The Guardian from London, Greater London, England • 14

THE GUARDIAN Tuesday June 1 199a Soccer First Division play-off final: Leicester City 3, Swindon Town 4 Tricky choice for Taylor as top trio let him down HodcODe provides ffomiDslhiDinig ttoiaclh 14 SPORTS NEWS Russell Thomas at Wembley David Lacey in Oslo on the worries of England's manager for tomorrow's game Walker because he deserves nothing less than that support," Taylor declared before the Poland match. But after it he observed "there have been instances of Des having problems which he hasn't had Yet the alternatives to Walker as Adams's centre-back partner are thin. There is Pallister, a duplicate of Adams, Palmer, who lacks discipline, and Keown, little but a man-marker. Walker may survive by default. So may Paul Gascoigne.

Even without his protective mask Gascoigne is carrying too much weight and can no longer pass opponents without using forearms and elbows. In the England half his habit of losing the ball can make him a liability. "It doesn't take much to see that the Gascoigne who played against Norway at Wembley last October is not the Gascoigne preparing for 90 minutes against Norway now," said Taylor. There is, however, no replacement for Gascoigne, only a change of tack that might see David Piatt playing behind two orthodox strikers. Even these might be in short supply tomorrow, for Ian Wright, England's saviour on Saturday, and Les Ferdinand remain doubtful with foot and back injuries, although the latter trained enthusiastically yesterday.

Piatt to Is England could do rcoie to meet the sort of Physical challenge offered by the Poles and, maybe, the Norwegians. "Maybe we should try to counter this," he said, "not by being dirty but by playing within the laws and stopping people making runs. Continental sides are frightened of that little half-a-yard you can gain on them." Piatt thought England's set-pieces in Katowice were unusually poor. Barnes retains the ability to score from free-kicks or create goals for others, but his lack of speed was frequently exposed and a lot of the match passed him by. Taylor, moreover, has strong options on the left in Andy Sinton and Lee Sharpe.

The England manager's faith in his old Watford player is touching but Barnes will surely occupy an important part of his deliberations now. "I've now got to concentrate on making the right decisions for England," said Taylor; whatever team he picks, so have his players. TWO virtuoso Glenn Hoddle touches adorned a rich Wembley canvas yesterday that mixed colour, passion and controversy before presenting a final picture of Swindon jubilation. As the taker of Swindon's first goal and the maker of his team's fourth, Hoddle made a lasting imprint on a minor English classic climaxing the domestic season. But now England's newest Premier League club must wait to see whether these were parting gifts from the player-manager coveted by Chelsea and Tottenham.

Whether the 35-year-old icon leaves or not and there was little to suggest in Hoddle's post-match words that he will stay he will be remembered in Wiltshire as the man who elevated Swindon to the top flight for the first time in the club's 73-year League history. Even if the mission has been achieved slowly it was completed with a flourish worthy of one of the country's most pleasing teams. With victory, came the burial of a grudge born of the overturning of their 1990 play-off final triumph after revelations of off-field misdemeanours. As Hoddle succinctly put it: "We've wiped the slate clean after three years." Leicester were left nursing a sense of injustice for a second successive year. Beaten by Blackburn's controversial penalty here last May, they now bowed to David Elleray's 84th-minute signal towards the spot.

It was a cruel exit after a second-half fightback of three goals in 12 minutes. David Specdie was the perceived villain of 1992. Now Steve White fell a shade theatrically six minutes after entering the stage as he pursued Hoddle's glorious 50-yard ball. Hill, and then Poole, made contact with the substitute but each time it appeared minimal. Bodin, one of Swindon's survivors from 1990, is not a man to spurn such opportunity, even if his run-up was nonchalant and his shot controlled by his own standards.

Touched carefully to Poole's left, Bodin's winner rolled Swindon into the history books. Brian Little took the blow stoically. "I was surprised it was given. The ref said Kevin Poole had made contact and impeded him. But Kevin is adamant that he's not touched the bloke.

