Sports Digest

Barry and McLachlan crash out

TENNIS:Ireland's Sam Barry crashed out in the first round of the boys' doubles in the Wimbledon Junior Open yesterday.

The Limerick native and New Zealand’s Ben McLachlan suffered a defeat 6-2, 6-2 at the hands of Australian duo Jason Kubler and Andrew Whittington.

Dublin’s James Cluskey also exited in the opening round of the ITF Men’s Futures event in Manchester.

After winning two matches in the qualifying section to clinch a main-draw place, the Swords player suffered a crushing 6-1, 6-2 defeat by top-seed Jamie Baker.

In the wake of his emphatic 6-2, 6-1 win on Monday over Thomas Muster, Conor Niland had a rest day prior to his second-round meeting against Switzerland’s Stephane Bohli in the ATP Challenger Tour event in Braunschweig, Germany.

Australia hit Ireland where it hurts

WOMEN'S HOCKEY: Ireland were beaten 1-0 by Australia at Belfield last night in the first of a three-match series.

Australia were the first team to impress, winning a penalty corner in the ninth minute, but their direct shot flew wide of the goal.

Ireland responded within two minutes, creating their first real attack when O’Flynn linked up with Symmons who fed through to Small on the left wing, but her cross went unanswered.

Ireland had their best chance of the half in the 22nd minute when Cregan stole the ball to create a one-on-one with the ’keeper, but she was pushed wide and her reverse shot from a tight angle went wide of the target.

The stalemate ended early in the second half. Ireland turned over on the Australian 25, leading to a two-pass counter attack which ended when Emily Hurtz scored the only goal of the match.

Queen's lead the charge

ROWING:Queen's University led the charge with two wins on a terrific opening day for Irish crews at Henley Royal Regatta, writes Liam Gorman. Nine of the 10 Irish crews competing won, with the only stumble coming in the Wyfold Cup for club coxless fours late last evening, where a Galway Rowing Club crew who were lighter than their opponents struggled in the wind in the early stages and lost out by one and three-quarter lengths to Nottingham and Union.

Galway had actually opened the day with a fine win in the Thames Cup for club eights, and a young Carlow crew and St Michael’s of Limerick joined them in today’s Thames Cup draw with convincing wins.

The roll of honour was completed by Muckross and Commercial in the Wyfold along with UCD in the Prince Albert for student coxed fours and Cork Boat Club in the Britannia for club coxed fours. Queen’s A and B had impressisve winning margins in the Temple Cup for student eights.

Johnston confident over chances of title defence

CRICKET:Ireland get the defence of their World Cricket League Division One title under way in the Netherlands this morning when they take on Kenya at the VOC Grounds in Rotterdam, writes Emmet Riordan.

Ireland go into the tournament shorn of their county players, while all-rounder Andre Botha misses out with a stress fracture in his back.

It’s far from the ideal scenario but Ireland skipper Trent Johnston believes that the opportunity for young and fringe players to perform can only help in the build-up to next years World Cup.

“We’re probably going through a bit of a rebuilding process at the minute, but I believe we’ve got the talent and the players to bring the title back to Ireland again,” admitted Johnston, who will captain Ireland for the 50th time against the African side today.

“It gives the fringe players a chance to claim a spot in the team, and hopefully they’ll be hungry to do just that.”