Kirk Homes Irish Open yesterday, Sligo’s Aisling Blake causing an upset at Fitzwilliam by beating third seed Natalie Gringham and tournament favourite Madeline Perry easing through with a straight sets victory over England’s Victoria Lust, writes Mary Hannigan.
Blake beat the Australian, who now represents the Netherlands, 11-4, 11-4, 9-11, 11-3 to register one of the best wins of her career, and plays the winner of the match between Vanessa Atkinson and Natalie Grainger in today’s semi-finals (7pm).
Perry, who last month became the first Irish woman to win the Australian Open, a feat that lifted her to sixth in the world rankings, maintained her form, beating Lust 11-7, 11-5, 11-2. She meets another English player, Laura Massaro, in the last four today (5pm).
Van moves to University College Cork
BASKETBALL: UCC Demons have signalled their intentions for the upcoming Men’s SuperLeague season by securing the signing of Marcus Van from Central Michigan University.
Van arrives at Demons with a strong reputation after his senior year in the MAC Conference saw him named top offensive rebounder, top rebounder in the conference, top scorer on his team as well as being named on the All-Conference second team.
Double delight for Ireland
GOLF: Ireland romped impressively into the semi-finals of both the European senior Men’s and Women’s team championships at Fairhaven in Lancashire and Berlin’s Sporting Club respectively yesterday, writes Chris Smart.
And both face Scotland today as they bid to reach their respective finals.
The men whitewashed Switzerland 5-0 in the quarter- finals and in only one match were realistically threatened.
Killeen’s Maurice Kelly and Garth McGimpsey from Bangor were the most impressive of the Irish team as they demolished Claude Rey and Martin Kessler by 7 and 6 and 6 and 4 respectively after getting quickly out of the starting blocks.
Ireland’s women caused an upset in Berlin when they dumped France out of the Women’s Team championship.