I thought it was just people brushing against each other. But I'm not going to change the FOR the next 48 hours Graham Taylor will lie back and think of England. One might argue that as England manager he could hardly be expected to do anything else, but this time the results of his waking thoughts will have a considerable bearing on the international futures of his players and himself. Having narrowly avoided defeat against Poland in Katowice on Saturday, England ideally need to beat Norway in tomorrow's World Cup qualifier in Oslo to quell the growing misgivings about their chances of making the tournament proper in the United States next summer. The Norwegians forced a 1-1 draw at Wembley last October; a similar result now might not end England's hopes but would still send Taylor's players off to Boston at the weekend for the US Cup beset by nagging uncertainty.

A defeat would leave a clearer picture but even less hope. Those who saw England's disorganised midfield and square, sluggish defence overrun by the Poles could be forgiven for writing off their chances of defeating a Norway who have already beaten Holland 2-1 in the UI-levaal Stadium to set the pace at the top of Group Two. If England start this match as badly as they began Saturday's game it is unlikely that the Norwegian strikers will be as merciful in their finishing as Lesniak, although Ja-kobsen, their main attacking strength on the left, is out with a thigh injury. Taylor is confident his side can win tomorrow but before picking his team he has to be sure in his own mind that the situation which brought England to within six minutes of defeat in Katowice is unlikely to be repeated. This is bound to involve a serious examination of the form of Des Walker, Paul Gascoigne and John Barnes.

Walker is experiencing a crisis of confidence brought about by the realisation that he is no longer as well equipped to defend at the highest level as he used to be. "It is my job to support Des Athletics Sad exit Gary Mills sits dejected after Leicester missed out on promotion because of a disputed penalty for the second successive year and back-heeled, Hoddle curled his ninth Wembley goal precisely inside Poole's left-hand post. Maskell's 47th-minute goal matched that precision as the striker completed a one-two with Moncur with a shot just inside the far upright. And when Taylor exploited Poole's hesitancy to head home six minutes later, Swindon's new status seemed assured. Leicester's fighting qualities, such a feature of their season, now came thrillingly to the But in response to a similar request for a pledge that he would see out the remaining year of his contract, Hoddle said: "I would be silly to put myself in that position." Tanta-lisingly, he had spoken of "when the dust dies down, I shall have to look at things if those things are LaJctstar Cttv: Poole; Mills.

Whitlow. Smith. Walsh. Hill. Oldfield.

Thompson, Joachim. Agnewr. Phllpott. Swindon Town Digby. Summerbee.

Bodm. Hoddle, Calderwood. Taylor. Moncur (Hazard, 88min). MacLaren.

Mitchell. Ling. Maskell (White. 78). Referaei Ellcray (Harrow) cleared off the line and Mitchell's shot was smothered.

Hoddle, watched here by Chelsea's Ken Bates, was keen to deflect publicity from himself as he parried questions over his future. "I want people to read tomorrow about Swindon's promotion, not Glenn Hoddle." When it was put to him that Swindon's fans would welcome a pledge that he was staying, he would only say: "I'm under contract to Swindon, so there's no question to answer." United keen to have a word Keane Cadogan a find Cynthia Batsman MANCHESTER United are to ask Nottingham Forest for permission to speak to Roy Keane, even though the Republic of Ireland midfielder has agreed personal terms with Blackburn Rovers. The Ewood Park club are believed to have offered at least 3.5 million, a British transfer-fee record, but the 21-year-old will not sign until he has talked Cycling Yellow for Vogels decision, am It's almost the same speech as last year." Hoddle conceded that the penalty "a bit of a break for us" helped him towards "my proudest moment in But, he added: "I don't think, overall, Leicester can have too many complaints." Not certainly in Swindon's golden 11-minute passage of h.ree goals spanning the interval, initiated by Hoddle with his first League strike since the season's opening day. When Maskell cleverly held off Hill to other interested clubs and United's chairman Martin Edwards said yesterday: "We have to be interested when a player of Keane's calibre becomes available. We will be contacting Forest to obtain permission to speak to the player at the earliest opportunity." United would need to revise their wage structure to match Blackburn's offer of a 2 million package that would put Keane on nearly 10,000 a week, substantially more than any It had, as Lillywhite observed, been a hard day, with attack and counter-attack.

