Briefs

A round-up of today's other stories in brief

Crawford leads Clontarf to comprehensive victory

Old Belvedere 13 Clontarf 41

RUGBY:Simon Crawford was the star of the show at Anglesea Road last night as his hat-trick of tries moved Clontarf into second place in the table following a comprehensive victory over Old Belvedere.

The visitors deservedly took the lead seven minutes in when Richie Lane slotted a penalty. Belvedere hit back as powerful lock Josh Eden-Whatiri touched down after 22 minutes. But Crawford grabbed two tries to establish a 13-7 interval lead.

A drop-goal from Belvo Fergal Lawlor reduced the lead but Crawford struck for a third try and a brace of tries in the final 10 minutes from centre Killian Lett killed off the game as a contest.

OLD BELVEDERE: D Riordan; D Simmonds, J Kennedy, B Woods, J Glynn; F Lawlor, Dave Moore; P ORegan, C McDonald, D Lavery; J Eden-Whatiri, Dean Moore; C Mallon, K OGorman, L Auvaa. Replacements: M Oyuga for Mallon (31-34 49), A Wynne for Woods (55), A Sheehan for Dave Moore (63), M Cooney for McDonald (71).

CLONTARF: M DArcy; M McGrath, K Lett, C OShea, R Lane; E Ryan, S Cronin; R Burke Flynn, C OFlynn, T Furlong; B Reilly, C OKeeffe; S Crawford, A Darcy, F Cogan. Replacements: J Larbey for OFlynn (63), N Myron for OShea (67), T Byrne for OKeeffe (74), D OMeara for Cronin (76), B Barclay for Flynn (78).

Referee: S Gallagher (IRFU).

McGrane trails by seven shots as play is suspended

GOLF:Ireland's Damien McGrane improved to five under par with a 71 on the second day of the Tshwane Open before the threat of lightning suspended play, but the Meath man will tee off today seven shots off Charl Coetzee's lead.

All bar one of the five Irish challengers finished their rounds, with Darren Clarke the next in line despite dropping back to two under with a 73. Peter Lawrie and Michael Hoey shot 72s to stay on one over and three over respectively, while David Higgins was level with the latter having been one over par through 17.

Coetzee struck a seven-under-par 65 to claim the clubhouse lead. The South African, who is bidding for his first professional win, is on 12 under par, one stroke ahead of Chile's Mark Tullo and fellow countryman Dawie van der Walt.

– CARL O'MALLEY

Cooper unlikely to return for Kerry until the championship

GAELIC GAMES:Kerry boss Eamonn Fitzmaurice has confirmed Colm Cooper will more than likely not see any league action, and it will be the championship before Kerry fans can expect his return.

Fitzmaurice said last year's captain just needs a break and is carrying a few niggles.

"The situation with Colm is that he has huge mileage on the clock, particularly over the last couple of seasons, because the success that his club Dr Crokes have enjoyed. We want a fresh Colm Cooper come the summer time and at the moment, he has a few niggles but its just in terms of mental freshness, we want to give him a break."

Fitzmaurice also indicated that Kieran Donaghy's future will be at midfield and not at full forward.

Donaghy has been named to partner Kerry skipper Eoin Brosnan at midfield on Sunday against Kildare.