Chapman on 'Bloodgate' charge:
RUGBY:The doctor at the centre of the Harlequins 'Bloodgate' scandal has been summoned to appear before a General Medical Council misconduct hearing in Manchester on August 23rd.Dr Wendy Chapman (46) is alleged to have deliberately cut the lip of Harlequins winger Tom Williams to cover up the use of a fake blood capsule in the Heineken Cup quarter-final against Leinster on April 12th, 2009.
The GMC Fitness to Practice hearing, which is expected to last two weeks, will also consider allegations that Chapman made statements to “deceive others that the injury occurred on the field”.
Chapman is also accused of failing to inform a subsequent European Rugby Cup disciplinary hearing that she had caused the injury to Williams’ lip.
The GMC alleges that Chapman’s conduct “was likely to bring the profession into disrepute and was dishonest”.
If found guilty she could be struck off.
Kuznetsova bows out to Shapapova
TENNIS:Maria Sharapova battled to a 6-4 1-6 6-2 victory over in-form Russian compatriot Svetlana Kuznetsova to reach the second round of the Cincinnati Masters yesterday.
Kuznetsova arrived fresh off a victory in San Diego on Sunday and her first round clash against Sharapova did not disappoint as a contest between two multi-Grand Slam winners returning to form.
Sharapova broke Kuznetsova in the ninth game of the opening set to take early control of their match.
But Kuznetsova roared back to win the the second set in just 30 minutes. In the third, former world number one Sharapova once again took the initiative and surged 3-0 ahead before she broke Kuznetsova a second time in the decider to close out the match. Top seed Jelena Jankovic opened the defence of her crown with a 6-4 3-6 6-1 win over Russia’s Vera Dushevina.
Federer eases back into business
TENNIS:Roger Federer launched his North American hardcourt campaign with a workmanlike 7-6 6-3 win in 81 minutes over Argentine Juan Ignacio Chela to move confidently into the third round of the Toronto Masters yesterday.
Twice a champion in Canada, it seemed business as usual for Federer when he strolled onto a packed centre court to the cheers of an adoring crowd.
Federer has surrendered the number one world ranking he held for 285 weeks and entered a tournament as the third seed for the first time since November 2003.
Playing in his first tournament since a shock quarter-final exit at Wimbledon, Federer needed a few games to knock off some rust.
“It’s always nice to come back after six weeks and get the win,” Federer said.
Meanwhile, Robin Soderling advanced to the third round with a 4-6 6-4 6-4 win over young Latvian Ernests Gulbis.
O'Leary leads Star keelboat class
SAILING:Fine summer conditions returned to Weymouth yesterday for the third day of the Skandia Sail for Gold Regatta and after a long day at sea, Ireland's Peter O'Leary with substitute crew Frithjof Kleen took the overall lead in the Star keelboat class, reports David Branigan.
The duo scored a third place followed by a fifth and a sixth in the 36-strong fleet that includes world champions and multiple Olympic medallists.
The Star class with the Finn single-handers had the longest day as their course lies eight miles from the London 2012 Olympic regatta centre at Portland.
Annalise Murphy scored a 14th place and coming on top of her second and first places from Tuesday, the Dun Laoghaire single-hander lies eighth overall, halfway through the event and has qualified for her Gold fleet.
Ryan Seaton and Matt McGovern also qualified for the Gold fleet in their class following two consistent 12th places yesterday.
Maguires on course to meet in Girls British Open
GOLF:Twin sisters Leona and Lisa Maguire are through to the third round of the Girls British Open Championship at Royal Belfast.
The Slieve Russell duo are the only non-continentals into the last 16 and they could be on a collision course because if both win this morning they will meet in the quarter-finals this afternoon.
Leona, the French under-20 champion, first beat Finland’s Emily Penttila by 5 and 3 in the opening round but then had to battle hard to defeat England’s Lauren Taylor on the home green while Lisa, the leading amateur in the AIB Irish Open at the weekend, overcame Spaniard Noemi Jiminez by 4 and 2 and then got the better of Swede Emelie Lundstrom 3 and 2.
Lisa was two under par in seeing off Lundstrom. Now Leona faces Germany’s Antonia Scherer while Lisa tackles Spaniard Camilla Hedberg and both have pledged that if they play one another this afternoon there will be no sisterly love. Also through to the last 16 is top seed, Korean Julie Yang.
McGimpsey second at Seniors Open
GOLF:Garth McGimpsey, one of the towering figures of Irish amateur golf over the past three decades, rolled back the years in stunning style yesterday to be among the front-runners in the British Seniors Open Championship over the famous Old Course at Walton Heath.
The former Walker Cup captain from Bangor fired a two under par 70 in his first round to lie in second place behind American veteran Danny Yates.
The 1985 Amateur champion produced some fine golf having level halves of 35 which included an eagle three at the 510-yard 16th.
Arthur Pierse the 2007 champion from Tipperary is very much in contention after a 73, his only hiccup being a double bogey six at the fourth while Co Louth’s Barry Reddon and Tom Cleary of Cork returned 74.
England far too strong for Ireland
GOLF:Ireland crashed to an 11-4 defeat at the hands of hot favourites England in the Home International Championship at Ashburnham in Wales yesterday.
But the scoreline somewhat flattered England as four of the matches ended on the home green.
Ireland’s hopes of a surprise were dealt a severe blow when they lost the foursomes 4-1 – they were always playing catch-up thereafter.
Now they will play host nation Wales who came from behind to beat World champions Scotland 8-7.
Ireland’s only foursomes winners were national champion Dara Lernihan and Pat Murray who defeated British boys champion Tom Lewis and Chris Lloyd on the last.
Lernihan, Paul Cutler, Paul Dunne Alan Dunbar and Eddie McCormack all suffered singles defeats. But new cap Kevin Phelan hit eight birdies as he thrashed Jack Senior by 5 and 3 while Conor Doran and Luke Lennox also won their games.
