The Observer from London, Greater London, England • 18

1 8 OBSERVER SUNDAY 7 MAY 1 989 ADAM SCOTT my ffor BfllBD ball and Thorburn came into the line to break the defence CLEM THOMAS at Cardiff Arms Park Neath J4 and cartwheel in a tackle wore divine the chance to Brian Williams who crashed over for the try. Llanelli were far fromlspent and rallied' again and scored the try of the match when Gary Jones switched the ball back across field when Nigel Da vies put in a strong run and a long pass to Ieuan Evans, who beat the defence into the corner. Neath, however, came again and another high kick by Bridges brought its second dividend a try by Paul Williams converted by Thorburn. Although Llanelli had the last word with another penalty by Stephens, it was the Neath pack who carried the day. Scorers: Llanelli: Try: Evans.

Penalties: Stephens(2). Drop goal: Stephens. Neath: Trie: Jones. Williams. Williams.

Conversion: Thorburn. NEATH, who on their own admission failed to turn up in last year's final, laid the ghost that has haunted them for the last year, namely that they fail when it comes to the big occasion, by winning this neck-and-neck final by the narrowest possible margin to take the Schweppes Welsh Cup for the first time since they won it in the inaugural year of 1972. Like the Pilkington Cup the week before it was played before a wildly enthusiastic capacity crowd and similarly it was not a classic encounter, but nevertheless intensely exciting, with the lead changing hands a remarkable six times for such a relatively small scoreline. Emulating the methods of their illustrious namesakes from New Zealand, it was the unremitting efforts of the Neath pack which carried the day, supported by the strong tactical purpose of their halfbacks, in particular scrum-half Chris Bridges whose kicking created two of Neath's tries and won him the man of the match award. It was entirely fitting that Llanelli the showpiece of the Welsh club scene was contested by what are by far the two best teams in Wales and that it should also have been won by a Neath side whose average squad age is only 23 and who this season have demolished all the world club scoring records.

They have scored a remarkable 1,197 points, with 345 tries at an average of seven tries a game. In 47 club matches they have won more than half by 40 points and scored 50 on 10 occasions. From the start Neath went about their task with a ferocious intensity of purpose and quickly established their pattern of play, which was to drive forward supported by the high pumping of the ball by the half-backs. However, it was Llanelli who scored first when they ran the ball out of defence and Stephens finally kicked ahead to create a platform in the Neath 22 where from a scrum the young outside-half dropped the neatest of goals. A high kick by Bridges then saw Bateman chasing up to harry Bowling and the ball was knocked back into the arms of Mark Jones who stormed up and over for a well-taken try.

Llanelli regained the lead when Stephens kicked a penalty for killing a ruck and then almost inevitably Mark Jones was sin-binned for 10 minutes for another misdemeanour which left Delaney lying on the ground with his face smeared in blood. At half-time it was 6-4 and anybody's game. Early in the second half, however, the Neath pack began to find their momentum to avalanche forward with fierce drives and hand-to-hand passing which had Llanelli on the rack. Again and again they stormed the Llanelli line only to be just inches short but finally got their reward when Bridges again pumped the ball to the line. Neath took a quick tapped penalty on the 22 and although Llanelli seemed to have aborted it, the Neath pack were up in numbers to win the MICK CLEARY at Twickenham brimful with beer and lolling in the sunshine watching the action unfold; agony for those red-faced, breathless players, who pushed their bodies through the pain barrier and into the later stages.

A lot of competition also goes on in the car park outside. Who can glug the most champagne or down the most beer and still find the Portaka-bin loos tucked away in the remotest of corners? Some of the sights are more uplifting than others. A full-frontal streaker was chastised by the PA 'I didn't realise it was that cold The Middlesex committee had exerted a stricter control on this year's social proceedings-no barbecues in the car park, no alcohol to be brought into the ground (the frisking at the gates would not have looked out of place in Miami Vice) and none of the beer on sale inside the ground was allowed on to the terraces. This was an attempt to wave goodbye to the Mexican wave which last year resulted in a shower of warm, brown liquid raining down from above as cups of beer were hurled skywards. The ban was in fact relaxed after a couple of hours yesterday.

The response from the crowd was a shower of warm, brown liquid raining down from above. So much for leniency. THE ENGLISH domestic rugby season nestled down into its summer hibernation with a broad smile on its face as 50,000 raucously inebriated souls, more interested in six packs than seven packs, cheered on Harlequins to their fourth successive Middlesex Sevens title. After a sometimes tepid, sometimes thrilling day of rugby Quins' 18-12 defeat of Rosslyn Park in the final owed much to their superior strength and stamina. Harlequins did not field one of last year's victorious team.

