The Guardian from London, Greater London, England • 23

SPORTS NEWS 23 Tennis French Open, fifth day vanisevic joins stampede of endangered aristocrats THE GUARDIAN Saturday May 29 1993 DavM Irvine In Paris the men's event known such carnage, though three of the top eight had fallen by the third day in 1991 and the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds, Stefan Edberg and Boris Becker, in 1990. Inevitably the question being posed last night was: who goes next? Today the favourite Pete Sampras faces Sweden's Jonas Svensson, who put out Ivan Lcndl, the then No. 1, in 1988 that looks ominous while Edberg, the third seed, plays Jonathan Stark, an American who won the junior doubles title here six years ago with a certain Jim Courier.

While events have certainly underlined the fact that few matches are easy these days, it also has to be said that the main surprise has been the feeble way the star turns have capitulated. In quality terms the Open has been a poor affair thus so far. Only Michael Stich, Andrei Medvedev, Sampras, Edberg and the defending champion Courier who at least showed he was human by dropping a set to a fellow American Jeff while Courier just kept whacking the ball until Tarango wilted 6-1, 6-7, 6-3, 7-5. Courier admitted he felt good but did not agree with Tarango that he was invincible. "Every time I walk on court I'm laying it on the line." Courier expects a hard battle with Thomas Muster, perhaps the most physical of the European players, for a fourth-round place.

They stand at 2-2 on clay, though the American has won the last two in straight sets. Police are investigating the possible theft of Wimbledon tickets which have disappeared from a damaged postal consignment of 350 to the Oxfordshire LTA. The missing tickets will not be valid, and duplicates will be issued on the day to people for whom they were intended. The Lawn Tennis Association last night warned spectators not to buy tickets from unauthorised sources. "It's the first time I've known a package of tickets to be damaged in transit," said the LTA secretary John James.

Tarango have lived up to their reputations. It may be that the effects of less than total commitment to the regular tour arc now affecting even the major tournaments, which if true is a high price to pay for all the money now circulating in the game. On the other hand one man's failure is another's success, and Costa, who is well placed to benefit most from the upsets, has the game to fulfil the promise he showed in the runup to Paris a year ago. Costa has at least been up at No. 10 in the rankings.

Neither Rodolphe Gilbert nor Bemd Karbacher could sustain his earlier giant-killing against Becker and Michael Chang respectively. Both fell at the next hurdle, Gilbert losing by 4-6, 7-5. 6-4, 6-4 to Ctislav Dose-del, whose "giant" was Jeremy Bates, and Karbacher by 6-3, 6-4, 7-5 to the other Croat, Goran Prpic. Stich needed only a break a set to see off Australia's Richard Fromberg 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 0 LOSE two leading seeds in the first week of a Grand Slam event is unfortunate. To lose five within the opening five days smacks of carelessness, as Oscar Wilde might have reminded the organisers when Goran Ivanisevic joined the aristocrats' exit from the French Open yesterday.

In the tournament committee rooms the No. 5 seed's defeat was regarded as a near disaster. After making a bright start against the Spaniard Carlos Costa, Ivanisevic hit the self-destruct button, pumping forehand after forehand into the net, over the baseline and out into the tramlines as he lost 2-6. 6-2, 7-5, 6-3. It was a horrendous display of ill-discipline that left his watching coach Bob Brett sitting with glazed eyes in disbelief.

Never since the French assumed Open status in 1968 has Graf is stalked by Seles clone missing Hack, the 15th seed, 6-0 7-6, her limitations were apparent. Neither a volley nor drop-shot was seen. To Graf, who beat her 6-2 6-2 in March, "she's pretty solid from the Hack might have used the word violent Far too many rallies ended with a full-blooded drive that she could not get her racket on. Yet, after losing the first six games, Hack had a set point at 5-2 in the second set and also led 5-2 in the tiebreak. But she flung it away with six unforced errors.

