The Guardian du lieu suivant : London, Greater London, England • 16

THE GUARDIAN Friday May 15 1992 Golf Soccer awaStt hits course record 16 SPORTS MEWS Terrible Richardson peirlbif 1 during the week. "This place is grainy, these greens." he said. JohnOwnoan David Oavtes in Madrid "They're much more difficult than they look." That, of course, depends on who is looking at them, and certainly Richardson did not see the difficulties, single-putting nine times. But then he had gone into the event with a slightly different attitude. Standing on the campo de practicas on Wednesday, prac tising hitting it terrible, he remarked: "Maybe it's time to give myself a kick up the arse." Anatomically impossible it may be but it is the thought that counts and after his poor start he birdied the short 3rd and then hit what he described as a' "not particularly long" drive at the 4th.

It went 300 yards and he then hit a sand wedge the remaining 126 yards, holing a 15-foot putt for the birdie. He covered the 408 yards of the 10th hole with a three-iron tee shot and a nine-iron into the green, holing from 20 feet; the long 11th, 493 yards, needed a drive and four-iron. As Faldo was to remark later, power like that brings everything into easy range, although it needs to be controlled; there are muchos arbustos about the place, tall prickly bushes that should be avoided in the dual cause of compiling a good score and remaining physically intact Richardson managed to stay straight yesterday, but he believes his 65 will be bettered to rely on Larder I lj Hand ball Marcio Santos, the 22-year-old Botafogo winger, with the BimilianiBuy for Sundays' gives his feet a rest at Rpehampton yesterday during training photograph: frank baron sets Peterborough on Wembley in front of a crowd of more than 16,000 with a goal after only two minutes from Phil Starbuck. But a Peterborough equaliser from Worrell Sterling with 20 minutes left and a dramatic late winner from the substitute Steve Cooper sealed the tie for Peterborough. not that long for us," he said of a course that measures 7,152 yards.

Perhaps thinking so posi tively will help him find the form which last year saw him finish runner-up to Ballesteros in the Volvo Order of Merit and earn just over half a million pounds. He was asked yester day if he had spent any of it a Porsche yet?" was the way the question was put. "You know," said Richardson plaintively, "you just can't get a set of sou clubs into a Porsche." Faldo felt there was too much bounce in the course despite the millions of gallons spread over it. "I don't like courses where I'm not in control." he said; and certainly there is. enough trouble here to worry even the finest.

Ballesteros and the arbustos. for instance, made early con tact when the Spaniard pushed his second at the 1st deep into the prickly stuff some 25 yards short ot the pin. He had to kneel down, reach into the bush with a six-iron and take a round house swipe at the ball. It flew out, pitched halfway to the hole and then bumbled along the ground to five feet, a putt he holed for the birdie. "It was a miraculous shot, he said.

He was asked how highly he rated it among his Seve Specials. "Oh, just another mir acle," he said, grinning. feathers in the amateur game. Jim Mills, the Widnes chair man, hopes that "Phil's modern coaching methods and Frank Myler's experience will prove a winning More than Widnes followers will share that hope. In spite of winning the Regal Trophy, Widnes were a big dis appointment last season.

They lost their coach Doug Laughton to Leeds before the start of the campaign and turned to Myler as ms replacement. Myler was an outstanding player and had ms'tnumphs as a coach, but he had been out of the game a long tune and his appointment smacked, of turning back theclock." Larder's appointment will mean the introduction of the very latest coaching methods. John Monie at Wigan will con tinue to enjoy the greater resources but he will no longer nave a monopoly on tactical acumen. Tea Ropati, St Helens' New Zealand centre, will miss Sun day's Premiership final against Wigan after failing to recover from a nb cartilage injury. Sport in brief Olympic Games A disabled Spanish archer, An tonio Rebollo, has been chosen to light the Olympic flame with a burning arrow at the opening of this summers Games in Bar celona.

The 36-year-old cabinet maker will fire the arrow towards a 100ft high pedestal to light a gas burner in the Olym pic Stadium. The flame will be lit by the rays of the sun on June 5 at Olympia in Greece be fore starting its journey. Equestrianism Marie Edgar, who will attempt to regain the women national championship on Sunday, won the Speed Stakes, the first senior class ot the Royal Wind sor Horse Show, on Everest Surething yesterday, writes John Kerr. The European Young Riders champion ana her grey were fastest of 15 fault less riders in the 63-strong field. Soccer The captain of the Paraguayan club Cerro Porteno was sent off during a Libertadores Cup match for attacking a stretcher- bearer.

