SPORT DIGEST

Basketball

Edinburgh Rocks have a point to prove when they host Sheffield's Westfield Sharks at Meadowbank tomorrow at the earlier tip-off time of 3pm. Last time the teams met in Edinburgh last October, the Rocks were crushed 100-75 by a Sharks team in seemingly unstoppable form. But much has happened since then.

Sharks have lost their impressive Italian Matt Gaudio with a bad injury and, though they still top the table with only one defeat, no longer look unbeatable. More importantly, Rocks have been transformed in recent weeks and instead of being the push-over team at the bottom of the league, have notched up five wins and are in with an outside chance of a top eight play-off place.

It is a measure of their improvement that they were annoyed they did not beat Greater London Leopards at Brentwood last Wednesday going down only 76-73. ''We should have taken them - we led for much of the game,'' said rapidly maturing Scottish point guard Ross Szifris.

Rocks gave Sharks quite a game on their home court in Sheffield last week, only going down by seven. The capital outfit showed real character in coming back from 12 points down to beat Thames Valley Tigers for the second time this season in a Meadowbank thriller last Sunday. ''We've shown we can live with pretty much anybody,'' says Rocks' coach Jim Brandon, who is desperate to put one over his old club tomorrow.

England retained the Dobbing Cup in convincing fashion when they defeated Scotland 94-47 in the annual Under-16 schoolgirls international at Meadowbank yesterday.

With captain and point guard Lisa Hutchinson (Siddal Moor High) running the show at the back, and 6ft centre Arek Deng (Merton College) a commanding figure under the basket, England eased away from a 43-24 half-time lead. Catherine Brownsall (Stowmarket High) led the visiting scoring with 20 points, Sarah Naylor (Hayfield) adding 18, Hutchinson 13 and Deng 10.

For Scotland, captain Hazel Howson (Portobello), who was in early foul trouble, and guard Natalie Ghazi (Eastbank Academy) scored nine each, Fiona McCusker (Woodfarm High) had eight and Morven McWhirr (Culloden Academy) six.

Cycling

Chris Boardman yesterday set his sights on winning this year's world track individual pursuit title to make up for an injury-plagued last season. The 1992 Olympic gold-medallist, speaking at the unveiling of this year's Credit Agricole team, claims he has put the disappointment of his premature exit from last summer's Tour de France and other injury problems behind him. The renowned time-trial specialist, world professional champion in 1994 and 1996, won the Tour de France prologue in Dublin in July. However, a heavy fall in the second stage dashed his Tour hopes and he then missed September's Commonwealth Games with a viral infection.

Boardman's objectives for 1999 are to reach peak fitness for the week-long Paris-Nice race starting on March 7 before moving on to the Criterium International on March 27 and 28. ''If all goes well, I will also be at the starting line for the Liege-Bastogne-Liege (April 28), as it's more a tactical than a physical race,'' he said.

''Then I'll take part in the Dauphine Libere (June 6-13) and the Tour de France (July 3 to 25). But I'd like to do something at the end of the season in the world championships individual pursuit,'' added the 30-year-old. Asked if the time-trial was the only weapon in his armoury, Boardman said: ''Naturally I'd like to be equally at ease with other disciplines, but you have to be realistic - that's my domain. For me, the time-trial remains my speciality. That doesn't prevent me working on improving for the hills and the mountain stages.''

On his Credit Agricole team - previously known as GAN - Boardman said there was no question of himself or anyone else getting special treatment in the team. ''I don't think I'll necessarily be the engine of this team. We don't have a team leader as such - we're more a collective unit,'' said Boardman of the 18-strong line-up presented in Paris yesterday. We'll all work for each other and we all have different temperaments and strengths.''

The team line-up includes Australian talents Stuart O'Grady and Henk Vogels as well as experienced Frenchman Frederic Moncassin.

Ice hockey

AYR Eagles yesterday swooped to sign a proven marksman to beef up their goal-shy attack. Canadian target man Corey Lyons was snapped up only hours before last night's transfer deadline. Ironically, Lyons fired the game-tying goal with one second left of last Saturday's Sekonda Superleague clash with London Knights in Docklands. Ayr went on to claim an overtime winner but head coach Lynch saw enough of Lyons, who has claimed 13 goals and assisted in eight other strikes in 30 games for London, to convince him to move in. Eagles' top marksman, Sam Groleau, has only pocketed 11 goals and eight assists, so Lyons, 28, who has played for the Canadian National Team, could prove a useful asset.

The former West Coast Hockey League and International Hockey League player makes his debut as inconsistent Eagles square-up to Nottingham Panthers at Prestwick tomorrow. Lynch also hopes to secure the services of a back-up goaltender to Sean Basilio following the shock walk-out of No.1 minder Vincent Riendeau in midweek.

Riendeau signed for Russian outfit Lada AutoVAZ Togliatti after being handed a $100,000 payment leaving his former team-mates fuming at the move which came only two days before the signing deadline.

Sheffield Steelers go into this weekend's games with the threat of liquidation hanging over the club after a trio of potential new investors pulled out. It was believed Steelers had until close of business at 5pm this evening to find a backer ready to inject around #100,000, or go into liquidation.

