The Guardian from London, Greater London, England • 12

12 SPORTS NEWS THE GUARDIAN Thursday May 19 1988 (Rugby League Record 10,000 fine for brawls England's defenders Dave Watson, Tony Adams and Mark Wright cope against the likes of AC Milan's Franco Baresi, Marco Van Basten and Ruud Gullit? Central issue would Soccer WARRINGTON were yesterday fined a record 10,000 by the Rugby League management committee for bringing the game into disrepute. The charges arose from the club's involvement in two brawls, one during the Premiership semi-final at Widnes on May 8, the other in their home game with Wigan on New Year's Day. The Wilderspool club must pay 2,500 for the Widnes incident and a suspended fine of the same amount which was imposed after the earlier trouble. They were fined a further luDgjOosirD ffoDDdl fthew llaistie fiw Warrington's winger Des Drummond punched a spectator as the matter is subjudice. At yesterday's hearing in Leeds, Oxley criticised what he called "sensationalist" reporting of the Premiership incidents.

"The brawl lasted just four seconds and four punches were thrown," he said. "Anyone who believes it lasted for minutes can see the tape. Only six players were involved. The other lads were involved in restraining action. "If it had happened in mid-field it would not have been reported, but because it happened on the touchline and involved spectators it was far more serious but to the exaggerated extent it was reported in some quarters." Paul Fitzpatrick writes: Darren Wright, the 20-year-old Widnes centre who scored two tries in his club's Premiership Trophy victory over St Helens at Old Trafford last Sunday, has been put on stand-by for Great Britain's Whitbread tour of Australia and New Zealand.

Wright, who has played for Lancashire and the Great Britain Under-21 side, has a good chance now that Joe Lydon is unlikely to join the squad. Mark Elia, the St Helens and New Zealand centre, has been released from his contract, which had two years to run. St Helens now have three overseas vacancies. The Australians Michael O'Connor and Noel Cleal are possibilities. Rochdale Hornets are holding talks with their Fourth Division soccer neighbours with a view to sharing the Spotland ground on a rental basis next season.

Hornets' main grandstand was recently damaged by fire. Leeds have signed the Australian utility back Andrew Ettingshausen, also sought by Salford and Warrington, for the second time in three seasons. clared Robson in his quaint way. Apres Butcher le deluge? "You have to be very solid at the heart of your defence," the England manager continued. "My best Ipswich teams always had a good centre-back partnership Hunter and Beattie, then Osman and Butcher.

If Watson, Wright and Adams are all at their best in West Germany there will be no problems." Adams, praised to the hilt when he first came into the England side, is the main object of concern. Robson went to some lengths yesterday to reestablish Adams's credentials as a defender of considerable promise "He's still learning, I've got a great deal of faith in him" but the 21-year-old Arsenal player's shortcomings when not playing alongside Butcher were even more evident at Anfield than they had been last month in Budapest. Robson visited Hampden on Tuesday to check on the Colom David Lacey 'NOWING what is lying in wait for them in the European kChamtrionship next month, England would probably be better off playing AC Milan, with their Dutch-oriented attack, at Wembley on Saturday rather than Scotland's pallid team. During England's last three matches before leaving for West Germany, Bobby Robson needs to see his central defenders put through a series of searching examinations before deciding what, in the absence of Butcher, his strongest partnership is likely to be. A Scottish strike force which this season has failed to humble the might of Luxembourg, Saudi Arabia and Malta and on Tuesday could not break the deadlock against shot-shy Colombia is unlikely to provide much of a test.

Unless, of course, Scottish pnde rouses 5,000, suspended for a year, which the Rugby League's general secretary David Oxley said he hoped would prove "an effective Widnes were fined 500 but with a further suspended fine of 2,500 if a similar offence occurs within the next year. The Minister for Sport, Colin Moynihan, has asked for a full report on the incidents on and off the field at Widnes. Both clubs admitted their part in the touchline brawl and neither will appeal. The previous highest fine was the 3,000 imposed on Warrington for the New Year's Day incident against Wigan. Both clubs may consider passing on a percentage of the fines to the players under the terms of new contractual arrangements introduced this season.

