TENNIS: Ireland's top-ranked player Peter Clarke was beaten in the International Federation Futures at Limerick Lawn yesterday. The number five seed lost in straight sets to Thomas Greenland of England, 6-4, 6-2.

But eighth seed Conor Niland, of Limerick, battled his way to the next round with a 7-6, 6-2 win against another English player, Richard Irwin.

Stephen Nugent beat Eoin Heavey, 6-2, 6-2 while James Cluskey won a third-set tie-break when beating Barry King, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6, (8-6) to set up a meeting with Niland.

Top seed Brian Wilson (USA) beat Rasmus Norby (Denmark), 6-3, 6-2. Lucky loser, Amar Sigurdsson (Iceland) lost the first set to Dubliner David O'Connell but dropped only five games in the next two sets to leave O'Connell pondering what happened.

Riccardo Ghedin (Italy) was leading against Andrew Anderson (South Africa) when Anderson was forced to retire injured.