SPORTS DIGEST:RUGBY: South Africa's second row troubles deepened yesterday when lock Andries Bekker was ruled out of this weekend's Tri-Nations clash with Australia because of a back injury.
Bekker suffered an acute disc injury late in the second half of the world champions’ 31-17 defeat by New Zealand and will miss Saturday’s match against the Wallabies in Brisbane.
The Springboks are already without first choice secondrow Bakkies Botha, who was banned for nine weeks after headbutting New Zealand scrumhalf Jimmy Cowan in the opening round defeat.
Try-scoring winger Rene Ranger and flanker Liam Messam have been dropped from New Zealand’s Tri-Nations squad to face Australia in Melbourne next week.
Ranger was replaced by Joe Rokocoko in the 26-man squad for the July 31st test. The Hurricanes Victor Vito comes in for Messam after recovering from a calf injury.
Morrison claims Irish podium first
TRIATHLON:Aileen Morrison claimed Ireland's first podium finish at the International Triathlon Unions' World Championship event in Hamburg on Sunday. Sweden's Lisa Norden won in a last-ditch sprint over reigning world champion, Australian Emma Moffatt, and Ireland claimed a first medal with Morrison coming in third.
Morrison finished fifth at the ETU European Championships in Ireland two weeks ago and continued her hot streak with her first Series podium finish on Sunday.
“I feel like I’m in a dream right now – I seriously do. I don’t know what just happened,” Morrison said. “That is by far the best finish of my career. To be in a sprint with Emma and Lisa was unbelievable. I couldn’t be happier right now.”
Pendleton takes European option
CYCLING:World and Olympic champion Victoria Pendleton became the latest British athlete to withdraw from this year's Commonwealth Games yesterday in favour of the European Championships, which carry Olympic qualifying points.
“It’s a no-brainer, points for Olympics qualification are on offer, explained the 29-year-old, who won Commonwealth gold in Melbourne, Australia four years ago. The clash of the two events has already forced quadruple Olympic gold medallist Chris Hoy to withdraw from the Commonwealths in Delhi in October.
The new European championships do not yet have a confirmed date or venue but, following changes to the Olympic programme that will limit the number of riders to one from each country per event and the number of European teams allowed to race in the team sprint, they have become an essential qualifier.
Swann charged with drink-driving
CRICKET:England bowler Graeme Swann has been charged with drink-driving, police in England said yesterday.
The off-spinner was stopped in the West Bridgford area of Nottingham on April 2nd and charged last month, Nottinghamshire Police confirmed.
He will appear before magistrates in Nottingham on August 16th, two days before the third Test against Pakistan at The Oval.
In a statement, a police spokeswoman said: “Graeme Swann, 31, of West Bridgford, was charged on 8 June 2010 with driving a motor vehicle when alcohol level was above the limit.”
In May, Swann was named England’s player of the year.
The second day of the first Test between Sri Lanka and India at Galle was called off due to heavy rain and a wet outfield. Sri Lanka had reached 256 for the loss of two wickets at the end of a rain-shortened first day.
Strydom hits ton as Ireland second
CRICKET:A century from opening batsman Reinhardt Strydom helped Ireland A beat their Scottish counterparts by four wickets in Jersey yesterday in their final game of the European Championships, writes Emmet Riordan.
It wasn’t enough to help them hold on to their Division One crown as Jersey completed a clean sweep in the six-nation competition, beating Italy by 116 runs.
Ireland skipper Albert van der Merwe was the pick of the bowling attack, taking three wickets as Scotland A made 235 for nine.
Another opening batsman in the runs yesterday was former Ireland player Kenny Carroll, whose knock of 116 put Railway Union in a strong position to claim victory over North County in their Leinster Senior Cup semi-final at Park Avenue.
Carroll was finally out in the 60th over as Railway posted 255 for nine. He then claimed the wicket of County opener Conor Armstrong for 10 and they closed on 30 for one off 13.2 overs, with play resuming this evening at 5.30pm.
Another Finnish first for Semenya
ATHLETICS:Caster Semenya secured her second 800 metres win on Finnish soil in four days yesterday by coming home first in the Savo Games in Lapinlahti.
The South African was given the all-clear by the International Association of Athletics Federations last week to resume her career having not competed in 11 months. And having won n the Lappeenranta Games on Thursday, she cruised home in two minutes 2.41 seconds yesterday.
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