ROWING: Neptune have taken the wind out of the sails of Trinity regatta tomorrow by their decision not to allow club members Ciaran Lewis and Sean Jacob to row with the visiting eight from Queen's Tower, who as a result have pulled out, writes Liam Gorman.
Combined with the decision of the nascent Irish lightweight eight to withdraw, Neptune's move has diminished what looked like one of the best line-ups of senior eights in an Irish regatta in many years.
Neptune captain Gerry Farrell said the evolution of the present Neptune eight meant he could not allow club members to row against their own club.
Garda, Commercial, Neptune, Trinity and the visiting Black Sheep crew will go into a re-draw. A suprise contestant for Neptune will be Gearoid Towey, signed up as a club member this week.
RUGBY: Newcastle's former Ireland hooker Ross Nesdale is to retire from rugby at the end of this season. New Zealandborn Nesdale helped the club lift the Premiership title in 1998. But after undergoing neck surgery last year, the 32-year-old will call it quits next month.
RACING: Paul Carberry recorded his first winner since breaking his left leg at Fairyhouse last October when taking the Lake District Maiden Hurdle aboard Eden Royale at Ballinrobe yesterday. The Ratoath rider only returned to the racecourse this week. Eden Royale benefited from a final flight blunder by Assessed to score by three lengths.
Reigning champion Barry Geraghty moved onto the 57 winner mark for the season when completing a 59 to 1 double aboard Mostovio and Jaguar Claw. Eamon Sheehy and Kieran Gaule teamed up to take the Mayo EBF Novice Handicap Hurdle with Cronin's Boy.
CRICKET: A defiant 81 from Brian Lara wasn't enough to lift the West Indies to a respectable score on the first day of the fifth test against South Africa. At the close, the home side had tumbled to a disappointing 214 for nine after captain Carl Hooper had elected to bat first on a good pitch at Sabina Park.
Three wickets fell in each of the first two sessions with South African captain Shaun Pollock striking twice in successive overs after the home side reached 53 for three at lunch.
