Sports Digest/ SCHOOLS' HOCKEY: For the seventh time in eight years Ulster took the All-Ireland schools' title at Grange Road yesterday, this time Royal School Armagh triumphing in the competition to add to their 2002 and 2004 successes, writes Mary Hannigan.
Armagh, needing just a draw against Alexandra College in the tournament decider, took the lead after only three minutes through Charis Seeds, but having dominated the game were put under intense pressure in the closing stages after Alexandra had levelled through Ailbhe McCarthy with 14 minutes to go. Armagh held on though, finishing a point ahead of Alexandra in the standings and three clear of Limerick's Crescent College.
Checa best in practice
MOTOR CYCLING: Home riders Carlos Checa, Dani Pedrosa and Toni Elias were quickest in Friday's second free practice for the Spanish Grand Prix. Checa came out on top with a lap time of 1:40.851 followed closely by race favourite Pedrosa (1:40.906) and Elias (1:40.972) as Honda made it a 1-2-3.
"Being at the front is always a good feeling but I'm not getting carried away, the times are very close," said Checa.
"I'm feeling good for my home race." Australian Casey Stoner, winner of the MotoGP season-opener in Qatar two weeks ago, was fourth fastest on a Ducati.
Five-times world champion Valentino Rossi was fifth while defending MotoGP champion Nicky Hayden finished 13th.
Roche rides in Aix
CYCLING: Having resumed training after his crash on the opening stage of the Tirreno Adriatico, Nicolas Roche will restart racing tomorrow with a criterium in Aix, writes Shane Stokes.
Prior to his accident, he had been scheduled to ride the Cholet Pays de Loire event on Sunday but said during the week that his knee was not yet up to the strains of doing a race.
However, being able to compete in Aix is good news, given that his recovery is progressing faster than expected. Roche is likely to ride the Flèche Brabançonne in Belgium before targeting a good performance in the French Cup races later next month and, hopefully, securing a ride on the Crédit Agricole team for the Tour of Italy.
