HOCKEY: A goal in each half from South Africa condemned Ireland to their third straight defeat at the four nations tournament in Durban yesterday, a series of results that leaves coach Riet Kuper and her players with much work to do before the World Cup Qualifier in nine weeks' time.
The hosts' first goal came from Jennifer Wilson, the former Coleraine player scoring from a short corner after 25 minutes, with Kate Hector making it 2-0 from another well worked corner in the 55th minute. Azerbaijan, meanwhile, were trounced 6-2 by Scotland, putting them in to tomorrow's third place play-off against Ireland.
While it's been a busy international week, with the senior, under-18 and under-16 teams in action in Durban and Manchester, there's a limited club programme this weekend, with no Leinster first division matches scheduled. The quarter-finals of the Leinster Jacqui Potter Cup are spread over Sunday and Monday, with Loreto's seconds and thirds facing Railway Union and Old Alexandra respectively at Beaufort on Sunday.
Loreto's firsts, beaten in the third round by UCD, featured in the last five Leinster finals but their seconds and thirds will have their work cut out to progress to the semi-finals against their first division opponents.
The students, though, should advance to the last four on Monday when they meet Corinthian, struggling in the league, not helped by injuries. Holders Hermes will also expect to progress against Pembroke Wanderers' seconds on Monday.
Church of Ireland, meanwhile, play league leaders Cork Harlequins in the first round of the Munster Senior Cup and will hope to improve on their display earlier in the season when they lost 3-0 to Harlequins in the league. C of I will also use the game to measure their form as they prepare for one of the biggest days in the club's history, their Irish Senior cup semi-final against Hermes next month.
WEEKEND FIXTURES
LEINSTER JACQUI POTTER CUP - Quarter-finals - Sunday: Loreto II v Railway Union, Beaufort, 1.0; Loreto III v Old Alexandra, Beaufort, 3.0. Monday: UCD v Corinthian, Belfield, 6.45; Pembroke Wanderers II v Hermes I, Ballsbridge, 7.15. LEINSTER LEAGUE - Division Two - Tomorrow: Loreto II v Glenanne, Beaufort, 12.45; Diocesan v Loreto III, Rathgar, 12.45; Hermes II v Pembroke Wanderers II, Booterstown, 12.45; Bray v Corinthian II, Bray, 2.45; Genesis v Old Alexandra II, Belfield, 3.0. MUNSTER SENIOR CUP - First round - Tomorrow: Church of Ireland v Harlequins, Garryduff, 10.30.
