The Sydney Morning Herald from Sydney, New South Wales, Australia • Page 30

THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD MONDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1996 SPORTING LIFE 29 Vir Beardsley's 200th saves Newcastle El Tel firms as national coach Everton extended their unbeaten run to seven premiership games with an astonishing five-goal spree in the first half against a revived Southampton, Premier league London: Veteran Newcastle striker Peter Beardsley scored his 200th League goal to clinch a 1-1 draw with West Ham on Saturday and preserve his side's lead in the English premiership. Liverpool went to second, beating Leeds United 2-0, while the other closest challengers failed to make up ground. Manchester United, winning their first premiership match in four outings, beat second-placed Arsenal 1-0, while Wimbledon let a two-goal lead slip when they drew 2-2 with Coventry City. Newcastle salvaged a point eight minutes from time when Beardsley's 200th cancelled out Keith Rowland's first-half opener. But the escape was soured by news that Les Ferdinand suffered a depressed cheekbone in an aerial challenge and was expected to be out of action for six weeks, joining Alan Shearer on the injured list.

Manchester United, inflicting the first defeat for Arsenal's French manager Arsene Wenger since he took over, took the lead against the Gunners in farcical fashion in the 62nd minute when defender Nigel Winterburn headed past his own keeper, David Seaman. However, Eric Cantona's disappointing season continued as he wasted two chances, including a simple one-on-one opportunity against Seaman that he lifted over the bar. Liveroool defender Neil Rud dock scored his team's first goal against Leeds before Steve McManaman sealed victory with a second just before the final whistle. -) Hi Dino Mennillo uses UTS Olympic's Peter Tsekenis to support his flying footwork during last Belmore Sportsground. photograph by cuwton Soccer MICHAEL COCKERILL Former England manager Terry Venables has agreed to take charge of the Australian team for next year's World Cup campaign, according to English newspaper reports yesterday.

Venables, 53, was quoted in The News of the World as saying he was "99 per cent" certain to take charge of the Socceroos for a campaign beginning in June with Oceania qualifying matches against Tahiti and either Solomon Islands or Tonga. The Socceroos are heavily favoured to win through to the World Cup finals in France in 1988, a factor Venables admitted was a key point in his decision. "That's a huge incentive for me," he told the paper, which pays him to write a regular column. "I have received a number of job offers from this country and abroad since Euro 96, but this is the one which appealed to me the most "I couldn't be more upbeat The job offers me the one thing I have always wanted to be involved in a World Cup." Venables has held extensive negotiations with Soccer Australia chairman David Hill over the past three days, and is believed to be on the verge of signing an 18-month deal that would last up to and include the World Cup in 1998. The contract is believed to be worth $420,000 a year -almost twice that paid to former national coach Eddie Thomson.

Soccer Australia was refusing yesterday to elaborate on the report, with a spokesman claiming the deal had not been finalised. Hill does not have the authority to appoint a new national coach without consulting his board, and the next meeting is not due until early December. But in reality, Hill who is in London with fellow commissioner Basil Scarsella will have a major influence on deciding Thomson's successor. The chairman has made it clear he wants a major international coach despite popular wisdom that indicates the job should go to a locally-based candidate. Venables certainly fits the bill, having earned widespread acclaim for his efforts in taking the English team to the semifinals of this year's European Championships.

Venables has also gained notoriety for his bitter legal battle with his former Tottenham chairman Alan Sugar. Hill has also spoken with former Ireland manager Jack Charlton, former Leeds United boss Howard Wilkinson, and former Barcelona coach Johan Cruyff regarding the Socceroo vacancy. But Venables, whose legal disputes with Sugar are now virtually over, has emerged as the most likely candidate. Venables has received the endorsement of former Liverpool player Craig Johnston, whose past relationship with Australian soccer has been frosty. "He rates as one of the best available managers in the world," Johnston said.

"I'm very excited about the future of Australian soccer when people like Hill are thinking on this level. To be sitting alongside great footballing nations you have to start with a vision, and Australia deserves this sort of profile. "Venables has got the respect of his fellow pros, he is a very astute coach tactically, and there's no reason why he wouldn't do a good job." Venables is expected to spend just four months each year in Australia, devoting the remainder of his time to assessing Australia's 50 European-based professionals. "I didn't realise there were quite so many Australian players in Europe," he was quoted as saying. "They have a number of excellent players from what I have seen of them, although admittedly that isn't much.

