The Sydney Morning Herald from Sydney, New South Wales, Australia • Page 79

Sport Newtown relying on Ferguson Reilly spearheads Wombats lAhirMJMIIJ ON the rugby league field John Ferguson always relied on impulse and instinct and Newtown are hoping the trend will continue off the paddock today. The Jets hope the sight of the royal blue jersey and the smell of liniment oil will sway Ferguson into an early comeback in the Metro Sevens being played today at Campbelltown Sports Ground. "Chicka" has declared he will play for Newtown in this season's opening game against Guildford in a couple of weeks but has not made any commitment about playing today. "We'll have an extra jersey on hand just in case," said club president Barry Vining. "He has received a clearance from Canberra so he is able to take part." The most exciting broken field runner in last SECOND-ROWER Mark Reilly carries the weight of an inexperienced Warragamba pack on his shoulders in the opening round of the Tooheys Group 6 rugby league competition today.

Reilly is the sole survivor from the pack the Wombats fielded last season and the pressure is squarely on him to take the match up to the Moss Vale forwards at Warragamba Oval. The new-look Warragamba side faces a tough premiership opener against the defending champions but the Wombats' new coach Bruce McKinney isn't fazed. "We are very much an unknown quantity but it could work in our favour rather than against us," says McKinney. In the Moss Vale line-up winger Peter Hewson returns after a 12-month break. year's Metro Cup, Lee "Changa" Nalagaligi.

has been forced to hold off his debut with his new club Guildford because of a knee injury. Guildford has lost half of its 24 player, originally selected for the series and art struggling to make up the numbers. Each of the eight metropolitan clubs will field two teams, an A and side and it is possible clubmates will play clubmates. Wentworthville have taken a different tack to the other clubs by not selecting one strong A side and a weaker side. "I don't believe in sacrificial lambs," said Wenty coach Lance Clarke.

DANNY WEIDLER In a major shake-up of the competition eight of the 11 teams have appointed new coaches. Former Southern Division and Country second rower Roger Beetson has taken over at Camden while other new faces in the coaching stakes include Phil McGurren (Oakdale), Steve Sharpe (Picton), Kim Patrick (Thirlmere), Wayne Couley (The Oaks) and John Burke (Robertson). Patrick, a former Illawarra Steeler, is expected to make a huge impact for Thirlmere in their clash with Bowral at home today. In other matches Mittagong play Picton while Oakdale clash with Camden and Narellan meet The Oaks. PETER KOGOY Sir! I think Fm on to somethirhere" FACTORY BONUSES ON HILUX AND SELECTED COMMERCIAL VEHICLES.

Swairos Dose tho'w way THE Sydney Swans turned a 29 point buffer into a 48 point loss when they tackled West Coast Eagles in their 1991 AFL pre-season campaign yesterday. West Coast booted 17 goals in the final three quarters to run out winners 18-21 (129) to 12-11 (83). Swans' coach Col Kinneir was disappointed other than a dominant first quarter when Sydney led 6-2 (38) to the Eagles 1-3 (9) at the first change. But Kinneir was pleased with another outstanding display from young ruckman Gareth John and developing full-back Craig Nettlebeck. The 19-year-old 200cm tall ruckman completely overshadowed the West Coast big man brigade of Dean Irving, Phil Scott and Craig McGrath.

Kinneir was as critical of his side's second and third quarter fadeout as he seemed bemused at a medical report that crack forward Warrick Capper had withdrawn from the match with an asthma attack. "The first I knew that he suffered from asthma was today," Kinneir said after his ace goal-sneak had failed to kick a major score in the first half. Fiery encounter in volleyball WORLD beach volleyball champions Sinjin Smith and Randy Stoklos are heading for a fiery showdown with the top Brazilian duo, Andre and Guilherme, in today's final of the 550,000 Diet Pepsi world series event at Manly. Both teams are unbeaten after two rounds of competition and qualified easily for this morning's semi-finals. Australia's No 1 team, Andrew Burdin and Julien Prosser, have no chance of making the semi-finals after a brave 15-6 loss to Andre and Guilherme first up yesterday morning.

Ex-basketball chief dies FORMER International Basketball Federation president, Robert Busnel, was killed in a car accident in France yesterday. Busnel, 76, died when his vehicle collided with a truck on a multi-lane highway. Busnel's wife, Joelle, and a nephew also died in the accident. French down Poms in rugby FRANCE cruised to a 10-6 victory over England at Bristol on the eve of the senior teams' Grand Slam rugby showdown at Twickenham. It was England B's second defeat in a month despite playing against only a 14-man French side for 62 minutes after prop Phillipe Tapie was sent off.

Another record for Bubka SOVIET pole vaulting king Sergei Bubka claimed another world indoor record at an international meeting in San Sebastian, Spain, clearing 6.01m. It bettered his own previous mark of 6.08m set in Volvograd, in the Soviet Union, on February 10. Lewis struggles for third SIX-times Olympic champion Carl Lewis, making his first appearance indoors for more than two years, finished third in the men's 60m in 6.74s behind Nigerian Chidi Imoh and Ray Stewart of Jamaica at the same meeting. Imoh clocked 6.53s. Lewis, who had knee surgery last year, was slowly away in his heat and in the final.

The familiar smooth pick-up was there but he never looked like threatening the explosive starters. Police ready for soccer fans HUNDREDS of French riot police will be on the streets at Montpellier on Tuesday, when Manchester United fans arrive for the European Cup Winners' Cup tie against Montpellier. Local authorities have arranged for 350 police and elite CRS officers to shadow an expected 3,000 United supporters, 200 of whom are believed to be arriving without a ticket for the all-ticket game. Right now, Toyota dealers are offering huge savings with factory bonuses on the unbreakable Hi Lux range and other selected commercial vehicles. So borrow the keys from your Toyota dealer for an unbreakable deal today.

FEELING! OH WHAT Toyota 'Steal a Deal' Sale must end March 31st- Participating Toyota dealers only. Government, rental and fleet buyers excluded. Tray extra. THE SUN-HERALD, March 17, 1991.