D Thursday, October 22, 2009 METROSPORT 21 Special relationship: Branson Branson waiting to decide Brawn future Sir richard Branson will decide after the final race of the season whether his Virgin Group will continue to sponsor the victorious Brawn GP outfit. Virgin agreed to back the team on the eve of the season in March, just weeks after Brawn secured their survival in the wake of Honda pulling out of the sport. The decision paid off as Jenson Button took the drivers championship for Brawn, with his efforts and those of team-mate rubens Barrichello also enough to claim the constructors title. The season ends on Sunday week in Abu Dhabi, amid speculation Virgin could switch allegiance to the new Manor outfit next season. Branson said: it was the perfect relationship. Virgin loves to support an underdog but they are now one of the most expensive teams and certainly not underdogs any more. But we will make an announcement in the next month. At the moment we just want to celebrate. We were absolutely delighted to get involved when they didnt have any money. it enabled them to prove they had a great car and great drivers. Leinster hold breath as Jennings faces appealBy gareth makim rugby magnerS league LeinSTer will find out today if the 12-week suspension handed down to Shane Jennings is to be re- duced after the flankers appeal is heard in Dublin. Jennings was found guilty by an independent judicial officer last week of making contact with the eye or eye area of London irish lock nick Kennedy during the sides Heineken Cup tie at the rDS two weeks ago, but Leinster lodged an appeal against the ban yesterday. if the suspension is upheld, ire- land openside Jennings will miss next months internationals against Australia, Fiji and South Africa, Decembers back-to-back european ties against Llanelli Scarlets and five Magners League matches. He would be eligible to return on January 6 ahead of the visit of Glas- gow Warriors to Dublin and the final pool games in the Heineken Cup. Meanwhile, Ulster have opted to rest ireland out-half Paddy Wallace as they welcome Leinster to raven- hill for a battle between the top two sides in the Magners League table this Saturday. Wallaces omission is the only change made by coach Bri- an McLaughlin to the 25-man squad that were edged out in edinburgh last weekend. Obviously last weekend was a massive disappointment for us, but were not going to dwell on it, said hooker Andy Kyriacou yesterday. The only game that matters now is Leinster, at ravenhill, on Satur- day. its first versus second and eve- ryone is really excited about it. i think that goes for the support- ers as well. ravenhill was really kicking in terms of atmosphere for the Bath game and id expect it to be the same at the weekend. ulster squad (v leinster): N Brady, B Botha, B Young, E ODonoghue, A Kyriacou, S Ferris, R Diack, C Henry, W Faloon, T Horua, T Court, D Tuohy, R Caldwell, D Fitzpatrick. T Nagusa, D Cave, S Danielli, I Whitten, I Boss, I Humphreys, J Shiels, P Marshall, C Schifcofske, N OConnor, A Trimble. D-Day: Jennings will appeal 12-week ban today Picture: Sportsfile formula one Players solve Meath crisis Meath will definitely have a representative in the Leinster club SFC after player power brought an end to the county championship crisis. Wolfe tones had been due to play Seneschalstown in the final this Sunday but it was postponed because of the threat of an objection from beaten semi- finalists Navan OMahonys. however, the OMahonys players met on tuesday night and sportingly agreed not to lodge any objection which may further delay the championship. the row arose over the eligibility of tones midfielder Stephen Corrigan in for last Sundays semi-final replay after he was red-carded in extra-time of the drawn game. extra-time was not actually stipulated for the original game and should not have been played, thereby voiding Corrigans dismissal. OMahonys played the replay under protest but have opted not to appeal at the request of their players. a statement claimed players did not wish to tarnish our clubs good reputation by lodging an objection. the Meath final will now go ahead on Sunday week. gaa BASEBALL: Alex Rodriguez smacked his fifth home run of the post-season and CC Sabathia gave up just one run in eight innings as the New York Yankees beat the LA Angels 10-1 to move within one win of their first World Series since 2001. Rodriguez failed to deliver the goods in recent post-seasons but homered and scored three runs. I will say that in other post-seasons I failed, sometimes miserably, Rodriguez said. It certainly feels good to come through for my team to help them win. gOlF: martin kaymer is set for an early return from the foot injury that has sidelined him for nine weeks. the 24-year-old broke his toes in a karting accident after the uS Pga Championship in august while sitting top of europes race to Dubai. But the german, who has now dropped to third in the table behind lee Westwood and rory mcilroy, said: ive come back early not because of the money list but as i miss the game so much. TENNIS: Marat Safin, just a few weeks short of retirement, knocked top seed Nikolay Davydenko 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 out in a high-profile first-round tie between the two Russians at the Kremlin Cup yesterday. In-form Davydenko, who won last weeks Shanghai Masters to climb to No.6 in the world, looked fatigued and jet-lagged after his flight from China and world No.1 Safin played some inspired tennis in the deciding set. At this stage, any match could be my last, said Safin. early return: kaymer SPORTDigest index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html24.html25.html26.html27.html