In fact, Rosslyn Park had three of them Hunter, Dent and Woodhouse. Even they could not stem the thick-thighed surges of Sheasby, the opportunism of Gtenister and the twinkle-toed twists and turn of Quins' captain Jon Eagle, all of whom scored in the final. The early rounds were rugged by comparison with what followed. Bristol, last year's finalists, squeezed past Black-heath 20-18 only to be hoisted in extra time by Rosslyn Park in the semi-final. In the other half of the draw, Wasps' Chris Oti got his first touch after a match and a half and promptly scored.

It was not enough to hold Quins, who won 16-10 and went on to defeat London Scottish 16-12 in the other semi-final. On such a sweltering day Sevens is all about agony and ecstacy. Ecstasy for those Llanelli: Bowling; I Evans. Davles, 0 Segaro, Oavles; Stephens. Griffiths: A Buchanan.

James. Delaney. May. Cornelius. Jones, Davles (capt).

I Jones. Neath: Thorburn: Hlggs. Laity. A Bateman. A Edmunds; Williams.

Bridges: Williams. Phillips (capt). Pugh, Richards, Llewelyn. Pugh, Jones. Pickering.

Gaynor gets Clough vote FOOTBAtX ROUND Ug MICHAEL RALPH Flying Wasp: Rob Andrew evades a Saracen's lunge BRIAN CLOUGH has reverted to the side that won Nottingham Forest the Littlewoods Cup for today's replay of the FA Cup semi-final against Liverpool at Old Trafford, bringing Tommy Gaynor back to the right wing at Franz Carr's expense. Clough now has the awkward task of motivating his players for a tie which he feels most people want the erscyside team to win. SLrDO (UHTDuDOGTS bDastt Three goals in the last half-hour, the final one coming from a penalty by Luther Blissett in the sixth minute of injury time, gave Bournemouth a draw that keeps Mel Machin's men needing one more point to be sure. It could have been worse for City; indeed, many of their supporters thought it Pressures of a more orthodox kind were operative yesterday as the end-of-season game of musical chairs began to get frantic. Manchester City, who needed to beat Bournemouth to make automatic promotion from the Second Division a virtual certainty, wobbled horribly when 3-0 op at half-time.

was until they heard that Crystal Palace had only drawn 2-2 at Leicester after conceding a goal three minutes from time. Palace must now win both their remaining against Stoke and Birmingham, to equal City's 81 points although City, who play their final game at Bradford on Saturday, also have a six-goal advantage. Palace were one down after 21 minutes when Marc North marked his full debut with a headed goal. But penalties in the 31st and 70th minute from Dave Madden saw them into a lead which was only erased when their keeper Perry Suckling allowed Nicky Cross to force the ball home from a corner. The Londoners are now sure of a place in the playoffs, as are Blackburn, who beat Walsall 3-0, Swindon, who beat Stoke 2-0, and Watford, who drew 0-0 with-Shrewsbury.

Nothing is as clear cut at the bottom of the First Division, where West Ham kept hope alive with a 1-0 win nv fellow strusslers Luton. cept but, before he could reach the ball, Hayes clipped it past him and into the net. It was his first goal of the season and he probably will not score a more important one. scorers: Arsenal: Hayes (70min). Middlesbrough: Poole: Parkinson.

Mohan. Mowbray. Proctor. Pallister. Slaven, Ripley (Kernaghan, SO), Hamilton, Davenport, Burke (Barham.

75). Arsenal: Lukic; Oixon. Winlerburn. Thomas, O'Leary, Adams, Rocastle, Richardson, Smith. Bould.

Merson (Hayes. 67). Referee: Worrall (Warrington). Davenport on the edge of the area. The offence reflected Arsenal's unease, but still they threatened in counter-attacks.

Middlesbrough's goal-scoring efforts had been limited despite their greater possesr sion. However, Arsenal won with a goal of stunning simplicity. Lukic's long kick upheld was back-headed by Smith into the penalty area. Poole rushed out to inter JOHN DOUGRAY Middlesbrough 0. Arsenal 1 Arsenal's composure was frequently disturbed by Middlesbrough's chasing and harrying, but they twice came close to taking the lead in the first half, denied only by the quick reactions of Poole.

Adams was cautioned early in the second half for tripping Hayes after 70 minutes, came when Middlesbrough were threatening to cause an upset. But now the Teessiders will probably have to win their final game against Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough on Saturday to stay up. Middlesbrough faced three central defenders and their job was made even harder by Arsenal's effective use of an offside tactic. ARSENAL'S greater power and experience prevailed against Middlesbrough's enthusiastic young side and their single goal was enough to open an eight-point gap over Livernoool at the top of the First Division. It was a tremendous scrap between two sides desperate for points for very different reasons.

