SPORTS DIGEST:SNOOKER: Ronnie O'Sullivan hoped John Higgins would bring the best out of him and that was how it proved as their Crucible quarter-final got under way.
The experienced pair, both 35, finished level at 4-4 after an absorbing opening session at the World Championship, with Higgins left to regret a missed black off its spot in frame seven when he was well set to open a 5-2 lead.
Offered half a chance to win the frame, O’Sullivan took it with an exquisite 89 break and followed up by rattling in 105 to bring the session to an end. He had trailed 2-0 and 4-2 but showed resilience to fight back on each occasion.
“It’s always a great occasion, wherever you play him. He’s got the Jimmy White and Alex Higgins factor, the crowd are on his side and that generates a buzz that you love playing in,” Higgins said. “Playing OSullivan anywhere probably generates the same buzz as playing in a final against most other people.”
Japan games moved to Fiji
RUGBY:Japan have been ordered to move five Pacific Nations Cup matches to Fiji in the wake of last month's earthquake and tsunami and fears over the current nuclear crisis.
The Japan Rugby Football Union (JRFU) said only the July 2nd curtain-raiser against Samoa had survived after the International Rugby Board (IRB) decided on the switch.
The remainder of the competition from July 9th-13th will be held in Fiji, which hosted the 2009 Pacific Nations Cup.
Woods out with double injury
GOLF:Tiger Woods will be out of action for "a few weeks" after medical tests revealed he suffered a double injury setback during the Masters earlier this month.
The American sprained the medial collateral ligament in his left knee and also strained his left Achilles while playing a difficult stroke on the 17th hole of his third round at Augusta National. He eventually finishing in a tie for fourth, four strokes behind winner Charl Schwartzel.
Ireland hold their nerve in Sri Lanka
CRICKET:The Ireland women's team held their nerve yesterday to record a one-run victory over the Netherlands in their opening game of the 50-over quadrangular series in Sri Lanka, reports Emmet Riordan.
Ireland’s tour has been hit by heavy rain in Colombo and it was no different yesterday as the match was reduced to 28 overs a side.
After losing the toss they made 128 off their allotment at Colts CC, thanks mainly to some strong batting by the lower order.
Shauna Kavanagh top-scored with 17 on her ODI debut, while skipper Ciara Metcalfe made a vital 16 off 17 balls before being run out off the final delivery.
The Dutch looked well set on 54 for two in the 11th over until leg-spinner Metcalfe grabbed the game back in Ireland’s favour, taking four wickets for 27.
Needing just one run to win off four balls the Dutch still looked favourite, until bowler Kavanagh and wicket-keeper Kim Garth combined to run out Laura Brouwers for eight to bowl them out for 112.
Walsh secures bronze at least in Turkey
BOXING:Belfast's Michaela Walsh secured at least a bronze medal for Ireland at the first AIBA World Youth and Junior Championships in Turkey yesterday, reports Bernard O'Neill.
The Holy Family BC featherweight recorded a 16-6 win over Celine Vastine of France to advance to tomorrow’s 57Kg Youth semi-final at the Kapili Sport Salonu in Antalya where she’ll meet Ornella Wahner of Germany.
There was disappointment for Hannah Carthy and Lisa Buckley in the Junior quarter-finals and Clare Grace in her Youth last eight duel. Kilkenny light-flyweight Carthy was edged out 10-9 by Zawal Kamila of Poland, while Buckley lost to Nikolette Csosz of Hungary and Grace was beaten by Darlene Joerling of Germany.
Toulon keeping quiet on Henson
RUGBY:Not for the first time confusion surrounds the career of Gavin Henson after Toulon refused to confirm reports they had sacked the 29-year-old centre. Instead the club said they would make no comment for at least two days.
It had been assumed Hensons brief time at Toulon was up when the club owner, Mourad Boudjellal – after making inquiries into an alleged fight between the Wales international and a team-mate – was reported last Friday as describing Henson as difficult.
He is still expected to leave Toulon but yesterday the club said Boudjellal had no memory of making those remarks even though several French newspapers quoted him extensively as saying:
Henson has had an attitude which has been difficult to manage. We are not here to back him into a corner. He is a boy who makes mistakes sometimes. Hes not the only one in rugby. There are others.
Hensons agent, Matt Ginvert, was not immediately available for comment.
Collins facing ban for Jones hit
RUGBY:After effectively costing his side any chance of a place in the Magners League play-offs, Jerry Collins is now also facing the possibility of a suspension for his injudicious hit on Munster's Felix Jones last weekend.
The Ospreys backrow has been cited for a dangerous tackle and will now go before a disciplinary hearing.
With victory almost within their grasp, Collins caught Jones with a shuddering high stiff arm tackle. The former All Black was sin-binned for the incident while the penalty allowed Munster to gain the field position from where they would ultimately claim a 22-20 win.
Top sire Sadler's Wells passes away
RACING:Sadler's Wells died yesterday evening, aged 30. The sire passed away from natural causes at his home at Coolmore, in Co Tipperary, where he had lived since retiring to stud in 1984.
The son of Northern Dancer was owned by Robert Sangster and trained by Vincent O’Brien, for whom he won the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial, the Irish 2000 Guineas, the Eclipse and the Irish Champion Stakes. His offspring include champions Galileo, Montjeu, High Chaparral and Yeats.
