The sports news round-up...
Butler's hat-trick wraps up another Neville Cup victory
MEN’S HOCKEY: Stephen Butler rounded off 2009 in style as his second-half hat-trick wrapped up a 10th Neville Cup title for Glenanne with a 3-0 triumph over inexperienced Corinthian.
The Ireland record caps-holder scored the perfect hat-trick by netting from a penalty corner, penalty stroke and from play as the Glens belatedly pulled clear at Serpentine Avenue in the annual St Stephen’s Day decider.
Corinthian had fronted up well in the first half, making light of the absence of five key players.
Player-coach Andrew Cronje was one of three South Africans out of town along with Venezuelan sharp-shooter Lucas Piccioli and Australian Dan Williams.
Nonetheless, the reds were the better side in the opening half. Davy Carson, as he was in the stunning recent win over national champions Pembroke, buzzed around to great effect as the high forward, while Brian Doherty’s drag-flick drew a save off the line from Butler.
Glenanne’s international contingent stepped up the pressure after the interval, with Butler and Joe Brennan squeezing the life out of the reds’ attack. Graham Shaw, in a more advanced role, escaped the first half shackles of Henry Micks – who enjoyed a fine outing in centre-midfield – to become the game’s key influence in a free role behind the forward line.
Pressure eventually told and Butler took advantage, flashing home a drag-flick from a debatable penalty corner in the 42nd minute.
And the tie was sealed when Shaw was bundled over in the circle. Butler made no mistake from the penalty spot with eight minutes to go and he capped his day with a bashed reverse from six yards.
Elsewhere, Munster’s Peard Cup final between Catholic Institute and Cork C of I was postponed due to frost while Ulster’s Kirk Cup final encounter between Banbridge and Cookstown was also postponed.
Parks' record takes Glasgow to the top
RUGBY: Glasgow Warriors outhalf Dan Parks can celebrate a record-breaking end to the year, as he became the first player in Magners League history to reach 1000 points.
The 20 points Parks scored in Glasgow’s 25-12 victory over Edinburgh – which took Glasgow to the top of the table – in yesterday’s derby in front of a record home crowd at Firhill Arena took him past the remarkable milestone.
911 of those points came from the boot – 121 conversions, 208 penalty goals and 15 drop goals – with the balance made up by the 18 tries he touched down between his league debut against Connacht in September 2003 and this weekend’s game.
The 31-year-old Sydney-born Scottish international has averaged 10 points per game over his 99 outings with the Warriors in the Magners League. Parks has been a central figure for the Warriors since joining from Eastern Suburbs club in Sydney in the summer of 2003.
His ever-reliable boot has seen him finish as top scorer in each of his six years at the club. The Warriors’ Player of the Season in 2006/07, when he scored 197 points, he is already the leading points scorer in Glasgow’s history, and has now added this Magners League landmark to his records.
Sri Lanka v India halted over pitch
CRICKET: The fifth and final one-day international between Sri Lanka and India had to be abandoned after 23.3 overs yesterday due to a dangerous pitch at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium in New Delhi.
Sri Lanka had toiled on the tricky surface to reach 83 for five after being put in to bat in foggy conditions when the match was called off after the pitch was deemed unfit to play on due to unpredictable bounce.
The decision to end the match early enabled India to win the series 3-1.
“The decision to abandon the match was taken by myself, in consultation with the on-field umpires Marais Erasmus and Shavir Tarapore, and both captains as it was clear that the pitch had extremely variable bounce and was too dangerous for further play,” match referee Alan Hurst said in an International Cricket Council statement.