And the matter does not end there: two Widnes players, Barry Dowd and Paul Hulme, plus four from Warrington Paul Cullen, Mark Roberts, Barry Peters and David Lyon have been ordered to make individual appearances before the disciplinary committee for their part in the brawl. The Rugby League will continue their inquiries into the crowd incidents at the game but will not act on allegations that Golf bians as well as the scots, per Sheffield United 1, Bristol City 1 (agg: 1-2) Buoyant Bristol hound Basseffit Norman neglects his driving Cynthia Bateman BRISTOL City's yo-yo career in the League was still on an upward swing as their players danced with delight in front of ecstatic fans after holding Sheffield United to a draw in the second leg of the play-off semi-final, earning a place in next week's final. Nearly an hour before kick-off, about 2,000 Bristol fans were taunting United followers with chants of "going How right they seemed to be. Sheffield United began with a vigour that Bristol City had apparently not expected, and Dave Bassett's side, which only a few weeks ago had been mostly assembled from other clubs' jumble sales, had cohesion that inspired false "-optimism. But City too have rebuilt with mere expensive parts.

And it was the Third Division side which took the lead after 16 minutes when former Wimbledon player Steve Galliers sunk his old boss's hopes with a pass to Alan Walsh out on the right. Shutt, bought for 55,000 this season from United's neighbours at Hillsborogh, intercepted the cross and his low diving header easily beat the United goalkeeper. The goal came from the Third Division side's first offensive tiaartsm an encounter not only with Sampdoria's Vialli but such distinguished defenders as Franco Baresi, the Milan captain, who looks rather better than anything at England's disposal right now. If John Barnes could not solve the problem of Dennis Wise in the FA Cup Final, how might he cope with opponents of this quality? Perhaps it is just as well that Chris Waddle is approaching his best form. He ought to play in at least part of the Scotland match.

Angry Roxburgh SCOTLAND'S manager Andy Roxburgh yesterday refused to bring Brian McClair or Gordon Strachan into his depleted squad for Saturday's Rons Cup match with England at Wembley. Ally McCoist and Maurice Johnston are both undergoing treatment, but Roxburgh most reduced the overall deficit soon after by more conventional means. When Sellars's corner was only half-cleared, Millar drove a shot from 20 yards on to the top of the crossbar. The two close calls proved false portents as Chelsea took thread after 26 minutes. In a melee following Nevin's corner, Dixon's head provided the last touch before Kevin Wilson volleyed home from 12 yards.

Confirmation of Chelsea's growing confidence came when Hall released Nevin, but the winger shot into Gen-noe'sbody. Results Soccer BARCLAYS LBAQUB PLAY-OFFS Second Lag For a First DMelon placa Chateaa (1) 4 Blackburn (0) 1 Wilson 2 Sellars Dixon, Durie 22,757 (Chelsea win 6-1 on agg) Middlesbrough (t) 2 Bradford (0) Slaven (aet; Middlesbrough win 3-2 on agg) Hamilton 25,868 For a Sacond Division placa Sheffield United (0) 1 Bristol CHy (1) 1 Morris Shutt (Bristol City win 2-1 on agg) 19,066 WataaS(0)1 Notta County (1) 1 Christie Yates (Walsall win 4-2 pn agg) 8,902 For Third MvMon place Rottwrham (1) 1 Swanaaa (1) 1 Johnson McCarthy (Swansea win 2-1 on agg) 5.568 Seunthorpa (0) 1 Torquay (0) 1 Lister (pen) Loram (Torquay win 3-2 on agg) 6,463 CENTRAL LBAdUL First DivMoiu Liverpool l.Leeds 2. Qolf ENGLISH WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP (Little Aston). Saoond qujtttyino round! 142 Shapcott (Knowle) 72, 70. 147 Way (Ne-vlll) 75, 72.

148 Thornhlll (Walton Heath) 75, 73. 14S Macdonnld (Frlnton-on-Sea) 75, 74. 151 Dobson (Seacrott) 74. 77; A MacDonald (Andover) 75, 78. 182 Bennett (Colchester) 74, 78; Furby (Masham) 80, 72: Yarwood (Haydock Park) 78, 78.

