The Sydney Morning Herald from Sydney, New South Wales, Australia • Page 41

Monday, May 13, 1991 40 The Sydney Morning Herald EMail dowin Socceroos NZ9 tat fail to impress The absence of Dunford was clearly felt, though his replacement Rodger Gray performed soundly in tandem with Ceri Evans at the heart of the All Whites defence. Marshall, although disappointed with the result, drew encouragement from the second-half performance of his side against an Australian team he rates highly. "We created three reasonable chances, but didn't put them away, he said. "At this level, you don't get that many opportunities, and if you miss them, you're going to pay. "Our biggest problem at the moment is finding the right combination up-front.

"I'll be looking at an improvement in our forward line for the next game. Thomson, too, is expecting a' more polished display from his team in Adelaide, where the firmer playing surface should suit the Socceroos. Two of yesterday's replacements, Ian Gray and Aytec Gene, are likely to be promoted to the starting line-up on Wednesday night as Thomson continues to search for the right blend in his new formation. AUSTRALIA 1 (Milosevic) NEW ZEALAND a Crowd: 6.500. 1 j' SOCCER MICHAEL COCKERILL Trimboli through4 interchanges in midfield between skipper Paul Wade and the robust Milosevic.

The honeymoon was not to last, and New Zealand stepped up the pace in the second half as the became sloppy with their passing and negative in their approach. "We were silly to sit back the way we did, and I honestly don't know why it happened, said Thomson. The All Whites, although not able to maintain the pressure apart from an occasional counterattack, could have snatched an equaliser midway through the second half, but were denied by a superb reflex save from goalkeeper Robert Zabica. A free kick on the right by Declan Edge skimmed off the head of Australian defender Andrew Callanan, and substitute Brian Roberts thought his header was goal-bound until Zabica thrust out his meaty palm to swat the ball away. A draw, perhaps, would have been more than New Zealand deserved.

The home side were tactically naive and technically poor, but they had the best player on the field in tricky winger Mike McGarry, who rarely showed such talent during an unhappy NSL stint with Sydney Olympic. McGarry, although short of fitness after having his preparation restricted by a thigh strain, looked dangerous throughout, drawing two and three Australian defenders every time he got the ball. His skill was not rewarded with a goal, despite his best attempts to earn a penalty from referee Gary Fleet when he swan-dived in the box late in the game, but McGarry will be a major threat to the Socceroos in the return match in Adelaide on Wednesday night. The All Whites will again be without regular captain Malcolm Dunford for that match coach Ian Marshall has opted against the risk of the inspirational leader aggravating the groin strain which forced him out of yesterday's game at the last minute. Saved! Australian goalkeeper Robert Zabica clings desperately to the ball after denying New Zealand an equaliser late in yesterday's international.

toast a record, Sunderland mourn relegation CHRISTCHURCH: Australia won the first game in the Southern Cross Cup series at QEII Park on Saturday, but the manner of their 1-0 victory over a disjointed New Zealand side was hardly inspiring. The win, the first for Socceroo coach Eddie Thomson since he took over the national side almost a year ago, ended a run of four consecutive defeats. But nobody in the Australian camp was getting carried away with the result. "The performance was more important than the result, and on that score I'm not Thomson said. "We had a good spell during the last 20 minutes of the first half, but apart from that we didn't play as well as we can.

"There's a lot of improvement to be made." The Socceroos have slipped from the standards they set during the two-match series against Czechoslovakia earlier this year. The reshuffle caused by the unavailability of several first-choice players had an obvious effect, with the Socceroos struggling to find cohesion in all areas. Two of the players given the opportunity to promote their claims yesterday new caps, Greg Brown and Andrew Marth-typified the uncertainties with patchy displays. Brown showed his scoring instincts by regularly finding the right position in front of goal, but his finishing was wasteful. Marth was solid defensively, but his distribution was poor and his positioning often astray.

Appropriately, it was a scrappy goal, scored on the stroke of half-time, which decided a game that was largely forgettable and devoid of imagination. Brown turned a cross into the box from the left, Paul Trimboli shielded possession before somehow scrambling the ball inside, and Branko Milosevic got in front of AH Whites skipper Robbie Ironside to poke his shot through a crowded defence into the net. The goal came while the Socceroos were enjoying their best period of the game, bringing the ball out carefully from the back and finding strikers Brown and Ayrton push Senna to my 'I didn't maximum. WW Villa from the penalty spot to give them a point from their last game of the season in a 2-2 draw with Chelsea. England centre-half Gary Pallis-ter is doubtful for Manchester United's European Cup Winners' Cup final against Barcelona on Wednesday after limping out of their 3-0 defeat at Crystal Palace with a thigh strain.

