Sports Digest

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

Renault dismiss car concerns

MOTOR SPORT: RENAULT have dismissed concerns that the Lotus-backed team’s new black and gold livery could fall foul of anti-tobacco legislation.

The new R31 car harks back to the 1970s and 1980s when Lotus raced with cars painted in the colours of a British tobacco brand. The same Imperial Tobacco-owned brand is still marketed around the world but hasn’t any links with F1.

Rain stops play in Colombo

CRICKET: THE first one-day international between Sri Lanka and West Indies in Colombo was called off yesterday due to rain.

The three-match series itself had already been rearranged from last December because of bad weather, but shortly after West Indies had finished their innings, the heavens opened at the Sinhalese Sports Club leading to yet another cancellation before Sri Lanka could begin their run chase. Earlier in the day, Adrian Barath’s maiden ODI century along with a 100-ball 75 from Ramnaresh Sarwan had helped the visitors recover from a shaky start to post a competitive total of 245 for five.

Bowtell celebrates world ranking by reaching main draw in Portugal

TENNIS: IRELAND’S Amy Bowtell yesterday enjoyed a big breakthrough in her professional career by securing a place in the adult world rankings at the age of 17. Bowtell entered the WTA singles ladder at 905 as a result of reaching the quarter-finals of the recent ITF Women’s Circuit event in Wrexham.

The Greystones player celebrated her achievement yesterday by thrashing Italy’s Marta Bertolaso 6-2 6-1 in her qualifying third-round match to clinch a main-draw place in the ITF Women’s Circuit event in Coimbra, Portugal.

Meanwhile, Tennis Ireland chiefs have decided to sever an eight-year link with the Fitzwilliam Club regarding the hosting of Davis Cup ties. The Appian Way outfit have staged all eight home Davis Cup contests since Egypt made an unsuccessful visit to Dublin in April 2003.

But next month’s Europe-Africa Zone Group Two clash with Luxembourg, and a second round meeting with either Britain or Tunisia in July are set to take place approximately one mile south of Fitzwilliam at the David Lloyd Riverview Club.

NFC cruise to victory over AFC 

NFL: THE NFC raced to a 42-point first-half lead before coasting to a 55-41 victory over the AFC in the Pro Bowl in Hawaii on Sunday.

The NFC stormed to a 42-0 advantage in the second quarter, aided by a 34-yard fumble return for a touchdown by Washington Redskins defensive back DeAngelo Hall.

Hall, who won the game’s Most Valuable Player Award, also had an interception while the NFC tied the single-team scoring record, set in 2004, with the triumph.

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan added two touchdown passes during the fun-loving annual game that lacks the hard-hitting or intensity of the NFL’s regular season. “You still have to make plays and our guys did. It was a lot of fun.” said Ryan.

Irish duo's Miami team lose to LA 

BOXING: KEN EGAN’S and John Joe Joyce’s Miami team have been left with a mountain to climb in the World Series of Boxing Americas group after losing 5-0 away to Los Angeles.

The win lifts LA 10 points clear of third place Miami with just five matches left in the series. Mexico City are in second spot, while Memphis are propping up the four-team table.

Egan lost after dropping a split-decision to Ukrainian light-heavyweight Vyacheslav Shabranskij. The Kiev-born fighter earned a 48-47,46-49,49-46 verdict from the three judges at the Avalon in Hollywood.

Egans Irish team-mate Joyce, who is also signed with Miami, ceded a walkover to LA middleweight Russell Lamour after picking up the flu.