The Age from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia • Page 35

MONDAY 12 SEPTEMBER 1994 TH AOI 33 Sport Extra Pteturr LES SHORBOCK In Brief -f Prestonls title as Ollerton strikes again Hunza Court Ihinsore after brilliant 1 1 A 1 i-r cut off Rusmir, but no one was on hand to exploit the open goal when Nick Papadopoulos crossed the ball into the middle. Two minutes later. Port succumbed to the simplest of goals a cross from Sash Becvinovskl on the right and an unchallenged header by Gerry McAleer at the far post. Port coach Taki Svigos had striker Peter Nikolakopoulos and midfielder Papadopoulos switch positions from the 35th minute and Port started the second half full of spirit, gaining four comers in five minutes and forcing Blair to clear off the line. Then Preston landed a sucker punch that put an end to the contest.

Port centre-back Dean Fak had surged upfield and lost the ball, creating an inviting gap that Sterjovski exploited on a solo run before shooting past Port Mel- bourne goalkeeper Mike Lilikakis. Tsolakis, in a flash of genius, back-heeled the ball through a melee of Preston defenders, into the path of striker Terry Rizopou-los, but Traianedes made his most important contribution of the game by deflecting Rizopou-los' close-range shot. In the 69th minute, a series of ricochets in Port Melbourne's defence ended with a short clearance landing at the feet of Sterjovski, who promptly lashed the ball into the net for the third goal. With three minutes to play, referee Gerry Connolly penalised Preston for handball and Tsolakis converted the resultant penalty. SOUTH MELBOURNE limbered up for the Dockerty Cup quarterfinals next Sunday by thrashing Western Suburbs 8-3 in a practice match.

Scorers were Ivan Kelic (4), Francis Awaritefe, Steve Pan-opoulos, Mike Petersen and Kevin Muscat for South Melbourne and Athan Zacharias (2) and Manny Kopsaftis for Western Suburbs. Next Sundayto Dockerty Cup quarter-finals: At Middle Parte Irom 12.30 pm: Mow Falcons Frankston Pines, South Melbourne Clar inda. At Vkiwto Club, Butteon: BuSeen Hekfefeerg United, Mefcoume Zebnu Melbourne Knighti. Tby ANDREW EDDY ''Tfie new glamor Hunza Court will not Tace again until the autumn "after he was found to be following his game Befeat of Danzero at Moonee Valley on Saturday. i Having his first start, the broth-leftof former champion youngster Courtza and dual Adelaide Cup Winner Our Pompeii was nosed "out of the C.

S. Hayes Stakes by "Cannibal King. But he claimed the scalps of Danzero (third), Wallstreet, Hurricane Sky and Drum in an almost racetrack debut, "I thought he was going to be -one of the highlights of the Spring," Hunza Court's trainer David Hayes said yesterday. "He Is1 a genuine star on the horizon and it's a shame we won't see him shine until next autumn. 1 "He is suffering the effects of growing pains and he won't race again this spring.

He felt them (shins) at about the 50 metres because he was going to win quite lomfortably." Court, who is by Pompeii Court out of outstanding broodmare Hunza, was rated by Hayes as a genuine Caulfield Guineas and victoria Derby candidate moments after his narrow loss in Saturday's group three event. Hayes said that Simon Marshall would ride top three-year-old St Covet in the McDonald Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday after regular' rider Shane Dye decided to stay in Sydney to ride next week-find. who still has first option on St Covet, is expecting a full book of rides at Rosehiu's Hill Stakes meeting but has indicated he will again link up with the top colt in the Caulfield Guineas. Hayes said St Covet had thrived since his failure in the Ascot Vale Stakes and expected him to return to his best form in the guineas. Hayes said he was looking forward to Saturday's clash of his highly impressive imported galloper Jeune with Mahogany in the group one Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield.

