Egham eye more glory
Bowls: Egham’s mixed side take on Avon Valley tomorrow knowing that victory will see them compete in the semi-finals of all four national inter-club championships — the Egham, Yetton and Vivienne Trophies and the Denny Cup. John Sussex, Steve Fortescue and Bob Bass boosted their hopes when they beat Alan Hawke, Bryan Lee and John Wickham, of Torbay, 20-16, in the EIBA over-50 triples final.
Boston, the holders, were forced into an extra end by York before winning 74-73 to reach the semi-finals of the women’s national inter-club championship.
Shoaib pulls out
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Cricket: Shoaib Akhtar pulled out of Pakistan’s forthcoming tour of India yesterday, saying that it would take at least a month to recover from a hamstring injury. This further weakens a depleted Pakistan bowling attack, with Shabbir Ahmed and Umar Gul already ruled out of Pakistan’s first tour of India in six years. Shoaib denied his decision was linked to a $500 fine from the Pakistan Cricket Board for a disco outing during the recent tour of Australia.
Turkey race
Motorcycling: Turkey will host its first MotoGP race in October after the Rio Grand Prix in Brazil was cancelled. The race will be held on a 3.28-mile circuit in Istanbul and will be the penultimate round of the championship. The Portuguese Grand Prix fills the Rio date on April 17, with Istanbul making its debut on October 23.
Students on top
Hockey: Loughborough Students head group B after edging Menzieshill, the Dundee club, into second spot on goal difference after the opening day of the European men’s indoor club trophy in Ekaterinburg, Russia, yesterday. The students defeated Valhalla, from Sweden, 8-4, before drawing 4-4 with the Scottish team.
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Scotland triumph
Netball: An outstanding display of shooting by Morag Fraser paved the way for Scotland to open their campaign with a flourish when they beat the Isle of Man 67-25 in the Fena European Open championship in Sheffield yesterday. Anne Clark, the coach, took the opportunity to give all 12 of the squad a chance to play.
Hazell to stay
Rugby union: Andy Hazell, 26, the England flanker, has signed a new three-year contract with Gloucester. Hazell, who made his England debut in the autumn, agreed terms yesterday. “This season has been a big step up with my first cap, and the new contract is a great way to keep it moving,” he said.
Double attempt
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Cycling: Duncan Urquhart, Scotland’s Commonwealth Games rider, now based in Hampshire, starts his bid for a second weekend double today in the Andover Wheelers Hilly 10 miles time-trial, followed tomorrow by the central Sussex 16.3 miles event on a circuit at Ashurst.
England by one
Netball: Louisa Brownfield scored the winning goal for England Under-21 in a narrow 39-38 victory over Wales in the FENA European Open Championship in Sheffield yesterday. England had led 19-17 at half-time before squandering a five-goal lead in the final quarter.