183 Wade (Felixstowe Ferry) 74, 79; Colllngham (Notts) 79, 74. 184 Morley (Sale) 75, 79; Bayman (Berkshire) 76, 78: Fairclough (Chorley) 78, 76; A Booth (Little Aston) 75, 79. 188 Speak (Clitheroe) 73, 82. SCOTTISH WOMIN'S CHAMPIONSHIP (Southerness). Saoond rounds 181 Anderson (Tain) 76, 75.

18S Anderson Blalrgowire) 77, 76. 184 Lambert (Sterling Unlv) 79, 75. 188 Ford (Gullane) 80. 75. 187 Marshall (Baberton) 78, 79; Gallagher (Peebles) 81, 76.

188 Wright (Castle Douglas) 80, 78; Cralk (FrIKord Heath) 63, 75. 180 A Gemmlll (Barasslo) 8t, 78; Lawson (Eastwood) 81, 78. 180 Jackson Wathcart Castle) 83, 77; Thomson (Penrith) paDes With Hoddle and Hateley still needed by Monaco and the play offs causing turther contusion, the England manager has retained Stewart Robson and Steve Hodge for the remaining warm-UD fixtures, including the trip to Switzerland at the end of trie month. He wants to play his defini tive European cnampionsmp team in at least one of these games, but the continuing un certainties about the centre backs and Anderson's match fitness may thwart mm. ignores McClair will not forgive the Manchester United pair for withdrawing from his squad against Colombia to play in United's friendly with AC Milan.

Rul- hp vnww) that his crit ics would be silenced at Wembley: "My players remain in good heart and are very aeterminea. Hall's next major contribution brought a curious second Chelsea goal after 55 minutes. His centre received the faintest of touches from Durie's head and Dixon prodded the ball over the line with his thigh. Within six minutes Blackburn retaliated with a well-constructed goal. Archibald supplied Garner, whose chipped pass was immediately swept high into tfle'ftet bySellars.

Ctwbeai Hitchcock; Clarke, Wilson, Pates, McLaughlin, Hall, Nevin, Bumstead, Dixon, Durie, Wilson. Blackburn Roverai Gennoe; Held, Millar, Barker, Hendry, Mall, Gayle, Archibald, Ardiles, Garner, Sellers. Refereei A Gunn (Burgess Hill). WPQA OLIVETTI TOURNAMENT (Moor Hall). Flrat round (GB and Irish unless staled): 80 Douglas.

70 Lunn (Aus); New. 71 Conley (US); Clum (US); Comslock (US); A Nicholas. 72 Dlbnah (Aus); Strudwlck; Connachan; Marvin. 73 Hill: Mah-Lylord (US); Garner; Soulsby; Burton; Lawrence. 74 Holns (US): Martin; deKraay (US); Fernando (Sri Lanka); deBoer (Neth); A Munt (Aus); WWIsbon (US): Jones Marshall (US); Pavich (Aus); McQuillan.

78 Per-clval; Duffy; Burton. Tennis WORLD TEAM CUP NIK'S TOURNAMENT (Duesseldort). Rod Oroupi US bt France. Mayotta (US) bt Tulasne (Fr) 6-4, AS, 6-2; A Krlcfcatatti (US) bt Benhablles (Fr) 6-4, 6-7, 6-2. Swttzarland bt Argentina 2-1.

Bengoactwa (Am) bt Stadler (Swl) 4-6, 6-1, 6-2: Hlaeek (Swl) bt Jalte (Arg) 6-4, 64: H-C Mexxedrl (Swi) bt Bengoechea 6464. WOMEN'S EUROPEAN OPEN (Geneva). Firat round) Maleera (Bui) bt Cohen (Swi) 6-3, 6-4; Lap! (It) bt Krapl (Swl) 7-8, 6-3; PsuJue (Aut) bt Schlmper (SA) 6-2, 6-3. Rain washed out further play. Boxing IBF FEATHERWEIQHT CHAMPIONSHIP (Atlantic City).