"Jeune will be competitive every time with Mahogany, but I suppose around the 1800 metres at Caulfield, it does look to be he conceded. But Hayes said he was awaiting jeune's first run at Flemington. "He is a real big track horse and that is when we will see the best of him." Jeune, who has 56 kilograms in the Caulfield Cup and half a kilogram more in the Melbourne Cup, caught the eye at her last start when she flashed home to finish third behind Mahogany in the Craiglee Stakes. Lee Freedman reported that Mahogany was in tremendous condition for Saturday's weight-for-age event and was likely to be joined by stablemates Paris Lane, Runyon and The Phantom Chance. The Flemington trainer will also have two representatives in the other group one race on the weekend, the VicHealth Cup (1400m).

Freedman will start his outstanding pair of Poetic King and Port THE BMW company yesterday announced it would sponsor two of Australia's most famous races the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley and Doncaster Handicap at Randwick. Moonee Valley Racing Club chairman Norman Carlyon said the sponsorship deal was a significant moment for the club, as in 72 years, the race had never worn a sponsor's name. THE chances of Veandercross competing in the Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup improved dramatically at the weekend when he finished a much-improved third in a 1400-metre wfa event at Hastings. The former Australasian horse of the year was no certainty to come to Melbourne after a shocking flop at his first run for 10 months last weekend. But, on after settling back, Veandercross powered home to be placed behind two other Cox Plate aspirants, Snap and Solvit.

By LAURIE SCHWAB Peter Ollerton played as striker when Preston won its first Victorian Premier League soccer championship in 1980. Yesterday he was the coach as Preston clinched its second tide, beating Port Melbourne 3-1 In the grand final at Middle Park. In between, Preston lurched from a near miss in its national league championship challenge of 1983 to being relegated back to the Premier League at the end of the 1992-93 season. Ollerton was given rousing cheers as he and captain Steve Blair, in his first season since leaving South Melbourne, held aloft the championship trophy. But the wildest acclaim was reserved for teenager Chris Ster-jovski, who won the Jimmy Roo-ney Medal as best player of the grand final after a marvellous performance capped by two goals.

In my view, however, Port Melbourne midfielder Peter Tsolakis had been the outstanding individual. He trounced his opponent, Sean Lane; won the ball tirelessly in midfield; sprayed constructive passes to either wing; forced his way relentlessly into the penalty area and, finally, converted the penalty that gave Port Melbourne its consolation goal. Although it was weakened by the absence of league top-scorer Peter Psarros and defender Leo Kyriakopoulos, both suspended, Port Melbourne was the aggressor for most of the match, while Preston played the percentage game Ollerton has fashioned into an art form. In defence, Preston simply had weight of numbers in its favor, so it mattered little that Tsolakis called the shots in midfield and Sava Rusmir dominated the left flank. Eventually, Port Melbourne had to find a way past Blair and his fellow defenders a task that proved too difficult.

Preston goalkeeper Philip Traianedes might have been punished for coming too far out of the penalty area in the 25th minute to In division one, Australian Carl Veart scored twice on his first full appearance for Sheffield United In a 3-1 home triumph over Bolton. CELTIC'S record signing Phil O'Donnell started repaying the $3.63 million Investment In him with both goals to help his new club beat Partlck 2-1 and go to the top of the Scottish Premier League. O'Donnell, signed from Motherwell on Friday, took just 11 minute to open his account when he picked up a loose ball on the left and sent a curling shot Inside the far post Two i I 'tr Lihkakis leaps to take the ball cleanly despite the bullocking efforts of Preston captain Steve Blair. Cole primed for European campaigns (I, i 'I Vlnny Jones will keep his job as Wimbledon captain despite being sent off for the seventh time during the 2-1 win over Leicester, which marked his debut as skipper. Jones was dismissed with Leicester forward David Lowe after a 34th-mlnute exchange of punches.

Leicester defender Brian Carey followed four minutes later for a challenge on Dean Holdsworth. On a bad day for Londoners, Chelsea captain Dennis Wise was sent off at Newcastle and Tony Cottee dismissed at Liverpool In his first game for West Ham since rejoining the club. tempts and had a third miss. Canterbury halfback Craig Polla-Mounter lost the ball as he was hit with a heavy tackle just a metre from the try line. In the end it was Canterbury's unyielding defence that made all the difference for the Bulldogs.