Graf is unlikely to be so generous. Majoli said she was "excited and happy to be playing Steffi, Is it Seles, or McEnroe having a tantrum? no, it Is the 15-year-old Croatian Iva Majoli on her way to yesterday's win Badminton Miller's defiance can insnire Six managers of Gowers glowers after big split-up Cynthia Bateman on the men whose teams will grace this weekend's Wembley play-offs She now plans to play with Joanne Wright, the 20-year-old with whom she won the Swiss Open in February, while Gowers will make a temporary pairing with Ro-siana Tendean, of Indonesia. "Sometimes I feel with Gill she wants to be the better one," Gowers said. "She wins alone and loses with your help. I have been very tense this week and my pride is hurt.

But I will play for England with Gill If needed." "I am sad if she feels this way," said Clark. "She has said nothing to me about these feelings. And I am surprised, because it was all decided some time ago. We haven't just split this week." Ciro Ciniglio, the England manager, now has to decide whether the atmosphere is good enough to risk his best pair, who were surprisingly defeated against Denmark on Tuesday. Ciniglio said: "I would rather this had waited until after the world championships.

It harts me more than the players." All tests for typhoid on Bambang Suprianto, the world No. 10 from Indonesia, have proved negative. Wcherd Jago In Bfriulnaliasiii ONLY 24 hours before the England pair Gillian Gowers and Gill Clark were due to play in a Sudirman Cup relegation decider Gowers yesterday complained bitterly of the differences between them which she believes have broken up the partnership that won the European title and reached the All-England final. After news had broken that the pair will split after the world championships are over, Gowers said: "I was dumbstruck. I thought we had an agreement to continue until the end of the year.

I only found out in practice when I wanted to talk about the tournament calendar after the world championships and she told me she was going to play with someone else." Clark and Gowers today play Sweden in a match to decide who is relegated from the top group of the team event. Clark claims the partnership, which renewed itself in November after an interval of 21 months, was only to last until the world event. Hockey SABINE HACK took a love set off Steffi Graf in Berlin earlier this month; Iva Majoli won a love set off Hack at the French Open yesterday, writes David Irvine. Here tomorrow Graf plays the 15-ycar-old Croat for a quarter-final place. Very interesting, as the helmeted German on Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In used to say.

Majoli's ability to overhaul Hack for the second set, after her comprehensive demolition of her in the First, showed a maturity beyond her years even if her onslaught from the baseline suggested a lack of variety. Convincing as she was in dis Soccer Twist in Spurs battle Bon Beet TERRY VENABLES yesterday had talks with a millionaire former discount stores chairman, Philip Green, as the battle for control at Tottenham Hotspur took another twist. The Spurs' chief executive, still looking for allies in his attempt to force the chairman Alan Sugar to sell his stake in the club, turned to Green and a spokesman for Venables confirmed that they had met "I cannot make any other comment," he added. Arsenal and Sheffield Wednesday may have to pay hefty fines for fielding under-strength teams before the FA Cup final. The FA yesterday charged them with a breach of Premier League rules and targeted the clash between the two at Hillsborough on May 6, which Wednesday won 1-0, and the games on May 11, when Arsenal lost 3-1 at home to Spurs and Wednesday lost by the same score at OPR.

Leeds United have offered the Republic of Ireland central defender David O'Leary a three-year contract after 20 years with Arsenal. They plan to team the 35-year-old with England's Des Walker if they sign him from Sampdoria. O'Leary will have talks with Jie Leeds manager Howard Wilkinson next week. Ruud Guliit, upset at being left out of AC Milan's team for the European Cup final against Marseille, plans to leave the club. "I am convinced they want me to look for another club," he said.

Italy will use video evidence next season to judge disciplinary cases when there is the possibility of mistaken identity. The move follows an error last weekend which saw the Inter defender Gigi De Agostini sent off for a foul committed by his team-mate Paolo Tramezzani. Arsenal's women today go for a unique treble; before the Third Division play-off at Wembley they meet Knowsley in the Women's FA Trophy final, having already won the Premier League and the FA Cup. O'Leary Leeds talks struggled through 6-7, 6-3, 6-3 to confirm her meeting with Capriati but only after her father, who is given to noisy outbursts, was ordered to leave the court after the tiebreak. Pierce had already run to her mother to say: "He's here.