But even bigger losers were Holden's Neilson-Tivoli team who, after such a promising start, missed every significant move yesterday. Wayne Randle, Holden and John Tanner trailed in together in 49th, 50th and positions. The former world pursuit champion Tony Doyle could manage only 90th place and even the encouragement of the crowd through his home town of Sevenoaks could not prevent Spencer Wingrave losing 17 minutes and eventually finishing 95th. For the 19-year-old Vogels. his first yellow jersey comes in the biggest stage race of his career.

A. member of Australia's bronze-medal winning team pursuit squad at the world junior championships two seasons ago, he was a reserve for his country's Olympic team last year. He leads Hoej by two seconds overall, with Lillywhite a further 11 seconds adrift in third place and Willie Engelbrecht, the South African professional, fourth. Engelbrecht, who won a special sprint at Brands Hatch, had been in contention all day and took up the chase when Matthew Stephens, the British amateur, attacked on the final climb at Penshurst. Lillywhite then closed the gap, followed by Hoej, Vogels, Czeslaw Rajch of Poland and Australia's Grant Rice, and Stephens was caught by the chasers with a mile to go.

Today: Eastbourne-Portsmouth, 103.4 miles (start 10.30am). John Rodda in Corby THE VACUUM left by Kriss Akabusi, Britain's Olympic bronze-medal winner in the 400 metres hurdles, should not be difficult to fill. The first contender, Jon Ridgeon, dipped under 49 seconds last year and even he may need to look over his shoulder at the UK championships in two weeks' time. A powerful challenger emerged here yesterday when Gary Cadogan took the Inter Counties title for Middlesex in 50.05sec. He was the athlete of the day, looking impressive for a raw novice at the event.

With a back-straight wind buffeting at around 8mph it was a startling performance in only his third race at the distance. Had he shaved his time by O.O&sec he would have achieved the world championships qualifying standard. That improvement is bound to come when he benefits from the technical guidance of Gary Oakes, the 1980 Olympic bronze-medal winner at the event. Less than a year ago Cadogan was a disillusioned and dismayed 400 metres runner who had struggled and failed to get into the British relay squad. One of his Haringey colleagues Donovan Reid told him he Basketball fore.

Joachim pulled one back his 14th goal of a hugely promising first season in the 57th minute before two strikes in the space of 60 seconds neutralised Swindon's lead. Walsh headed in just before Thompson completed the comeback with a careful shot in the 69th minute. In the face of Leicester's renewed claims, Swindon could still point to their flurry before that fatal penalty as Ling, the man of the match, drew a superb save, Taylor's header was at home against Volendam. Real Madrid are in with a fine chance of winning the Spanish League after the champions Barcelona stumbled to a 3-2 defeat against Celta of Vigo. Real, who drew 0-0 with Osasuna, are a point clear of Barcelona with three games left.

Mel Rees, the goalkeeper who led out Sheffield United at Wembley for their FA Cup semi-final against Sheffield Wednesday last month despite having cancer, lost his year 6-3; Smith (Bah) bt McPhie (US) 6-4. 3-6. 7-5: Ffacfi (US) bt Saceanu (Ger) 6-7. 7-6. 7-6; Matthawa (GB) bt Randall (US) 7-6.

3-6. 6-2; Krlshnan (Ind) bt Maclagan (GB) 4-6. 6-2. 64; Doylo (Aus) bt Ullyett (SA) 6-1. 6-2; Sapsford (GB) bt Matheson (GB) 6-4.

