Sports Digest: Ronnie O'Sullivan went out of the Welsh Open to Neil Robertson 5-4 in Newport yesterday.
The Australian left-hander's latest high-profile success came less then 24 hours after he had proved too strong for Stephen Hendry.
Aided by back-to-back century breaks, 122 and 109, O'Sullivan led 4-3, but missed a pink early in the eighth frame, and Robertson (25) swooped with a run of 124. On 45 in the decider, O'Sullivan jawed a straightforward red, and Robertson, again displaying a cool temperament, fashioned his match-clinching 39 clearance.
Earlier, Andrew Higginson made a maximum break on his way to a 5-1 win over Ali Carter.
Perry storms to semi-final
Ireland's Madeline Perry, the world number eight, stormed stormed into the semi-finals of the British Nationals in Manchester with a convincing 9-6, 9-4, 9-0 win over Derby's Laura Hill, seeded eighth. Perry, seeded three, now faces Yorkshire's Jenny Duncalf in today's semi-final.
Duncalf, who has slipped recently from sixth to 12th in the world rankings, signalled a return to form in dethroning the reigning champion and top seed Tania Bailey in four sets.
Duncalf fought back to defeat England's number one 2-9 9-3 9-5 9-3.
Men's top seed James Willstrop will face Lee Beachill in the semi-finals. Former world number one Beachill had to dig deep early on against Welshman Alex Gough.
England gain double victory
The English under-18s settled their affairs with the host nation with a 4-1 win over Ireland at Belfield yesterday, writes Leanna Byrne. The win ensured victory in the three-match series.
During a jumpy first half the Irish were slow on the attack and the English were 3-0 up by the break.
Ireland rallied in the second half with the prodigious 14-year-old Chloe Watkins and Megan Frazer shining in the middle of the park. Amy Stewart pulled a goal back but England restored their three goal advantage.
Meanwhile the under-16s fought back gamely yesterday after going 3-0 down four minutes into the second half, Hannah Matthews and Irene Gorman scoring to reduce England's winning margin to 3-2.
Gillick withdraws
The withdrawal of David Gillick has denied this weekend's National Indoor Championships in Belfast of one particularly exciting head-to-head, although there is plenty at stake in what will also act as the final trial for the European Indoors in Birmingham in a fortnight, writes Ian O'Riordan.
Gillick was entered in the 60 metres with the intention of fine-tuning his speed ahead of his 400-metre title defence in Birmingham, but, having picked up the flu this week, he withdrew yesterday.
That should clear the way for Paul Hession to collect the title in the short sprint after his series of impressive runs and Irish record of 6.66 seconds in recent weeks.