CaMn Orom (US) bt Myron Taylor (US) pts. Sailing DURACELL ROYAL LVMINOTOH CUP. Flrat roundi Bedford (GB) bt Kolius (US): Wckeon (NZ) bt Bouet (Fr): almoin- (Aus) bt Patterson (Swe); War-dan Owen (GB) bt Law (GB); Clark (GB) bt Puh (Yug). Sacond roundi CMknour bt Bedford; Patterson bt Bouet; Warden Owen bt Kolius; Dickson bt Clark; Law Puh ppnd. Third roundi Bedford bt Bouet; OJknour bt Warden Owen; Patterson bt Puh; KoHua bt Clark; DMteon bt Law.

Fourth roundi warden Owen bt Bouet; Bedford bt Puh, Ofcncur bt Clark; Dfefcaon bt Patterson; law bt Kolius. Pour round totalai Dickson, Gllmour 4 Wins; Bedford, Warden Owen Patterson Clark, Kolius, Law 1: Bouet, Puh 0. Cyollng PEACI RACE (Legnica, Poland). Nlrrth stag (196km): 1, Slautf (WG) 4hrs 7rnln. Olsec; 2, Fidanza (It) at 4sec; 3, Cordes (Neth) 7.

Overall! 1, Ampler (EG) 33hra 18mln 23sec: 2. Pulnlkov (USSR) at 23sec; haps it was just as well he did not go to Old Trafford to see AC Milan put the position of run-ners-up in the English First Division into a more modest perspective. Robson already knows what Ruud Gullit can do to his defence. A glimpse of Marco van Basten against Manchester United might have depressed him further still. Van Basten has been restricted to nine appearances for Milan this season because of an ankle problem, and for a long time was doubtful for the European Championship.

Now it seems likely that he will line up England in Diissel-dori on Junel5. "Marco is a player of the highest quality," Gullit assured us cheerfully after Tuesday's match. "He is a striker with a nose for making and scoring goals when he is in confined areas inside the box. If England do get beyond the first round in West Germany they could face Italy in the semi-finals, which would mean their borrowed internationals, Steve Archibald and Os-sie Ardiles from the start. Chelsea had been instructed by their manager, Bobby Campbell, to "go for the throat" early on, and his side almost drew blood in the seventh minute.

A dithering Barker was dispossessed by Hall, who immediately released Dixon. But the striker veered too wide. A rare moment of relaxation in the early frenzy almost brought Blackburn the softest of goals. Clarke casually lifted a back-pass which forced Hitchcock to arch his back to save. Blackburn al Motors, are to receive an additional sponsorship from Luton International Airport, who are putting a total of 150,000 into the club over the next three years.

Tottenham, rebuffed earlier in the week in their efforts to sign Walsall's David Kelly, suffered another rejection yesterday when Derby's manager Arthur Cox ruled out any sale of his former England under 21 winger Nigel Callaghan. Sheffield Wednesday's manager Howard Wilkinson is to have talks soon with the former England midfielder Graham Rix, released by Arsenal. Chelsea and QPR have already had discussions with the 30-year-old player. Alan Kennedy, the former Liverpool and fullback, is one of six players given a free transfer by Wigan. Leyton Orient have given a free transfer to Kevin Godfrey, their longest serving player, who has appeared in more than 250 League games for the club.

But their leading scorer Ian Juryeff, who requested a transfer earlier in the season, has signed a new contract. Scottish midfielder Mike Con-roy and defenders Steve John and Henry Hughton are also released. Andy Roxburgh's players to greater things for football's oldest international fixture. An element of that pride was seen in the second half of Alan Hansen's testimonial at Liverpool on Monday when Kenny Dalglish came on to hurl himself at Robson's defence as if he was back in the navy-blue shirt with the Hampden Roar at his back. So effectively was the old combination of Dalglish and Ian Rush, who scored twice, reestablished that the England manager began to have collywobbles about his centre-backs and was still recovering from the experience when the squad assembled yesterday.

Mark Wright and Dave Watson will probably play on Saturday, with Tony Adams on the bench. Watson came away from Anfield with relatively little egg on his face but the other two, who played half a game each, were fried and boiled. "If the air in front of your goalkeeper is weak and watery you will concede water," de and when added to their 1-0 win in the first leg, gave them a lead that took the sting out of United's attack. Colin Gordon, playing with a broken wrist, was booked for a clash with Webster, after an earlier ticking off by the referee for generally throwing his weight about. Seconds later he was in trouble again and was counting the remainder of his nine lives on one hand as Ca-dette headed a high ball over the defence that Andy Llewellyn just cleared.