7-5: Koontg (SA) bt Cole (GB) 6-3. 4-6, 6-3, Potency (GB) bt A Malik (Mat) 6-2, 6-4; Dailfty (GB) bt Ferreira (SA) 6-3. 6-4; Raftor (Aus) bt Dilucia (US) 6-3. 6-4. Boecher (GB) bt Skoch (Cz) 6-1, 6-4; Knowle.

(Bah) bt Hand (GB) 6-3. 7-6. 6-4. Womoni First roundi Ludloff (US) bt Sharpe (Aus) 7-6, 6-2, van Rwtsburg (SA) bt Salmon (GB) 6-3. 6-3; Sfddall (GB) bt Ahl (GB) 6-1, 6-1.

Do Lone (US) bt Faber (US) 1-6. 6-1. 6-2. Socond round: Pratt (Aus) bt Morton (Aus) 0-6. 6-1.

6-2. Jonos (Aus) bt Roubanova (Rus) 6-2. 6-3; Oaddio (SA) bt A Wainwright (GB) 6-4. 4-6, 7-5; Niemantsvordrt (Neth) bt Humpheys-Davies (GB) 6-4. 6-2; Mauds-loy (Aus) bt A Grunfeld (GB) 7-6, 4-6, 6-1.

Limmer (Aus) bt Tse (GB) 6-3. 6-2; Dsnjamin (US) bt Bond (GB) 6-3. 6-1; Novolo (Mex) bt Herbert (GB) 6-1, 6-3; Emmons (US) bt Crook (GB) 7-5. 7-6. To finish: Billlngham (GB) leads Hoddor (Aus) 6-4.

4-6. Hockey EUROPEAN CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP. Hen, A division (Brussels). Frnah Uhlenhorst (Ger, holders) 1, Egara (Sp) 0. 3-4t Leopold (Bel) 0, Racing (Fr) 0 (3-4 pens).

5-i Durk-heimer (Gei) 4. HDM (Neth) 2. 7-8: Kolburne (Scot) 3. Wien O'jia 1. division (Havant): Final Havan! urunwald 1.

3-4. Stockholm 0. Minsk 2. (Praotw)! Fmab Amsicora (It) 2. Ekaterinburg (Rus) 5.

3-4. Avoca (Ire) 2, Sla-via Prague 0. Mi Whitchurch (Wales) 3, Zurich Grasshoppers 2. Woman. A division (Brussels).

Final: Amsterdam (Holders) 1. Russelsheim (Ger) 1 (1-3 pens). 3-4: Slough 1, Glasgow 1 (4-3 pens). 8-8: Campo Madrid 3. Stade Francois 0.

7-8t Cardiff Ath 4, Leopold 1. WOMEN'S NATIONAL LEAQUB PLAYOFFS (Chigwell): Group Redland 0, Cot-wall Olton WW 0, Canterbury 0. Final 1, Canterbury 7p1s; 2, Cotwal) 3, Olton WW 4. Redland 1. Group Bt Gt Harwood 3, Cambridge City Woking 0.

Yato 0. Final Standings: 1. Gt Harwood 2. Woking 3. Yale 4.

4, Cambs 0. 3th placs: Olton WW 3, Yate 0. (Qualifiers (or National League second division: Canterbury, Gt Harwood. Colwall, Woking, Olton). MEN'S INTERNATIONAL (Johannesburg): South Africa 1, India 4 (India won series 4-1).

Badminton WORLD INDIVIDUAL CHAMPION8HPS (Birmingham): 3Jctd rosuKsi Mam Flrat round: Bush (Eng) bt Borisov (Bui) 15-1, 15-8; Yates (Wales) bt Par roles (Mex) 15-1. 15-2, GUmour (Scot) bt Hocking (Aus) 15-9. 3-15, 15-11; Butlor (Eng) bt Scott (Scot) 15-6, 15-10; A NMmii (Eng) bt Ti'mm (Moz) 15-1, 15-0; Knowtaa (Eng) bt Humble (Can) 12-15, 15-7, 17-15. Socond round: Hock (Mol) bt Bush 12-15. 15-5, 15-8; Hak-Kvun (Kor) bt Yangchun 15-10.