Gustavo Sotelo was dis missed in the 75th minute at Ecuadorians Barcelona in Guayaquil after his attack on the man who was carrying off an injured Barcelona player. Evening racing HUNTINGDON 00 (tm Mae 1, POLYBIME, Ryan bi nemo (u-z); 3, jaeger (7-z ravj. ran. if, (rvi tiyanj loie: Ki.fu, Ll.ru. Ll.OU.

Utia r- LIZ.SO. CSF: 27.di Trl- cast: C87.30. Nfl: Leaal Win. 40 (In CkH OWEN, Ounwoody v-y. numaeeea (-I); 3, Know Head (13-2).

9-2 it-ravs Portonia. Smooth Start. IS ran. 10. (B Smart) Tote: 8.80; C3.20.

C4.00. 2.00. Dual 39.70. CSF: 58.75. Tri- caat: 317.29.

NR: Can't Disclose, Fanille, Sil- vercross Lao. 7M Mm II MdMl 1. SUNSET AQAIM. Guest (2-1 lav); 2, Eecrtbana (13-2): Franciscan (11-2), 7 ran. 1i3, sh hd.

(Q Balding) Tote: 4.90; 2.10, 2.40. Dual 13.20. CSF: 15.31. Trlcast: 59.11. NR: Dapping.

7.30 Mm 41 Ctlk 1 SAMOiiOOa PfllMCS. Or Prilchard (10-1; Peaeawerk (154 iavi; nearan- wi tii-i). 10 ran. i'a, a. (ur Prltchard).

Tote: 18.70: 4.40. 1.50. 6.60. Dual 43.60. CSF: 31.62.

Trlcast: 267.22. NR: Tigers Pel, Fiddle A Little, Kilcoursey. BM (1m Or 1, MISTER BUTLER, Oal-rymplo (9-4); PnwarMel tuck (3-1). 3, Deer Creel (2-1 fav). 7 ran.

1U, 2. (Q Blag-brough) Tote: 3.50-, 1.50, 2.20. Dual 4.60. CSF: 9.22. NR: Assaolawi.

8.IO (am lOOyda Hdlek 1, HUNT1NQ Snoemark (10-1): Sean'a Scholar lav); 3, Wing 01 "reedom (4- 1). 10 ran. 15, 8. (G Harwood) Tote: 15.00; 1.90. 1.30, 1.60.

Dual 14.90. CSF: 19.47. NR: Marley Barle. PUCEPOTl 189.80. a OBRBY COUNTY must wait to see if they will face FA charges1 over incidents after their play-off second-leg match at home to Blackburn Rovers.

There is an outside possibility that they may be required to play some games behind closed doors. Blackburn's striker David Speedie was allegedly punched and spat upon in two separate incidents after their 5-4 aggregate victory and had-to be escorted from the pitch by police and stewards. The incident came only three months after the Aston Villa manager Ron Atkinson clashed with a Derby supporter outside the dressing rooms after Derby's defeat in the third round of the FA Cup. A man appeared before Derby magistrates yesterday charged with using threatening behaviour towards Speedie and another is being sought. The Derby general manager Michael Dunford said: "The club have informed the FA of the incidents and we are keeping them in touch with any further developments." Robert Maxwell's 89.5 per cent stake in Oxford United has been sold for an undisclosed sum to a company specialising in investments in the energy business.

The new owner, Bio-mass Recycling Ltd, is ultimately controlled by the international trading house Jardine Matheson. Mystery surrounds Biomass's motives for buying the club; the company is not be lieved to have any other sport- related investments. The Uefa Cup winners Ajax finish off their season with a friendly at Burnley next Tuesday. The fixture was arrranged by the Burnley chairman Frank Teasdale, who has a contact in Amsterdam. Ajax's Swedish striker Stefan Pettersson looks set to miss the European Championship after dislocating his elbow in Wednesday's victory.

