Monarchs charge on as Fisher struggles in Armadale return

SPEEDWAY

Ryan Fisher, the former Monarchs No.1, had a disastrous night as he drew a blank on his return to Armadale last night, writes Nigel Duncan. The Californian, who was expected to be a real threat, misfired spectacularly as Edinburgh extended their unbeaten run to 21 matches since the start of the season.

Lewis Blackburn was the top scorer for Panthers with 14 points while the former Glasgow Tigers racer Joe Jacobs collected five points. Craig Cook, the Monarchs No.1, led the way with 13 points for the home side, who were 28-20 ahead after Heat 8 and finished Panthers off with a 4-2 scoreline in the final heat, Cook winning with Max Fricke, who contributed nine points, in third place. Justin Sedgman and Steve Worrall scored eight and seven points respectively.

BASKETBALL

The Scottish trio of Kieron Achara, Ali Fraser and Gareth Murray have been named in Great Britain’s initial 22-man squad for August’s EuroBasket qualifiers, writes Mark Woods.

The three, all part of the team which went out in the first round of last year’s finals in Slovenia, are joined by the Cleveland Cavaliers forward Luol Deng and Portland Trail Blazers centre Joel Freeland who return after sitting out the 2013 campaign.

Also included is Byron Mullens of the Philadelphia 76ers, who has pulled out in previous summers but there is no place for the injured point guard Andrew Lawrence or the former NBA forward Pops Mensah Bonsu, whose insurance costs are understood to have been deemed beyond the budget of British Basketball following the loss of their funding from UK Sport. There are also senior call-ups for the USA-based prospects Teddy Okereafor, Luke Nelson and Ben Mockford.

It has been confirmed that Joe Prunty’s side will play two friendlies against Latvia in Worcester before travelling to face Belgium, and then to Tbilisi to take on Georgia and Moldova before their opening qualifier against Iceland in Reykjavik on August 10.

Alberto Lorenzo, of the Spanish club Estudiantes, has been named as Prunty’s new assistant, replacing Guy Goodes, who has been appointed head coach by Maccabi Tel Aviv.

CYCLING

James McCallum, the NFTO rider, will miss tomorrow’s British Road Race Championships in order to ride in the 49th David Bell Memorial Road Race in Ayrshire, writes Colin Renton. He won the event three years ago and will be desperate to repeat that success in what may be his final appearance in an event on Scotland’s roads apart from his swansong, an appearance at next month’s Commonwealth Games. nA trio of Scotland’s Commonwealth Games track sprinters will be looking to test their fitness when they compete at the Manchester Keirin today. John KIERON ACHARA: one of three Scots in the initial 23-man squad for Great Britain’s EuroBasket qualifiers Paul and Craig MacLean will compete in the men’s events, while Jenny Davis will start as favourite in the women’s competition. Callum Skinner will be in Germany for the Cottbus Grand Prix.

GOLF

Lancashire’s James Robinson won his second HotelPlanner.com PGA EuroPro Tour title yesterday with a final-round 71 to finish on 12-under-par 204 in the Buildbase Open at Frilford Heath Golf Club, Oxfordshire, writes Colin Farquharson. The 25 year old won as an amateur at Slaley Hall in 2010 but this time takes home the £10,000 winner’s prize along with a brand new Motocaddy trolley and a Shotsaver range finder. Robinson, of Southport & Ainsdale GC, had broken the course record with a nine-under 63 in his opening round, carded a 70 for the second and fended off the challenge of Jack Colegate with his final-round 71. Colegate, of Deangate Ridge GC, finished just one shot behind. Archerfield’s Elliot Saltman was the leading Scot with a joint fourth-place finish on 207 after shooting 66.

The next pair of events on the HotelPlanner.com PGA EuroPro Tour are in Scotland: the Motocaddy Masters at The Carrick on Loch Lomond (July 9-11) and the Simpson and Marwick Championship at the Royal Burgess in Edinburgh (July 16-18).

SHINTY

Inveraray could have Garry Macpherson, their record-breaking player manager, back in the ranks today as they aim to lift the AJG Parcels Celtic Society Cup Stephen Maguire’s run in the Wuxi Classic in China came to an agonising end with a 5-4 quarter-final loss on the final black to England’s Martin Gould yesterday, writes Neil Goulding. Gould led 2-0 with breaks of 93 and 70, but Maguire, the former UK champion, battled back with a brilliant 145 clearance and runs of 71 and 77 to lead 3-2 and, after Gould levelled with a 49, he moved to within one frame of victory with a break of 45. Gould held his nerve and restored parity with a 62, then capitalised on Maguire’s failure to build on a break of 52 in the deciding frame, compiling a 36 to win on the black.

Neil Robertson, the former world champion from Australia, fought back from 4-3 down to beat Shaun Murphy 5-4; Barry Hawkins beat Marco Fu by the same scoreline; and Joe Perry was a 5-2 winner over the Finn Robin Hull.