HOCKEY: Gene Muller has named a largely experimental and youthful squad for three uncapped matches against Scotland in Edinburgh later this month, matches that will mark the beginning of his reign as national coach, writes Mary Hannigan.
There are several notable omissions from the panel, including captain Linda Caulfield, Eimear Cregan and Jill Orbinson, but Muller stressed that he was using the games simply to give an opportunity to players less well known to him.
"I am using this as an opportunity to see players whom I have yet to see compete at this level. " he said.
IRISH SQUAD: R Mulligan, E Stewart (both Armagh), S Martin (Ballymoney), E Harte, C O'Brien (both Chelmsford), D Casey (Church of Ireland), L Healy, N Keegan (both Loreto), Z Dahl, S Frey, J Deacon (all Old Alexandra), S Beaney, F McIlwaine, A Speers (all Pegasus), E Bromell, S Clarke (both Pembroke Wanderers), E Clarke, K Elkin (both Randalstown), L Jacob, R Flinn (both) UCD.
Rest of the World captain Retief Goosen helped his team take a 2½ to 1½ lead over the combined Europe/US side after the first day of the inaugural Goodwill Trophy in Shenzhen yesterday. South African Goosen teamed up with New Zealander Michael Campbell to beat Colin Montgomerie and Chris DiMarco 5 and 4 in the foursomes at Mission Hills Golf Club.
South Korea's KJ Choi and Thai Thongchai Jaidee defeated Briton Paul Casey and Spain's Alejandro Canizares 3 and 2 while Swede Henrik Stenson and Briton Bradley Dredge won a point back by beating Australians Paul Sheehan and Peter Senior 4 and 3. China's Zhang Lian-Wei and Jeev Milkha Singh of India staged a brilliant comeback to finish all square with Britons Luke Donald and Nick Dougherty after going four down at the turn.
James Blake showed he was not in Shanghai just to make up the numbers when he produced a quality performance to upset world number two Rafael Nadal 6-4, 7-6 in his opening round-robin match at the Masters Cup yesterday. The 26-year-old American, like last year's winner David Nalbandian the final player to qualify for the tournament, came back from a break down in the first set and recovered from a 4-0 deficit in the second to triumph 7-0 in a one-sided tiebreak.
Nadal, also making his debut in the event after missing last year's season-ender through injury, started both sets well but seemed rattled when Blake refused to just lie down after being broken.
Nikolay Davydenko, the world number three, beat Spain's Tommy Robredo 7-6, 3-6, 6-1 in the other Gold Group encounter.