Portsmouth were yesterday named as winners of the PFA Fair Play Award. Jim Smith's Second Division side accumulated only 55 disciplinary points. The Second Division champions Ipswich Town (65) and: Aston Villa (69) had-the next best records. He may find himself paired in the US match with the uncapped Dundee United striker Duncan Ferguson. The Scotland manager Andy Roxburgh delays his final selection because of doubts about his captain Richard Gough, John Robertson and Gordon Durie.

Basketball Four unknown jumbos fly in to join GB squad Robert Pryce DERRICK IZILEIN introduced himself to Kevin Cadle in February with a longdistance phone call and persuaded the Great Britain coach to give him a chance of getting to the Olympic Games. What kind of player is he? "I don't know," says Cadle. "He's an enigma." Cadle has four extremely large young men flying in from the United States to join the Olympic squad gathering at Lil-leshall today. He has seen only one of them play. But Izilein is by far the least known.

Spencer Dunkley, a 6ft llin former Birmingham junior, has developed into a big rebounder and shot-blocker in three years at the University of Delaware. Sam Robson, a 6ft llin former Sunderland junior, has been making occasional appearances for three seasons at the Thun-derdome, the home arena of the University of California at Santa Barbara. Jason Crump, a 6ft llin former Manchester junior, has had two years' expe rience at Bowling ureen state. And Izilein, who is said to be 6ft lOin, 17st and London-born of Nigerian parents, has spent one season at California Bap tist, a college little Known even to California Baptists. They will join the more fam iliar Trevor Gordon, Martin Henlan and Kenny Scott in the competition for the five-or-so places for centres and power forwards in the British team.

There would have been an even bigger player on the plane had Cadle not run out of patience with the 7ft 5in Alan Bannister and his agent Cadle has invited 20 players to Lilleshall, from whom he will choose 12 for the qualifying tournament in Spain. OLYMPIC SCHEDULE! May S3 Greece (C Palace). 14 Greece (C Palace). Juna 1 Yugoslavia (C Palace). 1 Yugoslavia (Cardiff).

IE Croatia (Majorca). IS Bulaaria or Spain (Mallorca). 14 Spain (Ibita). IS Bulgaria or uuiuania tioicai. ia Portugal (Badaloi).

OhrmDlc Quallfvlna Tour- nameMi Onxas (Badaloi): Jum SS tsioma. sj Lithuania, cis. as Hungary. SO Netherlands. June 80 to Juhr Si Final qualifying round (Barcelona).

TEVEN RICHARDSON. in the golf-speak that passes for English on asr the European Tour, "hit it terrible last week, hit it terrible in practice this week, and hit it terrible in the pro-am''. He then "hit it terrible" off the first tee at Spain's RAC club in the first round of the Peugeot Spanish Open yesterday, an unlikely prelude to what was to come. That opening hit the trees by the women's tee and cannoned into the rough, and he had a struggle for his par five. Hardly the stuff of course records, yet 17 holes later that was what Richardson possessed.

He had birdied seven of them, had no bogeys and had produced a round reminiscent of his form of last season. A seven-under-par 65 gave him the lead by one shot from Miguel Angel Jimenez and by two over the defending champion Eduardo Romero, another Argentinian Ricardo Gonzalez and Ricky Willison. Most of the rest of the leading players were on two under: Sandy Lyle, Severiano Ballesteros, Nick Faldo and Jose-Maria Otazabal. But not Ian Woosnam. He had a four-over-par 76 having twice four-putted, something he had practically talked himself into before the tournament.

"They're so Rugby League Widnes Paul FHzpatrick IDNES yesterday took TllT 15010 step of ap" WW pointing Phil Larder as coach on a two-year contract Frank Myler, the present coach, has been made general manager. Although Larder, a former centre with Oldham and Whitehaven, has gained an unrivalled store of knowledge since he was appointed the sport's director of coaching in 1982, club coaching will a- new experience. He has, he says, been offered "at least half a dozen" opportunities' by clubs over 'the years but none held sufficient appeal. This opportunity to work with high-quality players at Naughtori Park was one for which he has waited patiently. Larder, who is 47, has been assistant coach to the Great Britain side since 1985, working first with Maurice Bamford and then with Malcolm Reilly.

