WOMEN'S HOCKEY:Having lost 4-0 to South Africa and 3-1 to the Dutch under-21s at the weekend, Ireland went down to the third consecutive defeat of their South African tour in a wet and windy Cape Town yesterday, but this time by just a single goal to their hosts, writes Mary Hannigan.

Frustratingly, however, after a scoreless first half, Ireland, captained by Eimear Cregan, should have taken the lead with 15 minutes to go when Julia O'Halloran earned a penalty stroke. Nikki Symmons, though, failed to convert, her effort saved by the South African goalkeeper.

South Africa responded by putting the Ireland defence under intense pressure, a spell that was rewarded with their own penalty stroke 10 minutes from time, which Tarryn Bright put away.