SPORTS DIGEST:GOLF: The Maguire twins remain on course to meet in the Lancome Irish Women's Close final at Portstewart after the Slieve Russell duo made it through to last eight.
Defending champion Lisa beat Donabate’s Pat Doran 43 in the morning’s first round of matchplay before a tight second round affair with Bangor’s Victoria Bradshaw was decided when Lisa sank a birdie at the 20th.She now meets Portrush’s Maura Diamond in the quarter-finals, while Leona has been paired against Charlene Reid, also from Portrush.
Karen Delaney, winner in 2007, faces Louise Coffey of Malone, while Jenny Gannon of Co Louth takes on Mary Dowling of New Ross.
Rogers claims Tour of California win
CYCLING: Michael Rogers of Australia won the Tour of California to claim his second stage race of the year. The 30-year-old sealed the win by finishing eighth in the concluding 134.4-kilometres stage, a four-lap circuit race.
Ryder Hesjedal of Canada emerged from a four-rider sprint to claim the final stage in 3 hours, 21 minutes and 56 seconds. American George Hincapie was second with Spain’s Carlos Barredo third.
Rogers, riding for the American HTC-Columbia team, held the race lead for the final four days and was victorious by nine seconds over American David Zabriskie.
“Certainly, it was a tough day,” said Rogers. “Usually, final circuit races are walks in the park. I was lucky to have two team-mates with me early, but I also knew the others would attack.”
Bekele to miss Diamond meets
ATHLETICS:Olympic champion and world 5,000 and 10,000 metres record holder Kenenisa Bekele continues to be hampered by a calf injury and will not compete in June.
Bekele had been scheduled to run in Diamond League meetings in Oslo (June 4th) and Rome (June 10th) as one of the top draws of the new circuit.
Joyce looking to resume Ireland career at World Cup
CRICKET:Ed Joyce will resume his Ireland career at next year's World Cup if the International Cricket Council (ICC) agree to an exemption from the four-year stand down period for the 31-year-old batsman, writes Emmet Riordan.
The Bray native has informed Cricket Ireland he wishes to add to his 50 caps after making 19 appearances for England in one-day and T20 internationals.
His last appearance came on April 4th 1997 against Sri Lanka in the World Cup, meaning that if the ICC stand firm on the four-year stand down Joyce would miss next year’s tournament, which gets underway in February. Cricket Ireland will now apply to the ICC for an exemption to the rule under the special circumstances clause.
Joyce explained his decision to switch back. “When I made the decision in 2001 it was with a view to trying to play Test cricket. While I strongly believe I’m good enough to play Test cricket, I’ve taken the decision now to try and play for Ireland again. I feel I’m playing the best cricket of my career and would like to bring this form with me to help Ireland be even more successful on the world stage.”
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