SHOW JUMPING:Team Ireland now have a 10-point lead in the Nations Cup standings after missing out on victory in the Czech Nations Cup by a single fault in Prague yesterday, writes Grania Willis.
The Irish racked up five clear rounds, including double clears from Commandant Gerry Flynn and Conor Swail to complete on four faults, one adrift of the winning British quartet, who posted just three for time.
The result puts Ireland even further ahead in the Nation's cup rankings, 10 points clear of Denmark, boosting hopes of a return to the Samsung Super League for the 2008 season.
"There were fantastic performances from everyone today", team manager, Robert Splaine said. "Both the riders and owners make a tremendous sacrifice to do this for the country and they deserve everyone credit for it."
CYCLING:Conor McConvey rode strongly in the under-23 cross-country event at the mountainbike world championships in Fort William, Scotland, yesterday. The Irishman finished a solid 21st, eight minutes 56 seconds behind the winner Jakob Fuglsang (Denmark) in the 42.8-kilometre race. Niall Davis was 46th of 81 starters.
Downhill rider Ben Reid went close to a top-10 finish in qualifying for the elite DH contest on Thursday.
He finished best of the Irish in 14th behind the South African winner, Greg Minnaar.
Senan O'Riordan finished 18th in the junior qualification, won by Ruaidhri Cunningham Britain). Ewan Doherty was 24th.
RUGBY:Munster made it two wins from two pre-season outings when beating Saracens 15-5 in Musgrave Park last night.
As well as giving a debut to Rua Tipoki, it proved to coach Declan Kidney that his second string - with many of his players on World Cup duty - will not be found wanting this season.
Munster went through some excellent phases, especially in the opening 20 minutes. Defensively they were solid, wrapping up Saracens as the Premiership side tried to barge their way through.
Secondrow Mick O'Driscoll was especially effective, throwing himself into three monster tackles in that first half and denying almost certain tries.
But for all their dominance Munster were only 7-5 up at half-time - hardly an adequate reflection of the play.
Munster actually had to come from behind after they fell victim to a counterattack from Sarries just on 20 minutes.
Following Denis Fogarty's attacking throw Saracens jumper Tom Ryder made a nuisance of himself and when the ball spilled Saracens erupted from the traps, flinging the ball out the line.
Dan Scarbrough whipped the ball to Ed Thrower, who went to ground inside the Munster 22 and set up the ruck from which Hugh Vyvyan went over.
Munster were on the scoreboard just five minutes later, a great try from outhalf Paul Warwick under the posts following a typical Munster rolling maul.
Warwick added the extra points and Munster were deservedly in the lead.
Munster stretched their lead when Warwick landed a close-in penalty on 56 minutes.
The second half came to life with a brilliant break from scrumhalf Tomás O'Leary, who made 30 yards before swapping passes with Tipoki.
After taking the return O'Leary kicked a delightful grubber and won the race to the touchdown.
MUNSTER: M Lawlor; J Kelly, K Lewis, L Mafi, I Dowling; P Warwick, T O'Leary; F Pucciariello, D Fogarty, T Buckley; D Ryan, M O'Driscoll; B Holland, N Ronan, A Foley. Replacements: M Melbourne for Ryan (22 mins), A Horgan for Kelly (34 mins), D Hurley for Pucciariello (54 mins), R Tipoki for Mafi (60 mins), J Manning for Warwick (65 mins).
SARACENS: D Scarbrough; R Haughton, K Sorrell, A Powell, E Thrower; G Ross, N De Kock; N Lloyd, M Cairns, T Mercy; T Ryder, H Vyvyan; P Gustard, D Seymour, B Skirving. Replacements: K Yates for Llyod, K Chesney for Ryder, S Matadigo for Gustard, R Penny for Haughton (all half-time), A Dickens for De Kock, R Hill for Seymour (both 50 mins), G Hall for Skirving, Kyriacou for Cairns (both 57 mins).
Referee: D Wilkinson (IRFU).
MOTOR SPORT: Munster MC & CC, organisers of the Murphy Construction Cork "20" International Rally, the final round of the Global Group Irish Tarmac Championship, have received entries from World Championship teams, BP-Ford and Citroen, writes Brian Foley.
BP-Ford confirmed Mikko Hirvonen will drive their Ford Focus WRC in the two-day event, on September 29 and 30th.
Citroen have declared world champion Sebastien Loeb and teammate Dani Sordo will also participate in the 16-stage rally in their Citroen C4 WRC's.
Marcus Gronholm (Ford) currently leads the world championship standings from the reigning champion, Sebastien Loeb (Citroen), by 10 points.
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