Digest: Scots prepare by facing the best

Scotland coach Russell Garcia is intent on taking on the top teams in the world and, as a result, Germany, England and Spain, all ranked the top five, are invited to a four-nations tournament at Inverclyde next weekend.

The Scots, ranked 23rd in the world, are building up for the Champions Challenge in Lille next month. This is Scotland's baptism at this level so Garcia sees attracting top flight-sides as the best preparation.

With the end of the GB programme, Garcia will now be able to call on East Grinstead's Niall Stott, but striker Stephen Dick will be absent, playing for Reading against Spanish side Club de Campo in the EuroLeague

WOMEN'S HOCKEY

Welsh thrashed in Celtic Cup opener

Gordon Shepherd, Scotland's coach, reflected with some satisfaction on his side's 6-0 trhashing of Wales in the opening match of the Celtic Cup at Largs.

"Perhaps it was not a perfect performance, it never is, but consider this was our first game together this year, this was much better than I was expecting," said Shepherd. "Our new tactics worked well, and we scored four goals from open play."

The return of GB players Laura Bartlett, Vikki Bunce, Emily Maguire and keeper Abi Walker certainly boosted the quality of the Scotland side, with goals from Ailsa Wyllie, Nikki Kidd (2), Bunce, captain Linda Clement and Catriona Ralph.

ATHLETICS

Double win boosts Edinburgh

A DOUBLE win in the 3000m from Sarah Hood (9:51.09) and Laura Dunn (10:11.08) and a personal best 200m of 23.80 secs from Stacey Downie helped Edinburgh AC finish fifth in the opening UK Women's League first division match at Leigh Sports Village, Manchester

Former Scottish champion Downie clipped 0.15 sec off her previous best in finishing third behind Margaret Adeoye (Enfield).

Downie, who clocked a wind-aided 11.86 in the 100m, also helped Edinburgh into second place in the 4 x 400m relay. Edinburgh's Susan McKelvie was second in the hammer (60.93m) and Emma Nuttall second in the high jump (1.75m).

MOTOR SPORT

Shedden a light on Oulton Park pole

Fifer Gordon Shedden bagged his second British Touring Car Championship pole position in succession when he topped the timesheets in his Honda Racing Civic at Oulton Park in Cheshire.

The 31-year-old from Dalgety Bay, who started from pole last time out at Thruxton before going on to score a win and a second place, lapped the 2.3-mile circuit in 1min 27.355secs.

The Scot's team-mate, double BTCC champ Matt Neal who leads this year's title race by 12 points, was 0.150secs slower but starts today's opener in the triple-header alongside Shedden on the front row of the grid.

SHINTY

Fort's four-year cup run ends in misery

There will be a fresh name on the Camanachd Cup this year after Fort William's five-in-a-row dreams were blown apart yesterday by rampant Newtonmore.

Fort have reached eight finals in a row and have won the last four. But that remarkable run was brought to a painful conclusion yesterday as Premier League champions Newtonmore tore them apart 8-1. Fort disintegrated under pressure in the second half and Danny MacRae grabbed five goals.

Steven MacDonald, Glen MacKintosh and Paul McArthur were also on the scoresheet, with Fort's only goal coming from Gary Innes.

In the day's other shock, lower league Kinlochshiel defeated Premier League outfit Glenurquhart 3-0.