Sports Digest

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

England hold the key after Ireland lose to Wales

GOLF: Ireland's women suffered a blow to their hopes of winning a first Women's Home International Championship since 2004 when they went down 5½-3½ to hosts Wales at Wrexham yesterday.

All is not lost, however, as Ireland need to overcome pointless Scotland today with something to spare and then hope that England beat Wales.

England defeated Scotland 5-4 yesterday after a titanic battle while Irish and Welsh supporters had to endure a nerve-tingling afternoon.

At the top of the singles Tara Delaney made a slow start against Breanne Loucks, and, although she rallied late on, finally succumbed on the home green. Danielle McVeigh and Gillian O'Leary halved their matches while Niamh Kitching, one down early on, went on to beat to Hannah Jenkins 4 and 3.

Maybin off to a flying start in China 

GOLF: A breathtakingly brilliant round of 62 saw Ireland's Gareth Maybin take control on the first day of the inaugural Qingdao Open on the European Challenge Tour.

Maybin matched the soaring temperatures in China with some blistering strokeplay to move to 10 under par, three shots clear of his nearest challengers, Norway's Lars Brovold and Scotland's Greig Hutcheon.

Maybin - currently in 15th in the Challenge Tour rankings - could not have found form at a better time.

He said: "It was a once in a blue moon, maybe once in a lifetime round, but it's only the first day. If I go and shoot 75 tomorrow, it will have been a waste of time."

Sponsor boost for O'Rourke's plans

SAILING: Limerick sailor Ger O'Rourke received a boost to his plans for the Volvo Ocean Race yesterday following formal confirmation that insurers Delta Lloyd will become title-sponsor for his boat, which won the last event in 2006, writes David Branigan.

Part of the deal will be that the entry will be Dutch-flagged and will include a number of O'Rourke's regular team from his successful Chieftain campaign.

O'Rourke and Team Delta Lloyd are currently en route to Alicante for the start of the race programme on October 4th. This passage must be 2,000 miles in order to comply with race regulations, following which the crew will undertake survival training and the boat will be officially scrutineered.

Meanwhile, www.afloat.ie yesterday reported that the Volvo Open 70-footer affectionately known as "Black Betty" restarted its journey after an unscheduled pitstop in Cork.

Nocher moves to Loughborough

SWIMMING: Irish Olympian Melanie Nocher has moved her training base to Loughborough University as part of a four-year plan to make a final at the London 2012 Games.

Nocher, who has also left her City of Belfast club for Ards in the North, said: "I've had to make these decisions because I believe they are the only way I'm going to make a final in London, and that's my goal."