A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Martin cracks main rival to take over the lead in Poland
CYCLING:Finally cracking his main rival with just 500 metres to go in what was a tough 207.7 kilometre stage, defending champion Daniel Martin seized the yellow jersey with a dramatic stage win in the Tour of Poland yesterday, reports Shane Stokes.
The Irish Garmin-Cervelo rider was the most aggressive in the final 15 kms of the hilly stage to Bukowina Tatrzaska, first going clear alone on the penultimate climb. He held a lead of several seconds going over the top, but was reeled in on the descent.
Martin attacked repeatedly on the final three kilometre climb up to the line. Peter Sagan in the yellow jersey responded to each surge, but finally cracked with 500 metres to go. Martin caught and passed Dutchman Wout Poels just before the line, grabbing the stage win. Sagan lost 13 seconds in placing 16th, and that plus the time bonus for the victory saw Martin move three seconds clear ahead of today’s final stage.
Chinese skater is banned over punch
SPEED SKATING:Speed skater Wang Meng, China's most decorated Winter Olympic star, has been banned from the national team after she punched her team manager following a drunken night out with team-mates, reports Clifford Coonan in Beijing.
Wang, 26, who won three golds at the Vancouver Games last year, and her team-mates had a row with police who accused them of making too much noise while carousing in the holiday city of Lijiang.
That incident led to the 10pm curfew being imposed during last month’s summer training camp in the coastal city of Qingdao. Ms Wang went out drinking on July 24th and failed to return to the team hotel before the curfew.
When Ms Wang was confronted by the team manager, Wang Chunlu, the athlete assaulted her and damaged hotel property. Male speed skater Liu Xianwei was also expelled for his role in the incident, China’s sports governing body said in a statement.
Irish fall again to Spanish penalty
HOCKEY:Ireland fell to a solo penalty corner strike for the second successive 1-0 win for Spain as Lola Riera's 45th minute drag-flick did the damage in the Women's International Challenge at Belfield last night.
In a more entertaining tie, openings were more freely available, with Shirley McCay seeing her looping flick taken off the line, while Lisa Jacob had a first-half effort skim across the face of goal.
But the Spanish visitors had the edge in class and twice hit the post, first through Gloria Comerma and then via the stick of Berta Bonastre.
For Gene Muller, the lack of goal threat and creation of clear-cut chances continues to be a concern.
They play the third of this series tomorrow at 12pm in Belfield.
IRELAND: E Gray, M Harvey, C Sargent, E Smyth, A Speers, S McCay, L Jacob, J OHalloran, S McCarthy, A Connery, N Symmons. Subs: N Daly, M Crowley, A OFlynn, C Watkins, N Small.
SPAIN: I Barguno, R Ybarra, B Bonastre, M Prat, S Munoz, P Dabanch, R Huertas, P Sanchez, A Flores, O Pineiro, B Perez. Subs: Y Menendez, C Petchame, B Malda, G Comerma, G Oliva, M Garcia, L Riera, M Lopez de Eguilaz McCarter claims hat-trick in easy win
CRICKET: A devastating display from opening bowlers Graeme McCarter and Shane Getkate helped Ireland bowl out Canada for just 37 as they claimed a five-wicket victory in Limavady that puts them on the verge of qualification for next year's Under-19 World Cup.
Taking the new ball for the first time in the tournament, Getkate struck with his first delivery and repeated the dose with the first ball of his second over. McCarter got in on the act in some style when he claimed a hat-trick in the sixth over and the Gloucestershire player went on to finish with incredible figures of five for eight in his 10 overs, while Getkate took four for 21.
It wasn’t all plain sailing as Ireland lost five wickets before Getkate hit the winning boundary off the last ball of the 13th over.
The win puts Ireland ahead of Scotland on run rate at the top of the table, with victory over Nepal in Bready today likely to secure a spot in next year’s World Cup.
Lohan claims second title in a week
TENNIS:Ireland's Sinéad Lohan yesterday stormed to her second singles title on the ITF Under-18 Circuit in the space of a week.
The top-seeded Tramore native completed the notable double when she overwhelmed unseeded British player Ella Taylor 6-2 6-2 in the final of the grade five world ranking event at Cobh’s Rusbrooke Club.
Lohan, who also came up trumps in last week’s corresponding event at Donnybrook in Dublin, was always extremely comfortable on her own serve, and such was the quality of her returning that she succeeded in breaking Taylor twice in each set.
Over the course of the week, Lohan only dropped only a total of 16 games in her five matches.
The top seed also triumphed in the boys’ singles final, Jordan Angus defeating fellow British player Christopher Pearce, the number four seed, 6-4 7-5.
