A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Ponting reprimanded for dressingroom incident
CRICKET: A bizarre episode at the World Cup was finally closed yesterday when Australian Ricky Ponting paid the price for damaging a dressingroom television in pique and was reprimanded by the game’s governing body.
After being run out against Zimbabwe, Ponting (36) threw down a piece of cricket equipment only to see it ricochet and hit the TV screen, causing it to break down.
Incidents of sportsmen losing their cool are hardly rare in sport but under the glare of a large media spotlight following the tournament, Ponting’s actions were being given increasing prominence.
The International Cricket Council (ICC), deciding that players cannot go around short-circuiting television sets on a whim, duly issued a statement yesterday confirming that Ponting had been reprimanded.
Ponting was, it said, guilty of “abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings during an international match”.
Ponting accepted the verdict.
NUI Galway to face UCC in final
SOCCER: NUI Galway are hoping to bridge a 12-year gap in today’s Irish Universities Collingwood Cup final against UCC at College Park (2.30).
First half goals from Evan Preston Kelly and Enda Dunne in the semi-final clash with Northern challengers University of Ulster Jordanstown set Billy Clery’s charges up nicely to go on and clinch a place in the final for the third successive season.
Linfield striker Shane Jennings managed to score in the closing minutes for Jordanstown but it was too little too late.
Holders UCD bowed out to UCC in a thrilling semi-final. Cork got off to a great start when Rob Waters struck to send them into an early lead. UCD got back on terms with a neat header at the far post from Mick Leahy. But Cork went 2-1 ahead minutes before the break through Rufus Holmes and UCD’s Paul Corry saw a penalty saved during the second half.
Afridi leads Pakistan by example
CRICKET: Shahid Afridi picked up five wickets as Pakistan thrashed Kenya by 205 runs in their World Cup Group A match in Hambantota yesterday.
Afridi returned the best World Cup figures by a Pakistan bowler with his spell of five for 16 off eight overs as Kenya were bundled out for 112 in 33.1 overs.
Leg-spinner Afridi tore apart Kenya’s middle and lower order after half-centuries from Misbah-ul-Haq, Younus Khan and the Akmal brothers helped Pakistan post 317 for seven.
Kenya bowled a world-record 37 wides and again failed to bat out their 50 overs. Pakistan’s Test captain brought up his 50 in 58 balls while Umar Akmal took just 40 balls to reach his first World Cup half-century.
McLean try seals RBAI's passage
RUGBY: RBAI qualified for the semi-final of the Northern Bank Schools’ Cup with a 19-13 victory over Armagh Royal but Methodist College and Campbell College will have to meet again at a neutral venue after a 10-10 draw at Pirrie Park.
RBAI took a 14-10 interval advantage. Paddy Bell put them in front with a try converted by Matthew McGuigan but Armagh came back with a Harry Boyd drop goal. A brilliant solo effort try from Johnny McClure was goaled by McGuigan but, once again, the visitors retorted when Boyd added the points to a Daniel Rainey score.
Inst went further in front eight minutes into the second period with a Kevin McLean try. Armagh could only add an Alastair Wright penalty.
A late pushover try earned Methody a last kick of the tie conversion in front of the posts but the kick was charged down.
Maguire to appeal seven-day ban
RACING: Jason Maguire will appeal against a seven-day ban that rules him out of the ride on leading Stan James Champion Hurdle hope Peddlers Cross at Cheltenham next month. Maguire was all set to partner the unbeaten six-year-old for Donald McCain on March 15th – but found himself in hot water with the stewards at Doncaster following his ride on the stable’s Cool Mission, runner-up to Beshabar in the three-mile beginners’ chase. His suspension will be effective from March 9th-15th. Five days of the ban was for marking the horse, with two days for using his whip with excessive frequency. Maguire said: “It’s very frustrating for me because it’s the first day of Cheltenham and I’m due to ride Peddlers Cross. I’m obviously going to have to appeal and see what happens. I gave the horse a strong ride. It’s the marking that’s caused the problem. Once you mark a horse there’s no comeback from that, but something has to be done about that rule.”
Murtagh in action in Dubai
RACING: Johnny Murtagh got off the mark for 2011 when winning on Godolphin’s Calvados Blues in Dubai last Friday and the Irish star has four opportunities to add to that at Meydan today, writes Brian O’Connor.
Quick Val is Murtagh’s mount in the Group Three UAE Oaks although she will have to improve on her UAE 1,000 Guineas sixth to Mahbooba to contend. The latter’s South African trainer Mike De Kock was in confident form yesterday as he pursues another win in the race.
“She is a good filly and has really pleased us this year. The Guineas was a good win and this extra distance should suit. Hopefully she is the one they all have to beat,” he said.
Other Irish interest today will centre on David Marnane’s Separate Ways in a nine furlong handicap on the artificial Tapeta surface where Murtagh will be on board Sweet Lightning.
Kildare trainer Michael Halford will be represented by Hujaylea in a mile handicap on turf.
