Sports Digest

A round-up of today's other stories in brief

Ulster wait on Spence and Jackson

RUGBY: Ulster await definitive medical reports on Nevin Spence and Paddy Jackson following injuries they sustained during last weekend’s Heineken Cup victory over Aironi at the Stadio Zafanella. Spence damaged his ankle and the centre was replaced by Paddy Jackson who coincidentally also suffered an injury to the same joint during the match.

It meant that Ulster ended the game with Stephen Ferris playing in the centre and hooker Nigel Brady at flanker. The more serious of the two may be Spence as Jackson may just have a mild sprain.

Ulster, who play Leinster at the RDS next Monday, are already without Irish international Paddy Wallace (thumb) but with Michael Allen fit again and Ian Whitten they have cover for that position. If Jackson is unavailable then Ravens’ outhalf James McKinney may be called upon to understudy Ian Humphreys, although Ruan Pienaar can play both half-back positions.

Shakib's great efforts may be in vain

CRICKET: Shakib Al Hasan became the first Bangladeshi to hit a century and take five wickets in an innings in the same Test but his efforts look like being in a losing cause after Pakistan seized control of the second Test.

All-rounder Shakib followed his first-innings 144 with the bat by snapping up six for 82 with the ball as the hosts bowled out Pakistan, already 1-0 up in the two-match series, for 470 on the fourth day yesterday.

However, pacemen Umar Gul and Aizaz Cheema then claimed two wickets apiece as Bangladesh limped to 114 for five in their second innings, trailing the visitors by 18 runs overall when bad light ended play for the day.

McIlroy and Clarke share professional award

GOLF: Inseparable, in more ways than one! Rory McIlroy, who recovered from a final round meltdown at the Masters to win the US Open in record-breaking fashion, and Darren Clarke, who got his hands on the famed Claret Jug when winning the British Open at his 20th attempt, have been named as joint-recipients of the ‘professional’ accolade in the AIB Irish Golf Writers’ awards for 2011, writes Philip Reid.

Twin sisters Leona and Lisa Maguire have also shared an award, the women’s amateur of the year. The 17-year-olds from Co Cavan dominated the women’s amateur circuit – Leona started the year by winning the Portuguese Amateur Open by 15 strokes, then added the Irish Women’s Amateur Open strokeplay championship in June and capped a brilliant season by winning the British Ladies’ Open strokeplay in August; Lisa won the Spanish Ladies Open in March, then captured the European Women’s Championship in July, the first-ever Irish winner of the title.

Paul Cutler, from Portstewart, has been voted the ‘Men’s Amateur of the Year’ following a season in which he secured 3½ points out of four – in guiding Britain and Ireland to victory in the Walker Cup. Seamus Smith, who retired as General Secretary of the GUI in April, received the ‘Distinguished Services to Golf’ award.

Williams a doubt for Australia

TENNIS: Seven-time grand slam champion Venus Williams has withdrawn from her Australian Open warm-up event in New Zealand due to “health reasons”, placing her participation in the year’s first grand slam in doubt.

American Williams, who has been receiving treatment for Sjogren’s syndrome, an auto-immune disease, had been given a wild card for the Auckland Classic in January.

Tamgho cleared for Olympics

ATHLETICS: World indoor triple jump champion Teddy Tamgho will be eligible to compete in next year’s Olympics after he was handed a 12-month ban, six of which have been suspended, for his involvement in an altercation with a female athlete.

“He is suspended for 12 months as of November, six of them suspended. He has also been handed a fine of €1,500 and 50 hours of community service,” a spokesman for the French federation said yesterday.

Frenchman Tamgho, who holds the indoor world record of 17.92 metres, is banned until May 18th, the FFA spokesman added. The 22-year-old was involved in an altercation with a female athlete, whose name has not been revealed, at a training camp in southern France in October.

“He expressed his regrets and acknowledges the verdict,” said spokesman. Tamgho broke his ankle in July and was ruled out of the World Championships in Daegu.