United started the second half as they had the first but this time it paid off. Colin Morris lifted a shot over his best friend and former United goalkeeper, Keith Waugh. United's breaks shivered a few Bristol timbers but City refused to retreat to the trenches and on the hour new manager Joe Jordan replaced Colin Gordon. However, United were up and running and Ca-dette took over a Beagrie run and found Williams clear. But again LLewellyn cleared.

In the dying seconds, Ben-stead made a magnificent save to block McClaren's shot but the Bristol fans had already changed their tune to Going Up. Sheffield Wedneedayi Benstead; Powell. Pike, Webster, Stanclltfe, Barnsley, Morris. Cadelte, Williams, Oownes, Beagrie. Bristol Cltyt Waugh; Llewellyn, Newman, Humphries, Pender, McLaren, Milne, Galliers, Gordon, Walsh, Shutt.

Referee Courtney (Spennymoor). Tyson made it known early on that he had heard all about the weekend's troubles. He booked three men in the first 16 minutes. Among all this Torquay's midfielder, Alan Pearce, was carried off with a leg injury after falling heavily going for a high ball. It was perhaps predictable then that Scunthorpe's first and best chance of the first half came from a free kick given for dangerous play by David Cole.

David Hill's rifling shot, struck from just outside the area, seemed to be heading for the top corner but Kenny Alien, who never faltered under a bar- rase of hieh crosses, managed to tip the ball onto the angle of bar and post. Torquay's best chance came five minutes from the break when Jim McNichol's chip from 25 yards had Ron Green oacK-pedalling and Knowles jumping out of the dug-out. Richardson had the ball in the net for Scunthorpe shortly before but the "goal" was disallowed for pushing. Seunthorpa Unltedi Green; Stevenson, Longden, Taylor, Lister, McLean, Richardson, Shearer, Oawes, Flounders, Hill. Torquay Untedi Allen; McNIchol.

Kelly, Haslegrave, Cole, Impey, Pearce, Lloyd, Loram, uooson, uiDDins. Rafanai G. Tyson (Sunderland) with cup fever morning after Frank Burrows, the club's manager, had noticed that the 110-year-old, solid silver trophy seemed less than complete. Alas, the search proved fruitless, and a shamefaced Jones rang Alun Evans, the FAW secretary, to confess. Don't worry, said Evans.

The lid was lost six years ago. David Henderson InMontlcello GREG NORMAN has forsaken the fast lane. It is more profitable that way. The 33-year-old Australian already has a Rolls Royce and five Ferraris back home in Florida's North Palm Beach. A sixth will be joining them shortly after Norman completes the transaction which he began with a 55,000 down-payment a sum equal to his appearance fee for this week's Italian Open.

won ao more man 20 miles a year in the new one," he said. "It's too fast for me to drive. I'll just lock it away and let it make me money. "Buying cars is better than having cash in the bank. It is like dealing in art.

I have already been offered double what I paid for two of my cars." This is tne tirst 01 three Euro pean visits for Norman in 1988; Boxing Middlesbrough maestro Bernie Slaven, scorer of their crucial first goal in last night's play-off against Bradford City Chelsea 4, Blackburn Rovers 1 (agg: 6-1) Wilson double seals Chelsea triumph Scunthorpe 1, Torquay 1 (agg: 2-3) Show stops for Scunthorpe Russell Thomas CHELSEA showed at Stamford Bridge last night that they have not the slightest intention of relinquishing their First Division status. Two magnificent late goals by Kevin Wilson his second of the match and Gordon Durie embellished a crushing victory over Blackburn that sends the London club into the play-off final next week on a 6-1 aggregate. For the first time in several weeks Blackburn were able to utilise the experience of Ellis skips Seqyl he will also play in the Open Championship and the Lan-come Trophy in Paris. "This is where it all started for me," he said. "Being back in Europe is like coming home." He will find that times have changed.