Arsenal's goal, scored by their substitute Martin (touTJfl(aI siErDufrogitein A Dickens of a lift for desperate Hammers that the cricket season is already upon us, completed his half-century for Wolverhampton Wanderers. Goal No 50 was the opener in the 3-2 win over Northampton, a feat rewarded with an England call to tour Switzerland, Norway and Iceland later this month. His sidekick Andy Mutch, who got yesterday's third, has been BOB HOUSTON West Ham United 1 Luton Town 0 plenty produced only a succession of missed chances. The only exception came in the 15th minute, when Dickens timed Jus forward' surge to playing the ball rather than the man. Barring that miracle, it looks like Second Division football at Upton Park next season.

But they could use it prtrfitably to mature' There again, their last four Feethams is one of the most pleasant and picturesque venues on England's footballing map. The North-East's only hope must be that Dartford's Watling Street ground is deemed unsuitable by the League at its AGM on 9 June. However, following favourable noises from a deputation headed by Jack Dunnett, the League president, who visited Dartford on Friday, this seems Brian Utile, me Darlington manager, will not be returning to Scunthorpe in a lrurry. 'The last time I 'came as manager of Wolves who sacked me 48 hours he said. 1 must stay away from Scunthorpe it has bad memories Steve Bull, mindful no doubt GLEE was interspersed with gloom as Scunthorpe enhanced their chances of automatic promotion to the Third Division with a 5-1 win over Darlington, who are now consigned to the GM Vaux-hall Conference.

A hat-trick from Tony Daws, which took his season's tally to 27, set the hosts on course to record their biggest League win since moving tatty their new Glanford Park home at the start of this contrast, were left to concede their League membership to Maidstone United. Ironically, the Kent team do not even have a ground of their own and are forced to share Dartford's, while Darlington's home at nerfection. meeting Keen'; text Mam Parkes; Parrls, make flesh of the miracle is, putting it mildly, remote. Still, this win finally lifted the Hammers off the bottom of the First Division ft was deserved, but when you're living with relegation holding on to an early one-goal lead is living very dangerously. Parkes was rarely in the 90 minutes, but Luton's frantic pressure in the last 10 must nave caused a few East End hearts to miss a beat, especially when Harford ON THE final whistle West Ham's fans swarmed on to the pitch in a remarkable and chants of 'staying up' echoed around Upton Park.

Bot'despite pickpthree' points from their last home' game of the season, the prospect of travelling to Sheffield Wednesday, Liverpool, Everton and Forest and collecting enough points to outiuhrpwfthe keeper only to see his header loop wide of the-post. The outcome should have been beyoncT doubt long before, but here the Hammers' dilemma that has persisted all season was cruelly underlined. All the sweet approach work and there was Sheffield United snows, "55. secured, second' Wfdy, before the kick-off. "om time.

If they beat Derby Louise Taylor on Wednesday they stay up. With Harford menace blunted by Martin and Gayle, Luton's attacking limitations were manifest. Their defence creaked too, especially when the busy Slater and Keen were able to motivate Ward into Dicks. Gayle (Potts. a.Uartn Dickens.

Ward. Roaenior (Kelly. 80) Staler. Koen. I nee.

Luton Town: Chamberlain; Breacker. Dreyer. Preece. Foster. Beaumont Wilson.

Wegerle. Harford. Hill, Black (Cooke, 60) lUferee: Shapter (Torquay). RUGBY SPORT WBR.EF FOOTBALL RESULTS Hi DIVISION FOUR Door to South Africa is left open DIVISION THREE Blackpool HoddersflekJ (0) 1 DIVISION TWO Burnley (0) 1 Portsmouth (0V (1) .3 Torquay 2,163 0 Dublin, BARCLAYS LEAGUE DIVISION ONE Charlton (1) 1 Wimbledon (0). 0 Thompson, Biwiiraiiioy 4.070 5,718 0 4.686 Currie(Pen) Birmingham Hull(0) Yates Blackburn Leadbttter.

Kimble (pen) Carlisle (0) Madden Bolton (3) 4 Brwmort(2). Thomas 2. Ansah 2 Leaburn 2 4,627 Wrexham Thackeray. Russell Derby (1) Sendaii Aston (1) Piatt 8,236 18,112 Saunders, 2,427 Garner, Sellers 2 Brighton Savage, Darby Bristol (0) .0 Fulhatn ,1 Ipswich (1), .0 7,302 0 fi. in A Tranmars) ..0 UWM" niin RUGBY UNION SCHWEPPES WELSH CUP FINAL Uanetn 1 Heath- 1 MIDDLESEX SEVENS FIRST BOUND Brtstol I Wn Btactfieaffi.

