BOXING

Scott Harrison is set to have a third comeback fight which may result in the former World Boxing Organisation featherweight champion challenging Ricky Burns for his world lightweight title, writes Jim Black.

According to Harrison's manager, Alex Morrison, a win for the 35-year-old at the Kelvin Hall on the December 1 bill will pave the way for fellow promoter Frank Warren to agree a deal.

Morrison, who also manages Burns, revealed: "Scott, his dad and trainer, Peter and I took part in a conference call with Frank the other day and if he shows up well in his next fight, he will face Ricky early in the New Year."

Harrison, pictured, ended a six-and-half year exile from the ring with a fourth-round stoppage of Hungarian Gyorgy Mizsei in June before following up by outpointing Englishman Joe Elfidh a month ago. Burns, meanwhile, will make the latest defence of his WBO belt against an as yet unnamed opponent at London's ExCel Arena on December 15.

Kenny Anderson challenges veteran Englishman Robin Reid for the vacant British super-middleweight crown at the Sheffield Arena tonight.

The Edinburgh fighter has been waiting six years for his chance after suffering a series of setbacks, including Commonwealth champion George Groves twice pulling out of bouts.

That led to the Boxing Board of Control stripping Groves of the British crown and declaring the Lonsdale Belt vacant. Anderson said: "It's a relief to be fighting for the title at long last. If I don't get past Reid, I am going nowhere."

BASKETBALL

Glasgow Rocks rookie Donald Robinson has asked for patience while he gets used to life in the British Basketball League, writes Mark Woods.

The American guard, whose side visits Surrey Heat tomorrow, admits that he has endured an inconsistent start to his professional career since signing in the summer. However with Rocks coach Sterling Davis demanding urgent improvements from his team, Robinson feels ready to live up to his reputation.

"There's been a bit of an adjustment for me," he said. "Coming from college into the pros, I'm having to fix things in my game. There's more size and strength here. That's a challenge for me to get used to."

The Rocks will look for their second league victory on their trip to Guildford against a Heat side which has enjoyed a promising first month of the campaign. Great Britain forward Kieron Achara has remained with Glasgow after extending his week-by-week deal but further reinforcements have been slow to arrive despite ongoing discussions with American-born forward Mike Ringgold.

The delay in adding an extra signing has not helped Davis' building process as he bids to make up ground on leaders Newcastle. "We're a whole new team this year and we're trying to mesh," Robinson conceded.

"Everyone is buying in and coming together and I think it will work out. You saw against Manchester that we come out on top if we stick together and fight. We have that within us."

BOWLS

Blantyre's Iain McLean begins the defence of his national singles title at Playdowns Cumbernauld with a test against JJ Watson (Headwell), writes Anne Dunwoodie. Scott Murray from Fraserburgh or Darren Gaultierie from Whiteinch will be waiting on the sidelines for the winner in the event which will be held today and tomorrow.

It's a tough preliminary quarter of the draw, with last year's beaten finalist Andy Furye from Arbroath tackling last week's Champion of Champion qualifier Ronnie Duncan from Midlothian with a potential head-to-head scheduled for tomorrow morning.

Only one other former winner is in the line-up and you've got to go back to 1989 to see Stevie Rankin from Auchinleck's name in the record books. He takes on Clydebank's Drew Hearton.

CRICKET

Scotland were last night denied victory in a dramatic finale to their latest tour match in South Africa, writes William Dick. A superb century from Richie Berrington and 77 from Moneeb Iqbal allowed the tourists to set North West Dragons 320 on the final afternoon of their three-day match in Potchfestroom. Iqbal then completed a fine all-round show by claiming three wickets as the Dragons were left teetering on 130-9.

Leg-spinner Iqbal was convinced he had sealed victory from the final delivery of the match when he had their last man "caught" at slip. However, the umpire ruled in favour of the batsman, claiming the ball had struck the pad.

Scots coach Pete Steindl said: "It was a close thing, Moneeb and the close fielders were convinced the guy had nicked it. The decision didn't go our way but the match has been a great exercise for the whole squad.

"We probably batted longer than we would have done normally but we wanted to give Richie and Moneeb some time in the middle and the pair took advantage of it. We then put their batsmen under a lot of pressure and just ran out of time to force the win."

HOCKEY

Vishal Marwaha, Western Wildcats` coach, was well satisfied with his side`s 2-0 win over Edinburgh University last weekend in the Aberdeen Asset Management league but the visit of Grove Menzieshill to Auchenhowie could present a much more difficult assignment, writes Craig Madden.

Marwaha recalls the last encounter when the Taysiders were allowed to steal a 3-3 draw in the Presidents Cup a few weeks ago with a last-gasp equaliser. "We have to show more discipline and control at critical points in the game. Menzieshill are an improved side and we have to step up our performance significantly."

TENNIS

Ashley Hewitt yesterday won through to the final of the men's $15k Futures event with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Neil Pauffley, the No.8 seed, in an all British semi-final tie at Scotstoun, writes John Stevenson. The 20-year-old qualifier, from Warrington, will meet Germany's No.3 seed Bastian Knittel, a 6-2, 7-6 (10-8) winner over former champion Richard Bloomfield, in the last four.

Samantha Murray is the sole surviving Briton in the women's $25k Challenger event. In yesterday's quarter-final, she beat Stephanie Vogt, the No.5 seed from Leichenstein, 6-1, 7-5 to set up a semi-final tie with Diana Marcinikevica. The Latvian had earlier beaten Britain's Tara Moore 6-4 6-4.

The British duo of Sean Thornley & David Rice won the men's doubles title with a 6-3, 6-2 final win over Knittel & Laurynas Gregolis (Ltu).

TRIATHLON

David McNamee is aiming to finish his season on a high in tomorrow's World Triathlon Grand Final in Auckland – and break into the top 20 in the rankings for the first time, writes Mark Woods.

The 24-year-old from Stirling is part of a six-strong Great Britain team that also includes Olympic bronze medallist Jonny Brownlee and after two top-10 finishes on the international circuit so far this year, the Scot believes he is in shape to contend.

"It has been a long season but I am glad that I seem to be progressing," McNamee said. "So hopefully, I will have one big last result in New Zealand."

In the absence of his brother, Alistair, Brownlee will start favourite for the men's title after maintaining his position at the top of the rankings.