A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Rossi may race in US Grand Prix
MOTOR SPORT: Caterham appointed Californian Alexander Rossi as their test driver yesterday in a deal that could see an American on track when the US Grand Prix returns to the Formula One calendar later this year. Caterham said Rossi, the only American to hold an FIA superlicence, will take part in some Friday first-practice sessions at grands prix, as well as racing for a Caterham team in the junior Renault World Series. Dutchman Giedo van der Garde is Caterhams official reserve and is likely to do most free practice sessions not assigned to regular race drivers Heikki Kovalainen and Vitaly Petrov.
Opponent change for Taylor
BOXING:World number one Katie Taylor has had a change of opponent for the Silver Springs Hotel in Cork on March 30th.
The World and European lightweight champion was originally to meet American lightweight Cashmere Jackson on the St John’s BC-hosted show.
But Jackson has withdrawn and has been replaced by her US team-mate Liz Leddy of the Portland boxing club. Taylor is also due to box in Dungarvan on March 31st against an opponent to be confirmed. It’s going to be a very busy end of this month for Taylor as she will box for Ireland against Holland in Dublin and Cavan on March 23rd and 25th.
Meanwhile, Andy Lee will be targeting his first win of the year when he defends his North American title against the durable Saul Duran in Michigan this evening.
Defeat a blow to Scotland's hopes
CRICKET: Scotland's World Cup qualification hopes suffered another blow with a second defeat against the United Arab Emirates this week, after their hosts bettered their target of 206 with one ball to spare.
The UAE leapfrogged Scotland into second place in the ICC World Cricket League Championship with a two-wicket victory to follow their four-wicket triumph on Wednesday. Kyle Coetzer top-scored for Scotland with 73 as the visitors made 205 for nine in their 50 overs, but UAE hit 209 for eight in a thrilling finale.
Scotland had travelled to Sharjah with a 100 per cent record and ambitions of replacing Ireland at the top of the table but they remain two points behind.
Scotland now face Canada twice in Aberdeen in July as they look to get their World Cup hopes back on track.
Wiggins retains lead in Paris-Nice
CYCLING: Britain's Bradley Wiggins retained the overall lead in the Paris-Nice as Luis Leon Sanchez won the sixth stage yesterday.
Spanish former champion Sanchez edged out veteran Jens Voigt as the two broke towards the end of yesterday’s stage on the final hill.
Team Sky’s Wiggins still leads by six seconds ahead of Holland’s Lieuwe Westra and third-placed American Levi Leipheimer, who is 10 seconds adrift.
“It was a hard day,” Sanchez said. “It started very fast when a group of strong riders led the way. The peloton rode at a fast pace but I really wanted this stage badly. I thought about it from the start.”
Wiggins admitted his hopes of winning the tour were likely to come down to the final day when the riders will converge on the Col d’Eze.
“You can’t hide on Col d’Eze so everyone has got to have the legs on that day,” he said. “At the end of the day, I’ve just got to concentrate.”
Bennett strikes late to earn Shannon share of the spoils
RUGBY:Shannon forced a 20-20 draw with their great local rivals Garryowen at Dooradoyle in the Ulster Bank League Division One A last night, thanks to a last-minute penalty from man of the match Tadg Bennett, who scored all his side's points.
Garryowen looked set for victory when they led 17-5 at the interval.
And they got back in front again three minutes from the end, only for Bennett to land his fifth penalty to add to a try he scored when he blocked down an attempted clearance four minutes before the interval.
Garryowen’s hero was Declan Cusack, who also landed five penalties. Adam O’Loughlin had a try for the home side, who made it 11-0 with Cusack’s second penalty.
Then came Bennett’s try, which kept Shannon in touch.
Scorers: Garryowen 20 (A O’Loughlin try, D Cusack 5 pens); Shannon 20 T Bennett try and 5 pens)
GARRYOWEN: R OMahony; A OLoughlin, C Hircock, D Cusack, A Gaughan; F Lawlor, N Cronin; JP Cooney, D Rowley, D Lavery; F McKenna, D Sherry; P Neville, L Viapulu, K OGorman.
SHANNON: M Lawler; S McNamara, R Mullane, J Clogan, M DArcy; T Bennett, R Guerin (A Bennie 12); L Hogan, D Fitzgerald, K Griffin; D Heffernan, K Hanley; S Keogh, J Murphy, D Quinlan.
Referee, M Black IRFU.