RlehmoiKl Reaalyn Pk I 18 AlfeynlaM 0 Louefiberough 1S 1 Lsn Scottafi I 2t Buoby--- Reeeyln Pk II It Ldn Scotfar) IL 12 22 Serecene 0 Hariequtne ,24 WLendonl 10 Quarter Final Bristol Slaeatieaffi. Roealyn Pk I .14 Loughborough 12 Ldn SeoMeh I 34 Rosalvn Pk Harfequtna IS Waepe 10 Sexnl Final Roeerrn Pk I 20 Bifetol-- IS Harloqutna 16 Lon SeoVfah I 12 FINAL Harleoume 1 BoeelynPkl 12 Hebberd Newcastle Anderson .2 8.616 18,003 Chester ...2 DAvray .3 Bradford Qulnn .0 OMham(0). Chelsea Robeita (pen), Dixon 2 Hartlepool (0). Allon. McKlnnon Giningham 0 2.106 Chesterfield (0) 1 Waller 4,767 have not been invited is because of the delicacy of the situation in regard to the Commonwealth Games, which begin in Auckland in January 1990.

The decision of the Welsh Rugby Union, who have the overwhelmingly strong mandate of over 300 votes to 62 from their clubs to maintain links with South Africa, to join with Scotland in merely passing on the South African invitations to their players is seen in Wales as passing the buck to those players. It is nevertheless difficult to see how amateur players, many of whom will have toured for almost eight weeks with the Lions or for four weeks with Wales in can get more time off in August. ENGLAND and Ireland's Rugby Unions seem certain to follow the lead of Scotland and Wales and pass on invitations to their players to tour South Africa this summer, variUa CUrn Thomas. The International Rugby Board and the four home anions look set to ensure that a team from Britain will go to South Africa in August to celebrate the centenary of the country's Union. Five matches are scheduled in Pretoria, Johannesburg, Durban, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town, including two 'Tests to be played in Johannesburg and Cape Town and game against a South African Barbarians side in Durban.

The reason that New Zealand and Australia 0 14.459 Arsenal (0) 1 Hayes 21,803 Mlllwall (1) 1 Sheringham 14,435 Everton (0L 0 13,239 Man Utd (0). 1 Beardsmore 17.021 (0) 1 Norwich (0) 1 Gordon Southampton Cockerill. Wallace Bunill Stant 1.819 Lincoln 0 Rochdale (0) 0 4,261 Burnley (1) 2 Farrell. James (pen) 2,174 Yort(l) 2 Smith, Howlett Orient (0) Castle 3.679 Peterborough 1.430 Grimsby (2L 3 Alexander 2, Saunders 3.923 Darlington (0) 1 Willis 5.296 Dale, reeie (pen) Mansfield (2). 3 Kearney, Cassells, Hathaway Notts Co (0) 4 Lund.

Turner. Johnson, Law. (pen) Port Vale (2) 2 Fulcher, Porter Shefl Utd (2) 5 Agana 3 Pike Stanclifle Palace (1L 2 Madden (2 pen) 9.917 Bournemouth 3 Shearer, Holmes, Blissett (pen) Oxford (0). 1 Ford 4,989 ..0 .1 Luton (0) ..2 West Ham (1). Scarborough (1).

18,688 Dickens Southend (0). 0 4,516 Swansea (0L 1 Norrts. Thompson (pen) Postponed: Coventry Nottm Fat; Liverpool QPR: Tottenham Shelf Wed. HOCKEY Leicester North. Cross Man City (3) 3 Moulden 2, Morley, 30,564 Plymouth (0) 3 Burrows, McCarthy, Stewart Swindon (0) 3 Shearer 2, Jones, Watford (0) 0 WestBrom(O) 0 ....8 James (pen) 15.383 COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP Scuitthorpe Daws 3.

Taylor, Flounders, Stockport (1) Leonard ...0 Saml-flna! 2 Woroeeterafilre 0 mutam. 4 Yorkshire 1 3,040 Wlgan Johnson Wolves (2) Bull. Thompson Wilcox. Rotherham (1) Hazel 2, Goodwin 6500 Goals A Pts 15 8 76 35 81 Donegal TODAY'S SPORT Stoke 0 9,543 Shrewsbury (..:.... (0) 0 10.451 6 A Pts 12 5 93 48 98 1, a a 8 fl 15559 (pen).

Mutcn Postponed: Reading Bristol City. Wolves 43 28 11 6 90 GOLF NICK FALDO shot a 66 for 133, which he shares with four others including Tom Kite and Lee Trev-ino, after the second round of the storm-hit Byron Nelson Classic at Irving, Texas. The leader is still Wayne Levi, who followed his remarkable opening 62 with a 67 for an U-under-par total of 129. Sandy Lyle had a two-under-par 68, but his 140 total was not good enough to qualify for the final two rounds. He has missed the cut in his last five starts.

