Bray woes continue as Davis' visa expires

Men's Hockey:The captain of Bray, Australian Phil Davis, will, one hopes, continue to play a part in the club's relegation battle in the Leinster Senior League. Following difficulties in London with regard to visa papers, it was feared Bray may have to soldier on without their leader.

Bray have manfully faced some of the best teams in Ireland this year, but have tended to come out on the wrong side of the score-lines. The club is languishing at the bottom of the table.

Not for the first time in sport this year, immigration authorities were at the root of the problem. Following fast on international runner Martin Fagan not being allowed back to his training base in Arizona after the European Cross Country Championships in Spain last year, Davis was returning to Ireland from a holiday home in Australia when the immigration authorities in Heathrow noticed his Irish visa had expired.

The authorities had no choice, but to detain the Bray captain in London until the situation was resolved. Twenty-four hours passed, and on the morning of January 10th he was deported back to Australia.

Bray has suffered a number of setbacks this season, including having the men's first-team coach, Stephen Kinsella, leave the club in October due to irreconcilable differences.

Davis is reportedly furiously working to get his papers together for a return and could be available as soon as next week.

Just three branches battle it out in the Interprovincial Championships this weekend at under-21 level - Munster, Leinster and Ulster.

Last year's winners Leinster boast some international athletes in their squad, including eight-time capped keeper Iain Walker and seven-time capped Mitch Darling, both available for the tournament as they have not been called up to international duty for the Olympic qualifying tournament in New Zealand.

Munster also have three-time capped Adam Pritchard of Cork C of I, and development squad representative Jason Lynch, who will captain the side.

Ulster are not without their own stars, including three of Cookstown's own who have helped their club secure the top spot in the Premier Ulster league - David Ames, Colin Davidson and David Best.

FIXTURES

Men's Under-21 Interprovincials - Today:Ulster v Leinster, 7.0, Hillsborough. Saturday:Munster v Leinster 1.0, Hillsborough; Sunday: Ulster v Munster, 12.30, Hillsborough.

Saturday:Leinster Senior League: Division Two - Skerries v Naas, 2.0, Skerries; Navan v Pembroke, 1.0, Sportslink; Suttonians v Avoca, 3.0, Sutton; Weston v Clontarf, 1.30, Griffeen Valley.