"It was probably the best defensive effort of the year," said Bulldogs coach Chris Anderson. "You don't see sides defend like that against Canberra, they had so many sets of six at us but we regrouped and they never quite looked like scoring. Raiders coach Tim Sheens said he was pleased there was a result In the end, even if it did not go his way, because the alternative was a replay on Wednesday night if the scores were still even after extra time. "I've always said they were the team to beat we came out of It in better shape physically than last week but It's the mental thing that we'll have to work on." Hendy wins ironman title Queenslander Trevor Hendy has completed an international double by taking an unprecedented fourth successive world ironman title at Newquay, England. Hendy, who also won the international ironman championship in the inter-country challenge, survived four elimination rounds to make the final.

Surprise for skippers A late decision to have a split start for Saturday's final race in the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria's winter series surprised a number of skippers. The IMS division started at 5am in the 46-nautical-mile Portsea-Hastings race, and the performance handicap division 10 minutes later. Prime Example took line-honors 10 minutes 17 seconds ahead of Helsal 11. Shenandoah 1 1 was handicap winner of the IMS division, Aggro won the performance handicap division, while overall series winner was the new J35 Wet 'n' Infamous. PETER HAHNEMANN Foursomes win Commonwealth's Louise Briers and Sydney's Edwina Kennedy yesterday won the Australian women's foursomes golf championship at Lake Karrinyup in Perth, with a 36-hole total of 151 one stroke ahead of Wfestern Australians Tanya Holl and Tracie Guy.

PEG McMAHON Fight stops fight British boxer Nigel Benn has retained his WBC super-middleweight title in Birmingham. England, in a win that was overshadowed by ringside violence. As Benn outpointed Paraguayan Juan Carlos Gimenez, rival fans fought and threw chairs. Ishii wins playoff American golfer David Ishii yesterday birdied the first playoff hole to beat Hisayuki Sasaki in the Suntory Open in Inzai, Japan. Australia second Australia has finished second on the medal table behind China at the Far East and South Pacific Games for the Disabled in Beijing.

Queensland amputee swimmer Michelle Bate joined blind West Australian swimmers Mandy Maywood and Kingsley Bugarin as triple gold-medal winners. China won 297 gold medals, and Australia 50. Lifeguards win Australian lifeguards have won six out of seven events to take the Hawaiian International Challenge in Honolulu. Australia had 247 points, with California (175) second and New Zealand (158.5) third. Price near lead Nick Price has compiled eight birdies in a third-round, four-under-par 68 at the Canadian Open golf championship in Toronto to trail leader Mark McCumber by a shot.

American loses title Dariusz Michalczewski of Germany has outslugged Leeonzer Barber of the United States in Hamburg to take away his WBO light-heavyweight title on a unanimous decision. It was Barber's fifth title defence. Italy too strong Olympic champion Italy has beaten Spain 10-5 to take the gold medal in the men's water polo at the world swimming championships in Rome. Russia snatched the bronze from Croatia 14-13, after extra time. Australia finished 11th, beating Kazakhstan 11-8 in a playoff game.

Gilford In charge British golfer David Gilford, unruffled by strong winds, has opened up a two-stroke lead after the third round of the European Open in Uckfleld, England. Strike decision near Acting baseball commissioner Bud Sellg has decided to cancel the rest of this year's strikebound season and will make an announcement today, according to the Chicago Tribune. Owners have rejected a players' plan to end their fbur-week-ola strike, and if the season Is scrubbed, it will be the first time in 90 years that no baseball World Series has been held. Marsh In contention Dave Elchelberger of the US has shot a flve-under-par 67 to take one-stroke lead over Australia's Graham Marsh after the second round of die Quicksilver Golf Classic In Midway, Pennsylvania. top division since 1908 and took its tally to 19 goals In five games.

