A round-up of today's other stories in brief...
Commuter Henge shares top billing
GOLF: Sweden's Fredrik Henge continued to reap the benefits of home comforts as he joined Finland's Antti Ahokas and England's John Mellor in a share of the halfway lead at the ECCO Tour Championship in Denmark.
Henge, who has been commuting by train over the border from his home town of Malmo, followed his opening-round 66 with a solid 70 to move to eight under par. He was matched by Mellor, who signed for a 68 for the second consecutive day, and Ahokas, after a 69.
Michael Hoey was best of the Irish, adding a 69 to his opening 73.
Colm Moriarty and David Higgins were a shot further back; Moriarty shooting a 71 and Higgins one shot better. Stephen Browne just made the cut after a second 72, but Gareth Maybin and Peter O'Keeffe were less fortunate. Maybin's 74 left him one shot outside the limit, while O'Keeffe's 71 could not make up for his opening 77.
Earls princely in Munster win
KEITH EARLS added to his growing reputation with a two-try haul in a man-of-the-match display as Munster warmed up for the new campaign with an impressive 35-14 victory over London Irish in a pre-season friendly at a sold-out Musgrave Park last night.
The utility back touched down for the only tries of a second half disrupted by frequent changes to both sides. He scored a fine individual try, converted by Ronan O'Gara, on the hour and then took the outhalf's cross-kick to complete the scoring two minutes from the end, O'Gara again posting the extras, this time from the touchline.
The European champions led 21-14 at the end of an entertaining first half during which Tony Buckley and Chris Hala'Ufia were sinbinned following a minor brawl.
Niall Ronan, Frankie Sheahan and Barry Murphy crossed for tries, converted by Paul Warwick.
The London Irish captain, Bob Casey, and Dylan Armitage responded with tries for the visitors, both converted by Peter Hewatt.
Australia going for a rare double
RUGBY: Australia are aiming to win successive tests in South Africa for the first time in 45 years when they face the world champions in the Tri-Nations today.
Following last weekend's 27-15 win in Durban, the Wallabies will seek to emulate the side of 1963, who recovered from losing the first of a three-test tour to defeat South Africa 9-5 in Cape Town, before edging them 11-9 in Johannesburg.
That victory in Johannesburg also marked the Wallabies' last win at Ellis Park, South Africa having claimed eight victories in nine previous matches in the capital.
"By winning in Durban, we have presented ourselves with an opportunity - to win back-to-back Test matches in South Africa - which is not only rare in an Australian context but is also historically significant across the game in general," New Zealand-born coach Robbie Deans said earlier this week.
Last weekend's victory also ended an eight-year drought for them in Durban.
Casey and Poulter start well but Harrington last
GOLF: Paul Casey and Ian Poulter did nothing to harm their Ryder Cup chances during the opening round of the Deutsche Bank Championship yesterday.
Casey and Poulter are among several players vying for Nick Faldo's two captain's picks on the European team, and both teed off knowing a bad round could hardly come at a less opportune time.
Casey made a slow start with 11 successive pars on a pleasant morning at the Boston TPC, before finishing strongly for a three-under-par 68, four shots behind clubhouse leader Vijay Singh. Poulter, meanwhile, carded 70.
Pádraig Harrington ran up a triple bogey at the par-five 18th for a four-over 75 that left him in last place.
Harrington now faces the distinct probability of missing next month's Tour Championship, even though he has won two majors this year, such is the way the PGA Tour's points system punishes players for missing the cut in the four-event play-off series.
Lowry and Caldwell do the business
GOLF: Jonathan Caldwell and Shane Lowry played a key role in helping Britain and Ireland establish a comfortable first-day advantage against the Continent of Europe in the St Andrews Trophy match at Kingsbarns yesterday.
Seeking their fifth consecutive success in the biennial contest the hosts are 7½-4½ ahead at the halfway stage, requiring only another 4½ points from the 12 available today to retain the trophy.
Caldwell from Clandeboye and Lowry of Esker Hills recorded excellent foursomes wins and then Lowry shared the spoils with the new European champion Stephen Gross in the singles, while Caldwell lost 3 and 1 to Alexandre Kaleka.
In the top foursomes clash Caldwell and the Scottish champion Callum Macaulay always held the upper hand against Reinier Saxton and Tim Sluiter, wining 3 and 1.
McGee keeps up the good work
TENNIS: Ireland's James McGee yesterday continuing his impressive run in the ITF Futures event, in Piombino, Italy.
The 21-year-old Dubliner, ranked 1,231st in the world, clinched a semi-final place when he stormed back after a difficult first set to send Italy's number four seed Riccardo Ghedin, ranked 414th, packing on a 2-6 7-5 7-6 (7/2) scoreline.
Today McGee plays the number three seed, Canada's Pierre-Ludovic Duclos.