"I would have to spend a lot of time watching and assessing all of them." sub to star with a sweet late equaliser From MICHAEL COCKERILL UTS OLYMPIC 1 ADELAIDE CITY 1 UTS OLYMPIC 1 (E Augerinos 80m) drew with ADELAIDE CITY 1 (B Hassell 2m) at Belmore Sportsground. Referee: Connolly. Crowd: 5.216. UTS Olympic may have a generous collection of the game's brightest stars, but it was one of their least celebrated players who came to the rescue against Adelaide City last night. Elias Augerinos, who has been forced to endure his fair share of criticism from the fans over the 1 b' -vWl Stud polka Adelaide City's night's national league clash at 3 Zelic and finished cleanly with a thumping right-foot drive.

It was a sweet moment, and reward for his loyalty. Augerinos has had several opportunities to leave his one and only national league club, but he has always resisted in preference to being part of Olympic's, squad. The goal was a long time coming after Bradley HasselPs second-minute strike set the Zebras on their way. Adelaide City had failed to score in four matches until their mid-week success against Melbourne Knights, and the early strike was the perfect start as they continue their climb off the foot first in a role behind the front pair and then on the right side of defence in the second half, where he was forced after a reshuffle to introduce Abbas Saad into attack. On the one occasion when Emerton managed to beat Petkovic, Gibson rescued his team with a clearance off the line.

It was much to do with Emerton's persistence and enthusiasm that Olympic found the motivation to force a result. The pleasing aspect for Olympic coach David Ratcliffe after the patchy display was that his youngsters continued to improve and offer a genuine Crafter and tmished by winning the match 7-1. Welsh international Gary Speed, signed from Leeds in the norther summer, scored a hat-trick while Russian winger Andrei Kanchelskis potted a double. Wimbledon let their chances of moving to second slip, but maintained a 14-match unbeaten run in the match against Coventry City. Goals by Robbie Earle and Marcus Gayle put Wimbledon 2-0 ahead, but Noel Whelan and Dion Dublin squared the match.

Blackburn were held 1-1 by Chelsea, who gave their new Italian signing, Gianfranco Zola, his debut Blackburn's Scottish international striker, Kevin Gallacher, gave the struggling 1995 champions the lead early in the second half, but Dan Petrescu, Chelsea's Romanian defender, equalised with a long-range shot in the 83rd minute. Leicester City ended a run of three defeats in their last four matches with a convincing 3-1 win away at Aston Villa, while Tottenham Hotspur beat Sunderland 2-0. In the Scottish premier league, Aberdeen failed to close the gap on frontrunners Rangers and Celtic when they could manage only a 3-3 draw against Dundee United. Aberdeen's draw kept them in third place, albeit seven behind Celtic, who are a further three points behind Rangers after losing 1-0 to the defending champions in a midweek clash. contribution at a time when a core of his senior players are either absent or out of form.

For Adelaide it was further evidence that the worst is behind them, although without their key attackers of last season it is hard to see them challenging for the title. In other matches last night Sydney United continued their unbeaten run with a thrilling 3-2 away win over West Adelaide, South Melbourne scored a crucial 1-0 home victory over Newcastle Breakers, and champions Melbourne Knights were held to a scoreless draw by improving Wollongong City. grabs It was her first victory since the Australian Ladies Masters here in 1992 and she joins Davies and Geddes as a two-time winner of the tournament Crafter also denied Davies her 50th career tournament victory and her 10th for 1996. Karrie Webb had some cause for optimism yesterday with her final-round 68, but she left too much work to be done too late and finished in sixth place, six shots behind Crafter. The day belonged to Crafter.

Geddes, playing in the group in front of Crafter and Davies, set the benchmark at 18-under-par and an eagle on the par-five 396m 18th would win it for either of her pursuers who left the 17th green at 17-under for the tournament. Davies's drive was monstrous, one of her best, while Crafter was 50m behind. Advantage to the Big Bird! Then, Crafter hit a No 5 wood to 13m and Davies followed with a No 8 iron to 7m. Still advantage Davies. Crafter, it should be said, is one of the best putters in the business and, heeding her father's words, her head was perfectly still as she stroked the ball.