Manager Alex Ferguson confirmed: "We have a problem with Pallister which will make him doubtful. But we've got four days, so we'll give him every chance because he's one of our most important players." Tottenham manager Terry Vena-bles shrugged off another defeat after his team lost 2-0 at Liverpool. Spurs will be seeking their first Luton manager Jim Ryan got the birthday present he most wanted for the third year running when the Hatters pulled off another great escape from relegation. The Luton boss, 32 today, his team beat Derby 2-0 and said: "I'm going to start the celebrations immediately." After old boy Mick Harford got i an own-goal to put Luton ahead, Lars Elstrup sealed the game and at least one more season for Luton in the first division. Malaysia-bound Aston Villa insist David Piatt will go with them for the end-of-season tour, even though he will have to fly back after four days of the 10-day trip to prepare for an England game against the Soviet Union.

Piatt scored an equaliser for hour after Sunderland were beaten 3-2, Smith vowed: "We'll be back next year, you just watch us." Smith twice went out to salute the Sunderland supporters. Then he sent out the team to add their thanks. But support was not enough on the day. Luton beat bottom side Derby County 2-0, and Sunderland went down. City's player-manager Peter Reid said: "Sunderland, with their great tradition and support, don't deserve to be in the second division, and let's hope they come back soon." Reid can take credit for City clinching their highest League position since 1977-78.

"But finishing fifth is not enough," he said. "I'll be' looking to strengthen the squad in the summer." Rampaging Senna seeks four in a row Doohan takes Spanish Arsenal LONDON, Sunday: Arsenal's celebration champagne mingled with the sadness of Sunderland manager Denis Smith to mark the end yesterday of a hard-fought English first division campaign. George Graham's side rounded off a glittering year with a 6-1 hammering of Coventry, so becoming the first side this century to go through an English season losing only one game. Smith had to fight back tears after seeing his side put up a spirited battle at Manchester City but drop back to the second division after a year in the top league. Graham said of Arsenal's win: "It was a wonderful performance with a lot of goals in a carnival atmosphere.

It was a lovely way to finish, and 1 would have liked to MOTOR SPORT seeking his fourth victory at Monaco in five years. McLaren teammate Gerhard Berger, of Austria, found it more difficult to make the most of the improved dry conditions on the twisting street circuit. He was unable to improve his time, leaving Italian Stefano Modena to claim an unexpected second place on the grid in his Tyrrell in a time of lmin 20.809s. For Modena, who will start beside Senna in the 78-lap race, it will be the best grid position of his Formula One career and an ideal RUGBY GREG GROWDEN UP and title lead Caffi's accident during the morning free session. Caffi was kept in hospital with slight concussion after his Footwork car appeared to go out of control through the swimming pool complex in the harbour.

Instead of turning left, Caffi went head-on into the barriers. Senna, having beaten his qualifying record on his first flying run, said he had not felt a need to push himself hard again until the final three minutes of the session. "On the final run, I didn't push to my maximum through the swimming pool complex, he said. Senna welcomed the new com petition from Modena and the Honda VlO-powered Tyrrell. "Stefano did a good job and it shows how tough it's going to be from now on.

It's good for the spectators and good for the sport." Derek Warwick, the British former formula one driver, beat Australia's David Brabham, in the Jaguar XJR-15 challenge, held as a prelude to the Monaco Grand Prix. Legendary driver A. J. Foyt, ignoring pain in his throttle foot, qualified yesterday for his 34th and final Indianapolis 500-mile (805 km) race. Foyt earned a front-row start for the race on May 26 by averaging 358.9 kmh in qualifying.

MONTE CARLO, Sunday: World champion Ayrton Senna maintained his invincible form yesterday when he claimed his fourth pole position of the year in the final qualifying heats for today's Monaco Grand Prix'. The Brazilian, driving a McLaren, improved his qualifying lap record set in Thursday's opening session by 0.2s to lmin 20.344s to lead the qualifying heats for the 56th time in his grand prix career. Senna, 31, who has started every race this year in pole position, is bidding to become the first driver ever to win the first four races of the season, and is JEREZ, Spain, Sunday: Australian Michael Doohan went to the top of the 500cc motorcycle world championship standings after riding his Honda to victory in the searing heat of the Spanish Grand Prix here today. With the temperature of the tarmac track touching 50C, Doo-han's Michelin tyres coped best with the difficult conditions. Americans John Kocinski and world champion Wayne Rainey, astride Yamahas equipped with Dunlop tyres, finished second and third.