During that time the side have been prepared as conscientiously as ever in the past. Results Soccer BARCLAYS LEAGUE PLAY-OFFS Third Division Semi-final, second leg HuddmSMd (1) 1 Peterborouflh (0) 2 Starbuck Sterling, Cooper 16,167 (agg: 3-4) TRANSFERS From To Fee A Manna Motherwll Rangers 300.000 Joyce Preston Plymouth 160,000 Homed Torquay Blrmc tw.uoo WCtarkt Man City free Bond Bournmth free Coleman Baurnmth free Orw Port Vale tree Stoln Luton free Carton Luton free Rodger WSA BirmC tree WORLD CUP QUALIFIER! European Croup 0 (Helsinki): Bulgaria 3, Finland 0. FRIENDLY INTERNATIONAL (Oslo): Norway 2, Faroe Islands 0. ITALIAN CUPt Ural, Mcond tow Parma 2, Juventus 0 (agg: 2-1). GoW SPANISH OPCN (Madrid): Firs! round (06 Ire unless stated: amateur): Richardson.

A Jimenez (Sp). 07 Romero (Arg): Gonzalez (Arg); Willison. 88 McHenry; 8rand Jnr: Martin (Sp): Mllovu (can); Rystrom (Swe); Farry (Fr). 89 Grappasonni (It) A Hunter; Luna (So); Cooper; Edlund (Swe); Parkin. 70 Lyle: Dickens; Ballesteros (Sp); Faldo: J-M Otazabal ISp); Evans; A Binaghi (It); Bland ISA); Wfllley (Aus): Glllord; Ouiros (Sp).

71 Parnevik (Swe); Rozadilla (Sp): Level (rrj; nans; ayne; iinwer (ausi; Tinning (Oen); Bowman (US); Darcy; A Sherborne: Carrlles (Sp); (Swe): Fernandez (Arg); McFarlane; Mouland; A Sorensen (Den). 79 I Palmer (SA): Hansen; Lonard (Aus); Lawrle; Malley (US); Davila (Sp); Robson; Sow-ell; Morse (US); Haugsrud (Nor): 'A Prat (Sp): Hallberg (Swe): McAllister; A Pi-nero (Sp); Teravainon (US); McLean; Van De Velde (Fr); Call (It); Hobday. 7a Feherty; Montgomerie; Singh (Fiji); Hamlll; I Gervas (Sp): Anglada (Sp); Rocca (It): A Mednick (Swe): Calero (Sp); Longmuir; A Ceka (Ger); Coceres (Arg); Barnes; Ft Winchester: Metcalle; Wes-termark (Swe); Ralph; Fowler (Aus); Mitchell; 'P Garcia (Sp); J-M Canizares (Sp); Harvey; Eekildsen (Den); Apariclo (Sp); Thomas. 74 A Hare; Berendt (Arg); Robinson; Post (Oen); Levenson (SA); Rlveio (Sp): Williams; SHva (Per); Lee; Drummond; 'M Roldan (Sp); Heaggman (Swe). 7B Giraud (Fr); Plnero (Sp); 0 Curry; Guy; Wood; A Garrtdo (Sp); Williams; Price; Manson; Gillies.

Cricket RAPID CMCKBTUNE CSMFi Harrow Kent 120 (Bellinger 5-30, Johnson 4-38) and 228 (G Myers S3; Johnson 5-66). Mddx 408 (Aftab Habib 91, Keech 87, IJ Hutchinson 65, Sims 63; Weslrop 4-72). Mddx won by an innings and 60 runs. Horahemt Derby? 290 and 223-3. dec (Oonelan 4-02).

Sussex 256 (JeaivJacques 4-44, Goldsmith 4-67) and 259-6 (K Greonfield 101). Sussex won by 5 wkts. lhm Ovab Surrey 294-0 dec and 232-2 dec (P Atkins 75no, Robinson 97no). Durham 279 and 99 (Balnbridge 5-32, Boiling 4-33). Surrey won by 148 runs.

Old HOn Hants 266 and 201-6 dec (O Crookes 65no). WorcaMI and 167 (Marti 6-46). Hants won by 1 19 runs. OM Trattordi Yorks 354-7 dec (M Vaughan 130, White 122; Derbyshire 4-92 and 207-2 dec (B Parker 102no, Vaughan 78). Lanes 250-4 dee (Ft Irani 67, Tllchard 5B, Yates Slno) and 309-8 (J Fltton 89, dinning 72).

