Sports Digest || DeFrank to fight in PAL nationals

DeFrank to fight in PAL nationals

HUDSON, Fla.

Female amateur boxer Alecia (Foutz) DeFrank, a Girard native, will fight in the 37th P.A.L. boxing championships at the SeaGate Convention Centre in Toledo, Oct. 1-8.

DeFrank (25-10), formerly of Port Ritchey, Fla., DeFrank has moved down from 125 to 119. According to USA amateurboxing.com, the 26-year-old is ranked No. 5 at 125.

At last year’s national P.A.L. tournament in San Antonio, DeFrank took a bronze medal, first beating New York’s Tiffany Griffin, 6-1, before losing to No. 2 ranked Liz Leddy of Portland, Ore., 22-18.

Last month, DeFrank earned a four-round decision over Destiny Haldo of Jacksonville, Fla.

Ireland beats US 22-10 in Rugby World Cup

NEW PLYMOUTH, New Zealand

Wing Tommy Bowe scored a try in each half Sunday to help Ireland overcome a sluggish start and beat the United States 22-10 at the Rugby World Cup.

A series of handling errors and wayward kicking performance prevented the Irish from capitalizing on their forward domination until Bowe crossed at the end of the first half.

Jonathan Sexton converted to make it 10-0 but missed another four efforts before Ronan O’Gara took over kicking duties. Hooker Rory Best crashed over 15 minutes into the second half and Bowe rounded off a free-flowing handling move to put Ireland clear.

Paul Emerick intercepted the ball and ran almost 50 yards to score and cut the final margin to 12 points.

Juan Jose Cobo takes Spanish Vuelta

MADRID

Juan Jose Cobo of Spain won the Spanish Vuelta on Sunday, protecting his 13-second lead over Britain’s Christopher Froome during the traditional finish in the Spanish capital.

Cobo finished the 66th edition of the classic race in 84 hours, 59 minutes, 31 seconds. Froome’s compatriot and Sky teammate Bradley Wiggins was third, 1:39 behind.

Slovak rider Peter Sagan edged the pack in a sprint to win the 21st and final stage, a 59-mile ride from the Circuito del Jarama race track to the city center in 2 hours, 20 minutes, 59 seconds.

Miami brings Olympic volleyballers back

Olympic beach volleyball gold medalists Kerri Walsh and Phil Dalhausser are back in the United States to compete in the championship of the National Volleyball League in Miami Beach, Fla.

Walsh had been playing on the international tour with her partner, Misty May-Treanor. Dalhausser had been competing abroad with Todd Rogers until he injured himself in Finland last month.

It will be the first American stop of the year for the two Beijing gold medalists. The domestic pro tour run by the AVP went bankrupt last summer.

Among the others competing in the event are April Ross and Jen Kessy, the No. 2 American women’s team.

America’s Cup

Don’t forget about the Kiwis.

Pushed to the background along with several other syndicates during a nasty legal fight between billionaires that locked up the America’s Cup for nearly three years, Emirates Team New Zealand has quickly re-established itself as a big-time power in sailing’s marquee regatta.

The Kiwis won the first stop on the new America’s Cup World Series last month in Cascais, Portugal, leaving reigning Cup champion Oracle Racing in third place. Team New Zealand skipper Dean Barker will go for another win when the ACWS shifts to Plymouth, England.

Rui Da Costa wins cycling Grand Prix

MONTREAL

Portugal’s Rui Faria Da Costa won the Grand Prix Cyclist de Montreal on Sunday, finishing the 127.5-mile race in 5 hours, 20 minutes, 16 seconds. France’s Pierrick Fedrigo was second, followed by Belgium’s Philippe Gilbert.

Da Costa and Fedrigo were part of a three-man break on the 17th and final lap up and down Mount Royal near downtown.

Vindicator staff/wire reports