Sports digest

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

UCI want CAS to adjudicate on Armstrong inquiry

CYCLING:The International Cycling Union (UCI) has said its dispute with the US Anti Doping Agency over who should handle the Lance Armstrong doping allegations should be settled by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Three former members of Armstrongs US Postal Service (USPS) cycling team, including two medical staff and a team trainer, have been banned for life by USADA, who have served Armstrong with written notification of allegations against him.

Armstrong, who has retired from the sport after winning an unprecedented seven Tour de France titles, has been dogged by accusations of drug cheating for years despite never failing a doping test and always denying wrongdoing. UCI urged USADA to halt its own legal action.

Merrion and The Hills set for final

CRICKET:The Bob Kerr Irish Senior Cup will be an all-Leinster affair for the seventh time after both Merrion and The Hills staged daring away raids to earn a place in the final on September 1st.

Merrion, the champions in 2010, beat Donemana by six wickets at The Holm with opening bowlers Dom Joyce (four for 19) and Alex Chetkovich (three for 34) helping bowl out the Tyrone side for 129. Opening batsman Rory Allwright then brought his side home, finishing unbeaten on 74 as they sealed victory in the 31st over.

The Hills knocked out defending champions Waringstown at The Lawn to reach their second final. Former Ireland bowler Naseer Shoukat took six for 22 as the home side were bowled out for just 84. The Skerries side won by seven wickets. Rush and YMCA won their semi-finals of the NEARfm Twenty 20 Cup in the Phoenix Park yesterday, beating Terenure and Clontarf respectively, but will have to wait until August 16th to meet each other after the final was postponed due to heavy rain.

EMMET RIORDAN

Weather hampers England's bid to make a breakthrough

CRICKET:England failed to make a breakthrough before rain forced the abandonment of play at 5.15pm on the fourth day of the second Test at Headingley on Sunday as South Africa reached 39 without loss in their second innings.

Jacques Rudolph, opening in place of the injured Alviro Petersen, was unbeaten on 21 while skipper Graeme Smith was on 17 as he continued to bat with a minor knee injury.

Thunder and lightning arrived just minutes after the players left the field with the skies over northern England turning an ominous dark grey. A minimum 45 overs were lost in the day.

“It was frustrating,” Englands Matt Prior, who hit 68, said. “To get a small lead and to put South Africa under some pressure it would have been nice to have had the opportunity to pick up some wickets.

It was a frustrating passage of play for England, who had failed to capitalise on Kevin Pietersens exhilarating first innings century that helped the hosts to 425 in reply to the Proteas’ 419.

Smith survived a scare before lunch when England reviewed an lbw appeal but it was rejected.

Uncapped prop Faumuina included in All Blacks squad

RUGBY:New Zealand coach Steve Hansen has named uncapped prop Charlie Faumuina in a 28-man squad for this months inaugural Rugby Championship against South Africa, Australia and Argentina.

The 25-year-old Faumuina missed the Test series against Ireland in June through injury but was singled out for praise by Hansen for his patience and determination.

Hansen said the world champion All Blacks would need to improve in the Rugby Championship despite bullying Ireland in a 3-0 series whitewash.

Outside back Cory Jane, who missed the Ireland series with an ankle injury, returns and loose forward Liam Messam has also been selected.

A replacement for the injured Conrad Smith will be confirmed next week with 17-test All Black Sonny Bill Williams the likely choice. The competition starts on August 18th.

The Waikato Chiefs powered to their first ever Super Rugby title on Saturday with a sparkling 37-6 win over the travel-weary Sharks in Hamilton. The Chiefs lived up to their billing as the most entertaining side in this season’s championship and also outshone the hardworking South African forwards to bury memories of their final humiliation to the Bulls three years ago.

The Chiefs made light of difficult conditions at Waikato Stadium and led through tries by Tim Nanai-Williams, Kane Thompson and Lelia Masaga before Sonny Bill Williams marked his farewell appearance with his side’s fourth and final effort.

Akeed Mofeed justifies favouritism

RACING:CORK: John Oxx's one-time Classic hope Akeed Mofeed registered an easy victory in the Listed Platinum Stakes at Cork.

Fancied for both the Guineas and the Derby through the winter, the Jaber Abdullah-owned colt met with numerous little setbacks which prevented him from making his seasonal debut until the Irish Derby 36 days ago.

Ridden confidently by Niall McCullagh the result was never in doubt for the 2-5 favourite although his task was made much easier by the withdrawal of David Wachman’s Royal Ascot winner Duntle.

Weld’s Sapphire produced an exhilarating display under Pat Smullen in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Give Thanks Stakes, beating Demurely by seven and a half lengths..

Second to Izzi Top in the Group One Pretty Polly on her last start, she was far too good for her rivals in this Group Three event.

GALWAY: Veteran Ballybrit specialist Fit The Cove won the Galway Shopping Centre Handicap for the second time – eight years after his first success. Sent off the 3-1 favourite, he won by two and a half lengths.