Coach Maher wants more from his side

Tom Maher's side led only briefly in the opening quarter and went as much as 18 behind as the Germans drew first blood in the Tournoi 4 Nations.

The Australian will now demand better when his team meets Ukraine today. He said: "We have to focus on the things we're good at and take it one game at a time from here." Jo Leedham had a team-high 11 points for GB.

n Former Former NBA player Robert Archibald has urged Basketball Scotland not to vote against continuing to field a Great Britain team after this summer's Olympics.

The Paisley-born forward, who will retire following the Games, believes the sport has made a huge leap forward since a single national side was formed in 2006 in the wake of London's successful host bid.

Scotland, along with England and Wales, will decide next week whether to back proposals for a permanent merger before representatives from the home nations convene in Edinburgh next Saturday to finalise their future plans.

Archibald claims that opting out would leave his successors with no hope of playing on basketball's biggest stages."I think it would be a step back to say no," he said. "My belief is that the only way to get better is to play against the absolute best competition you can, year in and year out. For those guys to funnel young Scottish players away from that opportunity is really cutting off a great resource."

hockey

Pietie Coetzee, the top women's striker of all time, came to Titwood and scored four times in South Africa's 5-2 win over Scotland in the fourth test match, writes Craig Madden.

The result means that the South Africans have won the series 3-0 with one game drawn before the final encounter this afternoon.

The Scots had the chance to take the lead at an early penalty corner but the ball fell to Holly Cram, who missed the opportunity. Within a minute, the visitors were ahead. Coetzee got the ball at the top of the circle and beat Nicki Cochrane with a fierce reverse stick shot.

Three minutes later the Scots were back on level terms, Cram won the set piece, the ball was switched left by Becky Merchant and Ailsa Wyllie swept the ball home. Coetzee again came to the fore, at South Africa's first penalty corner of the match she sent her dragflick into the net for a 2-1 lead.

Although South Africa put the Scots under considerable pressure, and goalkeeper Cochrane was called upon to make some telling saves, the home side had a couple of chances towards the end of the half, Wyllie`s dangerous cross found no takers and Cram had the ball in the net but the umpire had already blown for a foul.

In the second half, Coetzee had her penalty corner effort saved by Cochrane while at the other end Nikki Kidd`s penalty corner effort went wide of the target. But in 58 minutes the South Africans turned the screw, Coetzee`s solo run took her into the circle and she released a fierce reverse stick shot past Cochrane for 3-1.

The fate of the contest was sealed with two further goals from South Africa, Kate Woods scored with a low shot at a set piece, then Ceotzee made it five with a low drag flick.

But the Scots never gave up and were rewarded with a consolation in the final minute, a hit by Merchant at a penalty corner was brilliantly deflected into the roof of the net by captain Linda Clement.

sailing

Competing sailors at the Brewin Dolphin Scottish Series could not have wanted for a better, more gentle return to the waters of Loch Fyne as light, but surprisingly settled breezes and warm sunshine marked the start of the annual regatta on Loch Fyne where 2006 champion Ruairidh Scott negotiated his native Tarbert waters best to post three back to back wins in IRC Class 3,

writes Andi Robertson.

Sailing on Fever Glenfiddich, a J/97 which is usually based on England's Solent, Scott and owner-helm Grant Gordon and crew did not really put a foot wrong in the light breezes to unfold a day of unmatched consistency. In contrast, the defending champions, Jim Dick's team on Jackaroo – an identical boat – started well and lead through Fever through the first race until they were caught near the finish.

But the crew which races under the Royal Yorkshire pennant were one of four which jumped the start gun in the third race and had to make a time-consuming restart.

"To be honest we were very close to being over as well, but we were clear and got away." Said Scott, "It was really good, close racing, a nice day on Loch Fyne and it was good to get three races of a good duration – each about an hour long – a good way to start the regatta."

It was a day when past Scottish Series champions made their mark early in the four day event which has attracted 92 yachts. Chris Bonar, Tich Summers and crew on Bateleur '97 posted a first, second and third to lead the top division, IRC Class 1.

"I have to say it was very much our kind of conditions with this boat, we had a good start in the first race and it took the big boats some time to catch up, but a lovely way to start the regatta," said Summers, who steered Bateleur to the top award in 1985 and 1997.

The CYCA fleet of cruisers and small keelboats enjoyed a longer passage race up to the north of Loch Fyne, towards Ardrishaig.

Here, too, it was a past winner of the top trophy, Howard Morrison who won 25 years ago this year, who triumphed on the Sigma 38 Enigma

speedway

Andrew Tully powered to a 15-point maximum as Edinburgh Monarchs mauled Sheffield Tigers 56-37 in the Premier League at Armadale last night, writes Nigel Duncan.

In-form Craig Cook slowed down on the line to let Tully through to his five-ride full-house as Monarchs won comfortably.

They were 30-18 ahead after Heat Eight and cruised to victory with 5-1 wins in Heat 13 and 15.