DIGEST:Having been held to a draw by Italy on Thursday in the first of their four games at Belfield, Ireland proved much too strong for the visitors when they met again yesterday, winning 3-0, writes Mary Hannigan.
Jill Orbinson opened the scoring from a short corner before Nikki Symmons doubled the lead with a penalty stroke.
Cathy McKean, following fine work by Aine Connery down the left, completed the scoring in the second half.
Coach Gene Muller said: "This was an improved performance with much more pace to our game. We had good control and showed composure throughout."
Meanwhile in Madrid, Old Alexandra suffered their second defeat in the European Cup Winners' Cup, going down 3-0 to Canterbury.
The Dublin club play Glasgow Western in their final pool game today before going in to tomorrow's relegation play-offs.
IRELAND: M Goode, A Speers, A Connery, S McCay, L Caulfield (capt), J Orbinson, K Elkin, N Symmons, C O'Brien, H Bowe, C McKean. Subs: A Stewart, R Flinn, R Mulligan, E Clarke, C Parkhill.
Results: International (at Belfield) Ireland 3 (J Orbinson, N Symmons pen, C McKean), Italy 0.
European Cup Winners Cup (at Madrid)
Pool B: Canterbury 3, Old Alexandra 0; Rot-Weiss Cologne 3, Glasgow Western 1.
WEEKEND FIXTURES: Today: Glasgow Western v Old Alexandra, 9.0. Ireland v Italy, 4.0.
Tomorrow: Ireland v Italy, 10.30.
Ireland's Peter Smyth was successful in one of the jump-off classes on the Italian Toscana Tour in Arezzo at the expense of his compatriot Niall Talbot, writes Grania Willis.
The 37-year-old Co Tyrone rider brought out the Irish-bred Liscooley to stop the clock on the winning time of 36.40 seconds. Talbot and Onisha were just over a quarter of a second off the pace to claim the runner-up slot.
Smyth, who finished fourth in last week's Silver Tour Grand Prix at the Italian fixture, went on to claim 10th in the following speed class with Rolo Tomasi.
But it wasn't all good news on the continental circuit. Jessica Kürten, who spent most of last season ranked number two in the world, has slid down to 10th in the latest list published by the International Equestrian Federation.
Kürten had dropped to seventh in last month's rankings, but has now dropped a further three places to 10th after a recent slump in form.
The Co Antrim-born rider is now 668 points behind the German leader, Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum.
The Germans continue to dominate the leaderboard, with four riders in the top 10, including the second-placed Marcus Ehning.
There was good news for the Irish further down the rankings, however, with Mayo's Cameron Hanley breaking into the top 50.
Hanley, who was in 51st last month, has now moved up to 48th, while Cian O'Connor is also on an upward curve, moving back into the top 100 in 87th, up from 130th.
Toscana Tour, Arezzo, Italy, Bronze/Silver Tour jump-off - 1, Ireland's Liscooley (Peter Smyth), 0/0 faults, 36.40 seconds; 2, Ireland's Onisha (Niall Talbot), 0/0, 38.68; 3, Italy's Iberia des Safrey (Daniele Cancogni), 0/0, 39.59.
Silver Tour, speed - 1, Mexico's Mitla la Silla (Marcela Lobo), 60.95 seconds; 2, Sweden's Oxsona M (Evelyn Sander), 62.90; 3, Hungary's Malna (Balazs Krucso), 64.62; 10, Ireland's Rolo Tomasi (Peter Smyth), 73.87.
Britain's "dream team" lived up to their billing to as the home side took command of their Davis Cup meeting with the Netherlands in Birmingham.
Andy Murray shrugged off lingering injury doubts to beat Raemon Sluiter in straight sets - 6-3, 7-5, 6-2 - before Tim Henman made a triumphant return to the competition after two-and-a-half years to defeat Robin Haase 7-6 (7-4), 6-3, 7-6 (7-4).
Victory in Saturday's doubles would seal a 3-0 victory and ensure a World Group qualifier in September.
The Palma Olympic Classes Regatta ended yesterday with just 110 boats competing in the final medal race, writes David Branigan.
Ireland's Maurice O'Connell with his temporary substitution crew Anthony Shanks competed in the Star class. They were lying fifth when a Rule 42 penalty obliged them to take penalty turns and they ended the brief race in 10th place. Shanks will be competing against O'Connell at the same venue with his usual helm, Max Treacy, when Ben Cooke returns next week for the Star class championship.
