CYCLING: Irish road race champion David McCann will today do his utmost to scoop the Tour of Australia following an excellent second place in yesterday's individual time trial in Kew, reports Shane Stokes.

The Giant Asia rider starts the concluding 80 minutes plus three-lap-criterium in Lygon just one second off the race lead, having jumped from fourth to second overall thanks to his storming ride in the race against the clock. He finished just 0.82 seconds behind stage-winner Ben Day (Carvalelhos-Boavista), with Savings and Loan Cycling Team rider Chris Jongewaard taking third, one second off the best time.

As a result, Jongewaard took over race leadership.

BOXING: A strange thing happened at the National Boxing stadium in Dublin last night. The formidable visiting Polish team were afforded stronger vocal support than Ireland, reports Pat Roche.

The visitors staked their claim on overall victory from the start in the first international between the countries in 10 years.

Ireland slumped to a 3-0 deficit with James Moore of Limerick, our light fly, Conor Ahern of Baldoyle at flyweight and bantam Kevin Fennessey of Clonmel going down tamely.

Moore was up against a very adroit southpaw in Lukaxz Maszc, who won 24-8.