Doohan's win today was only his second in three seasons on the 500cc circuit, adding to his success in Hungary last year. He overtook Rainey after the ninth lap and stretched his advantage as his machine and tyres proved better adapted to the conditions. win in six games when they face Nottingham Forest in the FA Cap Final on Saturday, but VenaWes said: "Current form doesn't matter very much in a game like that. It's just a matter of preparation." Venables substituted Gary Lineker and David Howells at Anfield, while midfielder Nayim did not even make the squad. In the Scottish league, Mark Hateley ended a personal goal-drought to bring the Scottish championship to Glasgow Rangers yesterday for the 40th time.

The former England international scored twice to seal the Scottish Premier Division title decider against Aberdeen at Ibrox Park 2-0 for Rangers. PAGE 37: Full UK scores and tables. After four races, Doohan, 24, leads the standings by one point from Rainey, having scored 71 to the champion's 70. Kevin Schwantz of the United States, who did not finish today, is third on 46. Former world champion Wayne Gardner finished seventh and holds fifth place on the points table.

In Sugo, Japan, rising Australian motorcycle star Daryl Beattie saw his hopes of a hat-trick of wins in the All-Japan Formula One championship dashed when he fell here today. Beanie's fall occurred in the third lap while he was holding third position on his factory Honda RVF750. He was knocked unconscious but was otherwise uninjured in the fall which saw him launched over the machine on the exit of. a hairpin corner. YACHTING BOB ROSS The all-challenger semi-final and final indicate that right now the defenders are on the back foot in the run-up to the America's Cup on the same waters at about the same time next year.

However, Conner has a fast boat and is not to be underrated. The only remaining defender Bill Koch, who is funding his own campaign. Koch's USA9, produced in secrecy by an aerospace builder, was fast in lighter weather and won one of the fleet races. While the US defence will be strong, it now rates only a 50 per cent chance of retaining the Cup with the challengers having a much more competitive buildup through their elimination series to the Cup match next year. While the Italians, New Zealan-ders, Japanese and French are already established in San Diego and are committed to three-yacht programs, Australia's two no frills" challengers Syd Fischer's Challenge Australia and Iain Murray's Spirit of Australiahave experienced and successful designcrew combinations.

They both had strong surveillance teams here 'through the worlds. ll Old and new brigade charge to the rescue play the whole 38 games like that." Anders Limpar scored a hat-trick, top-scorer Alan Smith and Perry Groves got one each, and Coventry's Trevor Peake helped with an own-goal for the sixth. Now Graham will take his champions to face Liverpool in Singapore on Friday in an exhibition match being billed as English soccer's new dynasty against the old. Coventry manager Terry Butcher said the defeat was the biggest humiliation he had suffered in football, but at least Coventry remain in Division One. Sunderland boss Smith was disconsolate at Maine Road after his side were relegated.

As 10,000 fans sang their support outside the stadium for an way to celebrate his 28th birthday today. Italian Riccardo Patrese, in a Williams, improved his time and was third-quickest in lmin 20.973s. He will share the second row with Brazilian Nelson Piquet, who continued to show the huge potential of the new Benetton by recording a lap of lmin 21.159s. Briton Nigel Mansell made a big improvement with his Williams and finished fifth-quickest ahead of Berger. Apart from Berger, only Finland's JJ.

Lehto in a Dallara failed to improve his time during a session which began late after a long delay caused by Italian Alex Galloping Green Wests defender in Italians at front of Cup challengers Viv at the twilight From Page 42 work the on side so outrageously. For some time now the talk has been of his eyes going, which has rankled him. Richards is a fiercely proud man: of his island, race, ability and achievements. He can be engaging; at Swansea once, after a booming century, he positively sparkled with happiness as he discussed batsmanship with an enthralled young Welsh player of no great pretensions. On other occasions, the storm.

Two years ago in Jamaica he was fined by the West Indies board for petulance that resulted in a crowd riot. Then on England's last tour of the Caribbean his unsavoury intimidation of a West Indian umpire led ultimately to the infamous Antigua press-box spat with an English journalist. Finally came the outburst and grudging retraction against Bobby Simpson. It is hard to imagine that any other player would have kept office in those circumstances. So now he is in Britain on his last full tour, still in charge of what may be looked on as the last great West Indies side.