New winners like Derrick Cooper and David Whelan have emerged and the old, represented principally by the defending champion, Sam Torrance, have been in the doldrums. Torrance missed last week's Spanish Open in order to consult a sports psychologist in London and an acupuncturist in Scotland. Both have imbued Torrance with thoughts positive, so much so that he declared yesterday: "I no longer have a putting problem. I am a good putter." A fortnight ago the Scot's "yips" were painful to behold. His new-found confidence will be immediately put to the test, as he and Norman are partners for the first two rounds.

"But both of us were picked for the coming Canada Cup competition, and whoever did the best was probably going to be named," he said. "I didn't think that was really fair, so when the offer came I took it. I've got to think long term." Hickey said: "This demonstrates again a total lack of cooperation from the British Boxing Board of Control the professional governing body. It would have been far better for everybody if Wayne had gone to the Games. He would have come back a far wiser young man and would then have been a far bigger attraction.

"We need some guarantee that something is going to be produced at the end of the conveyor belt. We've lost 40 per cent of our Olympic squad in the last two years, including six of the ten medallists at the Commonwealth Games." 4 DRAWS 11-76 12 HOMES 224-45 (PAID ON 11 HOMES) 6AWAYS 78-35 AanedhMeatitiaaHsallOp Expanses and Commiaalon 30th April All jUvlstsas te rucmtlay. Francis decides to stay on with Bristol Rovers WAYNE ELLIS, the ABA light-middleweight champion and an Olym pic prospect, has turned professional, a decision which Britain's coach, Kevin Hickey, said yesterday was "tragic from every point of Ellis, a 19-year-old from Cardiff, is joining the Frank War ren stable and is scneouiea to make his debut on June 25, on the same bill as Barry McGui-san's second comeback fight at Luton Town Football Club. Ellis claims the decision was an easy one because "I'd heard stories that the English ABA were trying to push me out of the Olympic He stopped Neville Brown, a European bronze medallist last year, in one round in the ABA semifinals and felt that when he went on to take the title earlier this month a place for Seoul should have been guaranteed. Martin Thorpe THE old show will go on even after the last night at the Old Show Ground.

Scunthorpe United may be moving stadiums but they are stuck for another season with the Fourth Division, their home for all but two of the past 20 seasons. Torquay took the lead seven minutes from the end when Mark Loram found himself the spare man in the Scunthorpe area and shot easily home. The home team were awarded a penalty three minutes later, which Steve Lister converted, but the visitors' control, fuelled by the cool Cole, hardly faltered. They now meet Swansea City for a place in the Third Division. This play-off semi-final second leg was the third time these teams had met in 11 days, and the tally from the first two games was 11 players booked, three players in hospital, one sent off and one manager Torquay's Cyril Knowles ordered to the dressing room.

No wonder some among the crowd were speculating that the Football League had appointed the wrong Tyson to referee this encounter. Cardiff caught up CARDIFF CITY officials rummaged frantically through dustbins at the Vetch Field yesterday in search of the lid from the Welsh Cup which they had won by beating Wrexham 2-0 there the previous night. Cardiff's managing director, Ron Jones, got the operation under way early in the GERRY FRANCIS has rejected overtures from three bigger clubs in order to stay with Bristol Rovers as manager for at least another year after transforming the club's Third Division fortunes in the second half of the season. The 36-year-old former England captain turned down the firm offer of a coaching post in the First Division to sign a new 12-month deal yesterday, which includes an option for a second year. Francis would not identify the three interested clubs and admitted he "would have been better off financially" taking up the concrete offer.

Francis has been most frequently connected with Chelsea and just lately with Portsmouth and Southampton. But his "very strong feelings for Rovers" who gave him his first managerial job last July as Bobby Gould's successor, have persuaded him to remain at Twerton Park and build on the dramatic improvement that took Rovers to eighth place. Ray Harford, manager of Littlewoods Cup winners Luton, has been given a new three-year contract. Next summer he will serve under a new chairman, Roger Smith, who will take over from David Evans. Luton, backed by General week's Record Summer Shark TREBLE CHANCE PAYING 6 DIVIDENDS 24 PTS 23 PTS 132-90 22V2PTS 29.26 22 PTS 11-45 2IV2PTS 4-60 21 PTS 145 Treats Ounce dMestei la uiiti af Via.

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