SPORTS DIGEST

Today's other sports in brief

Queen's impress with both teams

ROWING:Queen's University showed their mettle with a fine performance at the London Head of the River on Saturday, writes Liam Gorman. The students finished 17th of the 409 who completed the course – less than a minute behind the all-star Tideway Scullers' crew.

UCD turned a starting position of 101st into 24th.

Queen’s second crew finished in a remarkable 80th place.

Pembroke through to final

MEN'S HOCKEY:Pembroke Wanderers will meet the winners of Cookstown and Annadale in next month's Irish Senior Cup final after the holders beat Glenanne on penalty strokes in Saturday's semi-final and Cookstown got the better of Banbridge in their delayed quarter-final.

Pembroke had taken a sixth-minute lead through Maurice Elliott but Brendan Parson levelled for Glenanne with 10 minutes to go, Pembroke eventually going through 5-4 on strokes.

Just a day after Cookstown regained their All-Ireland schools’ title, beating defending champions St Andrew’s in the final at Grange Road. Several of their players were in action again for the Ulster champions. Cookstown play Annadale next Saturday for a place in the final.

One-wicket loss for Dublin

CRICKET:Despite a fine innings of 97 from skipper William Porterfield, Ireland went down to a one-wicket loss to an Eastern Province XI yesterday, writes Emmet Riordan.

Ireland made 309 for eight off their 50 overs. However, Ireland had no answer to South African Under-19 opening bat Mangaliso Moshele, who hit 102. Star batsman Eoin Morgan will come into the squad for Thursday’s game against Zimbabwe “A”.

UCD ease past Belfast Harlequins

WOMEN'S HOCKEY: UCD prevented a clean sweep by Ulster on Saturday of all four ESB Irish Senior Cup semi-final places, the students beating Belfast Harlequins 3-1 in their quarter-final, writes Mary Hannigan. They play Ulster Elks next month for a place in the decider, with cup holders Pegasus paired with Ballymoney.

Catriona McGilp, Roisin Flinn and Lisa Jacob got the goals against Harlequins, for whom Jeanna Watt scored, to put UCD through. Ulster Elks beat Corinthian by a single goal. Pegasus, seeking a three-in-a-row, eased past Lurgan, while Railway Union suffered more cup disappointment, losing 5-2 to Ballymoney.

In division one, Loreto beat Glenanne 2-0 on Saturday. Hermes, who sit in third place, beat Glenanne 7-0 yesterday.

Wales take the women's crown

RUGBY: Irish hopes of finishing as runners-up in the RBS 6 Nations women's tournament were dashed as Wales at least took one Triple Crown at the weekend, winning 13-10.

The home side’s narrow three point victory at Taffs Well earned them their first Triple Crown in their 22-year existence.

It could have been different had Highfield centre Helen Brosnan held onto a difficult interception attempt in the dying moments, but the ball went to ground and a last gasp, long-range penalty attempt from Clonmel full back Hiamh Briggs, went begging.

Wales hit their visitors with a bang at the start and were 10-0 in as many minutes with tries from prop Jenny Davies and full back Non Evans. Briggs replied with a penalty midway through the first-half.

A brilliant solo try from Blackrock centre Shannon Houston, along with a penalty and conversion from Briggs, brought the Irish level eight minutes into the second-half.

However, it didn’t help the Irish cause when Blackrock hooker Yvonne Nlan was sent to the sin-bin and during her time on the sidelines the home full back Evans kicked the winning penalty. That three point gap couldn’t be bridged and so Neville’s team ended their campaign with two victories, over Scotland and Italy.

Scorers: Wales: Tries: Non Evans, Jenny Davies; Pen: Non Evans. Ireland: Try: Shannon Houston; Con: Niamh Briggs; Pen: Niamh Briggs.