Drawn. PwroHt Somerset 257 (M Robinson 149; Walker 4-50, Datton 4-22) and 159-3 (M Lath-wal 59). Norttiants 348 (R Warren 140, Noon 49; Payne 4-76). BAIN CLARXSON TROPMYiTronl Bridget Notts 181-7 (M Saxelby 76). Leica 185-4 (P A Nixon S9no).

Leics won by 6 wkts. Sterling PETERBOROUGH progressed to a play-off final against Stockport at Wembley on Sunday week with a 2-1 victory at Hud-dersfield last night which gave them a 4-3 aggregate win in the tie. Huddersfield enjoyed the perfect start to the home leg Rugby Union Man from Llanelli who has helped Swansea players Robert Armstrong on will take pleasure in both cup finalists' play Larder will be assistant to Reilly on the Papua New Guinea and Australasia tour which starts next week, but is hoping that in Widnes's interest he will be allowed to forgo the New Zealand section. Great Britain owe him that favour at least Since 1982, when the touring Australians had a profound effect on him, he has possibly done more to restore the reputation- of British rugby league than anyone else. As director of coaching with the British Amateur Rugby League: Association he was responsible for overhauling a coaching scheme that was badly outdated and discredited; it is now the envy of other sports.

His coaching manual, published in 1988 and recently updated, is a masterpiece. He parted company with Barla in acrimonious circumstances last season and went on to the full-time staff at League headquarters at Chapeltown Road in Leeds. He was respon sible for running the new Acad emy youth league, whose introduction had ruffled many Tennis ATP ITALIAN OPEN (Rome): Third round! Sampra (US) bt Prpic (Croatia) 6-2, 6-7. 6-3; MMuaai (Arg) bt Rosset (Switz) 6-3, 5-7, 7-5; Courier (US) bt 6-3, 6-2: Korda (Cz) bt A Mancini (Arg) 3-6. 7-6, 6-3; Coata (Sp) bt r- santoro (fr) e-z, 7-5; cm suae (Ger) ot Pistoles) (It) 6-1, 6-2: 4 Vxaea (Peru) bl Sanchez (Sp) 3-6.

6-3, 7-5: Chang (US) bt Sanchez (Sp) 6-1, 7-5. GERMAN WOMEN'S OPEN (Berlin): Third round! Graf (Ger) bt Sukova (Cz) 6-3, 3-6, 6-2. Znibakova (Cz) bt Novotna (Cz) 6-3, 6-4: A Sanchez Wcarfo (Sp) bt Zver- eva tub) 1-0. 0-0: i Fernando (us) di Wiesner (Aut) 6-4. 6-4; Haiard (Fr) bt Maleeva (Bui) 6-2.

6-3; Capriati (US) bt Rlttner (Ger) 7-5. 6-3; CaechM (It) bt Glldemeister (Peru) 6-1, 6-2; Appolmana (tiei) ot lauzmt rn o-a, r-s. LTA TOURNAMENT (Bournemouth): Man Quarter-finals! a Schaap (Neth) bt Barnard (SA) 6-2; 6-2: Nerval (SA) bt Scal-loa (II) 7-6, 6-4: Nafta (Fr) bt Zumptt (Ger) 6-3, 6-2. Arthur (Aus) bt Lemer-cier (Fr) 6-2, 6-4. Womant Second round! 8 Parfcomsnfco (CIS) bt Mawdsley (Aus) 6-2, 6-3; A Woetoock (Aus) bt Tse (loM) 6- 0, 6-1: Lake (Devon) bt 0 Birch (US) 7-6, 7- Kruger (SA) bt Avotins (Aus) 6-4.

2-6, 6-3: A Orunfofd (Lanes) bt Gammon (Aus) 6-3. 2-6. 6-4; A Van Buuren (Neth) bl Vallln (Swe) 76, 6-4; BenrJey (Lines) bt Limmer (Aus) 6-2. 6-3: McShea) (Aus) bt Hunt (Dorset) 6-3, 4-6. 6-2.