Cole has six of those goals, taking his total to an astounding 52 In 57 league games since Joining Newcastle from Bristol City. Yesterday wins, which kept Newcastle on top of the Premier League and lifted Blackburn to third place, were the perfect preparation for the clubs as they embark on European campaigns on Tuesday In the UEEA Cup. Blackburn makes its debut at home to Swedish side borgs, while Newcastle travels to Antwerp as It returns to Europe 25 years after winning the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. Start in Stutt for Danzero despite failure at Valley A HIV! Port Melbourne goalkeeper Mike Shearer, London, Sunday Alan Shearer showed why he leads the England attack, while Andy Cole continued to knock loudly on the International door as English soccer most prolific goal scorers grabbed two goals apiece yesterday. Shearer, who also scored twice In Englands midweek win over the United States, lifted Blackburn to a 3-0 victory over struggling Everton.

And Cole drove Newcastle to a record-equalling fifth consecutive victory with a 4-2 win over Chelsea. Cole's double strike helped the club equal Its best start In the Zebras win berth in grand final By STEWART OLDFIELD Sandringham yesterday moved into the VFA grand final after an intense battle with Box Hill at Victoria Park. Box Hill had not lost a match since its previous encounter with Sandringham in round 11; Sandringham had not lost since round nine. Now, the teams may well meet again in the grand final, The biggest lead was 18 points early in the second quarter, but for most of the match the teams traded goals, unable to gain an ascendancy. The winning margin was six points 12.21 (93) to 12.15 (87) a fitting end, as the Zebras never surrendered a slender Next Sunday, Box Hill will take on Springvale in the preliminary final at Victoria Park.

Sandringham midfielder Shane Foley and ruckman Justin Crough looked to be the difference between the teams early, but both defences were bottling up play across half-back. With Foley's departure with a cork leg In the second term, the Mustang midfielders regrouped, and at half-time Sandringham was up by only three points. Sandringham has two of the VFA's top goal scorers In George Gorozidis and Steve Amlet, but they were well held by Mark Lisle and David Swan, In the last play of the day, Swan looked set to level the scores from centre half-forward, only to be tackled by Paul McMaster, "I have got to give It to my blokes; they gutsed It out," said Sandrlngham's coach, Trevor Barker. Box Hill's best marking forward was Robin Daly. Darren Wilkinson and Mark Trewella were quiet but should do better against the Springvale defence next week.

IN THE VAEA, Old Melburnians overcame Collegians In the final term to win their way Into next Sunday's preliminary final against Old Xaverians. Bulldogs grab semi with timely field goal minutes from the Interval he volleyed In his second from six metres. SECOND-DIVISION Wolfsburg continued a remarkable season for giant-killers by dumping Bundesllga side Elntracht Frankfurt out of the German Cup In the second round. After 120 minutes of dogged stonewalling against the Frank-, furt attack, Wolfsburg held Its nerve better to win the penalty shootout 4-3. Frankhirti early exit followed that of league champion Bayern Munich and cup holder Werder Bremen In the first round.

Picture: CRAIG GOLDINQ In other events, Commonwealth Games gold medallist Sean Carlin managed only 74.54 metres for sixth place In the hammer throw, three metres off his best this year. Andrew Murphy withdrew from the triple jump when an old ankle Injury flared, Paul Greene was seventh In the 400 metres in 46.29 seconds, while Peter Brett was last in the 3000 metre steeplechase in 9:19.11. Lisa Llghtfoot was sixth In the women's BOO metres In a time of 2:03.88, and despite little recent track experience Victorian Anne Cross ran well for sixth place In the 10,000 metres in 33:40.75. Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Lisa-Marie Vizaniarl finished last In the shot put with metre throw, and 100 metres hurdler Rachel Links also came In last In the field of eight In 14.14. i.LW'JiH.

a--asNa in uuuble 600 metres from home. "He was on the wrong leg all the way and he just wasn't comfortable going around here. He was never happy, so I suppose it was a pretty good effort from him to finish that close." But while Danzero's narrow third placing behind Cannibal King was rather a surprise, the performance of Blue Diamond winner Hurricane Sky was quite a shock. Trainer Gerald Ryan could not hide his disappointment at Hurricane Sky's moderate effort. After copping yet another early check, the colt could not accelerate with the others and he just struggled to the line to finish seventh.