15-12; Blanshard (Can) bt Yates 15-6. 15-4; Hall (Eng) bt Horaclo (Moz) 15-1. 15-1: Butter bt van Dljk (Neth) 15-5, 15-5: A Kuauma (Indo) bt McAdam (US) 15-0. 15-3: Pormadl (Indo) bt Weng Kai (US) 15-1. 15-4; Suna Woo (Kor) bt (Scot) 15-4.

15-7; Smith (Eng) bt Nasslml (Iran) 15-1, 15-2; Matter (Scot) bt Shakourl (Iran) 15-3. 15-3; Suprlanto (indo) bt 0 Lewis (Walos) 15-6, 15-2. Gough may not play again for Scotland RICHARD GOUGH, the Rangers captain, looks to have played his final game for Scotland. Reports last night suggested he has called a halt on his international career after 61 caps, the last in the 5-0 defeat by Portugal in April. Andy Roxburgh, the Scotland coach, said the stories were "news to Heart of Midlothian were put up for sale yesterday when the chairman and principal shareholder Wallace Mercer decided to take up residence in France.

Mercer's announcement was not a complete surprise. He has, had a home in the south of France for a number of years and the frequency and length of his visits there had increased. Whether or not he will find anybody willing to buy his 76 per cent of the Hearts equity is another matter. Mercer made claims about the club's situation which seem optimistic. It is said that Hearts' overdraft stands at 3 million and, although the club own the 6.5-acre site of Tynecastle Park, its value is not thought to be as high as the 5 million placed upon it by the club.

Mercer took over Hearts 12 years ago for a 350,000 investment and he clearly wants to make a tidy profit, but there are rumours that the club has financial problems. The recent sacking of the manager Joe Jordan arose partly because of the latter's inability to get money from the chairman to improve the team. But Mercer insisted that the club's value had soared under his stewardship. "During my time," he said, "the club has improved dramatically in performance, profitability, assets and stability and has been restored to its position as one of Scotland's leading sides. The first-team pool, which includes seven full internationals, is valued by the board and the manager at 7 million.

It has a 5 million stadium redevelopment plan, with grant commitment from the Football Trust." Mercer stressed that he has decided only "to consider realistic offers" and that he would continue as chairman until then. He could be around for some time. Fixture Soccer UROPKAH U-21 CHAMPIONSHIP, Oraup Tmoi Norway England (6.0, Stavanger). long fight against the disease yesterday when he died in Derby aged 26. The Welsh international appeared to have beaten the disease earlier this year but was admitted to hospital in March.

Sheffield United's chairman Derek Dooley said: "He was a popular lad. He kept his sense of humour and was cheerful right to the end." The manager Dave Bassett added: "He came into our team in a crisis and stayed to become a hero." Women: Socond round: Mugaorfdgo (Eng) bt Oavies (Wales) 11-2. 11-0; McGinn (Ire) bt A Andersson (US) 12-10. 11-3: Loula-Lanc (Eng) bt Wai (Mai) IK 11-2. Haunfl-Soon (Kor) bt I Yaku-sheva(Rus) 11-1.

11-4: Kartika(lndo) bt Morgan (Wales) 11-0. 11-1; Grovos (Eng) bt Howell (Wales) n-3. 11-7. Hlsako (Japan) bt Martin (Scot) 1 1-3. 1 1-4; San-toso (Indo) bt Olavesen (Nor) 11-1, 11-2; 11- A Travars (Scot) bt Langenthaler (Aut) 11-4.

