Nugent pushed to the limit by O'Connell

Tennis:

Top-seeded players produced downbeat performances in the East of Ireland senior open championships at Londonbridge Road last night. Owen Casey and Gina Niland both came through, but dropped more games than they would have anticipated. Casey was stretched by Conor Dolan in the first set, which he won 6-4, before cruising through without any further loss. Niland, seeded two to Karen Nugent, dropped seven games to Grainne O'Donohue. Best match of the night saw Stephen Nugent, Ireland's third rounder at junior Wimbledon this summer, scrape through in a second set tiebreak against Dave O'Connell.

Motor Racing:

Two-time world Formula One champion Michael Schumacher resumed gym work yesterday, four days after undergoing a second operation at a hospital in Geneva, Switzerland. Saturday's operation involved the removal of pins that were used to help mend the breaks in his leg.

Cricket:

Stephen Smyth, who was suspended from the representative game for five years and until the end of next season at club level by the Irish Cricket Union last Tuesday, will play for Brigade in tomorrow's Royal Liver Irish Senior Cup semi-final against Merrion at Anglesea Road. Smyth has appealed the ban and is also thought to have taken legal advice on his situation.

Snooker:

A group of nine players, including former world champions Steve Davies and Dennis Taylor, have put their names to a motion calling for an extraordinary general meeting to overthrow snooker chief Rex Williams.

Swimming:

Australia's head coach Don Talbot has criticised the three-year bans handed to two Chinese swimmers who failed drug tests for the second time, saying they should have been thrown out of the sport for life. Talbot also called for drug testing procedures to be sped up.