SPORTS DIGEST:SNOOKER: World champion Neil Robertson joined the last-16 line-up at the World Open in Glasgow by knocking out Kilkenny's David Morris. Robertson was a victim of Peter Ebdon in the first round of the Shanghai Masters earlier this month but is playing himself back to form at the SECC.
He followed up his last-64 win over Scotland’s Graeme Dott – the man he beat to clinch Crucible glory in May – by earning a 3-1 win against 21-year-old Morris.
There was more Irish woe, as Ken Doherty, the 1997 world champion, bowed out to Barry Hawkins. Hawkins gave a strong display, with breaks of 57, 73 and 53 earning a 3-1 triumph.
Peter Ebdon came through a slow-paced clash with Fergal O’Brien, beating the Dubliner 3-2. O’Brien impressed with a run of 129 in the fourth frame to force a decider, but the standard was otherwise disappointing as Ebdon triumph.
Godman out for at least six months
RUGBY:Scotland and Edinburgh outhalf Phil Godman has been ruled out of rugby for at least six months after suffering a serious knee injury in training.
The 28-year-old tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee while training with Edinburgh and underwent a scan at Spire Murrayfield Hospital.
Scotland team doctor James Robson said: “Phil sustained the injury in non-contact training yesterday. His rehabilitation starts now. He will have to undergo surgery in due course to repair the knee ligaments but the Edinburgh and Scotland medical teams will be working to deliver him ready to be considered for selection for the Rugby World Cup squad next year.”
Godman, who made his Scotland debut against Romania in 2005 and won his most recent and 23rd cap against England last season, now faces a race to be fit for the World Cup in New Zealand, which begins on September 9th, 2011.
However, he can take comfort from the recoveries of Scotland team-mates Jason White and Nathan Hines from similar injuries.
Del Porto returns in Thailand Open
TENNIS:Former US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro will make his comeback from wrist surgery at next week's Thailand Open having been out of action since January, the Argentine said yesterday.
“I’m happy to be able to tell you Im going to play again, del Potro said. “It will be at the Bangkok tournament next Monday,” added the 21-year-old.
He last played at the Australian Open in January and was not fit enough to defend his US Open title, the Argentine’s first grand slam success, this month.
Having failed to recover from an injury to his right wrist del Potro opted for surgery in May. He began hitting tennis balls again early last month.
Leinster sell 47,500 Aviva tickets
RUGBY:Leinster have sold 47,500 tickets for the Magners League match between Leinster and Munster in Aviva Stadium on October 2nd, writes Johnny Watterson.
Yesterday the province announced that 3,500 tickets remain, which brings the Aviva capacity to 51,000.
Leinster has confirmed that the capacity is indeed more than 50,000 and that there are around 51,000 saleable tickets available.
There are actually more seats than that, which are used to cater for media, disabled fans and restricted viewing.
Cancellara to contest Worlds
CYCLING:Swiss Fabian Cancellara will take part in the World Championships (September 29th to October 3rd) in Geelong, Australia, the time-trial Olympic and world champion said yesterday.
Cancellara, who achieved a rare double in the Paris-Roubaix and Tour of Flanders classics this year, added that he will then look for a new team as he is set to leave Bjarne Riis’s Saxo Bank outfit.
Smit to miss Springboks’ Britain and Ireland tour
RUGBY: South Africa skipper John Smit will miss the Springboks' November tour to Britain and Ireland. The 32-year-old underwent surgery in Durban yesterday to repair a chronic cervical disc.
He will be sidelined for three months, ruling him out of autumn appointments with Ireland, Wales, Scotland, England and the Barbarians.
The Springboks hooker has won 102 caps and led them to World Cup glory in France three years ago. Springboks team doctor Craig Roberts said an operation was carried out to ensure the disc did not get progressively worse.
“It will also ensure John’s availability for the Springboks and the Sharks for the 2011 season,” Roberts said. “This was not a career-threatening injury.”
Lock Victor Matfield is the favourite to take over from Smit as tour captain.
