SPORTS DIGEST: AMATEUR GOLFMatthew Kane produced some scintillating golf in the heart of Robin Hood country yesterday to lead the Irish assault on the British Boys' Open Amateur Championship.
A month short of his 17th birthday Whitehead’s Kane, one of the youngest of the Irish contingent, matched the par of 72 over the Coxmoor course in Nottinghamshire to put himself in pole position to grab one of the 64 places on offer in the knock-out phase after the second qualifying round today.
County Sligo’s Seán Flanagan finished with two bogeys at Coxmoor but still managed a 73 while also on that course Robin Dawson took 76 and William Russell struggled to 83.
Ballymena teenager Jordan Hood has reason to be pleased with himself after firing a one-over-par 73 at the nearby Notts (Hollinwell) Club.
Dubliner Paul McBride from The Island recorded one double bogey at the 11th where he three- putted on his way to a 75. The highly-fancied Alex Gleeson lost a ball on the 15th on his way to a 77, while John-Ross Galbraith, a quarter-finalist last year also took 77 at Notts.
Jean O'Driscollwill keep the Irish flag flying in the Girls' British Open Amateur Championship at Tenby in West Wales today after cruising into the knock-out phase.
The Irish international from Muskerry posted a five-over-par 77 to add to her 78 the previous day for a 36-hole total of 11 over par. Both Chloe Ryan, the senior international from Castletroy, and Holywood’s Jessica Carty crashed out of the championship after two thoroughly disappointing rounds.
NBC set viewing records for London
OLYMPICSThe London Olympics drew 219.4 million US viewers, overtaking the 2008 Games in Beijing to become the nation's most watched television event ever.
Total viewership topped the 215 million that tuned in to the Beijing broadcast, according to a statement yesterday from Comcast Corp’s NBC Universal division, which cited Nielsen ratings.
NBC sold about $1.25 billion in advertising, beating the $850 million for the 2008 Olympics. Though NBC drew criticism for not airing more of the games live, showcasing taped events in prime time “undeniably” helped ratings, NBC Sports Chairman Mark Lazarus said.
He said he wondered if NBC should have tape-delayed more events, such as the US men’s gold-medal basketball game and the men’s tennis finals between Andy Murray and Roger Federer, which were live.
“It’s undeniable we hurt our ratings by doing that,” admitted Lazarus.
“We have to balance what we’re trying to do for viewers across the country and our business model.”
Pietersen agrees to apologise over critical text messages
CRICKETKevin Pietersen has finally agreed to admit to and apologise for the texts he sent to members of the South Africa team during last week's second Test at Headingley, which led to him being dropped for the third Test that starts at Lord's tomorrow.
That could clear the way for him to make a dramatic return to the team for their defence of the World Twenty20 title in Sri Lanka next month.
Pietersen has already admitted he “made mistakes” in his emotional press conference after being named man of the match at Headingley last Monday and rescinded the retirement from 50-over internationals that prevented him playing in T20.
But England had insisted on him tackling the issue of the texts, which are understood to include criticism of Andrew Strauss and therefore marked a new low in his relationship with the team.
Pietersen has declined the opportunity to turn out for Surrey, his county employers, in their county championship derby fixture against Middlesex which starts today, as talks continue between the ECB and his management.
Teenage pairing help Ireland open with a victory
WOMEN'S CRICKETIreland made a winning start to the ICC Women's Twenty20 Qualifier in Bready yesterday with a two-wicket victory over Scotland before their second game against the Netherlands was abandoned after a thunderstorm left the outfield saturated.
Chasing 114 for victory in their opener, Ireland collapsed to eight for four in the third over before the teenage pairing of Kim Garth (43 off 49) and Laura Delaney (31 off 33) rescued things a 75-run stand.
Despite a couple of run-outs down the order, Eimear Richardson’s unbeaten 22 helped Ireland home with three balls to spare. Ireland were 28 for two when the match against the Dutch was abandoned. It is set to be played today.
- EMMET RIORDAN
Anderson holds off Parnell until the end
CRICKETSouth Africa 'A' held the upper hand after the second day of the four-day encounter against Ireland at Coleraine.
The visitors bowled out the home side for just 180, with left-arm seamer Wayne Parnell taking five for 52, his second five-wicket haul in a week after taking seven in an innings during the first game in Wicklow last week.
South African-born Ireland opener John Anderson took 37 balls to get off the mark, but proceeded to play a vital knock in just his second appearance before becoming Parnell’s fifth victim to close out the innings.
Ireland captain Kevin O’Brien was the only other home player to make it to double figures, hitting 58 off 73 deliveries and sharing in a 109-run stand with Anderson for the fifth wicket.
Leg-spinner Anderson claimed his first international wicket when he had Reeza Hendricks caught behind, while The Hills’ Max Sorensen enjoyed success against the land of his birth with two wickets in two balls late in the day before South Africa closed on 101 for four.
- EMMET RIORDAN
