SPORTING DIGEST: FENCING

SPORTING DIGEST: FENCING

The Italian Raffaello Caserta won the Corble Cup Sabre International in Dagenham yesterday, defeating Poland's Rafal Sznajder 15-12. Sznajder led for much of the fight but became upset as Caserta levelled at 11-11 and eventually let the contest slip. The world No 1, Luigi Tarantino, could only manage ninth place. Britain had its best day for several years in a home event as James Williams finished eighth, boosting his hopes of qualifying for a third Olympic Games next year. He was two hits adrift in his fight with Franck Ducheix when the Frenchman tore a leg muscle and was forced to retire. Williams then stopped Steffen Wiesinger of Germany 15-14 before narrowly losing his quarter-final fight with Carlo Fornario 15-13.