Sports Digest

A round-up of today's sports news in brief

Niland says he would beat Serena

TENNIS:

Conor Niland agrees with John McEnroe that women’s world number one Serena Williams would not be capable of beating a player in the top 600 of the men’s world rankings.

After wrapping up her fourth Wimbledon singles title, Serena claimed she would have an excellent chance of beating any male player ranked outside the top 100.

”I’d very confident of beating Serena myself,” said 162-ranked Niland ahead of Ireland’s Davis Cup clash with Lithuania at Dublin’s Fitzwilliam Club, starting tomorrow.

”In fact, I’d go even further than McEnroe and say that she would have considereable difficulty in beating any men’s player in the top 1,000 of the rankings.

”In my own case, I know I would be faster, stronger than Serena, and also I hit the ball harder and I’d be more consistent than her.”

”Admittedly tennis is not a contact sport like the various forms of football. But it’s still a very physically demanding sport.

“However, you never hear comparisons between women and men golfers, which you think would be more valid than comparisions between women and men tennis players, because golf is not a physically demanding sport.”

Rossi back on two wheels already

MOTOR SPORT:

MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi was back on a bike yesterday, barely a month after breaking his leg.

The Italian showman has made an excellent recovery since his accident at his home Grand Prix at Mugello on June 5th, Yamaha said.

“He has decided to proceed with the test ride in order to better understand his current physical condition,” the team said in a statement.

Ireland reach Division one final with a game to spare

CRICKET:

Ireland wrapped up a place in Saturdays World Cricket League Division One final yesterday by securing a five-wicket victory over Canada at Amstelveen, writes Emmet O’Riordan.

Ireland take on the Netherlands in their final round-robin tomorrow before playing the winners of the clash between Scotland and Afghanistan in the decider.

Canada won the toss and batted, but Irelands bowling and fielding was first-rate as they contained them to 154 for nine from their 50 overs. Opening bowlers Kevin OBrien and Trent Johnston removed both openers in the first four overs before a 64-run stand between Geoff Barnett and Nitish Kumar put Canada back in the tie.

Ireland’s trio of spinners were to prove key in restricting Canada as George Dockrell, Andrew White and Paul Stirling took five wickets for 67 runs from the 25 overs they bowled.

Stirling then got Ireland off to a flyer alongside Andrew Balbirnie at the top of the order. But having made the first half-century opening stand of the competition, Ireland suffered a wobble after both openers and Andrew Poynter all departed within 20 deliveries to leave them on 55 for three.

Ireland would suffer another blip when Rory McCann and Andrew White went in the space of three balls with the score on 92, but yet again Kevin OBrien (43 not out) and John Mooney (44 not out) brought up the victory with an unbeaten sixth-wicket partnership of 63.

Central location to help players

HOCKEY:

The Irish Hockey Association announced yesterday that, from October, Ireland’s national women’s team will commit to a Central Preparation Program located in Dublin, running for a period of 10 months.

This is a progressive step for Irish hockey, specifically the women’s team, which has received strong backing from key parties, specifically the Irish Sports Council, Sport Northern Ireland, Sports Institute of Northern Ireland, the Irish Institute of Sport and by the national sponsors of the team.

“The Institute of Sport recognizes the challenges facing Irish hockey aiming to qualify a team for the London 2012 Olympic Games,” said Gary Keegan, Director of High Performance, Irish Institute of Sport.

It is envisaged that approximately 20 of the 25 selected athletes will be in a position to be located in Dublin, and those that are unable to make the move will continue with training at a local level midweek and join the full squad during Sunday and Monday sessions.

Queensland complete whitewash

RUGBY LEAGUE:

Queensland secured their first State of Origin whitewash since 1995 as late tries from Billy Slater and Willie Tonga broke New South Wales hearts – 23-18 – at ANZ Stadium in Sydney.

The Maroons, who had already secured an unprecedented fifth straight win by winning the first two games of the three-match series, trailed 18-13 with just under seven minutes to play when the Melbourne fullback stepped his way over and centre Tonga was put in by Johnathan Thurston.

Darren Lockyer’s sensational long-range field goal had given Queensland a 13-6 interval lead.

Bolt to take quickest route to gold

ATHLETICS:

Usain Bolt will race over 100 metres rather than 200m as scheduled at the IAAF Diamond League meeting in Lausanne this evening (live on BBC Red Button from 7pm).

Bolt has not competed since injuring his Achilles tendon at the Golden Spike meeting in Ostrava six weeks ago and, on the advice of German specialist Dr Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wolfhart, has accepted he must restrict running bends.

That has seen him withdraw from a clash with Walter Dix, the American Olympic bronze medallist who showed he is in excellent shape when winning last Saturday’s Eugene Diamond League meeting in 19.76 seconds.

Meanwhile, world 800-metres champion Caster Semenya – who is returning to competition after controversial gender tests put her career on hold – will not compete in the world junior championships in Canada, but might run in the African championships later this month.