Sports digest

Today's other sports stories in brief

Hession wins 200m in Ostrava

ATHLETICS: Paul Hession enjoyed one of the best victories of his career to date when winning the 200 metres at the IAAF Golden Spike meeting in Ostrava in the Czech Republic last night. In doing so he took the scalp of Brian Dzingai of Zimbabwe, who finished fourth in the Olympic final in Beijing.

Hession timed his run to perfection, getting up on the line to defeat Dzingai (29) by just one-hundredth of a second in 20.44 seconds, which was fractionally wind aided.

There was also a confidence booster for Derval O’Rourke when she finished fourth in a high-class 100 metres hurdles in 12.95 seconds, easily her best time of the season, readily surpassing the 13.21 she ran in Berlin last Sunday. Victory went to Jamaican Delloreen Ennis-London in 12.79 from Michelle Perry (USA).

Veterans win

TENNIS:Former Davis Cup players Scott Barron and John Doran turned back the clock to book their places in the third round of the Hayes Solicitors' Irish Close Championships at the Donnybrook Club last night.

Barron hadn’t played a competitive match in nine years but he still had far too much power, pace and guile for Donnybroook’s Brendan Dempsey, and came through 6-1, 6-0. Doran, now based in India and who last figured for Ireland in the defeat by Ukraine in Donetsk in 2004, overpowered Roman Grogan 6-1, 6-0.

Nine win bronze

BOXING:The entire Irish senior squad qualified for the semi-finals of the 2009 European Union Championships in Odense, Denmark where they will be guarenteed at least nine bronze medals.

Declan Geraghty, Eric Donovan and Willie McLaughlin all had their hands raised in victory yesterday afternoon. And David Oliver Joyce, who beat England’s Ian Weaver, Philip Sutcliffe and Darren O’Neill followed that up last night.

Ken Egan and John Joe Nevin won their quarter-finals on Tuesday, while heavyweight Con Sheehan got a bye straight into the semi-finals.

Sparkling finish helps Ward join Kearney in third round

GOLF: Simon Ward produced a Houdini act at rain-lashed Formby yesterday to reach the third round of the British Amateur Championship.

The 22-year-old Irish international from County Louth was down almost the entire way against Canadian David Markle but delivered the goods when it mattered most.

Ward was three down after just five holes, but a crucial moment came at the sixth when he holed a 10-footer to avoid going four down.

But he was still two down with five to play. A win in par at the 14th reduced the deficit, and he finished with a real flourish, sinking a 10-footer to capture the 16th with a birdie two, winning the 17th and then holing a 25-footer to take the 18th for a two-hole success. Ward plays Dane Peter Baunsoe next.

Dubliner Niall Kearney also had to come from behind to book his place in the last 32, Daniel Nesbit of Australia on the home green.

Kearney (22), from Royal Dublin, was two down after just four holes, but he won the ninth and 10th to square the match. Kearney then took the lead with a birdie two at the 16th. Two halves followed and Kearney was through to a meeting with England’s top amateur Sam Hutsby.

Moyola Park’s Luke Lennox was bundled out, beaten 2 and 1 by Scot Mark Hillsom. Earlier Portstewart’s Paul Cutler had been knocked out in the first round, beaten 2 and 1 by Daniel Nisbet.

Holder Reinier Saxton seemed to be coasting at five up through 10 holes on Spaniard Ignacio Elvira, but he collapsed and lost at the 19th.