Sports digest

Today's other sports news in brief

Breakthrough for Lohan

TENNIS: Sinead Lohan yesterday won a main draw match in an ITF Under-18 Circuit event for the first time.

The Tramore player, who has just turned 15, made the breakthrough in the world ranking Grade Four tournament in Marsa, Malta.

Lohan overwhelmed Switzerland’s 820-ranked Lenora Rossi 6-2 6-1. Lohan today takes on the number five seed, Britain’s Abbi Melrose, who is ranked at 480.

Lohan’s fellow Irish players Grainne O’Neill and Emily Madill failed to get past the first round.

Dubliner O’Neill succumbed 4-6 6-4 6-1 to France’s Solene Guyomard, and Antrim’s Madill bowed out to Malta’s Brenda Galea on a 6-3 5-7 6-2 scoreline.

ITF U-18 CIRCUIT (at Marsa, Malta) Girls’ Singles First round: Sinead Lohan (Irl) bt Lenora Rossi (Swi)  6-2 6-1; Solene Guyomard (Fra) bt Grainne O’Neill (Irl) 4-6 6-4 6-1; Brenda Galea (Mlt) bt Emily Madill (Irl) 6-3 5-7 6-2.

New Zealand left with an uphill task to avoid defeat

CRICKET:Australia claimed three wickets in the final session on day four of their Test against New Zealand to leave the home side struggling for survival on 185 for five at stumps at Seddon Park in Hamilton. New Zealand were in enough trouble on 89 for two at tea before some quick wickets left the tail dangerously exposed.

None of the New Zealand batting line-up managed to score more than 30 runs in an innings dominated by Mitchell Johnson who collected three wickets after bowling the quickest he has so far in the series.

Martin Guptill (29 not out) and Brendon McCullum (19 not out) are the not out batsmen at stumps, but they are the last line of defence before New Zealand’s bowlers will be forced to take the crease.

Australia had earlier declared on 511 for eight at lunch, setting New Zealand a huge total of 479 runs. And with only five wickets remaining, and still 294 runs behind, there is little hope of New Zealand avoiding defeat.

IABA complain about Italian move

BOXING:THE Irish Amateur Boxing Association (IABA) have written a letter of complaint to the European Federation in relation to the unsporting conduct of the Italian team in the second leg of their dual international with Ireland earlier this month.

Ireland beat the Italians 7-5 at the National Stadium, Dublin, and were 4-1 up in the second leg at the Donegal Celtic Club in Belfast when Italy withdrew their team with seven bouts remaining because they were unhappy with the judging. IABA Secretary Sean Crowley confirmed that they have sent at letter of complaint to the European body.

Meanwhile, Ken Egan and Paddy Barnes and World champion Katie Taylor have been named in the Irish squad for the Men’s and Women’s Prime Ministry Tournament which begins in Ankara, Turkey, on April 6th. John Joe Nevin and John Joe Joyce have also been selected on a panel which contains 11 current male and female senior champions.

Convincing win for Irish boys

GOLF:Ireland completed a convincing victory over Wales in their boys golf international at Cardigan, Wales, yesterday.

Leading 8½-3½ overnight, they won the final singles session 5-3 for an overall 13½-6½ success to regain the Cardigan Cup.

Fota island’s Colm O’Sullivan was the star of the triumph as he was the only player to win all his three matches over the two days of competition.

He concluded the contest with a convincing 43 defeat of Mark Parry, a result that means he did not play the last three holes during the annual event each time winning out in the country.

Dermot McElroy, Daniel Murphy, Stephen Barry and Gary Hurley all won their matches yesterday to make it a highly successful affair for the Irish.

This emphatic result augurs well for their prospects in the European Boys Team Championship in July and the junior home internationals the following month.

Semenya decides to run this season

ATHLETICS:World 800 metres champion Caster Semenya (19) yesterday announced her intention to return to competition this season.

The South African, who underwent tests to determine her gender, has not raced since winning gold at last summer’s World Championships in Berlin. The results of those tests were expected last November but the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) announced earlier this month Semenya’s case had still not been concluded.

She said in a statement: “I have constantly taken advice from an esteemed panel of medical and legal professionals. I have been privy to and have evaluated all the relevant information they have placed before me. This information has also been placed in the hands of the IAAF. I am of the firm view that there is no impediment to me competing.”