He's annoying me." Jim Pierce has now had his pass withdrawn while the tournament committee considers what action to take. Monica Seles is said to be doubtful for the US Open in August She tried to exercise this week but her back was painful. Seles was stabbed by a spectator during a tournament in Hamburg last month style fer market, baying cheap and selling dear. Yet he has hung on to enough talent to build a team which, having taken 117 years to reach Wembley, find themselves there twice in eight days. He was proved right last weekend after predicting Wembley would prove perfect for his side's passing game.

Their polished performance won them the Autoglass Trophy. Now that Brian Clough has retired Rudge becomes the country's third-longest-serving manager. He is beaten to second place by a matter of six months by Gradi of Crewe, another manager who combines a reputation for good football with a talent for spotting players others miss, his most celebrated success being David Piatt. Crewe's opponents York are managed by Brian Little's brother Alan, who took charge only three months ago. As No.

2 to John Ward for the previous five years, he helped put together an attractive side which has been in the top four of the Third Division all season. Kenny Swain, Crewe's assistant manager, has been appointed manager of Wigan. However, Swain will be with Crewe at Wembley today. Joachim profile, page 10 first): MfddfemtssR Hogg lost to A Antro-pevN Zuav 15-13, 11-15. 4-15; AllenA Travers lost to tvanovaM Vafcusheva 11-15.

9-15: Mailer lost to A Airtropow 9-15, 4-15; A Gibson lost to Andnevskaya 7-11. 3-11: MiddfemissTravers lost to ZuevM Yakusheva 13-15, 13-18; Australia 2, Canada 3. Final atandaiaai 1, Russia (P3, Pts3); 2. Canada (3-2); 3. Scotland (3-1); 4, Australia (3-0).

Russia promoted. Australia relegated. Oroup At Germany 3. NZ 2. Oroup St Norway 2, Austna Poland 2.

Finland 3. Austria promoted. Poland relegated. Oroup 6t Inland 2. UnHad States (Irish hrst: HendersonA Stephens lost to Wang KiL Frooch 10-15.

16-17. McGinn tost to I von HaHawd 4-11. 6-11; Wan lost to Han 13-15, 15-7. 10-15; StaphanaJ Pfunkett bt A AnderssonA French 15-7. 15-8; ToppsneM VMoara bt Weng KaiI RusH 11-15, 15-11, 15-9; Iceland 0, Czechoslovakia 5.

Final standinoat 1, Czech (P3, Pts3); 2. Iceland (3-2); 3, US (3-1); 4, Ireland (3-Q). Czech promoted. Ireland relegated. Oroup 81 Belgium 0.

Ukraine Pakistan 0. Kazakhstan 5. Ukraine promoted, Pakistan relegaied. Oroup 9t Israel 2, Peru Malta 1, Slovenia 4. Peru promoted.

Squash HOMO KONO WOMDTS OPOti Quartern NUJrttn (Aus) bt Wright (Eng) 10-9. 9-2. 9-0; Homer Eng) bt Jackman (Eng) 9-7, 9-7. 7-9. 9-3; hvtng (Aus) bt Owens (Aus) 9-6, 9-1.

9-4; La Motttnan (Eng) bt Wallace (Can) 9-6, 9-5, 5-9, 7-9. 9-0. Baseball AMSJttCAM UUOUli Toronto 3. Milwaukee 9, Chicago WS 4, Kansas NY Yankees 3, Baltimore Seattle 0. California 5.

HATMNAL UCAOUCj Cincinnati 5. Atlanta Pittsburgh 13, Florida Chicago Cubs 5, San Francisco Houston 8. Colorado 0. Ice Hockey HHU Third-round playoff. CampbaU Confarawoa flnalai Los Angeles 5.

Toronlo 4 (level at 3-3). Hockey EUROPSAN CLUB CHAM PtOMSM IP. Man. A division (Brussels). Oroup Ai Uhlenhorst Mulhelm (holders) 7, Wlen Cobra Durk-heimer 2, Racing (Fr) 3.

