Sports digest

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

Howlett returns as Munster taken apart by La Rochelle

RUGBY:Rob Penney's reign as Munster coach got off to an inauspicious start in France last night as his experimental youthful side was torn apart 31-7 by La Rochelle at the Stade Marcel Deflandre.

Understrength Munster were taken apart by the French PRO2 side by four tries to one.

Good news was thin on the ground for Munster but Doug Howlett made a successful return to action for the first time since December and was handed the captaincy for the evening.

Munster trailed by 10-0 at the break after failing to make early pressure count.

La Rochelle hit the front after 23 minutes when Benjamin Geledan got over, although there was a strong suspicion of a knock-on in the build-up.

Outhalf Sebastien Fauque added the points and he extended his side’s lead with a penalty before the break.

Munster changed their side at the break with new signing Casey Laulala making his debut and Peter Stringer returning.

La Rochelle who pulled further in front when François Herry made it 15-0 and then Uini Atonio put the game beyond Munster’s reach when his converted effort made it 24-0 after 60 minutes.

Munster at least managed to get a score on the board when Seán Scanlon finished a good break down the right after 70 minutes and Scott Deasy added the conversion.

Munster: D Hurley; D Howlett, D Barnes, J Downey, L ODea; I Keatley, D Williams; D Kilcoyne, G Slattery, S Archer; B Holland, B Hayes; T ODonnell, J Coughlan, S Dougall. Replacements used: D Case, M Horan, J Ryan, W du Preez, C Condon, P Donnellan, C OFlaherty, P Butler, B OMahony, P Stringer, J Holland, S Deasy, JJ Hanrahan, C Laulala, S Scanlon, R OMahony.

Referee: C Dutreuich (France).

Texts to South Africa players may cost Pietersen his place

CRICKET:Kevin Pietersen may have jeopardised his place in England's squad for next week's third Test against South Africa at Lord's, which will be announced tomorrow morning, by sending texts to his friends and compatriots in the opposition team during the second Test at Headingley.

The selectors convened at Edgbaston yesterday, and their chairman Geoff Miller stressed that the overwhelming priority remained to provide the team director Andy Flower and captain Andrew Strauss with the players best-equipped to secure the win that England need to square the series, and retain their position at the top of the official world Test rankings.

But officials at the England and Wales Cricket Board are still trying to find out the contents of the texts that Pietersen sent at Headingley.

Dr Mohammed Moosajee, South Africa's tour manager, confirmed their existence, but described them as "friendly banter" – whereas in South Africa's weekly Mail and Guardian newspaper, they were said to contain "less than flattering comments concerning his captain and team-mates".

Guardian Service

Simmons confident over injured pair

CRICKET:Ireland coach Phil Simmons has allayed fears over the fitness of Paul Stirling and John Mooney ahead of next month's World Twenty20 finals in Sri Lanka despite the pair sitting out next week's four-day match with South Africa 'A' in Coleraine.

Mooney's thumb injury is the lesser of the worries for Simmons, with Stirling having damaged his shoulder. "We've given John Mooney another week to rest his thumb, while Paul's shoulder injury will see him miss another few weeks, but he'll be okay for the World T20 Cup," confirmed Simmons.

Trent Johnston returns to the Ireland squad, while wicket-keeper Stuart Poynter has been drafted in as Niall O'Brien is required by Northants, while Gary Wilson is awaiting clearance from Surrey to see if he can play.

Meanwhile, senior internationals George Dockrell and Graeme McCarter will be in action as Ireland begin their Under-19 World Cup campaign with a tough encounter against England in Townsville on Sunday. Hosts Australia and Nepal make up Group A.

EMMET RIORDAN

Cavanagh makes early return from shoulder injury

GAELIC GAMES:Tyrone star Seán Cavanagh made a surprise return to action last night, several months ahead of schedule.

Cavanagh underwent surgery on a shoulder injury last May, and had been expected to be

out for at least another four months.

But he played for Moy in an intermediate championship tie against Derrytresk.

The former Footballer of the Year came on as a substitute early in the second half at Edendork.

Derrytresk were also the opponents in the league game in which Cavanagh suffered the injury, a detached tendon.

An identical injury on the other shoulder saw the three-time All-Ireland winner miss the entire 2010 championship season.

Rossi to go back to Yamaha

MOTOR SPORT:Italian motorcycling great Valentino Rossi will leave Ducati at the end of the MotoGP season and rejoin Yamaha on a two-year deal, the Japanese-owned team said yesterday.

"In June, we were able to sign Jorge Lorenzo for the 2013-14 campaign and now we are able to confirm Valentino Rossi for the next two years," Yamaha Motor Racing managing director Lin Jarvis said in a statement.

The 33-year-old nine-time world champion – seven in the premier class – joined Yamaha in 2004 and won four MotoGP titles with the manufacturer before agreeing a two-year deal with Ducati at the end of the 2010 season. However, the dream of pairing Italy's best-known rider with its top team turned into a nightmare and he finished seventh on an uncompetitive bike last year. This season has been just as bad with Rossi lying eighth.

Rossi left Yamaha because he felt having two very strong riders in one team did not work. His then Yamaha team mate was 2010 champion and current championship leader Lorenzo but the Italian will now return to the same arrangement.