Briefs

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

Bradley calls for 80-minute performance against Glasgow

RUGBY:Head coach Michael Bradley has called on his Edinburgh side to start well and produce a full 80-minute performance in today’s 1872 Cup decider with Glasgow Warriors at Murrayfield.

Last Friday’s 23-14 loss means Edinburgh must win by 10 points or more to stop Glasgow taking the 1872 Cup – awarded to the aggregate winners of the derby double header – for a fourth straight year. Also at stake are valuable RaboDirect Pro 12 points, with Bradley seeking an improved performance and, first and foremost, victory on the day after a costly first half at Scotstoun.

“You can’t give a side easy yards, especially in a derby,” Bradley said. “The main lesson for us in relation to the match last week is to start better and then continue to build from that.”

Edinburgh have made six changes, with an all-new frontrow of hooker Andy Titterrell and props Allan Jacobsen and Geoff Cross, while Sean Cox comes in at lock and Netani Talei at number eight. Dougie Fife starts on the wing.

Glasgow have made five changes, with Stuart Hogg back at fullback, Henry Pyrgos at scrumhalf, Josh Strauss at flanker, Tom Ryder at lock and Dougie Hall at hooker.

Harlequins cautious ahead of sell-out tie against London Irish

RUGBY:Harlequins head coach John Kingston insists the defending Aviva Premiership champions will be taking nothing for granted when they face London Irish at Twickenham today .

The now traditional Christmas fixture is set to attract another sell-out crowd as Quins look to retain their advantage at the top of the table. The Exiles, meanwhile, have won just one of their last nine games in all competitions, and languish 11th in the table with only Sale below them.

Quins, who are unchanged from their win over Northampton, will start as overwhelming favourites, but Kingston and company are not taking Irish lightly following their last meeting.

“They should have beaten us at the Madejski six weeks ago and they will know that. Expectation is a very dangerous thing,” said Kingston.

In-form Fitzgerald progresses

TENNIS:Day two of the National Indoor Tennis Championships at David Lloyd yesterday saw no real surprises in either the men’s or women’s draws. Top seed Ciarán Fitzgerald dropped just one game against Richard Foley.

Second seed John McGahon beat Joseph Mullen 6-2, 6-2. John Morrissey looked impressive in his straight sets victory over Aaron Stubbs.

Morrissey, seeded three, plays David O’Hare in the quarter-finals today. Third seed Colin O’Brien looked sharp in his 6-0, 6-1 win over Liam Cassidy and takes on Mark Bowtell this evening in what is the pick of the quarter-finals. Peter Bothwell and Robert Dudley are the other two quarter-finalists.

In the women’s draw, first seed Gráinne O’Neill beat Aubree Ryan Flynn 6-4, 6-2.