Like the captain probably because of him the players are growing old together; Richards's insistence that he stick to players whose class he knows has meant scant opportunity to blood younger players. There is no doubt that Richards wants to leave the stage on a high, and little doubt either that he will beat England; Marshall, Ambrose, Patterson and Walsh will collectively see to that. Whether his short-term autocracy will leave a terrible legacy for his successor is another matter. A famine may follow the feast. The Guardian Sydney University, Eastern Suburbs and Eastwood, all desperate to stay within reach of Randwick at the top of the Sydney competition, were grateful that they could rely on their recruits, reinforcements and the rejuvenated on the weekend.

At all three clubs coaches and management were yesterday eulogising those who helped out in adverse moments to inspire victory on Saturday. The most unexpected hero was former representative winger David Croft, who decided to help out his old Sydney University club, after initially withdrawing for the season because of work commitments, although making a surprise trial appearance for Eastwood in Croft, realising that the Students were undermanned because of three players missing through the NSW tour of Argentina, opted to act as a fullback replacement for Rob Egerton; and immediately showed that his goalkicking ability and speed had not deserted him. Croft's 15-point contribution, through four goals, a penalty goal and a try, was instrumental in ensuring University remained in second spot with a 27-16 win over Manly at University Oval. Although the University management is unsure if Croft will be available for the whole season, they are eager to keep him in their winning line-up. "David had a wonderful game, and he was my man-of-the-match," University coach Brian Burnett said last night.

"He fielded the ball well for us, scored a great try, kicked every goal, and couldn't have done anything more for us. Although David is a week-by-week proposition whether he plays for us at the moment, we hope that our current success will keep him interested." Easts were grateful that former Wellington and Otago representative breakaway Dirk Williams decided to move to Sydney from Melbourne and be enticed by the attractions of Woollahra. Williams moved to Sydney to improve his claims of a Wallaby World Cup berth. He and Wallaby second rower Damien Frawley the best players in Easts' 54-14 win over bottom placed Drummoyne at Woollahra Oval. After only three appearances for his new club, Williams has shown why he played 87 matches of major provincial Rugby in New Zealand.

"The good thing about Dirk is that he runs such great lines for a backrower," Easts' coach Greg Smith said last night. "He is always on the ball, and wins so much possession for you on the ground. He also always plays the game on his feet." Despite Williams and Frawley's performance, and that Easts scored eight tries to win by 40 points, Smith was anything but enthused about his team's effort. "I gave my team a bit of a rocket at half-time, and overall I thought they were pretty ordinary," Smith said. The most courageous team effort of the weekend came from Eastwood, who defeated Northern Suburbs 18-9 at T.G Millner Field, despite having half their team out through injury.

However, all their recruits including winger Gary Blissenden and fullback Adam Wilkin who were making their first-grade debuts rose to the occasion to keep the Woodies in the four. Eastwood hooker Tim Dalton showed why NSW and Australian selectors are currently interested in him with another faultless scrummaging performance. Dalton was seriously considered for the Argentina tour, prompting his recent move from prop to hooker. SAN DIEGO, California, Sunday: The Italians, in winning the first world championship for the new America's Cup class yachts off San Diego yesterday, showed a formidable depth of talent, organisation and money. II Moro di Venezia III, skippered by Paul Cayard, won the single-race match-racing final against New Zealand, skippered by Rod Davis, by lmin 8s.

Another yacht from the Italian syndicate headed by Raul Gar-dini, II Moro di Venezia I (John Kolius), won the consolation match by 5min 10s to finish third overall against the Japanese yacht Nippon, skippered by Chris Dickson. This race was close, with only 41s between the yachts at the end of the first reach when Nippon wrapped a spinnaker around her bow and had to stall, head to wind, to free the remnants of the sail from the keel. These four yachts arrived at a sudden-death semi-finals match-racing series after four fleet races. Nippon made the semis only after the America's Cup winner of 1987 and 1988, Dennis Conner, withdrew from further racing. Conner's Stars Stripes finished third after showing good upwind speed in the fleet races.

Conner is strapped for cash, had only nine sails left after the 18 permitted for the worlds and said he did not want to risk the rig and further wear and tear on his boat. Randwick winger Acura Niuqila goes on the surge with a hot pursuit during Saturday's match. Picture by andrew ta yl or.