Oroup Bi Egara 1, Kslburne HOM (Neth) 0, Leopold (Bel) 0. dtvlalon CHavarrt). Oroup At Havant 5. GO Vfso (Port) Tlikerlt (Fin) 1, Stockholm 4. Oroup Bt Grunwald (Pol) 7.

Volan (Hun) Grammarians (Gibraltar) 0, Minsk (Belorus) Woman. A dtvlalon (Brueeete). Oroup At Amsterdam (holders) 3, Cardiff Ath Slough 1, Campo Madrid 0. Oroup Bi Russelshoim (Ger) 3, Stado Francais Leopold (Bel) 0. Glasgow Wostern KP 5.

dMalon (Catania): Muckross (tre) 3, Conatrucluroi (Rom) 0. but not afraid. I just want to play good against her, give my best and see what While she admires Graf, to Majoli Navratilova is the greatest. She is already being compared to Monica Seles similar looks, grunts and ground shots but said she did not mind "as she's No. 1 and a great player.

But it's better to be yourself, not somebody else, even if that somebody is the Jennifer Capriati, who on her French Open debut, aged 14 in 1990, lost to Seles in the semifinals, yesterday had a testing struggle to defeat FVorencia La-bat 6-0, 3-6, 6-4. Mary Pierce lap of honour and cracked open the champagne, before losing to Blackburn in the final. This year what happens at Wembley will dictate whether the corks pop. Little's first game in charge at Leicester was against Swindon, and he has yet to be beaten by them. Hoddle, 35, now in a self-imposed role as sweeper, selects from a full squad, having persuaded Australia to release Dave Mitchell from World Cup duty.

Ardiles was in charge at Swindon when they unavail-ingly won promotion to the top division. This time the Argentinian takes a cultured Albion to Wembley. Ardiles' first move when he took over a year ago was to make Keith Burkinshaw, his former manager at Tottenham, his assistant and to promote Dennis Mortimer, the captain of Aston Villa's 1982 European Cup-winning side, from community officer to first-team coach. Together they restored passing, flowing football at The Hawthorns. Rudge, of Port Vale, has saved the Potteries club with shrewd dealing in the trans AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP (Roval Por-trush.

INI): Fourth roundi Umdborg (Swe) bt Welch (Hitl Valley) 20rh; I Py-mafi (Sand Moor) bt Watson (E Renfrewshire) 1 hole. AndaOTon (Shandon Pic) bt Cevaer (Fr)2 PNOpo (Stoke Poges) bt A Reid (Kilmarnock B) 2 holes; Harrington (Stackstown) bt McGimpsey (Bangor) 4 3. Pas (Oarttord) bt A Prat (Sp) 4 Fisher (Stoke Poges) bt Mackenzie (W Linton) 3 RuaaeM (Longniddry) MHJ Thompson (Ferndown) 6 Tennis PMMCH OMN (Paris): Mem Second roundi Samprw (US) bt Ondruska (SA) 7-5, 6-0. 6-3; len on (Swe) bt Sanchez (Sp) 6-3. 6-7, 5-7, 6-3.

6-4. Third rounds Prpic (Cro) bt Karbacher (Ger) 6-3, 6-4, 7-5: SOch (Ger) bt Fromberg (Aus) 6-4. 6-4. 6-4; Muster (Aul) bt Gilbert (US) 7-6. 6-2, 6-4; Courier (US) bt Tarango (US) 6-7, 6-3, 7-6; Coat (Sp) bl Ivanisevic (Cro) 2-6, 6-2.

7-6. 6-3; DoMdol (Cz) bt Gilbert (Fr) 4-6. 7-5, 6-4, ttevacok (Cz) bt Pescosoiido (It) 6-3. 6-1, 3-, 5-7, Krajloofc (Neth) bt Arrese (Sp) 2-6. 6-2, 6-2.

6-7. 6-2. Wometu Second rounds tfovobia (Cz) bt Papadaki (Gr) 3-6. 6-2, 6-2: Kroupova (Cz) bt Cccchini () 7-6. 6-3.

