A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Taylor to fight in Cavan
BOXING:The Cavan Crystal Hotel has been confirmed as the venue for the second Ireland versus the Netherlands senior women's boxing international on March 25th. Both nations meet at the National Stadium in Dublin on March 23rd in the first women's boxing international in Ireland. World and European champion Katie Taylor, Ceire Smith and Sinéad Kavanagh will line out for Ireland in both internationals.
Fitzpatrick makes her first start of the tournament
RUGBY:Ireland coach Philip Doyle has made one change to the team for Friday night's women's Six Nations Championship match against Scotland at Ashbourne (7.30pm). St Mary's College hooker Paula Fitzpatrick makes her first start of the tournament with Gillian Bourke dropping to the bench.
Blackrock’s Shannon Houston is named among the replacements. The Irish side, third in the table, will be hoping to build on an excellent five-try win over Italy, a loss to France and a six-try victory over Wales last weekend.
IRELAND:A Baxter (Ulster); N Kavanagh (Munster), N Briggs (Munster), G Davitt (Ulster), A Miller (Connacht), L Cantwell (Exiles), A Davis (Leinster); F Coghlan (Leinster, capt), P Fitzpatrick (Leinster), A Egan (Leinster); S Spence (Exiles), M Louise Reilly (Leinster); L Guest (Munster), C Molloy (Connacht), J Neville (Munster). Replacements: G Bourke (Munster), R O'Reilly (Connacht), S Fleming (Munster), H O'Brien (Munster), L Muldoon (Exiles), S Houston (Leinster), J Murphy (Exiles).
Wiggins retains Paris-Nice yellow jersey
CYCLING: Bradley Wiggins retained the leader's yellow jersey after the third stage of the Paris-Nice race yesterday.
Wiggins defended his overnight advantage despite Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) claiming the stage win.
The Spaniard held off the fast-finishing Simon Gerrans (GreenEDGE) on a deceptively tough uphill finish following a 194-kilometre trek from Vierzon to Le Lac de Vassiviere.
Team Sky sports director Seán Yates was pleased with the manner in which his team defended Wiggins’ lead, with closest challenger Levi Leipheimer still six seconds off the pace.
Ireland’s Nicholas Roche lies 33rd overall after finishing 48th yesterday.
Jenkins to lead Wales against Italy
RUGBY:Prop Gethin Jenkins will lead Grand Slam hopefuls Wales against Italy in their Six Nations clash in Cardiff on Saturday after Sam Warburton was ruled out with a knee problem. Flanker Warburton is replaced by Justin Tipuric who picks up his fourth cap, but makes his first start for Wales, already winners over Ireland, Scotland and England to top the standings.
In the only other change from the side that overcame England 19-12 at Twickenham, Matthew Rees comes in at hooker in place of Ken Owens who moves to the bench. Centre Jamie Roberts has recovered from a knee injury and starts in the back line.
Ireland let it slip to lose by 21 runs
CRICKET:Ireland failed to take advantage of a strong position in their chase against Eastern Province yesterday as they lost their Twenty20 clash by 21 runs in Port Elizabeth, writes Emmet Riordan.
Opting to bat second , Ireland let a good start slip as the home side scored 96 runs from their last nine overs to finish on 148 for three from their 20 overs. Ireland’s wickets went to the spinners, with Andrew White taking two for 29. George Dockrell bowled well to finish with one for eight from three overs, while Boyd Rankin gave away just 15 runs in his four overs.
Ireland looked well set to chase down the target after making it 75 for two at the end of the 10th over. But the loss of Ed Joyce (15) and top-scorer William Porterfield for 48 in the space of 10 deliveries led to a steady loss of wickets as they were bowled out for 127 in the final over.
Ireland team manager Roy Torrens will miss next week’s World Twenty20 qualifier in the United Arab Emirates following the death yesterday of his brother, Norman.
FEI adopt Brighton declaration
EQUESTRIAN SPORT:The Federation Equestre Internationale became the latest governing body to formally adopt the Brighton declaration on women and sport when its president HRH Princess Haya, first vice-president John McEwen and second vice-president Pablo Mayorga signed the agreement yesterday, writes Margie McLoone.
The document was signed during the FEI executive board’s March meeting and Princess Haya, one of only two female International Federation presidents, availed of the opportunity to comment on the ongoing commitment of both the FEI and the IOC to promote women in sport.
“Equestrian sport is one of the few Olympic sports in which women compete on equal terms with men. Signing the Brighton declaration today shows the ongoing commitment of the FEI to equality in our sport,” Princess Haya said yesterday.