14 10 76 53 77 Arsenal Liverpool Norwich Nottm For Tottenham Derby Cnty Coventry Mlllwall Wimbledon Man Utd Q.P.R. Everton Southmptn Aston Villa Charlton Mlddlesbro Rotherham Scunthorpe Tranmaro Goals A Pis 35 21 9 5 68 32 72 33 18 10 5 55 24 64 36 17' 10 9 46 42 61 34 16 12 6 57 38 60 37 15 12 10 60 45 57 35 16 7 12 38 33 55 36 14 11 11 44 39 53 37 14 10 13 46 51 52 36 14 8 14 47 42 50 35 12 12 11 40 30 48 35 12 11 12 39 33 47 35 11 12 12 44 43 45 37 10 14 13 51 65 44 37 9 12 16 44 55 39 36 9 12 15 41 54 39 37 9 12 16 44 60 39 37 9 11 17 41 52 38 35 9 11 15 31 47 38 34 8 8 18 31 53 32 37 7 10 20 32 61 31 aa on 1R 8 58 40 71 43 50 TT 45 45 Shelf Utd 23 eilWL 16 62 7fT Chelsea Blackburn Watford TWVale 44 22 12 10 Crewe 45 20 14 11 66 52 74 -4T 45 48 75 Fulham 4S SO 12 13 82 49 72 12 12 48 75 44 Crystal Pal 45 22 9 14 68 65 75 44 19 16 9 67 50 73 45 19 1 14 7657 71 4T 19 VT TT T4 ST 45 18 13 14 63 52 67 ley 44 16 15 13 60 56 03 45 21 60 61 Luton 17 10 13 15 Shefl Wed West Ham Newcastle Bristol Preston TJhesler Notts Cnty Brentford Bolton Swansea Bristol City Bury Hudderslld Mansfield Northmptn Wlgan Reading Cardiff Scarboro Leyton Wrexham 7JambrT3ge Grimsby Lincoln York Exeter Torquey Carlisle Hereford Burnley Rochdale Hartlepool Stockport Pelerboro Halifax Doncaster Colchester 44 44 45 45 45 45 45 43 45 43 Ipswich W.B.A. Leeds Utd Sunder! nd Bournemth Stoke Bradford Oxford Leicester Oldham Plymouth Portsmth Brighton 61 61 67 60 56 59 50 57 70 57 56 55 80 53 75 52 50 51 74 51 73 49 45 17 44 16 45 18 44 17 45 14 45 14 44 14 45 13 45 14 45 10 45 13 45 13 45 13 18 12 14 64 59 ee 15 15 14 54 51 60 15 15 14 49 50 60 17 9 19 51 55 60 16 12 17 55 67 60 17 8 20 62 72 59 14 16 15 48 52 58 16 6 23 64 73 54 14 11 18 52 50 53 14 11 20 64 69 53 13 13 17 41 55 52 12 15 17 S3 72 51 a 7 24 49 82 49 14 7 Continuous lines Indicate automatic pro-mottonfrelegauon places and broken lines Indicate play-olt positions. 10 18 63 13 15 59. 6 21 65 8 19 44 15 16 50 15 16 64 13 17 52 14 18 55 10 21 50 22 13 54 12 20 50 10 22 67 10 22 49 14 90 57 17 17 16 18 15 13 14 13 11 14 13 14 11 45 45 45 45 44 45 45 45 45 45 45 45 45 20 16 16 19 17 14 20 20 23 20 ST Southend if, 76 49 77 47 Hull 45 11 ChntUMhrv 15 TSaHlnoioh 45 8 16 ifl Si 73 42 Rlrmlnnhm 45 8 11 26 30 72 35 SKOL NORTHERN LEAGUE.

Division Newcastle Blue Star 1 Tow Law Town GM VAUXHALL CONFERENCE HFS LOANS LEAGUE Bangor. 3 Gateshead. 0 Barrow 1 Fleetwood 2 Marine .3 Frlckley 2 Matlock 0 Hyde 4 Caernarfon 0 Morecambe 1 Buxton 1 Rhyl 0 Goole 1 Sth Liverpool 1 Wltton 1 BASS NORTH WEST COUNTIES. Division Bootle 3 Ashton United Colwyn Bay 1 Salford Warrington Town 1 Clith-eroe Division Two: Ashton Town 2 Oldham Town 3: Bacup 6 Newton Maghull 2 Glossop 1: Maine Road 1 Wren Rovers 3. GREENE KING SPARTAN Premier Division: Btomley Ath 0 Abingdon Corinthian Cas 1 Beckton 1: Wandsworth 2 Beaconslield 0: Crown Manor 0 North Greenlord 5.

Division Walthamstow Trojans 2 Royal George 0: AFC Millwall 2 Old Roan 3: Metro Gas 2 Cattord Wand 0. SAILING THE CHANGING emphasis in yacht racing is being demonstrated today by die practical session of the Cruiser Racer Masterclass'. Yesterday 45 owners and crew were given a theoretical insight to improving their racing performance and today, under the supervision of R.Y. A. national racing coaches they are being put through an exhaustive series of practical trials and boat handling exercises.

