Sports Digest

A roundup of today's other sports news in brief

Ireland through to Plate final

CRICKET: Ireland will play either Bangladesh or Papua New Guinea in the Plate Final of the Under-19 World Cup after their semi-final clash against Canada was rained off in Napier, New Zealand yesterday, writes Emmet Riordan in Colombo.

Ireland’s superior run rate was enough to see them through and continue their bid to claim ninth spot at the tournament.

They will have to do so without left-arm spinner George Dockrell, who has flown out of New Zealand to join the senior team for their Twenty20 Quadrangular, that gets underway in Colombo next Monday. Paul Stirling will also join up after Thursday’s final in Napier.

Phil Simmons’s side headed to the Sri Lankan capital yesterday after losing their Intercontinental Cup clash to Afghanistan in Dambulla, their first loss in the competition.

Opening bowler Peter Connell has left the squad to be with his wife, who is expecting the couple’s first child.

Schumacher’s appeal rejected

CYCLING: German Stefan Schumacher’s appeal against a two-year worldwide ban for doping has been rejected by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

However, sport’s top tribunal has back-dated the start of the appeal, meaning that he will be free to compete again from August. Schumacher was banned from competing in France for two years by the French Anti-Doping agency (AFLD) in January last year.

Klitschko defends against Chambers

BOXING: World heavyweight champion Vladimir Klitschko will defend his title against American Eddie Chambers in Duesseldorfs 51,000-seater Esprit Arena on March 20th, the Ukrainian said yesterday.

Klitschko, 33, who holds the WBO, IBF and IBO heavyweight belts last fought in June when he beat Ruslan Chagaev with a technical knockout in the ninth round.

“Chambers is clearly the best heavyweight boxer in the United States and is for good reason ranked top, said Klitschko of the 27-year-old.

The fight will take place in a gigantic stadium and I am already looking forward to it, Klitschko said in a statement.

Westmeath finish the stronger

GAA: Two Philip Reilly goals proved crucial as Westmeath Schools accounted for Dublin South by 2-14 to 0-15, after extra time, in their Leinster SH ‘A’ first round encounter at Sancta Maria yesterday evening.

With the sides level at 1-8 to 0-11 after 60 minutes of superb hurling, Dublin South looked to have gained a commanding lead with four unanswered points from Aodhán Clabby, Niall Ryan and two excellent strikes from the lively Ben Quinn.

However, the visitors produced a stirring display from that point on to eventually pull clear by five points at the death.

Dublin South led at the interval, 1-7 to 0-7.

WESTMEATH SCHOOLS: C Scally; D Kelleher, T Doyle, A Craig; S Donoher (0-1), C Boyle, P Laide; C Thompson, D Gavin; J Boyle (0-1), A Price (0-1), G Flynn; P Reilly (2-1), D Higgins, A Clarke (0-10, five frees). Subs: D Fennell for Craig (24), P Fennell for Thompson (half-time), S Fagan for Higgins (41), N Kirby for Gavin (47), E Kincaid for Flynn (63), D McDermott for Boyle (68).

DUBLIN SOUTH: E Crowley; E Grogan, B OCarroll, E Small; E McKenna, C Moffatt, J Breen; S Barron (0-1), G Whelan; A Clabby (0-4, three frees), J Doughan, D Mulligan (0-1); B Quinn (0-6), N Maguire (0-2), C Murphy. Subs: F Heavey for Doughan (45), N Ryan (0-1) for Murphy (59).

Referee: D O’Donovan (Dublin).

Tendulkar and Dravid put India on top

CRICKET: Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid smashed centuries as India took a firm grip of the second and final test against Bangladesh by cruising to a 226-run lead yesterday.

Tendulkar, who also reached triple figures in the first test, completed his 45th test century as India ended the second day on 459 for five.

His stylish knock of 143 off 182 balls included 13 fours and a six before he was caught by Imrul Kayes off Shakib Al Hasan at short mid-wicket.

Dravid who also racked up 12 fours, retired hurt on 111 when a bouncer from paceman Shahadat Hossain stuck on him on the helmet.

Tendulkar and Dravid added 222 runs for the third wicket and in the process became the most successful pair to put a century partnership in test cricket.

They have been involved in 17 100-plus partnerships.

More changes to F1 scoring system

MOTOR SPORT: Formula One teams have agreed to change the scoring system for the second time in two months to increase the reward for race winners and encourage overtaking.

The governing International Automobile Federation (FIA) said last month that the scoring system would be extended to the top 10 drivers this season, rather than eight, with race winners handed 25 points instead of 10.

However team leaders said yesterday that a further adjustment had now been agreed at a meeting last week, subject to official approval.

Instead of allocating the points for each race in a 25-20-15-10-8-6-5- 3-2-1 format the proposal was to distribute them 25-18-15-12-10-8-6-4-2-1.

Ireland squad for U-20 Six Nations

RUGBY: The IRFU have named a 26-man squad for the forthcoming Under-20 RBS Six Nations Championship. Ireland open their campaign with a fixture against Italy on Friday, February 5th and will again make Dubarry Park in Athlone their home for the tournament.

Backs – Andrew Conway (Blackrock), John Cooney (UCD)*, Eoin Griffin (Corinthians) Michael Heaney (Belfast Harl), Darren Hudson (St Mary’s) Brian Kingston (Blackrock), Brendan Macken (Blackrock), James McKinney (Queen’s), David McSharry (UCD), Tiernan O’Halloran (Galwegians), Nevin Spence (Ballynahinch)*, Simon Zebo (Cork Con).

Forwards – Niall Annett (Belfast Harl), Denis Buckley (Corinthians), Patrick Butler (Shannon), Bryan Cagney (UCC), David Doyle (UCD), Brian Hayes (Cork Con)*, Stewart Maguire (Old Belvedere), Ben Marshall (UCD), Jordi Murphy (Blackrock), Robin O’Sullivan (Bective), David O’Callaghan (UCC)*, Jack O’Connell (Lansdowne)*, Rhys Ruddock (UCD)*, Dominic Ryan (Lansdowne)*.

* Denotes previously capped at U-20.