However, coach Don McKee's side will definitely fulfil their fixtures at Cardiff Devils today and at home to Bracknell Bees tomorrow. What happens after that remains a mystery. There was euphoria in the Sheffield camp earlier this week when they announced George Dodds had regained control after the World Indoor Soccer League had pulled out of their 10-day ownership. This was quickly followed by the news that four new five-figure investors were seemingly ready to put money in to save the club.

However, three have now withdrawn their financial support and a dejected Dodds said: ''They gave no reasons, which was their right. However, since we heard this, we've made up about a third of the lost income from those three people. It's not over and we've still got the weekend at least to try and make up the other two-thirds. At the end of the day I really don't believe there won't be a Steelers. The format might change, but there will still be those guys out there playing on the ice. ''The fans have already invested well over #100,000 and if local industry did the same then we'd be away. Certainly with the fan-base we've got, we could next year make a small profit, but there's going to be some pain on salaries and players' wages.''

Ice skating

European Championships, Prague: Ice Dance: 1, A Krylova & O Ovsiannikov (Russia) 2.0pts; 2, M Anissina & G Peizerat (Fra) 4.0; 3, I Lobacheva & I Averbukh (Russia) 6.0. Women's short program: 1, M Butyrskaya (Russia) 1.0; 2, V Volchkova (Russia) 2.0; 3, J Soldatova (Russia) 2.2.

Motorsport

DUMFRIES racing driver Allan McNish has swopped his Porsche racing car for a Ferrari and has been testing it in the States. The 1998 Le Mans 24-hour endurance race winner is in Houston testing for one of the biggest races in the American calendar, the thirty-seventh running of the Rolex 24 at Daytona this weekend.

McNish, who drove for Porsche last year but found himself on the sidelines for 1999 when the German company announced it was taking a year off, had intended watching the race. But he was recruited by the Doyle-Risa and will make up the four-man team for the 24-hour race which will mean he will be at the wheel for six hours. McNish has had a number of successes on the American circuits over the last two years in addition to being the works driver for Porsche and competing in the European Championships.

Wayne Taylor, lead driver and team principal of Doyle-Risa Racing said he was extremely excited to have recruited McNish and he now could not have a driver team better suited to the unique challenges of the Rolex 24. The American trip has given the Dumfries driver's career a major boost. It seemed he would be testing for 12 months until the chance for the Daytona trip came up. ''Getting the chance to race again this year has been a last-minute thing but it's really great,'' said McNish. There's not a driver alive who would turn down getting behind the wheel of a Ferrari.''

Tennis

Scottish No.3 Graeme Darlington won through to the singles quarter finals of the LTA satellite tournament in Southampton yesterday only to lose out to fourth seed Nick Weal. The Bridge of Allan professional had contained a strong second game challenge for Hertfordshire's Nick Lester to win 6-3, 7-5. However, Weal bettered him in all departments to win into a semi-final match against South African Marius Barnard 6-2, 6-2.

Sixth-seed Graeme Darlington (Bridge of Allan) went out to fourth seed Nick Weal (Hants) in the quarter-finals of the Girobank Tour event in Southampton yesterday. Darlington, based in Cambridge, was no match for Weal beaten 6-2, 6-2 by last week's runner-up and overall series winner last year.

Unseeded South African Marius Barnard, a top 50 world ranked doubles player, continued to progress after beating the top seed the day before and meets Weal in the semi-finals today. Previous winner, second seed Miha Gregorc of Slovenia, meets third seed Paul Hand (Berks) in the other semi.

Meanwhile, David Brewer (Whitecraigs) was beaten 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 by Marcel Zimmerman of Germany in the Plate final of the LTA Teen 14 & Under International Tournament in Telford. However, Brewer and fellow European Championship Great Britain team-mate Jamie Murray (Dunblane), are not returning north from school in Cambridge this weekend for the SLTA Scottish 14 & Under Championships at the Gannochy TC, Stirling University. David Culshaw (Newlands) with Anglo Katie Taylor (Bramhall) are the top seeds for the first of six indoor National events over the next four weekends.

Greyhounds

Shawfield results. First race - Netherton Rose (5) 9-4 fav; Rainy Day Sail (3) 3-1; #8.89. Second - Emmas Babe (1) 6-4 fav; Marching Gus (5) 3-1; #5.82. Third - Ace Performer (1) 3-1; Blue Monarch (4) 4-5; #5.39. Fourth - Gemmas Jody (5) 4-1; Garton Star (1) 5-2; #13.61. Fifth - That's Suzy (5) 5-2; Scullys Girl (4) 7-4; #6.87. Sixth - Moorfoot Lady (3) 4-1; Copper Glen (2) 5-2; #12.31. Seventh - Indiana Keyno (1) 5-4 fav; Cameron Boy (5) 4-1; #6.03. Eighth - Stay The Trip (4) 5-2; Hob Law (5) 3-1; #9.92. Ninth - Swift Mover (1) 5-2; Storm Hail Girl (4) 7-2; #13.40.

Football result

Nationwide League. Division 2 - Stoke City 0, Manchester City 1.