11-1, Kusumawardhanl (tndo) bt A Gibson (Scot) 11-3. 11-8; 3 Hot (Eng) bt von Heiland (US) 11-3, 12-9: Soo-Hyun (Kor) bt Lacinova (Cz) 11-3. 11-0: 12- 11; Timur (Indo) bt Skropke (Ger) 11-5. 11-4; Allen (Scot) wo Torre (Mex) scr: Smith (Eng) wo Melgoza (Mex) scr; A Humby (Eng) bt Pawangadkar (Ind) 4-11. 11-4.

tl-5. Baseball AMERICAN LEAGUE: Boston 6. Texas 5. NY Yankees 6, Chicago WS Milwaukee 8. Kansas City Minnesota 8.

Cleveland California 7, Baltimore 5: Toronto 13. Oakland 11; Seattle 9. Detroit 5. Standings: East Division: 1, Detroit (W30. L18, Pct.625.

GBO); 2. New York (28-22-560-3)-, 3. Toronto West Division: 1, California 2, Chicago 3, Kansas City (24-23-. 5 11-3). NATIONAL LEAGUE: San Francisco 4.

Atlanta 3: Houston 2, Florida Pittsburgh 5, Los Angeles Cincinnati 8. NY Mets St Louis 10. San Diego Chicago Cubs 5, Montreal Philadelphia 18. Colorado 1. Stand-insst Cast Division: 1.

Philadelphia 2. Montreal (27-21- 563-7); 3. Chicago West Division: 1, San Francisco (33-1 8-. 647-0); 2. Atlanta (28-23-549-5).

3. Houston Cycling MILK RACE. Staff On: (Tunbridge Wells. 117m): 1. Hoe) (Oer-i 4hr 28min 30sec: 2.

Vogels (Aus); 3, Lillywhite (GB, Banana); 4. Engelbrecht (SA, Southern Sun) all st, 5. RBjch (Pol) 6, McLachlan (Aus) 14; 7, Marcussen (Don) 24; 8, Sutton (Aus, Banana) 35; 9, Rice (Aus) si; 10. Leltch (NZ) st Overall: 1. Vogels 4:33 36; 2.

Hog) 2, 3, Lillywhite 13, 4, Engelbrecht 24. 5. McLachlan 35. 6. Rajch 36: 7.

Marcussen 45. 6. 0 Simensen (Nor) 50; 9. Smith (GB. Banana) 51; 10, A Mizourov (Kazakhstan) 53.

DAUPHINE LIBEHE (Lyon): Loading plao-Ings (4km individual time trial, French unless stated): 1, Alcola (Mex) 4mln 39sec; 2, Ourand at 4sec: 3. Boscardin (Switz) 6 Others: 13, Walsham (Banana) 57. 16. McKay (GB Amat) 1.01. 18, Postlo (Britannia) 1.03.

Motor Sport BRITISH TOURING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP (Oulton Pk): Round five: 1, Wmkolhock (Ger. BMW 316); 2. Cleland (GB, Vauxhall Cavalier); 3, Allam (GB, Vauxhall Cavalier). Championship loaders: 1, Winkeltiock 74pts; 2, Sopar (GB) 72, 3. Cleland, 45.

ACROPOLIS RALLY: Standings (altor 24 ol 36 stages): 1. Biaslon (It) Ford Escort 4hr 22mln 52sec; 2, A Schwarz (Ger) Mitsubishi Lancer at 2m in 34sec: 3. Salnz (Sp) Lancia Delta 3.02. Equestrianism BREDAR INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP (Noth): Individual: 1, Percy Trebyan (K Parker, GB) 46.6. Team.

1, Germany 166.2pts; 2, GB 190.4; 3, Poland 217.6. United player receives at present. Jim Piatt, the former Middlesbrough and Northern Ireland goalkeeper, has been appointed coach of the Swedish First Division side Assyriskas until the end of their season in October. Feyenoord won the Dutch championship for the 13th time with a 5-0 victory at Groningen. They finished two points clear of the defending champions PSV Eindhoven, who drew 2-2 Results Soccer PLAY-OFF Final First Division Lteeitor (0) 3 Swindon (1)4 Joachim.

