Alonso accused of 'chicken' play

Formula One: Red Bull's Dutch test driver Robert Doornbos accused Renault's Formula One world champion Fernando Alonso of "playing chicken" with him after they banged wheels in Turkish Grand Prix practice yesterday.

The incident was the second in two races between the two drivers. At the last grand prix in Hungary, stewards gave Alonso a time penalty for Saturday qualifying after he cut in front of Doornbos's Ferrari-powered car and then slowed sharply.

"I was on a good time and ended up in a bit of a 'chicken game' with Alonso," Doornbos said. "It was a case of 'who's going to brake latest', but that's all there was to it."

Alonso played down the incident.

Midland's Dutch driver Christijan Albers will lose 10 places on the starting grid after his car's Toyota engine failed in practice for the third race in a row. Engines must last for two successive races in Formula One or get an automatic penalty.

Hockey: A youthful Irish side, which featured four senior international debutants - Lisa Jacob, Emer Harte, Emma Clarke and Julia O'Halloran - opened their Celtic Cup campaign in Le Touquet, France, yesterday with a 1-0 victory over Scotland.

Clare Parkhill scored the winner 11 minutes after the break, collecting a free from Eimear Cregan from the left before sending an unstoppable shot high in to the roof of the net.

France, who Ireland play today, and Wales drew 1-1.

The Irish men got off to a disappointing start, losing 3-2 to Scotland in their Celtic Cup opener. Mark Gleghorne scored both Irish goals.

Equestrian: Ireland's three-day event team have dropped one place to ninth going into today's cross-country phase at the World Equestrian games in Germany, reports Grania Willis.

Hosts Germany hold a significant lead in the team standings, but there is only 2.5 penalties between second-placed Australia and Britain. The Germans also hold the top three places in the individual, with Bettina Hoy and the Irish-bred Ringwood Cockatoo out in front, followed by Ingrid Klimke (Sleep Late). Thursday's leader Andreas Dibowski is now tied in third with American Kim Severson.