Basketball NBAt Second round play-offi Eastern Conference! Cleveland 114, Boston 98 (Cleveland lead series 3-2). Baseball AMERICAN LEAGUES Chicago WS Milwaukee 0: California 7, Oetroit NY Yankees 12, Seattle Toronto 4, Oakland Minnesota 4, Boston 3: City 5, Cleveland Baltimore 4, Texas 2. NATIONAL LEAGUE! Montreal 5, Los Angeles 1: San Francisco 5, Philadelphia 3: San Diego 7, NY Mets Chicago Cubs 8, Houston SI Louis 4, Cincinnati Pittsburgh 11, Atlanta 10. Cycling TOUR OP SPAINi 18th stage (Salamanca to A Vila. 219km: Spanish unless stated): 1, Zaina (It) 6hr 2Bmin 2sec; 2, Mauleon same time; 3, Millar (GB) st; 4, Delgado at 9sec: S.

Rooks (Neth) 12; 6, Monloya st. Overall 1, Monloya 86hr lOmin Usee; 2, Delgado at 46sec; 3, Romlnger (Switz) 52; 4. Echave 2.42; 5, Cublno 3.36; 6, Glovannettl (It) 4.31. Alaei 10, Millar 14.03: 15. Roche (Ire) 18.57.

TOUR DU PONT) Etghth stag (Homestead to Wintergreen, 98.3 miles): 1, Nfeder-berger (Swit) 4:22.14. 2, A Kvalsvoll (Nor) at lOsec: 3, Anderson (Aus) st. Overall standing! 1. LeMond (US) 2, Kvalsvoll at 0.13sec: 3, Swart (NZ) at 14, Equestrianism ROYAL WINDSOR! Spaad Stakaat 1. Everest Surething (M Edgar) clear 59.81ec; 2, Backhouse Mayday (H Wilson, NZ) clr 60.89: 3, Home Guard (M Beatson, NZ) clr 6143.

Ice Hockey NHLi Stanley Cm PaMok flnaai Pittsburoh 5, NY Rangers 1 (Pittsburgh win series 4-2). Fixtures Soccer PA VOUTH CUPt Final! Second leax Man chester Crystal Pal (7.30). Hockey TERRITORIAL TOURNAMENT (11.0, High-tlelds, Nottingham): Midlands East (11.0); North West (1.0); South Midlands (3.0). Cricket THREE-DAY MATCHES (11.30): Fanner's! Cambridge Univ Surrey. The Parks! Oxford Univ Hants.

Ally McCoist is one Portuguese League fixture away from becoming Scotland's first winner of the European Golden Boot. His nearest challenger for the award, given annually to Europe's top scorer, is the Boavista striker Ricky, who has only one match left this been offered the post of Wales assistant coach up to and including the 1995 World Cup. As a national selector the Llanelli coach would be expected to loosen his ties with the club he loves. However, Jenkins and the WRU together seem capable of working out a compromise to their mutual benefit. After all, the England coach Dick Best will be allowed to maintain active links with his beloved Harlequins, provided he does not act as the named club coach.

"We will have to sit down and talk this matter out," said Jenkins. Meanwhile, the Llanelli coach is sceptical about the wisdom of increasing the total of Heineken League games, from 18 to 24 next season. "It is already very difficult to maintain an intensive performance throughout the season. Up to January five or six clubs had a chance of winning the title but after that two or three of them quickly fell away. "Even the leaders went through a bad patch in which they each found it impossible to sustain consistent form.

Swansea didn't begin well but they gained momentum as the season went on and that is why they won. Another six games will create a lot of extra pressure on players and coaches." For the moment, though, Jenkins can sit back and enjoy the Scarlets' contribution to a competition he has every right to call his own. Among his cherished possessions are the Welsh Cup medals he earned as a member of the Llanelli side that defeated Cardiff in the 1973 final and Aberavon in 1975. He knows what it is like to be top of the class and, equally importantly, he knows how to bring class to the top. I Jones: I Evans.

Dairies. Davies, Proctor; Stephens, Moon; Evans. Fox, Oelanev. Oavles (capt). A Copsey.

Lewis, Qulnnell, Jones. A Clement: Titlev. Olbbe. Hopkins (capt), Simon Oavlas: A Williams, Jones; I BuckeR, Jenkins, Cdclough, Arnold. Morlarty, A Reynolds, Stuart Davies, Webster.

Sunday in which to make up the gap of five goals by which he trails McCoist. The Rangers striker, who is currently in Denver with the Scotland squad preparing for Sunday's friendly with the United States, finished the season with 34 league goals. Silva keen to return to the union fold I HK former Pontypool full- bacK and wales squad member Matthew Silva, who turned professional in 1990. has asked the Welsh Rugby Union to reinstate him as an amateur so he can resume his playing career in the code, writes David Flummer. Silva threw away a promis ing union career in 1990 to join Halifax.