Walsh Hoddle. Maskell Thompson Taylor. Bodin (pen) 73.802 (Wembley) DUTCH LEAGUE! PSV 2. Volendam Groningen 0. Feyenoord 5: Utrecht 1.

Ajax Twente Enschede 3. MVV Maastricht Sparta Rotterdam 2. Roda JC Kerkrade Willem II Tilburg 1. Vitesse Arnhflm 2. Leading standing 1.

'Feyenoord (P34, PIS53); 2. PSV (34-51), 3. Ajax (34-19). -champions. SWISS CUP! Final! Lugano 4.

Grasshopper Zurich t. Golf VOLVO PQA CHAMPIONSHIP (Wen (worth): Final round (GBIre unless staled): 274 Langer (Gee) 70, 69, 67, 68. 280 Brand Jnr 69. 71, 73. 67, Montgomerfe 70, 69, 71.

70, Nobilo (NZ) 72. 67, 70. 71 281 McNulty (Zimb) 72, 71. 69, 69 2 83 Johnstone (Zimb) 74. 66.

69, 74. 284 Day (US) 72. 67. 74. 71; Turner (NZ) 73.

69. 71. 71; Romero (Arg) 71. 71, 71, 71. 285 Olazabal (Sp) 74.

70. 73. 66; Coceres (Arg) 70. 67. 79.

69; Fowler (Aus) 73. 71. 71. 70; A Sherborne 68. 72.

73, 72. Basson (SA) 68. 75, 70. 72; Mitchell 73. 70.

69, 73. 288 Roe 73. 70. 72. 71; A Oldcorrt 70.

68. 76, 72; Haeggman (Swo) 70. 69. 75. 72; flarferty 68, 69.

75. 74. 287 Feherty 72, 71, 76, 68; Ames (Tn) 69. 75. 72.

71; Moiiland 72. 68, 73. 74; Mason 71, 71, 71, 74. 208 EvartS 66, 77, 77, 68; Chapman 74, 69. 73.

72; Cooper 77. 67. 72. 72: I Woosnam 72, 72, 71. 73; Brand 73.

67. 74. 74; Clark 69. 73, 72. 74.

280 A Murray 69. 69. 78. 73; Parnevik (Swe) 70. 68.

77. 74; Els (SA) 71, 71, 73. 74; James 68. 68. 73.

80. 290 Levenson (SA) 71. 72, 74. 73; Malley (Aus) 68. 71.

76, 75; Baker 69, 72. 74. 75; Tinning (Den) 69, 72. 74, 75. 201 Singh (Fiji) 73.

70. 74. 74; Torrance 69, 75. 73. 74.

202 Van do Velde (Fr) 71. 71. 76. 74; Westner (SA) 69, 75. 74.

74; Smyth 70. 71, 76. 75; Willlson 75. 69, 73. 75.

Quiros (Sp) 74. 70. 73. 75 OtfMrst 208 Richardson 72, 72. 76.

75. 200 Lylo 72. 72. 76, 79. LEIDEN WOMEN'S OPEN (Rijswijk.

Noth): Final round (GBIre unless stated). 214 Dibnari (Aus) 67. 73. 74. 215 A Sorenstam (Swo) 72.

70, 73. 2 1 0 Lunn (Aus) 69. 71. 76. 217 Maritz (SA) 69, 75.

73; Faircfoogh 71. 71, 75; Moon (US) 70. 66. 79. 218 Hackney 69.

74. 75. 210 Oavies 72, 71. 76. 220 Palli IFr) 70.

74. 76. 221 Reid 7 1. 78. 72.

de Lorenzl (Fr) 73. 75. 73. Parker (US) 76, 70. 75.

Tennis FRENCH OPEN (Paris): Fourth round! Mont Courfor (US) bt Muster (Aut) 6-3. 2-6, 6-4, 6-2; Sampras (US) bt Washington (US) 6-3. 7-6, 6-1; A Modvedev (Ukr) bt GOflllnor (Ger) 6-4, 6-4. 4-6. 6-3; 5 Brusiiora (Sp) bt Mollgen) (Br) 6-3.

