Sports Digest

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

McLeod beats Walden after seven hours

SNOOKER: Beaten Ricky Walden accused Rory McLeod of employing tactics which could kill snooker after a soporific World Cha,pionship clash at the Crucible went into extra-time.

But McLeod turned the blame game around and hit out at Walden by claiming it was the loser who was to blame for the painstaking snooker which had spectators flocking for the exits.

Their spat offered more drama than the seven hours, 16 minutes and 32 seconds of a match which McLeod won 10-6, following a 53-minute final frame which delayed the afternoon session.

Both men struggled in yesterday’s concluding session, which they began tied at 4-4.

There was an ironic cheer when McLeod potted the brown which put him 6-5 in front after Walden had played on when all looked lost, while a spectator in a yellow polo shirt seated in the sixth row back appeared to be catching up on lost sleep by the middle of the second frame. “It was like a dentists’ appointment, absolutely painful from start to finish,” Walden said. “It was a horrible game, I didn’t enjoy one minute of it. The way Rory plays is so painful.”

The first and third frames both lasted for 44 minutes, and after the second of those there was a rush to leave the arena.

“I’ve got nothing against Rory, he’s a great guy, and the way he plays the game is fair enough,” Walden said. “But if everyone played like that we wouldn’t have a game.

Top booking for Aquatic Centre

WATERPOLO: The National Aquatic Centre has secured a high-profile booking for June when the British and Hungarian Waterpolo teams arrive in Dublin for training and international fixtures. The Hungarian and British Waterpolo Men's senior squads will use the centre for a training camp and two international matches between June 5th and 8th, in co-operation with the Irish Waterpolo Association and Swim Ireland.

Hamburg venue for Haye v Klitschko

BOXING: David Haye envisages "an army of Brits invading Germany" after his massive unification showdown with Wladimir Klitschko was yesterday confirmed for July 2nd in Hamburg.

The WBA heavyweight champion finally agreed terms last month to meet IBF/WBO holder Klitschko with several venues in contention to stage the bout.

Klitschko’s manager Bernd Boente yesterday confirmed that the 57,000-capacity Imtech Arena in Hamburg, where Klitschko was once based and still enjoys massive support, beat competition from rival German locations and venues in Switzerland and Ukraine.

“It’s great to finally find out the date and venue,” said Londoner Haye.

Gilbert's fine form continues

CYCLING: Belgian Philippe Gilbert continued to reign supreme in the Ardennes Classics by winning the Fleche Wallonne race in Huy, Belgium. yesterday. Joaquim Rodriguez was second behind the Omega Pharma-Lotto rider with fellow Spaniard Samuel Sanchez third. Gilbert crossed the line a few seconds ahead of his closest pursuer. It was the Belgian's second Ardennes Classics win in four days and his third in a week following victory in the Amstel Gold Race on Sunday and Fleche Brabanconne last Wednesday.

Ireland held again by Canada  

HOCKEY: Ireland drew 0-0 with Canada for the second day in succession at Stormont as visiting goalkeeper Anthoni Kindler hit form to leave the Irish winless from their three-game series.

John Jermyn and Alan Sothern’s snap-shots drew top saves as the Irish created plenty, but were frustrated again in front of goal.

Ireland: D Harte, C Harte, T Cockram, B McCandless, A Sothern, M Darling, P Gleghorne, A McConnell, G McCabe, D Carson, S Loughrey, P Caruth, M Watt, J Jermyn, T Lewis, J Lynch.