RUGBY LEAGUE
Scotland were forced to reshuffle their squad after suffering injuries on the eve of their game against England Knights at Meggetland on Sunday, writes Nigel Duncan. Ruled out are Dale Ferguson who has a facial injury, Paul Jackson with an elbow problem and Shae Lyon-Fraser because of a shoulder knock. Drafted in are Jack Howieson, Ben Hellewell and the uncapped Brett Phillips. Three other uncapped players, Craig Borthwick, Tom Murray and Dave Vernon, all from Edinburgh Eagles, also feature in coach Dave Rotheram's 20-strong squad. Ollie Cruickshank, Scotland's manager, said: "This is our last test before our build-up to the Rugby League World Cup in 2013 begins, so we will be aiming to lay down foundations."
SQUAD. Scotland (v England Knights, Alitalia European Cup, Meggetland, Edinburgh, Sunday, 2pm) Jonathan Walker (Castleford Tigers), Ben Fisher (Catalan Dragons), Craig Borthwick, Callum Cockburn, Tom Murray, Dave Vernon (Edinburgh Eagles), Josh Barlow, Sam Barlow (Halifax), Adam Walker (Huddersfield Giants), David Scott (Hull Kingston Rovers), Liam Hood (Leeds Rhinos), Andrew Henderson, Jack Howieson, Mitch Stringer, Alex Szostak (Sheffield Eagles), Alex Hurst (Swinton Lions), Lee Patterson (unattached), Ben Hellewell (Warrington Wolves), Brett Carter, Brett Phillips (Workington Town)
basketball
Sterling Davis, the Glasgow Rocks coach, is closing in on a signing to help address his team's stuttering start to the season, writes Mark Woods. The American held contract talks with the forward Mike Ringgold, a fellow countryman, last week but the deal has stayed on hold while Davis considers other options. With a number of players being freed across Europe after the opening month of the new campaign, other players could come belatedly into the frame.
n Rocks will be away to Manchester or Sheffield in the quarter-finals of the BBL Trophy if they see off the Scottish League champions Edinburgh Kings in the first round of the competition. The draw also puts holders Newcastle on a collision course with chief rivals Plymouth for a spot in the last four.
bowls
Scots enjoyed a great day at both the World Champion of Champions in Cyprus and the World Under 25 Indoor Championships at Fraserburgh, writes Anne Dunwoodie. On the outdoor artificial greens in Paphos, Rutherglen's Mark Kelsey assured himself of a place in the knockout stages with a round to spare by reeling off wins over David Bryan of Zimbabwe, the Welshman Jason Greenslade and Leonard Callus, from Malta..
In Fraserburgh, West Lothian's Callum Logan will contest two titles today, against England's Martin Perry in the singles and in mixed pairs where he and Guernsey's Sophie Rabey, the defending champions, face Perry and Lauren Batiste, also of Guernsey. Dumbarton's Michelle Keenan will meet the holder, Amy Stanton from England, in the women's singles title after winning a tie-break 2-0 against East Fife's Lesley Gordon.
ice hockey
RAPID SOLICITORS ELITE LEAGUE
CARDIFF DEVILS 4
DUNDEE CCS STARS 2
Chris Blight set up two goals and then scored another in the third period as Devils came from behind to claim victory, writes Nigel Duncan.
Dundee had taken the lead in only 37 seconds as Alaskan-born Billy Bagron slotted home after good work by Mike Wirll and Sami Ryhanan. They made it 2-0 by converting a powerplay chance, with the defenceman Pat Bowen on target after 2min 15sec.
It was not until 2min 40sec into the final period that centre Mac Faulkner pulled a goal back but he equalised three minutes later. Max Birbraer then put Devils ahead with less than five minutes left and Blight added a fourth with a short-handed strike into an empty net 2sec from time left after Dundee gambled by withdrawing their netminder Nic Riopel.
n Drew Miller, the National Hockey League star playing for Braehead Clan, praised the side's "amazing" fans as he reflected on his first two weeks in Scotland, writes Nigel Duncan. The former Detroit Red Wings man has scored three goals, including a last-minute winner against Fife Flyers last weekend, and an assist as Clan have swept to three straight wins in the Elite League.
"Since the first day the guys have been great and made me feel part of the team," said the 28-year-old from New Jersey, who will be a key main against Nottingham Panthers tonight (7.30). "The transition has been easy apart from the time change [from North America]. I felt a little tired after the first few games as I've not played in five months but I'm feeling better [with] every game and the team is playing great. The fans are different from the US. They are loud there but chanting is the difference."
Netball
Scotland beat Samoa 50-34 in the final game on their three-match Test tour to win the series 2-1, writes Roddy Mackenzie. They had won the opening fixture 49-37 only for Samoa to square the series with a 30-29 win in front of their own fans. "We were determined to play our game, the Scottish way, that we have been developing for four years," said Denise Holland, the Scotland coach.
SNOOKER
John Higgins, the four-time world champion, maintained his hold over arch-rival Judd Trump in the Premier League in Guildford last night with a 4-2 victory, writes Lorin McDougall. The Scot beat the Bristol man in the 2011 world final and in last month's Shanghai Masters final. Trump won the opening frame with a 79 break but Higgins levelled with a 114, then forged ahead with breaks of 52 and 63.
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