It was never going to miss -but then came the wait as Davies putted for her eagle. "It's heart-pounding territory," Crafter said. Davies missed to the right, but it was a tap-in birdie. Crafter was the champion. Last night, Crafter had her eye on a bottle of Grange Hermitage she sported a year ago at the tournament hotel, one which she promised she would enjoy should she ever win again, while Davies shrugged her shoulders and headed once more to the blackjack table.

The eye of the storm had passed. Normality had descended and in February the Ladies Masters returns as an $820,000 event and part of the USLPGA Tour. Gulp, and Gray is blown away eagle to clinch storming win years, silenced the knockers, at least temporarily, with a magnificent equaliser 10 minutes from time. The draw was enough to keep Olympic in the top three at a time when some of their football flatters to deceive. Olympic huffed and puffed their way through last night's match at a sodden Belmore Sportsground, but when cool heads were required they were too often absent against Adelaide City's resolute defence.

It was left to Augerinos, who had been on the field only six minutes, to show how it should be done when he ran onto an incisive through pass from Ivan i $X' Then finally on the par five, fifth, the countdown was aborted and air began to flow down Gray's windpipe again. A birdie and his lead was once again out to four. Then came the surge of West Australian Wayne Smith. While of the Ericsson Cup ladder. With midfielders John Gibson and Mark Brazzale working feverishly across the centre of the park, the visitors set the tempo in the first half.

While their makeshift attack rarely looked threatening, the Zebras based their game on a typically tight defence in which goalkeeper Jason Petkovic made a string of outstanding saves. Much of Petkovic's excellence was forced by the penetrating runs and fierce shots of Olympic's outstanding player on the night, Brett Emerton. The youth international was in superb touch from the outset under and suddenly sole possession of the top spot was no longer Gray's. When the overnight leader had a bogey six on the eighth, the leader's yellow guernsey was his no more. Smith dropped a shot on the 12th, and Gray had a share of the lead again, but he quickly surrendered it with yet another bogey on the ninth and the countdown was on again 10, nine, eight Meanwhile, Davis had moved to eight under with a birdie on 10, then, when he collected another at 12, he joined Smith in front, and when Smith struck trouble on 14 and dropped another shot, the lead was suddenly Davis's.

All the time Tataurangi was patiently going along unnoticed. Smith dropped yet another shot to slide to seven under and in five holes, with a dose of Gray's countdown disease, his scores went from nine under, to eight, seven, six and then five after bogey on the 17th. A birdie on the last completed his turbulent round at 69. When Tataurangi fired an eight iron to within 2m on 15, and sank the birdie putt, he joined Davis at nine under, then when the local dropped a shot on the tricky par three 17th, the New Zealander had sole possession of the lead, Davis salvaged a par after getting into trouble on the last, but needed the Kiwi to bogey to get into a play-off. Tataurangi was as solid as he had been all day and took a regulation five for a final round 67 and nine under for the tournament At that stage only Gray and his playing partner, Lonard, could oust the Kiwi, with both needing eagles on the last to send the event into a play-off, but with rain tumbling, that was never a real prospect.

Gray collected a bogey six to finish in a tie for fourth, at six under. Lonard, followed his birdie on 17 with another on 18, to finish at eight under and split the second-place cheque with Davis. Waitomo club for a while but that got boring. Then I got some cut-down ladies clubs and three or four of the old ladies at the club took me out each Sunday. "I could hardly hit the ball, but they taught me the basics of the game and what I think is still important these days, the rules and etiquette of golf." The 25-year-old admitted that he did not contemplate winning the tournament when he teed off yesterday.

"I was eight behind a guy who had just shot 66, so I didn't think of myself as a contender. Even right up to the last couple of holes I didn't think I would be in a position to win," he said. Like the winner, Davis could not conceal his enjoyment of the day in shooting his 67. After taking nine months away from the game earlier this year, to finish second yesterday signalled a marvellous return to form. "I loved every minute of it," he said.