SHOOTING MALCOLM COOPER, Britain's top marksman, retained his 300 metres three positions rifle championship dtle at Bisley but lost his prone free rifle crown to Philip Scanlon. Devon's Peter Medhurst won the standard rifle gold medal but Cooper took the gold for the prone aggregate. SQUASH NORTHERN COUNTIES champions Queens Halifax unexpectedly defeated New Croydon 3-2 in the Browning British National Over-35 Team Trophy final at Norwich Sports Village. New Croydon, the South-east champions, had knocked out both last year's finalists to reach the final and boasted former international Stuart Courtney at number three. With the match tied 2-2, the number two strings took to the court and in a hard-fought battle Dave Manning beat Peter Sullcy 9-4, 4-9, 3-9, 9-7, 9-2 to give Halifax the trophy.

TENNIS ANDREA NOSZALY of Hungary took the women's title in the Hi-Tec satellite at Bournemouth, beating Fred erica Haumuller of Argentina 6-3, 6-0 in the final. The match was close until Noszaly broke through at 5- 2 in the first set. She dropped her service when serving for the set but recovered to take it in the next game and swept through the second set. DES TYSON, the Australian serve and volley expert, maintained his record of going to three sets in every round. But it worked against him in the final he was beaten 3-6, 6-7, 6- 4 by Gilad Bloom, the Israeli Davis Cup player.

(0L 0 Chenermam Blackpool 43 a Glllingham 45 11 4 30 45 80 37 Alderlhot 8 12 25 48 78 36 BEAZER Premier Division: Ashford 0 Alvechurch Dartford 3 Fareham 0- Dorchester 4 Bedworth Dover 2 Weald-sione Gosport 2 Burton Merthyr 3 Crawley 1: Rugby 1 Bath Walerlooville 2 Leicester Utd 2: Worcester 3 Corby 1. Mid. land Division: Atherstone 2 Rushden Coventry Splg 1 Halesowen Dudley 3 Spalding 3: King's Lynn 0 Gloucester 2: Nuneaton 1 Grantham Sutton 3 Banbury 2- Wellingborough 0 Stourbridge 1. Southern Division: Bury 3 Thanel Dunstable 2 Sheppey Hastings 4 Erith 1: Hounslow 1 Baldock Poole 1 Chelmsford 1: Salisbury 0 Folkestone 2. BOXING HENRY WHARTON, the Yorkshire middleweight disqualified in the ABA finals at Wembley, has been forgiven by the selectors and offered a place in the British team for the European championships in Athens from 27 May 3 June.

The eight-strong team includes St Helens flyweight John Lyon who notched a record eighth ABA title. CYCLING RAYMOND DIETZEN suffered serious head injuries when he fell during the 13th leg of the Tour of Spain. The West German, at 12th overall, was passing through the unlit 680 metres long Puerto de Cotefablo tunnel in the Pyrenees at the halfway point in the Benasque-Berjar leg. Dietzen, his head bleeding profusely, was taken by helicopter to Navarra Hospital, Pamplona. DUTCH sprint ace Jean-Paul Van Poppel won a mass finish on Ue ultimate day of the Dunkirk Four Days race in which there were no changes in the leading pos'ttons.

With the pack finishing the same time as Van Poppel, 6hrs 3nun losec for the 220km sixth stage from at Quentin to Dunkirk, Frenchman Charly Mottet retained his 12-secona lead over Dirk De Wolf of Belgium. The race concludes today, from Dunkirk to Cassel and back. FOOTBALL ANDREW STRONG, the former Middlesbrough fullback, has signed a two-year contract with Belgian club Ruislar. He has switched to a full time career on the Continent after playing for Northern League champions BiUingham Synthonia. REAL Madrid are expected to announce this week that John Toshack, the former Cardiff, Liverpool and Welsh striker, will be their new manager.

Joaquin Apembay, deputy chairman of the club he now manages, Real Sociedad of San Sebastian, confirmed that Toshack had rejected an improved offer to stay on. At Real he can expect a salary of at least 250,000 a year. RUGBY LEAGUE ROSS STRUDWICK, the former Australian international srum half from Brisbane, has signed a one-year contract to manage Fulham. Walsall 45 5 16 24 40 77 31 VAUXHALL OPEL Premier Division: Barking 0 Hendon Stortford 1 Bognor Dulwich 2 Dagenham Grays 1 Hayes Harrow 3 Windsor Kingstonian 3 St Albans Leytonstone-llford 5 Farnbor-ough 3: Leyton-Wlngate 2 Croydon Mar-low 2 Carshalton Slough 4 Tooling 1. Division Basildon 2 Bracknell 3: Chesham 0 Kingsbury Met Police 1 Challonl Southwick 0 Basingstoke Uxbridge 1 Hampton 1: Walton 3 Collier Row Wembley 0 Hitchin Wivenhoe 2 Staines 1: Woking 2 Lewes 2.