He says he received a 6,000 signing-on fee and 8,000 in wages and bonuses. Halifax have said that If he pays the money back they will rip up his contract, but it would be a revolutionary move for the WRU to give him back his amateur status. Silva's appeal is unlikely to the sympathy of the WRU, not least because of the knock-on effect his return could have with a number of players who took the trail north and are now seeking to return to play in Wales be cause their second careers failed to take off. Under the reinstatement regulations, former profes sionals can coach but not play when they have their amateur status restored. The Newport prop Frank Hill man will miss next season after being banned for 46 weeks.

His dismissal against Newbridge on April 15 was the fourth of his career; a fifth would result in a life ban. Ireland, have made eight changes to the side that narrowly beat South Canterbury on Wednesday for the match against Canterbury at Chris tchurch tomorrow, the second game of their New Zealand tour. Their captain Phil Danaher is likely to miss the game with a knee injury; Matthew Ridge is standing by. IRELAND! 4 Maplea (London Irish): Wallace (Qarryowan), Danahor (Garryowen. capt) or RSdfie (Blackrock College), Cunningham (st Mary's), Clark (Dolphin): MoAle (Ballymena).

Aharrw (Lensdowne); Popplewetl (Oreystones), Smith (Ballymena), Hatpin (London Irish), Rlflney (Greystones), CoataEe (Qarryowan), Roblneon (Ballymena), Mannlon (Lansdowne), nttgHibon (Shannon). Gareth Jenkins, who up front at the start will go on to win the game. "In the league Swansea cleaned us out in the line-out to be honest, they always pressurised our ball so we will have to improve the amount of quality ball we win that area. "Swansea also have a very inform back row which is the catalyst of their game. Their forwards are aggressive around the fringes and they penetrate the gain line; that is a key part of their approach.

However, no one should underestimate their front five, which are quite capable of manoeuvring the advantages they want in the scrums." Since taking charge of playing matters at Stradey in 1987 after a five-year apprenticeship as assistant coach, Jenkins has brought fresh vision to the domestic game in Wales and proved he is a winner too. Llanelli won the Schweppes Cup in 1988, the Welsh Merit Table in 1989 and the cup again in 1991, the club's seventh success in the 20 seasons of the competition. Even so the Scarlets' former open-side flanker believes that such a daunting cup pedigree will not be a significant factor against opposition of Swansea's calibre. "Our experience did give us an edge in the semi-final against Pontypridd some of whose players found it difficult to cope with the pressure of the big occasion. But Swansea have at least a dozen players who are accustomed to international or World Cup rugby, people like Clement, Titley, Gibbs, Jones, Jenkins, Stuart Oavics and others.

Obviously they will not be overawed." Win or lose, Jenkins must make a crucial decision about his future at Stradey within the next fortnight. The one-time outsider, who for years found little favour with the WRU, has IF TOMORROW'S Schweppes Cup final between Llanelli and Swansea turns out to be the classic encounter every neutral wants to see, it is a safe bet that Gareth Jenkins will allow himself a quiet smile of satisfaction. No one in the principality be lieves more passionately than the Llanelli coach in the need to develop a high quality club game as the basis for a lasting international revival by Wales. Wearing his WRU hat as as sistant to the national coach Alan Davies, Jenkins spent half the season trying to get the best out of Swansea's international contingent as well as his own players at Stradey Park. The standard of football served up by both sides at the Arms Park tomorrow is bound to reflect on his work with the Wales pack, which indirectly will have helped to fine-tune Swansea's talented back row.

It has been an unusually stimulating season for the 40-year-old company executive employed by a Neath-based firm that specialises in water-treatment services. Apart from playing an important role in Wales's championship victories over Ireland and Scotland, Jenkins has maintained the Scar lets' vaunted tradition in cup competition with a place in the final, not to mention the run-ners-up spot in the Heineken League, which was won by Swansea. "It's nice to be able to choose team from a full squad for the final after having players in jured or unavailable for last month's league game against Swansea which we lost by a single try," reflected Jenkins. "Both sides are certainly capable of playing an expansive game, but that will depend on the type of possession they win. especially early on.

I believe that the side that gains an edge.