"My putting held together for 18 holes and the last time it did that was about four years ago. "For me it became soul destroying to go from one of the best putters to one of the worst I would get on a green and not be looking at making a putt, but looking at- making it in two. "This year I decided to come back to the game and give it a run until the end of the year. If it didn't work, then I was going to ditch it I wasn't even going to go on the seniors tour." Most onlookers considered the PGA to be Gray's after his stunning 66 on Saturday gave him the six-shot buffer. But defending a big lead is often much more difficult than guarding a little one and Gray's woes began early.

After bogies at the second and third holes, NSW was hit by a freak storm with winds howling across the course. Play was suspended for 50 minutes and considering the preachings of Darren Beadman during the recent Melbourne Cup Carnival, one had to wonder whether this was a sign from above sent to Gray to avert a potential crash-and-burn situation. PGA MICHAEL COWLEY It's the dream of every aspiring golfer to one day be like Greg Norman. For West Australian Chris Gray, comparisons with the Shark were plentiful yesterday, but sadly none referred to his swing, just the tightening of the muscles in the throat which Norman supposedly suffered back in April. Like Norman in the Masters at Augusta, Gray took a six-shot lead into the final day of the $400,000 Australian PGA at the NSW course.

Like Norman, everybody accepted the tournament was Gray's. Like Norman, Gray watched his lead dwindle, then disintegrate. And like Norman, he was left only to ponder what should have been. New Zealander Phillip Tataurangi started the day eight shots behind Gray. Rodger Davis was down nine, and Peter Lonard was his nearest rival six behind.

All three finished in front of Gray, with Tataurangi's 67 just good enough to nudge out the other pair and collect only the second, and by far the most significant win of his professional career. Some would say it's unfair to compare Gray's effort with that of Norman. Certainly he appeared to undergo a breathing affliction, but a choke of Masters proportions? Probably not; still that will do little to remove the disappointment and pain from the face of Gray. But while the PGA was a tale of the vanquished, it was also a tale of the victors the son of a Kiwi rugby player who was turned towards golf after illness, and of an Australian whose future in the game appeared destined to doom, before he regained his touch on the green. "My father, Te Roi, played rugby for Auckland, but I could never play rugby because when I was two years old my kidneys collapsed," Tataurangi said.

"The doctors recommended that I didn't play contact sports, which led me to start at golf when I was seven. It's turned out to be a blessing in disguise. "I caddied for my dad at the Ladies masters PETER STONE Nature provided the fireworks in a fitting finale to the $350,000 Australian Ladies Masters yesterday after South Australian Jane Crafter holed a 13m eagle putt on the final green to win by a shot from world No 1 Laura Davies and American Jane Geddes. A massive electrical storm struck the course just moments after the presentation ceremony, sending players, officials and spectators sprinting for the sanctuary of the high-rise hotel at the Royal Pines resort. Crafter might have won on the golf course, but it was Davies by two lengths in the race for cover.

Visibility was down to almost nil and had Davies holed her 7m eagle putt at the last to tie Crafter we'd still be here today finishing the tournament. It was dramatic stuff and, as Crafter and Davies sat together in a press conference, the walls reverberated to yet another thunderbolt. "That's your dad he's saying hello," Davies said. Crafter smiled, and wiped yet another tear from her eyes. The late Brian Crafter, golf-teaching professional and respected ABC television commentator who died of cancer in January 1994, would have been a very happy man.

As she played each hole of yesterday's final round, which was a five-under-par 68 for a winning tally of 19 under the card, her father's words kept ringing in her ears. "He was always right there in my mind. Especially with the little things. Just make Dad proud and keep your head still (in putting. It was those little things he always taught us," Crafter said.

I Double victory Phil Tatauranei hues his wife. Melanie. after winning the PGA championship at the NSW golf course. Photo by steve christo who is alen hie raHHio Gray was recovering and consolidating with pars on six and seven, Smith was on a birdiefest. After his eagle three on the fifth, Smith picked up further shots at eight and nine, to be out in five under 31, then birdies on 10 and 11 moved him to 10 But when he returned to the course to resume play, Gray took a bogey five on the fourth, and suddenly his lead was just three.

His score on the leader-board was looking ominously like the countdown to an explosion 12, 11, 10, nine.