Third roundi Capriati (US) bt Labat (Arg) 6-0. 3-6, 6-4; Wioaner (Aul) bt Tauziat (Fr) 7- Graf (Ger) bt GJtdemeister (Peru) 6-2. 6-2; MartJnax (Sp) bt Baudone (It) 6-0. 7-6; A Nubar (Ger) Hy (Can) 6-1, 6-2; I MajeN (Cro) bt Hack (Ger) 6-0. 7-4: Piaroe (Fr) MKPo (US) 6-7.

6-3. 6-3; Maleeva (But) bt Halard (Fr) 6-4, 6-1. VOUHO CUP (Bournemouth): Ftnak United State Oreat Britain it Young (US) bt Englefield (Surrey) 3-6, 6-2, 6-2; Chart (Surrey) bt Russo (US) 7-6, 6-4; RuaatV Ford (US) bt ChartesJ Bootham (Midox) 6-4. 6-7, 6-1. Cycling OIRO DTTAUAi Sixth ataga tyiltafranca Tirrena to Messina.

130km; Italian unless stated): 1. Bontempi 3hr 6min 44s oc; 2, A BaHi; 3, Bugno; 4. Ghlrotto; 5, Korvy-shev (Rus); 6. Brochard (Fr) all same time. OvereJb 1, Argentin 25hr 37mln 21 sec; 2, Ugrumov (Uth) at 26sec; 3.

Fondrtest 35: 4. Bugno 36; 5. Indurain (Sp) at; 6, Saligaii 41. JUaot 15, Roche (Ire) 55. KMART CLASSIC.

Third staffs (Elkins to White Sulphur Springs. 220km): 1, Elliott (GB) 6hr 11min. Msec; 2. A Ptzlks (Lai); 3, Gaggloli (US). Overs 1.

Armstrong (US) 10hr 21mln 30sec; 2, Engleman (US) at 14sec; 3, Walton (Can); Elliott 2.5. Badminton SUDIRMAN CUP (Birmingham): Group Si Japan 2, Holland Malaysia 2. Thailand 3 Thailand promoted, Malaysia relegated. Oroup 3t Russia 5, SootJand 0 (Scottish final underdogs who as a player reduced Old Firm opponents to intimidated bystanders. Ferguson insists that Aberdeen, would not have achieved their phenomenal record three championships, four Scottish Cups, one League Cup, the European Cup Winners' Cup and the European Super Cup without the influence of his field lieutenant.

"I used to send them out and Willie would have that look in his eye and I knew everything would be all right," said the Manchester United manager. Miller recognises the need to restore that kind of confidence in the present. "We won those big-occasion matches because we believed that we would," he said. "It's something that we have to instil in our newer and younger players and I think we're getting there." For Rangers young Neil Murray will probably replace the injured Steven, with either Dur-rant or McSwegan partnering Hateley in attack. Mutant (prababtok Gown: McPtnreon, Gough.

Brown, Robertson, Ferguson, McCall. Murray. Huistra. Haletey. Ourrant.

ASBRDEBNt (poaalbla)t Snelders; McKimmie, Irvine, McLeish, Smith, Granl. Kane. Mason. Richardson, Shearer, Paalelainen. Dundee United have announced that they will sell the striker Duncan Ferguson to the highest bidder.

Rangers have already made an unsuccessful offer of 2.5 million for the 21-year-old striker. Tomorrow WOMEN'S NATIONAL LEA QUE PLAYOFFS (Old Loughtontans HC, Chtgwell): Oroup A (10.30): Colwall Canterbury; Olton WWvRedland (2.30): Canterbury Redland; Colwall 01 ion WW. Oroup (12.15):. Cambridge City Yate, Woking Great Harwood. (4.15): Cambridge City Woking: Yate Gt Harwood.

