Oracle win after underdog scare

Sailing Oracle BMW Racing overcame a scare against Team Shosholoza, of South Africa, to preserve their unbeaten record in the Louis Vuitton Cup round robin off Valencia yesterday. Shosholoza, the underdogs, led early in their match with the American team but dropped a spinnaker into the water before succumbing to Oracle BMW in the light winds. Only one race could be completed yesterday before the competition was becalmed.

Jacquelin storms in

Golf Raphael Jacquelin, of France, led from start to finish to win the Asian Open, in Shanghai, by two strokes yesterday for his second European Tour victory. Jacquelin recorded a one-over-par 73 in the storm-affected final round to finish at ten under. Simon Yates, of Scotland, was third.

Docherty delight

Bowls Craig Docherty, of Cumbria, who beat Greg Harlow, the world No 2, in the first round, defeated Graham Shadwell 21-19 in the final of the Travelscope National Indoor Singles Championship, in Nottingham. Docherty had reached the final with a shock win over Brett Morley, the favourite.

Hampshire delight

Bowls Hampshire lifted the Liberty Trophy yesterday when Steve Robertson and Graham Standley enabled Hampshire to secure a 119-118 victory over Norfolk. Craig Docherty, of Cumbria, beat his England teammate, Graham Shadwell, from Somerset, 21-19 to win the Travelscope national indoor singles title.

Don White

Rugby Union Don White, the former Northampton flanker who was England’s first official coach (1969-1971), has died, aged 81. White, who won 14 caps from 1947 to 1953, was an outstanding back-row forward and an innovative tactician. He coached England to victory over South Africa at Twickenham in 1969.

Leopards leap up

Hockey English teams dominated the opening weekend of the Great Britain Super League, filling the top three places in the men’s and women’s competitions after two games. Simon Mantell scored a late equaliser to help Wessex Leopards to draw 3-3 with Saxon Tigers and move top on goal difference.

Champions cruise

Tennis Tathiana Garbin led Italy, the defending champions, to a 5-0 victory over China, making their World Group debut, to reach the Fed Cup semi-finals, in which they will play France. Russia, led by Svetlana Kuznetsova, also advanced to the last four, crushing Spain 5-0.

Favourites fall

Rackets Mark Hubbard, the British professional champion, and Neil Smith upset the favourites, Harry Foster and Mark Hue Williams, to win the Lacoste World Rackets Doubles Championship at Queen’s Club, West London. The pair had needed just one more game for victory after a 4-0 first-leg win in New York.