FA VASE. Final: Sudbury 1 Tamworth 1 (after extra time). At Wembley. iraig (01 1 Telford (0) Grant Chorley (1) 1 tiMM 2 FOOTBALL. FA Semi final: Liverpool Nottingham Forest (Old Tratlord 1pm).

Ctubeall Final: Barnet Hyde (Telford 2.30). ORE Cup: First round matches: Bedford. Bolton. Bracknell. Carlisle.

Cannock.Cohyn Bay. Cwmbran. Darby. Grimsby. Harrow.

Ipewlch.Leaming-lon. Pirtreavle.Rochester. Swindon. Warrington. Yeovil.

Horse Trials (Badminton). aOLF epeon OP. (St Pierre. Chepstow). LAWN Hl-Tee SessMtss.

(Bournemouth). LTAVW fUdJW cements Slock port, Blackpool and Salford (10am). MOTOR RACtfKJ. Esso British Touring Car Championship (Doningfon Park (11): Mallory Park. Lelcs (2): Cadwell Park.

Line (2); Brands Hatch. Kent (2.15) SHOO T1 NO: Brnfsh SOOm Ctiamefenahlp (Bisley). Matchroom League: Hendry Griffiths (Poole 7.30). SPEEDWAY. Sunbrtt British League: Belle Vue Coventry (2.30); King's Lynn Reading (7).

National League: Eastbourne Edinburgh (3 30); Rye House Peterborough (4 30) Tee Mill Grand Slam SemMlnal: Mil-denhall (3 30) Southern Counties Age Group Championships: (Crystal Palace NSC). TABLE Leeds National Chempl-onsMpe: Mountbatten Centre. Portsmouth 3) British Modem Chemplon-ahlpT! Stantonbury LC and Willen Park. Milton Keynes). Scottish Cup finals: (Glasgow) Sou West Championships: (Weston-super-Msre).

RUGBY LEAGUE Stonee Bttter Semi-finals: Hull Fesmerstone (3.15): Widnes St Helens (3) Division II Premiership: SemWI-nals: Barrow Sheffield (3): Leigh Swlnton (3 30). Unity Trust Benk Fmeh London Wands London Colonlsls (Wasps RUFC Sudbury 3). Bowl Final Peckham Streatham (1). CRICKET TOUR MATCH (Arundel 11.30): Lavinia. Duchess of Norfolk XI Austrslians.

REFUGE ASSURANCE LOE: Chelmsford: Essex Derbyshire. Newport: Glamorgan Gloucestershire. Southampton: Hampshire Kent. Lord's: Middlese Surrey. Normemp-lon- Northanta Warwickshire.

Taunton: Somerset Sussex. Worcester Worcester, shire Lancashire. Heedlngley: Yorkshire Nona. Peters (og). Moss Abbott ..3 Ayteeburyd)- Kidderminster 4 Davtes.

Tuohy. Sugrue 2 Lisserman 2, Hurler 1.184 DIVISION TWO (1) DIVSION ONE Ayr Utd (2) 3 MrdM(i) Nottfiwfch (J) a Wycombe 2 Afbraem )- Creaser. Parker, McPhee 2.972 SCOTTISH LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION Aberdeen (0). 0 Motherwell (0) 0 4,000 Fotherlngham, Jack (pen) 365 Templeton 2. Danskin Runcorn (0).

Albron (I)-- Chapman 2 (1 pen) Berwick Graham Brechin Walker Clydebank (1) 3 Kilmarnock (2). ,.2 609 0 ...1 Robinson, Russell Maidstone Gall Kettering (1). Nightingale Montrose (1) Forbes EastFKe(0) Ead z. ooyie Stewart 1,811 1 1.097 1 1.602 1 0 900 Stafford (1L Camden. Cavell rnnriilsh loan) Hlbemlsn (0) 0 18.316 Rangers (0) 2 Gray 2 14.899 StMlrren(l) 1 Weir (pen) 1.633 Celtic (0) 1 Miller Dundee (1) 1 Wright Hamilton (1) 2 Archer, Gordon 1 Clarke 727 Dumbarton (1) 2 Stenheemulr (0) 0 Mclver.

600 Douglas OueensPk(O) 0 Alloa Lytwyn 2 857 Sorting -0 A Cowdenbeath (IM McGovem 750 Hearts (0). 0 Sutton (2) Dennis (pen), Ekoku 3. Fowler Welling (0). .0 878 Weymouth (0L 1 Preece Dundee Utd (0) 0 8,613 Goals Dunfermline (1)- 1 Clyde (0) Watson Rooney 9.693 Falkirk (3) 7 Queen Of South AM Hetherston, Fraser 3.000 McWilllams (pen). Rae, Gallagher 2.