An overtime goal by Wayne Gretzky earned the Los Angeles Kings a 5-4 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs, levelling the Campbell Conference playoffs at 3-3 to force a decider in Toronto today. "It's probably the btggest goal I ever scored." said Gretzky, the National Hockey League's all-time top scorer. The winners will meet the Montreal Canadiens In the best-ot-seven Stanley Cup finals which begin in Montreal on Tuesday. The Acropolis Rally begins torn on ow with Francois Delecour keen to maintain his world championship lead. The Frenchman has never wort this event and hts Ford team is emerging as a major force after years of domination by Toyota and Lancia.

Fewer than two-thirds of the starters usually finish the test on rugged Greek roads. WARWICK 0.15 (ImX 1, PUSEY STREBT BOY, Mrs Bosley (12-1): 2, Ootfe Desire (33-1): 3, nionocor (33-1): 4, Rise Up aenging (11-4 rav) 23 ran a. (J Bosley) Tote: 18 10; 3.80. 9.10. E3.S0.

1.80. Dual 1st or 2nd with any other: 6.20. CSF: 301.02. Tricasl: 10.775.53. NR: Bold Habit.

Natural Lad. S.SO (Sty 1, MOUNT LBN5TER, Adams (11-4): 2, Psndisai Hears (6-1): 3, Major Sueoasa (9-4 fav). 10 ran. 23. 21,.

(P Murphy) Tote: 5 10: 1.70. 1.50. 1.40. Dual 16.40. CSF: 22.89.

NR: Oomon Dancer. Tinker Oamaston. 7.20 (1m 21 laoydels 1, BIT ON THE SIDE, McCabe (12-1); 2, KrvowtS (11-4 lav): 3, Surrey Panoer (3-1). 9 ran. 5.

(W Musson) Tole: 8.60; 1.60. 1.40. 2.20. Dual 13.40. CSF: 4t.92.

Trlcast: 114.55. NR: Santa na Lady. Supertop. 7JWi 1m 21 169Yds)i 1, JLUXOATtOli, A Munro (evens fav); 2, Abaelem'e Palar (15-6): 3, One Mora Pound (9-1). 7 ran.

3. (P Cole) Tote: 1.80; 1.30. 150. Oual 1.60. CSF: 3.20.

(Tl 1, ABSOLUTE MAOIC, Hills (6-1): 2, daea Attraction (16-1): 3, Had Cotton (3-1). 5-2 lev Catequil. 12 ran. 2. 1l3.

(W Haggss) Tole: 7.10; 1.80. 4.70, 1.90. Oual 23.20. CSF: 111.13. S.SO (1m SI 194 yds 1, BA1ASAHL Perrert (6-4 lav): 2, Intrepid Laos (12-1); 3, Champeona Oold (33-1).

2. 3. 15 ren. 2. 3.

IM Pipe) Tole: 2.00; 1.30. 3.10. 6.00. Dual 11 50. CSF: 21.71.

Trlcast: 445.39. PUCEPOTl 6.70. (reward for cup Patrick GSwtn THE end of a week in which second favourites ave demonstrated a gratifying penchant for lifting first prize Aberdeen may continue the trend in the Tennents Scottish Cup final by beating Rangers at Celtic Park. Marseille's midweek success was an encouraging portent and the Pittodrie side have the credentials to suggest they can bring Willie Miller his first honour as a manager. Miller, who captained Aberdeen to four triumphs under Alex Ferguson between 1982 and 1986 the first two victories in that series were against Rangers has his old predatory look about him, recalling the defiant character flint-eyed Weekend fixtures Soccer WORLD CUP OWUJFVNMIi Oroup Twot Poland England (7.30, Stsskt Stadium, Katowice).

PLAY-OFFS (Wembley): Flnalai Third Dnr-Uatont Crewe York (2.30). Tomorrowi Second DMslont Port Vale West Brom (2.30). TENNENTS SCOTTISH CUPi Faiaa Aberdeen Rangers (3.0, Parkhead, Glasgow). Rugby Union TEST MATCHES Fi) Scotland (3.30); Zimbabwe Wales (2.0, Harare). TOUR MATCHISi Canada England (11.0pm, Vancouver): Maoris British Lions (3.30, Wellington).

