bowls
Alex Marshall, the record five-time world indoor singles champion from East Lothian, toppled the holder, Andy Thomson, in the second round of the Co-operative Funeralcare Scottish International Open in Perth, writes Kathy May. The 45-year-old, who has slipped down the world rankings to No.13, lost the opening set 8-2 but took the second 8-4 – he claimed singles on the last two ends after his 6-1 lead had been reduced to 6-4 – and carried his momentum into the tie-break which he won 2-0. Marshall, remarkably, is still seeking his first WBT title apart from those in the world indoor championships.
Nicky Brett, England's world No.16 beaten in the first round on his last three visits, scored an upset 5-7, 10-1, 2-1 win over Scotland's world No.3 David Gourlay, the Co-operative Funeralcare Welsh Grand Prix.
Darren Burnett earned a quarter-final berth by winning his all-Scottish meeting with Jonathan Ross. Burnett, the 36-year-old police officer from Tayside who is world No.4, edged out the former Irish internationalist now based in Paisley 9-6, 8-6. Burnett is aiming to regain the title he won back in 2001, while the wait for that elusive first World Bowls Tour title continues for Ross, the 38-year-old world No.11.
BASKETBALL
Kieron Achara, the Glasgow Rocks, boasts the best free throw record in the BBL in the first six weeks of the new season, writes Lorin McDougall. The Great Britain internationalist sank 12 of 13 and is the only player with an average of more than 90%. He is also the third-best rebounder, averaging more than 10 per game. His team-mate EJ Harrison is second in the Three-Point category, having made 15 of 27.
CYCLING
Graeme Obree, the two-time world track champion from Ayrshire, has blasted the UCI, the sport's governing body in the wake of the Lance Armstrong doping scandal, writes Lorin McDougall. Obree turned his back on a road career in 1995 after becoming disillusioned by drug use within the sport. "Cycling can never go back to the way it was; this is the moment it has to change," he said. "The problem is that the UCI is not a democratic organisation; it's autocratic. It's almost an old boy's network, a chum-ocracy."
FORMULA ONE
Bathgate's Paul di Resta expects to be Force India's No.1 driver next season as a result of Nico Hulkenberg's move to Sauber, writes Lorin McDougall. "I feel I have enough experience having been a part of this team long enough," he said. "The longer you spend with a team, the more it is structured around you, and I can see signs of that as we're already talking about the future and where we are at."
hockey
Becky Merchant, the Scotland defender, has recently had shoulder stabilisation surgery following the completion of this year's international programme, writes Craig Madden. She played throughout this year with her shoulder heavily strapped as she established herself as a first-choice player in coach Gordon Shepherd's team, following a couple of season's on the fringes, forming a sound partnership in the centre of the defence with the experienced Milne Craig Western captain Catriona Ralph.
The defender has been playing for Surbiton since the Commonwealth Games in Delhi and helped the London club gain promotion to the Investec Premier Division for the first time. Her international commitments and the surgery have prevented her from turning out for them this season during which they have made a dream start and currently sit in second place.
The early prognosis is that she will be out of action for five-six months as there was "slightly more damage than initially seen in scans, although the surgeon was happy with how it went", she said.
The former Grove player recently returned to Edinburgh after finishing her contract with Coca-Cola in London but has decided to go into teaching and is applying for a PGCE for Biology from next September. In the meantime, she is working as a coach at Fettes College in the city. "Being in Edinburgh will help with my rehab as I will have full access to the staff at SportScotland Institute of Sport," she added.
ICE HOCKEY
Stephen Murphy, the netminder from Dundee, could break through the 50-cap barrier in the pre-Olympic qualifiers in Japan starting on Friday, writes Nigel Duncan. The former Fife Flyers, Dundee Stars and Edinburgh Capitals player is in the squad to play three games in three days in Group J against Korea (Friday), Romania (Saturday) and Japan (Sunday).
Now at Belfast Giants, the 30-year-old is one of three players on 48 caps – the others are the forwards Matthew Myers, of Nottingham Panthers, and Jonathan Phillips, of Sheffield Steelers – in the squad which flew out from London yesterday. "Fifty caps would be very nice but the main focus is on winning three games and getting to the next stage," said Murphy. "I love playing for GB and this tournament, and the rewards it can bring, is huge for us."
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