McGovern2 Meadowrbank SI Johnstone 1 Armstrong Sorble 500 (pen), Forest Morton (0). 0 RaHhRd) Nelson 1500 D.rtt4 isi 4 Forfar (0) -1 Yeovil (1) WhlWnoham 2 East Stirling (0). 0 Stranraer (0) .0 Fisher (0) 0 GYMNASTICS KATHERLNE EVERETT from Peterborough, excelled on the asymmetric bars with the top score of the day 9.65 when she won the first Weetabix Young Gymnast of the Year tide at Cardiff. Another 12-year-old, Dominic Brindle of Bradford, won the boys' tide. In Stockholm, 19-year-old Igor Korobchinsky (USSR) unexpectedly won the men's European title.

ICE HOCKEY ALEXANDER MOGILNY, first member of the Russian national team to defect to the West, arrived in New York where he hopes to join the Buffalo Sabres. 300 A A Pts 62 23 56 48 25 48 65 44 44 5 4 11 492 Goals 44 25 44 7 35 26 35 17 35 20 35 16 35 13 35 9 35 11 35 9 14 36 35 34 Bangers Aberdeen Celtic Dundee Utd Hibernian Hearts St Mirren Oundee Motherwell Hcnilton Gallagher. 14 34 41 30 17 39 54 29 17 33 47 27 McCoy. Mitchell. Dinnie 10 11 10 11 12 13 11 14 12 12 15 16 15 19 8 11 13 13 12 11 17 11 15 14 12 10 13 10 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 47 48 47 51 55 54 48 56 59 52 63 53 57 58 63 64 57 55 60 50 49 54 56 46 57 45 49 43 Albion Alloa Brechin East File Stirling A Montrose Queens Park E.

Stirling Arbroath Cowdenbth Stranraer Dumbarton Berwick Stermsmuir 16 34 43 26 28 16 76 12 35 35 NENE GROUP UNITED Pre mier Division: Holbeach 1 Eynesbury Ftothwell 4 Baker Perkins 2. Division A Pts Maidstone 40 25 9 92 46 84 Kettering 40 23 7 10 56 39 76 Boston 40 22 8 10 61 51 74 Wycombe 40 20 11 9 68 52 71 Kddrmnsti 40 21 6 13 68 57 69 Runcorn 40 19 8 13 77 53 65 Mccleslld 40 17 10 13 63 57 61 Barnet 40 16 7 15 64 69 61 Yeovil 40 15 11 14 68 67 56 Northwich 40 14 11 15 64 65 53 Welling Utd 40 14 11 15 45 46 53 Sutton Utd 40 12 15 13 64 54 51 Enfield 40 14 8 18 62 67 50 Altrncham 40 13 10 17 51 61 49 Cheltnham 40 12 12 16 55 58 48 Telford 40 13 9 18 37 43 48 Chorley 40 13 6 21 57 71 45 Fisher Ath 40 10 11 19 55 65 41 Stafford 40 11 7 22 49 74 40 Aylesbury 40 ft 22 44 ii 46 tfsiieMuil 40 7 10 23 37 70 31 Ampthill 1 St Ives 2: Timken Duston 4 Blis-worth 5: Burton PW 2 Ramsey Towcesler Coltinaham 0. KEY CONSULTANTS SOUTH MIDLANDS Premier Division: Brache Sparta Goals A Pts 22 9 7 59 35 53 22 7 9 69 35 51 17 13 8 65 40 47 17 12 9 76 54 46 14 12 12 51 40 40 15 9 14 45 46 39 15 9 14 49 51 39 13 10 15 56 57 36 10 15 13 50 54 35 13 9 16 44 49 35 13 9 16 56 71 35 8 16 14 38 52 32 14 15 41 60 32 2 8 28 36 93 FEDERATED HOMES Premier Division: Abingdon Uld 2 Penhill 1: Bishops 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 Ounfrmline Falkirk Airdrie Clydebank St Johnstne Morton Raith Partick Forfar Meadowbk Ayr Utd Clyde Kllmarnck 3 0 Hoddesdon Town 2: Pitstone-lvinghoe 0 3 Cleeve 1 Kintburv 0: Oidcot 1 rainora Walwvn Garden Citv 1: Thame Utd 2 Lang- Ravners Lane 1 Yale 2: Supermarine 0 lord 0: The 61FC (Luton) 0 Biggleswade Sharpness 4: Viking Spts 2 Shortwood Tnum Tnttarnhoe 0 Milton Keynes Boro ClnUM tlllkiesjjJi.Vwusia arid Tetters lYnre rtrew Tprs rm sttt 1 Wantage 0 Bicester 4. NOATHERN COUNTIES EAST Shillington 2 Selby 7. Ol vision Buckingham Alh 3 lekleford DeJco Product! 1 CranfleM League Cup Final: Ermey 1 Bridlington Town IM 1.

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