Sports news in brief: Hockey | Golf | Rowing

A couple of costly draws denied Inverleith the indoor division one hockey title, as Dundee outfit Grove Menzieshill claimed the honours instead.

Ultimately, it was a 4-4 with Menzieshill in the final fixture that finished off the Edinburgh side, but an earlier 3-3 scoreline against city rivals Grange was the one that did most damage as it saw them surrender the lead in the table to the Taysiders.

The day had started well enough with a 12-0 whipping of bottom side Harris. But the squandering of a 3-2 advantage late on against Grange would prove crucial as it left Inverleith needing a victory over Menzieshill to take the crown. The Capital outfit led twice but Menzieshill did just enough to hang on for the title. Menzieshill had opened with a 7-0 win over Glynhill Kelburne, and then won their local derby 4-2 against Dundee Wanderers.

Grange went through the day unbeaten to finish third and land a place in the European play-offs. Wanderers took the final European play-off spot.

Wood’s eagle finally lifts him into winners’ circle

GOLF: Chris Wood proved that he does have what it takes to be a European Tour winner with a closing 12-foot eagle putt at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters in Doha.

It came two years after he was four strokes clear with a round to play in Majorca, but shot 76 and handed the title to Darren Clarke.

“We don’t have to worry about him – he will win and it will be sooner rather than later,” said Clarke. But, by Saturday, Wood had taken his total of top-ten finishes to 19, including three seconds.

Having led by three at the start of the day, he was one behind Sergio Garcia and George Coetzee when he stood on the final tee. He hit a 300-yard drive, a six-iron over water to 12 feet and sank the putt.

“It feels amazing – a dream come true,” said the 25-year-old from Bristol. “I’ve been knocking on the door a few times and it’s not happened. Now there’s an enormous weight off my shoulders.”

On the PGA Tour, fog made a farce of the third day of the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines, California, which will now finish today. Only six players started their third rounds and Tiger Woods will resume tomorrow on 11 under par, with Billy Horschel his nearest challenger on nine under.

Olympic silver medal cox Nethercott dies at 35

ROWING: Olympic silver medal-winning cox Acer Nethercott has died, aged 35.

Nethercott coxed the British men’s eight to a silver at the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008.

His death was confirmed in a tweet from the official GB Rowing Team Twitter account yesterday, but no information was given on the cause of death. The tweet read: “Today we mourn passing of Acer Nethercott. Keen, eager & spirited like his name. Great member of @GBRowingTeam. Thoughts are with family.”

A tweet from Molesey Boat Club, where Nethercott was a member, read: “All very sad at Molesey BC this morning, with the tragic news that Acer Nethercott has passed away. RIP Acer, you’ll be sorely missed.”