A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Bradley calls for 80-minute performance against Glasgow
RUGBY:Head coach Michael Bradley has called on his Edinburgh side to start well and produce a full 80-minute performance in today's 1872 Cup decider with Glasgow Warriors at Murrayfield.
Last Friday’s 23-14 loss means Edinburgh must win by 10 points or more to stop Glasgow taking the 1872 Cup – awarded to the aggregate winners of the derby double header – for a fourth straight year. Also at stake are valuable RaboDirect Pro 12 points, with Bradley seeking an improved performance and, first and foremost, victory on the day after a costly first half at Scotstoun.
“You can’t give a side easy yards, especially in a derby,” Bradley said. “The main lesson for us in relation to the match last week is to start better and then continue to build from that.”
Edinburgh have made six changes, with an all-new frontrow of hooker Andy Titterrell and props Allan Jacobsen and Geoff Cross, while Sean Cox comes in at lock and Netani Talei at number eight. Dougie Fife starts on the wing.
Glasgow have made five changes, with Stuart Hogg back at fullback, Henry Pyrgos at scrumhalf, Josh Strauss at flanker, Tom Ryder at lock and Dougie Hall at hooker.
Harlequins cautious ahead of sell-out tie against London Irish
RUGBY:Harlequins head coach John Kingston insists the defending Aviva Premiership champions will be taking nothing for granted when they face London Irish at Twickenham today .
The now traditional Christmas fixture is set to attract another sell-out crowd as Quins look to retain their advantage at the top of the table. The Exiles, meanwhile, have won just one of their last nine games in all competitions, and languish 11th in the table with only Sale below them.
Quins, who are unchanged from their win over Northampton, will start as overwhelming favourites, but Kingston and company are not taking Irish lightly following their last meeting.
"They should have beaten us at the Madejski six weeks ago and they will know that. Expectation is a very dangerous thing," said Kingston.
In-form Fitzgerald progresses
TENNIS:Day two of the National Indoor Tennis Championships at David Lloyd yesterday saw no real surprises in either the men's or women's draws. Top seed Ciarán Fitzgerald dropped just one game against Richard Foley.
Second seed John McGahon beat Joseph Mullen 6-2, 6-2. John Morrissey looked impressive in his straight sets victory over Aaron Stubbs.
Morrissey, seeded three, plays David O'Hare in the quarter-finals today. Third seed Colin O'Brien looked sharp in his 6-0, 6-1 win over Liam Cassidy and takes on Mark Bowtell this evening in what is the pick of the quarter-finals. Peter Bothwell and Robert Dudley are the other two quarter-finalists.
In the women's draw, first seed Gráinne O'Neill beat Aubree Ryan Flynn 6-4, 6-2.
Death of Tommy Keane in Galway
SOCCER:Former Galway United star Tommy Keane died suddenly yesterday. The 44 year-old is believed to have collapsed on his way home having played in a charity five-a-side tournament in the city.
Having played there in his teens, Keane rejoined United in 1988 after a spells at Bournmouth and Colchester United and is best remembered for his role in the club's 1991 FAI Cup success when he scored in every round and then laid on Johnny Glynn's winner at Lansdowne Road.
He subsequently played for Sligo Rovers and Finn Harps but returned to Terryland Park where the winger enjoyed the best years of his career.
He is survived by his partner Paula and son Tommy.
Clarke looking to push on after crushing Sri Lanka
CRICKET:Australia captain Michael Clarke wants his side to use their crushing second Test victory over Sri Lanka as a platform for a 2013 calendar which includes tours to India and England.
Australia earned an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series after thrashing Sri Lanka by an innings and 201 inside three days at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Trailing by 304 runs after the first innings, Sri Lanka were skittled for just 103 in their second knock, albeit with Prasanna Jayawardene (broken thumb) and Chanaka Welegedara (hamstring) both unable to bat due to injury.
They also saw star batsman Kumar Sangakkara retire hurt with a hand injury when he was on 27 on what was a miserable day for the tourists.
India level Twenty20 series with exciting 11-run victory
CRICKET:India yesterday levelled the two-match Twenty20 series against Pakistan with an exciting 11-run win in Ahmedabad.
Yuvraj Singh and Ashok Dinda starred with bat and ball respectively, the former seeing the hosts to 192 for five with 72 in 36 balls.
Dinda then took up the battle taking three for 36, including Pakistan's top-scorer Mohammed Hafeez for 55.
Hafeez put in India having won the toss only for Ajinkya Rahane (28) and Gautam Gambhir (21) to put on a bright 44-run opening stand.
Umar Gul accounted for both men, bringing together Virar Kohli and Yuvraj.
Kohli made a steady 27 before being run out taking on Saeed Ajmal but Yuvraj was irrepressible.
Pakistan started their chase confidently, Nasir Jamshed and Ahmed Shehzad taking on the opening bowlers and laying a solid foundation of 74 in 9.4 overs before Jamshed fell to Ravichandran Ashwin for 41.
