DIGEST

GOLF

SCOTLAND’S

Marc Warren starts the final round of the Czech Masters in Prague today seven shots off the lead and tied for 14th place. Warren shot 72 to end day three with a five-under-par total.

The leader, Thomas Pieters of Germany, holds a two-stroke advantage after a 70. American Paul Peterson, who had the best round of the tournament, an eight-under-par 64, lies second. Warren’s countrymen Scott Jamieson (71) and Andrew McArthur (69) were both on four under.

HOCKEY

SCOTLAND

controlled most of the play but had to settle for a 3-3 draw in the second Test against Italy at Glasgow Green yesterday. Bromac Kelburne striker Lee Morton scored a quickfire double to put the home team 2-0 up, but Italy were level by half time thanks to goals from Felipe Ponce and Gonzalo Ursone.

Julien Dallons then put the Italians ahead from a penalty corner, but Kenny Bain equalised with the goal of the game. The Scots still hold the lead in the three-match series after a 5-0 victory in the opening game.

MOTORSPORT

BATHGATE’S

Paul di Resta boosted his hopes of winning the German Touring Car Championship (DTM) when he finished second in the latest round in Moscow. The 2010 champion helped Mercedes complete a podium lock-out at the end of a race dominated by atrocious conditions. While polesitter and fellow Briton Gary Paffett finished third, Canadian Robert Wickens mastered the soaking conditions at Moscow Raceway to win and move into the championship lead.

“I’ve got to be happy with that,” said Di Resta, who is 16 points behind team-mate Wickens in the title battle with seven races remaining. “At times it was all we could do to keep the car on the track, it was so slippery. But another podium is a great result for me, and for Mercedes to fill all three places is great for the manufacturers’ championship.”

The performance moved Mercedes five points clear of Audi in the race for the manufacturers’ crown.

RUGBY UNION

NEW Zealand produced a stunning performance to thrash defending champions Australia 42-8 in Sydney in the opening match of the 2016 Rugby Championship. The contest was as good as over by half-time, after the All Blacks scored tries through Ryan Crotty, Beauden Barrett, Jerome Kaino and Waisake Naholo to establish a 32-3 lead at ANZ Stadium.

Replacements Dane Coles and Julian Savea added further scores in the second half to complete one of New Zealand’s biggest victories over their arch-rivals. The Wallabies, who had opened the scoring with a Bernard Foley penalty, claimed a consolation try through Nick Phipps five minutes from time.

New Zealand were possibly spurred on by the discovery of a listening device last week in a Sydney hotel room where an All Blacks team meeting was held. The incident, including the five-day delay in the reporting of the discovery, is now the subject of a police investigation.

Later, South Africa came from behind with two tries in the last 10 minutes to start their Rugby Championship campaign with a 30-23 win at home to Argentina in Nelspruit. The home side got off to a flying start with a Ruan Combrinck try after six minutes, but the Pumas hit back through Matias Orlando after

24 minutes and Santiago Cordero after 66 minutes to lead 23-13. However, Johan Goosen and Warren Whiteley saved the day with further scores for the Springboks – the latter touching down two minutes from time – with Elton Jantjies adding vital conversions. SHINTY

OBAN

Camanachd will face Newtonmore in the Camanachd Cup final next month after they overcame Lochaber 4-2 in the semi-final at Taynuilt. Man of the match Andrew McCuish bagged two first-half goals to put his side 2-1 ahead at the interval with Ben Delaney keeping Lochaber in the contest.

Oban went further ahead three minutes after the break through Daniel McVicar, then Daniel Cameron made it 4-1. Just after the hour mark Delaney scrambled the ball over the line to give Lochaber hope, but they could not score again and Oban finished the match on top.

The final is at An Aird on September 17, with Oban making their first appearance for 15 years while Newtonmore will be bidding for their 31st triumph.

In the Marine Harvest Premiership, Newtonmore beat Fort William 6-0, confirming Fort William’s relegation from the top league. Skye and Glenurquhart both lost, away to Lovat and Kinlochshiel respectively, while Kyles Athletic beat Kingussie 4-2.

TENNIS

ANDY

Murray set up a rematch with Milos Raonic while Grigor Dimitrov continued his summer resurgence to reach the semi-finals of the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati. The Scot fired down 10 aces in a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Bernard Tomic to book a last-four clash with Raonic, who he beat in the Wimbledon final last month. Raonic was a 6-3, 6-4 winner against Austria’s Dominic Thiem.

Dimitrov dominated American No 1 Steve Johnson on his way to a 7-6 (10/8), 6-2 win. His semi-final opponent was to be Marin Cilic, who benefited from fellow Croat Borna Coric’s retirement with the score at 6-2, 0-0.

Speaking of his meeting with Raonic, which was taking place overnight, Murray said: “Yeah, tough match obviously. We played in the semis in Australia this year and then the Wimbledon final, the Queen’s final as well. It’s been tight, but I’ve just managed to play a bit better in the important moments.”