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Today's other sports in brief

Confident New Zealand aiming to continue on the offensive

CRICKET:New Zealand bowlers will continue to attack the England batsman and put them under pressure when the second Test begins at the Basin Reserve in Wellington today, pace bowler Chris Martin said yesterday.

Martin and Kyle Mills produced inspired bowling spells on the last day of the first Test at Seddon Park to bowl the visitors out for just 110, chasing 300 for victory, to give New Zealand a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series.

The New Zealand attack, however, also bowled an impeccable line and length in the first innings with England taking more than 170 overs to score 348 runs.

"It was difficult (and) it was a test of patience," Martin said yesterday.

"I think the way the guys got together as a unit was most pleasing. The way they (England) played against us in the first innings allowed us to dictate the lengths and lines to them.

"They never got on top of us at any stage with the bat, now we've got to keep them in that deflated position."

Ian Bell, who scored a defiant unbeaten 54 in England's second innings in Hamilton said his side would be more aggressive than in the first Test.

"We need to free it up a little bit and back ourselves," he said.

"There are some very good records there in the top six and we need to play naturally and get back to the way we used to score runs."

Roche still chasing an elusive stage victory

CYCLING: Nicolas Roche is sixth overall heading into the penultimate stage of the Tour of the Ivory Coast, a 140-kilometre leg from Yamoussoukro to Gagnoa. The Irish professional is 41 seconds off the race lead of Rony Martias (Bouygues Telecom) and will bid to both reduce that time and also chase a stage victory.

The Crédit Agricole rider was seventh on stage four. He went frustratingly close to taking a stage win the previous day, attacking inside the final kilometre but being misdirected when just 300 metres from the line.

He finished third in Daloa, three seconds behind the stage victor Walter Proch (LPR Brakes) and on the same time as Bouygues Telecom rider Rony Martias.

"I was in a break of 12 riders," he said afterwards, explaining how things unfolded.

"With two kilometres left I went ahead with four others, then I attacked alone with 700 metres remaining.

"Unfortunately there was a roundabout at 300 metres from the line and they send me the wrong way. In the race manual they said that both sides were ok; when I attacked I was on left side, so I took the roundabout on the left.

"However I ended up in the middle of the crowds! So by the time I got through, the first two were a good bit ahead.

"I was definitely going to win. I had opened a big gap as the guys behind were looking at each other."

Chubb unlocks door to victory for St Fintan's

BASKETBALL: St Fintan's added yet another trophy to their impressive haul when defeating St Malachy's Belfast 76-60 in the All-Ireland schoolboys under-19A final at the National Arena yesterday.

Once again Eoin Chubb proved an inspirational figure for the Sutton school.

The point guard registered 22 points and ultimately delivered the telling basket with 3.26 to go to put the game beyond their opponents.

St Malachy's second team meanwhile were pipped 45-44 in the final seconds as two free throws from Matt Cooney saw Nenagh collect the under 19B cup by a point. Joe Shields guided Oranmore to double success in both the girls' under-16A and 19A cups with Claire Rockhall hitting 29 points in the senior decider.