SPORTS DIGEST: CRICKET: Ireland's players will have to put the pain of their three-run defeat to England out of their minds this weekend as they return to club action with the season entering its closing stages, writes Emmet Riordan.
Trent Johnston took the man of the match for his heroics at Stormont on Thursday, but still left the pitch looking disconsolate after England were let off the hook.
He's likely to take out those frustrations over the weekend as Railway Union face a vital double-header that will make or break their chances of winning Section A of the Leinster Senior League.
They face Pembroke at Park Avenue today in a local derby that is given added spice due to their oppposition's position at the bottom of the table. Railway Union, who are without Kevin O'Brien, travel to Castle Avenue tomorrow to take a Clontarf side who will still fancy their title chances.
Tralee Tigers not to play this season
BASKETBALL: The SuperLeague management board confirmed that Tralee Tigers, due to a combination of player and financial reasons, will not participate in this season's Nivea for Men SuperLeague.
The club have requested that the decision relates only to the 2009/10 season. The SuperLeague chairman Pat Duffy said: "The board understands the decision of Tralee Tigers and wishes the club the very best over the coming season.
"The board looks forward to considering future proposals from Tralee Tigers to participate in the league. Whilst obviously this news is disappointing, this year's campaign boasts an extremely strong line-up and the prospects are for a very competitive and entertaining campaign."
Australia expect aerial attacks
RUGBY: Australia are expecting an aerial bombardment on two fronts in today's Tri-Nations Test against South Africa at Perth's Subiaco Oval ( live on Sky Sports 2, 11am).
The Wallabies teenage fullback James O'Connor has spent the week catching high balls in anticipation of being peppered with up-and-unders from the South African kickers.
Australia's backrowers have also been kept busy trying to come up with a way of combating South Africa's towering lineout jumpers after being dominated in their last match in Cape Town earlier this month.
"There's always a lot of pressure, particularly in these matches because you are playing the best sides in the world," Australia's blindside flanker Rocky Elsom said yesterday. "If you don't perform you might lose but also it could get embarrassing."SHOW JUMPING: Switzerland won its fourth European show jumping team gold at Windsor Park yesterday in a closely fought competition, writes Margie McLoone. Lying third after the first round, Switzerland produced two rare clear rounds in the afternoon for a team total of 27.66.
Ireland finished seventh on a total of 35.86, only Thomas Ryan failing to make it through to the individual decider when Urleven van de Helle had the discard score in both rounds yesterday.
Best placed will be Darragh Kerins who had eight faults in the first round yesterday with Night Train but bounced back with a magnificent clear on Double H Farms' 10-year-old chestnut gelding.
Sri Lanka on course for victory
CRICKET: Sri Lanka seized control of the second Test against New Zealand yesterday as they reached stumps on 157 for two with a lead of 339 runs.
Spinners Rangana Herath and Muttiah Muralitharan combined to take six wickets in dismissing New Zealand for 234 on the third morning, putting the hosts on course for a series sweep.
Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara gave his team another solid platform with an unbeaten 64 from 90 balls. He shared an unbroken partnership of 68 with Mahela Jayawardene, who scored 23 not out, before rain stopped play.
Symmons free to aid Ireland's cause
WOMEN'S HOCKEY: Nikki Symmons has been cleared to play in Ireland's final EuroHockey Nations Championships classification match against Russia today (7.30am, Irish time) following a disciplinary hearing yesterday.
The midfielder was sent to the sin-bin against both Spain (dissent) and Azerbaijan (breaking down play) which made her liable to receive a one-game suspension.
However, the review panel deemed that, due to the offences relating to separate incidents, Symmons received only a written reprimand and a warning that should she incur a further yellow card, a one-game suspension for herself and Ireland would carry over to the next ranking tournament.
A draw will keep Ireland in the A division while a loss may result in relegation to the second tier.
McEnroe urges Murray to attack
TENNIS:John McEnroe believes Andy Murray has to get more aggressive in closing out matches if he is to make the leap from top player to Grand Slam winner.
Murray goes into next week's US Open having lost to Roger Federer in last week's Cincinnati Masters semi-finals, having previously lost to the same player in last year's US Open final.
And McEnroe, who won four US Open titles, believes the Scot would have been better placed to win both matches had he been more ruthless in them, as well as in earlier rounds.
"It's certainly an issue. Against Federer he seemed a bit passive and defensive and if you get caught up in long matches it can hurt you in the end," McEnroe said.
"I think he'd be better served in the long run at a major to be more aggressive at certain stages to win some easier points. He's capable of that."