Hockey EUROPEAN CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP (10.0. Havant College): Man's OMetoni Havant Stockholm (2.0). Tomorrowi Havant Tii-kent (Fin) (4.0). Evening racing PONTEFRACT 6. 4S (S)t 1, IHmNATKWU.

STAR, Emma o' Gorman (5-2); 2, Umkwrt (7-1): 3, Dam of Tho Swans (11-8 fav). 7 ran. 2, hd. O'Gorman) Tola: 4.00; t2.00, E2.90. Oual C13.70.

CSF: 17 61. 7.10 (1m). 1. DCLPKMOO, Fallon (5-1); a. Ho Submission (9-2): 3, Causieir (4-1 lav).

13 ran. 2. hd. (J FitzGerald) Tote: C5.40; 1.90. 2.70, 2.10.

Dual 9.70. CSF: E27.63. 7 JO (1m 401 1, ATLANTIC WAV, Robinson (8-1); 2, BoM AnstWoll (20-1); 9, Beaumood (12-1): 4, Mmlering (8-1). 6-1 coav James Is Special. Mouieeb, Salu.

16 ran. 4. (C Hill) Tola: C8.40; 2.00. 5.10. 4 60.

150. Dual 91.20. CSF: 147.27. Tncasl: 1.760.68. Bjos (1m).

1. WOUOSXITH, Roberts (6-1); 2, Doe Coterie) (5-2 lav); 3, Pnmwsa Tatoum (10-1). 12 ran. 5, 1. (Mrs Rams-den) Tote: 5 90; 1.90.

1.70. 2.10. Oual 4.20. CSF: 21.97. Tricasr: 144.24.

NR: Cardinal Dogwood. Trio: 2780. US (1m 2f 1, raOMIW, Roberts (11-2 lav): Tolephua (12-1): 3, BaWno (16-1): 4, Sweot Revival (10-1). 19 ran. 1.

4. (C Hill) Tola: 10.00; 2.70. 5.10. 6.30. 1.90.

Dual 299.90. CSF: 73.32. Trlcast: 962.28. U6 (Oi 1, MIDHISH, SwInDurn (6-4): 2, Ousmr (11-10 lav): 3, CoKaa Claaale (33-1). 5 ran.

10. 21,. (B Hanbury) Tote: 2.50; 1.40. 1.10. DF.E1.60.

CSF 36. POT 95.05. Miller YORK and Crewe of the Third Division today kick off three days of play-off finals at Wembley which will culminate with an attendance of 70,000 expected on Monday, when Leicester and Swindon decide who takes the Premier League place. The quality of these, and the Second Division final between West Bromwich Albion and Port Vale tomorrow, is likely to be impressive. The managers of the participating teams are Glenn Hoddle, Ossie Ardiles, Dario Gradi, John Rudge, and the Little brothers, Brian and Alan.

Good football seems assured. Leicester have always had a reputation as a footballing side but in his two seasons in charge Brian Little has transformed their fortunes. Drastic changes included 30 transfer deals in his first season. Yet the most exciting player at Filbert Street is 18-year-old Julian Joachim, who was spotted as a 12-year-old playing for Leicester season, when Leicester won the play-off semifinal, they did a premature Results Soccer EUROPEAN U-21 CHAMPIONSHIP Group Two Poland (1) 1 bvetend (2) Daorowskl Hall. Cole 2.

Anderton 4.000 (Jastrzebie) WORLD CUP QUALIFY! HOi Asian Zonal First roundi Oroup At Iraq 8, Pakistan 0. Golf VOLVO POA CHAMPIONSHIP (Werrtworth): Hrst round (GBIre unless stated): efl Evans. 47 Sunesson (Swe). 08 A Sherborne; 0 Miovic (Can); flafferty: James: Basson (SA; (Aus); Ha.V-berg (Swe). Ames (Tri); Westner (SA): Brand Jnr; Baker; A Murray; dark; Tinning Oen); Torrance; Soence.

