A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Maynard dies after being hit by train
A Surrey county cricketer tipped as a potential future England player died yesterday after being struck by a train in London, his club said. Batsman Tom Maynard, 23, son of former England and Glamorgan player Matthew Maynard, was hit by a train on London’s subway network near Wimbledon Park station in the south of the capital just after five o’clock in the morning.
Police said his death was not being treated as suspicious and that the case would be passed to the coroner. Maynard’s club said he was a huge talent who had the potential to follow his father into full international cricket, having already played for the England Lions, the second tier national side.
Police investigate complaint against Nalbandian
British police are investigating a complaint of assault against Argentinian player David Nalbandian after he injured a linesman in a petulant outburst during the final of the Queens Club tournament in London at the weekend.
Nalbandian was leading Sunday’s match 7-6 3-3 when he dropped serve in the seventh game and reacted by kicking out at a wooden advertising board which disintegrated on impact and slammed into official Andrew McDougall’s left leg. A shocked McDougall cried out and instantly clutched his shin.
When he rolled up his trouser leg, blood could be seen seeping from the wound. He received some on-court attention before being escorted off the ground to the club’s medical centre. umpire Fergus Murphy disqualified Nalbandian for “unsportsmanlike behaviour”.
A Scotland Yard spokesman said yesterday: “An allegation of assault has been made to us relating to an incident at the tennis tournament and we are now investigating.
Greek official denies ticket claim
Greek Olympic president Spyros Capralos has hit back at claims he boasted he could obtain extra London 2012 tickets for sale on the black market.
The Sunday Times’ allegations of a ticket scandal involving 27 Olympic officials and agents included the claims that Capralos, the president of the Hellenic Olympic Committee (HOC), has been caught on camera boasting he had “pulled strings” with London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe to allocate his country more top tickets to the Games that he could sell on for a profit.
The HOC yesterday insisted the allegations were “untrue and misleading” and all sales had been conducted by an agent. A statement on their website read: “The whole process was totally transparent and in accordance with the laws of the Greek State. Therefore, there can be no issue on creating a “black market” by the HOC which did not buy any tickets, whatsoever.” The International Olympic Committee’s ethics commission is investigating all the claims.
O'Connor and Herring to bolster Ulster squad
Niall O’Connor and Rob Herring are to join Ulster for next season. The pair will add significant depth to the squad, which will also be bolstered by fellow new recruits Tommy Bowe and Roger Wilson.
A graduate of the Ulster Academy, O’Connor returns to the club having enjoyed a one-year spell with Connacht. The 24-year-old established himself as first choice outhalf in Galway and produced a number of fine displays.
He will compete for the starting outhalf position with Ireland Under-20 captain Paddy Jackson and South Afican international Ruan Pienaar.
Ireland-qualified hooker Herring will arrive in Belfast from Western Province, where he was involved in their Vodacom Cup squad. The 22-year-old enjoyed a brief stint with London Irish before returning to his native South Africa. The 16st 3lb player joined the London Irish Academy in 2009 and made his senior debut against Northampton in May 2010.
Phelan best placed of Irish to qualify Surrey player
Kevin Phelan leads the Irish challenge after the first qualifying round of the 117th Amateur Championship on Scotland’s Ayrshsire coast.
The 20-year-old who plays out of Waterford Castle but has lived for the past seven years at Jacksonville, Florida and is a student at the University of North Florida fired an excellent one under par 70 at Royal Troon to put himself into a strong position to grab one of the places in the knock-out phase after today’s second round.
Greystones teenager Paul Dunne was furious with himself last night after two calamities spoiled an otherwise stunning opening. Playing at Glasgow Gailes Dunne,the former Irish Boys and Youths champion fired 13 pars, three birdies and two double bogeys.
Dublin teenager Gavin Moynihan continued his rich vein of form carding a 71 at Glasgow Gailes. It was an extremely steady round by the Irish champion and winner of the McEvoy Trophy as he carded 16 pars, one birdie and one bogey.
