Rugby: Ireland's under-19 team got off to an excellent start in the IRB/FIRA Junior World Cup at Lons le Saunier, near Dijon, last night by beating Romania's under-19s by 49 points to 20.
Ireland, who won the competition two years ago, meet Australia on Monday, the Australians having defeated England 34-17 in another Pool A match yesterday.
The hero of the Ireland victory was left wing Andrew Maxwell, who scored a hat-trick of tries, while right wing James Norton scored two tries. Ireland won the over-all try-count convincingly, by eight tries to three.
Ireland scorers - A Maxwell (3), J Norton (2), S Jennings, F Baynes, B O'Sullivan tries; C O'Sullivan pen, cons (3).
IRELAND UNDER-19: F Baynes (Greystones); J Norton (UCD), C O'Sullivan (UCC), J Downey (Old Belvedere), A Maxwell (RBAI); I Humphreys (Ballymena Academy), B O'Riordan (UCD); D Witherow (City of Derry), F Gallagher (Instonian), S Phillips (Saracens), A Maher (Dublin University), T Barker (Malone), A Kelly (Terenure College), N McMillan (Belfast Harlequins, capt), S Jennings (St Mary's College). Replacements: B Young (Ballymena RFC) for Witherow (34); R Sparks (Terenure College) for O'Riordan (45); C Hussey (Old Belvedere) for Phillips (51); C Tucker (St Munchin's College) for Gallagher (54); J Murphy (Highfield) for Kelly (60); T Daly (UCC) for Baynes (63).
Golf: Gary Cullen was one of the stars of the show as Europe retained the Michael Bonallack Trophy in convincing style, finishing off the challenge of Asia Pacific 20-12 over Madrid's Puerta de Hierro course yesterday.
Cullen collected 31/2 points from a possible five during the three days of competition - a total not surpassed by any player on either side. He finished the week with a last-green victory over Malaysian Rahizam Ramli, having come back from being three down after five holes to gain the crucial point as Europe started to take a grip on proceedings.
"I made a slow start but then things began to happen for me," said Cullen who squared the match by the eighth and went one up at the ninth. On the way home he birdied the 14th after getting down in a pitch and a putt and finished also in style with a birdie three at the last, knocking in a seven-foot putt.
Cullen's third singles point took Europe to within two of their target for victory and Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts and Welshman Craig Williams closed it out.
Hockey: A short-corner hattrick by the Irish captain Stephen Butler earned a 3-2 win over England in last night's under-21 international at Belfield. Danny Haydon and Mark Hetherington replied for the visitors, also from set pieces, in a lively game.
Ireland, who took the lead for the second time after the interval, were the more controlled side with Butler and Karl Burns particularly resourceful at the back while Andrew Carson was a menacing attacker in the closing stages when Butler notched the winner nine minutes from the end.
IRELAND: M Ruddle; A Chambers, K Burns, S Butler (capt), R Beere; M Black, M Harte, C Brady; D Eakins, G McKee, C Bailey. Subs: P Smith, A Carson, S Reid.
Rowing: NUI Galway won the Wylie Cup at the University Championships in Castlewellan yesterday. The crew which had earlier taken the intermediate eights title won the senior eights to clinch the crown. The novice eights title also went west - to University of Limerick.
The Bank of Ireland Cup for women was won by University College Cork: the final women's race of the day decided it - Queen's University won the coxed four at novice level and UCD at intermediate, so the senior's race was crucial. UCC won from UCD and Queen's.
Cycling: Two weeks after the Linda McCartney team was awarded a wildcard entry to the Tour of Italy, Irishman Ciaran Power has been confirmed as part of the nine-man squad which will dispute the event.
The news is a considerable boost for the Waterford rider, given that he is just 23 years of age and is in his first season as a professional cyclist. The announcement means that Power will be the first Irishman in seven years to compete in one of cycling's three Grand Tours.
"It is unbelievable, especially in my first year as a pro," Power said.