70 Langer (Ger); A OWcom; P-U Johansson (Swe); Townsend (US): Walton: Coceres (Arg): Haeggman (Swe): Riley (Aus); Parnovik (Swe); Montgornerie; Smvth: Level (Frl. 71 I Palmer (SA): Carnles (Sp): Lanner (Swe): Mason; Mackenzie; Lever; son ioy. norrtoro (Arg); Sellberg (Swe); Van de Velde (Fr); Ocr: Poxon: Davis: Harwood (Aus): Fatdo: Els (SA); McLean. 71 Payne; Karlsson (Swe); I Woosrtem; Ferterty; Day (US); Berendl (AtgV. A GarrWo (Sp); nicnaroson, Mimn (apt: rvtouiana; a Lvle: IMobdo (NZ): McNulty (Zim): McAl lister; Call (It).

73 Hlggtas-. Claydorv. rviiicneii, jowson io.j; rwiu, rowier (Aus): Lindoren iSwel: Farrv (Fr): Roe: Singh (Fiji): Senior (Aua): Turner (NZ); Jones; Brand; Baiocctn (SA); Price: Winchester. 74 Boxall; Chapman; Pinero (Sp); Gillord; Clarke; A Soronsen (Den); Clough; Hartmenn (US): Luna (Sp); Otazabal (Sp); A Forsbram) (Swe); Sewell; Rivero (Sp); Johnston (Zim); Curry; Hawkes (SA); Russell; Ouiros (Sp), 78 Spurgeon; Leo; Moody. Grappasonnl (It); Mayo; Hamill; WillV-son; Way; Lawrle; Lane; Jacklin; Davis (Aua); Hall, Gallacher: Gates; A Hunter; Giedeon (Ger); McGlnley.

Ttt Sitva (Por); Fernandez (Arg); Slokes; Carman: Rystrom (Swe); Wood; Bland (SA); Waters; Ftekllng: Struver (Ger); Norton. 77 Cooper; Broedhurst; Rocca (II); Holder); Affleck; Gregson; Al-lenby (Aus); Emerson; Barnes: Hobday (SA); O'Connor Jnr. 73 Walker: Hay; Teiavalnen (US): Smith; Batlesteros (Sp); A Jimenez (Sp); Orummond, Canr-zares (Sp). 70 Smith; Robson. 80 Darcy 02 Hoskfson; Oosterhuls; White Slough hopes are boosted by Parkinson's singular strike Glasgow Western, who are determined to win an event in which they have been runners-up to Dutch clubs for the last four years and six times in all, gave an impressive display to beat Royal Leopold 5-0 in the other group.

The Scottish striker Sue Mac-Donald hit a hat-trick with Sue Fraser and Lyn Forsyth the other scorers for Glasgow. Matthew Cross scored a first-half hat-trick for the hosts Havant as they defeated their inexperienced Portuguese opponents Viso in one of the two Division events. The Hampshire club's second-half goals came from the British Olympic winger Don Williams. Uhlenhorst Mulheim, seeking to win the men's title for the sixth successive year, began with a 7-0 victory over Cobra Vienna in their opening A Division match. Kelburne, the only British club in the top division, were narrowly beaten 1-0 by the Spanish side Egara, who were the first winners of the championship in 1969.

The women's National League play-offs start tomorrow at Chigwell with eight clubs chasing five places, the five regional league champions and relegation-threatened Cambridge City, Colwall and Yate. Pat Rowley SLOUGH, who are attempting to become the first English women's team to win a medal in the senior European club event, cleared a difficult first hurdle yesterday when they defeated the Spanish champions Campo Madrid 1-0 at the Leopold club in Brussels. A well-taken goal by Jane Parkinson was scant reward for Slough's domination, which was somewhat surprising given that the women's game in Spain is on a high after their Olympic gold-medal success last year in Barcelona. Karen Brown, who retired as an international player after her second Olympics, had an outstanding game and was well supported by the right-defender Mandy Pottow. And it was they who combined to set up the winning goal just before the interval, with the winger Parkinson diving full length to meet Pottow's perfect cross.

In the other match in Slough's group, the seven-times champions Amsterdam defeated Cardiff Athletic, the 1992 Welsh champions, 3-0. Cardiff, who play Slough today, missed a great chance to be level at the interval..