6-1. 7-5: Edberg (Swe) bt Haarhuls (Neth) 6-4. 3-6. 6-3. 7-6.

DIRECT LINE INSURANCE CHAMPION SHIPS (Bockenham): Moni Flrat round! Curry (Aus) bt Arthurs (Aus) 6-3, 7-6. Broad (GB) bt A Foster (GB) 7-6. 6-4; Ruaadakl (Can) bt Tebbutt (Aus) 6-4, 1-6, needed Oakes to make him a hurdler. Oakes, who had not done any coaching for almost nine years, suddenly found himself back at the trackside with stopwatch in hand. At 6ft 3in Cadogan has the physique for the event, and a background of 400 metres running going back to English schools competition in 1983 to go with it.

He has the potential to take 13 strides to the fifth or sixth flight, but for the moment his present approach of 14 to the sixth will get him under 50sec and present a challenge to Ridgeon when they meet. Peter Crampton of Yorkshire, who took second place in a personal best time of 51.45sec, is another gifted graduate from the flat 400 metres. He was European junior one-lap champion in 1987 but, after a series of niggling injuries, he seemed to be banging against the 46sec barrier and never breaking through. Under Peter Warden, another Olympian (circa 1964) at the event, he is in safe hands for an event which requires technical precision. On this occasion he struck the fifth obstacle yet recovered to gain two places.

Barrington Williams, who is now 37, cleared a wind-assisted 7.91 metres in the long jump, which was the best Counties effort since Alan Lerwill's 7.93m leap 20 years ago. By the third minute, when the seven-foot Considine, the former Leicester centre, opened England's account with a jump shot, the outcome was already a formality. Bosnia had sunk the first nine points and then drew ahead through the nonchalant long-range shooting accuracy of Bilalovic, Halimic and Avdic to lead 62-34 at the interval. Fortunately the determination of the Guildford pair. Brown in the back court and Gordon under the boards, conspired to prevent such an indignity.

Suitably inspired, the two Worthing players Irish and Hubbard then managed, with the help of four three-pointers apiece, to have England's final loss margin even looking vaguely respectable. Graham Snowdon ROB HOLDEN's moment of glory in the Milk Race proved short-lived as Henk Vogels of Australia took over the yellow jersey at Tun-bridge Wells after yesterday's first road stage. After the promising start by British professionals in Sunday's prologue time-trial, with three riders in the top four, Holden dropped to 26th overall and only two home riders, Chris Lillywhito and Brian Smith of the Banana team, remain in the top 12. Lillywhite went close to winning the 117-mile loop around the Kent towns but he made his winning move too early on the long uphill finish and was relegated to third place at the line behind Frank Hoej, the Danish amateur rider, and Vogels, who had finished second to Holden in the time-trial. "1 went a bit too soon," said Lillywhite.

"I started sprinting hard with 250 metres to go but, when it levelled out a bit, the Dane and the Australian both put in a big kick. They were just too strong." YESTERDAY 117 miles Tunbridoe TiinhrMaa Brcncniw wens Wells Hill Wrotham Sevonoaks Ashforai Hill zoom flT0DAYiw.ns A HILL CLIMBS SPRINTS Ditchling ram Beacon Pulboraugh Portsmouth Lewes VJ Jl 60 120 Bosnians overrun England Christian Bright in Wroclaw THE soldiers of Sarajevo ended England's hopes here yesterday, a 112-81 defeat by Bosnia-Herzegovina leaving them with nothing but pride to play for in today's final Group fixture of the Additional Nations' Tournament. Ignoring United Nations advice, their government had spirited the bulk of the Bosnian squad out of Sarajevo but England will readily testify as to how well they had acclimatised after their 24-hour road journey. "It was a bit embarrassing." said the England assistant coach Mike Burton after his team had been outwitted by their taller opponents..