"I went to the races thinking that if he finished in the first five I would be happy because I started to think that it just wasn't his right race," Ryan said. "But I am going to revert to my original thoughts with the horse. The first time I saw him I thought he would stay and he'll get his chance to show us In a couple of weeks." Hurricane Sky will also run In the Stutt Stakes. It Is a vital race for the colt and his connections if he does not fire as expected, Ryan said he would spell him until the autumn. "We'll look at him carefully over the next 10 days or so to make sure he makes a good list of the Stutt Stakes," Ryan said.

winning way then opened a gap of 12 seconds within one lap. She continued to widen the gap on each'following lap and while the chasing group tried to peg her back, they soon gave up their efforts and settled down to fight out the minor placings. Watt said that her win had been one of her hardest this year. "This was because It was such a short race and there was still a lot of girls together In the field," she aid. "This was an especially Important win for me because It was my birthday and because It was the first national crlterlum title for women." By ANDREW EDDY Despite stable concern that Danzero failed to handle the tight Moonee Valley track on Saturday, the colt will tackle the group two Sjutt Stakes at the same course in a fortnight as originally planned.

"Trainer Lee Freedman and Danzero's jockey, Greg Hall, agreed that the three-year-old's inability to handle the sometimes tricky turns in the C. S. Hayes led to his surprise downfall at the but the trainer said his options were limited. XT am keen to get him over the mile (1600 metres) now at his next start and there really is nothing else suitable for him In between how and the Caulfield Guineas," Freedman said. 6ut it was obvious he was not cflfllfortable around the track and lost probably a length or a length-and-a-half on the home corner -when he just wobbled around.

He also" lost a hind plate so that didn't help his balance, either." Despite Danzero's failure, Freedmarl said he was more than pleased with the horse and would press on with a start In the Stutt Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on 24 September. "At least it will be over a more suitable journey for him. Being a longer race, the tempo will not he as hectic and he will be able to find his feet," Freedman said. Hall said he knew Danzero was Watt goes on Commonweath and Olympic Games gold medallist Kathy Watt celebrated her 30th birthday yesterday by winning the first national women's cycling criter-turn championship, raced at Mar-. oochydore.

The Victorian rider cleared away from the field halfway through the 30-mlnute event and went on to cross the finish line 45 seconds ahead of Christine Two-mey, of New South Wales, and Queensland road champion Kay Jones. watt rode in a bunch of riders that Included her Commonwealth Games gold medal teammates Cathy Reardon and Rachel Victor until the 13-mlnute mark and Canterbury! Jarrod McCracken it sent flying as Canberra's Bradley Clyde (obscured) jumps high to take the ball. Canterbury scored a 19-18 victory in extra time over Canberra in rugby league's major semi-final at Sydney Football Stadium yesterday. The game revived memories of Canberra's 1989 grand final win over Balmaln in extra time but the Raiders did not enjoy the same outcome Bulldogs superboot Daryl Halligan kicked a field goal two minutes and 15 seconds from the end to break yesterday's deadlock. The Bulldogs now go straight into the grand final and leave Canberra to play North Sydney next weekend for the other spot.

The scores -were tied at 18-18 after regulation time, but only after David Wfestley had hauled the Raiders back into the match to score under the posts with just 39 seconds remaining. The capacity crowd was then treated to 20 minutes of heart-stopping thrills as the Raiders hit the upright with two field goal at Gainsford London, Sunday Australian sprinter Mellnda Gainsford finished the athletics season with a solid fourth In the 100 metres yesterday on the second day of the three-day World Cup meeting here. the Commonwealth Games 200 metres bronze medallist was the best performer among the Oceania team at Crystal Palace stadium where events were again hampered by rain. Gainsford came In fourth In 11.55 seconds, trailing European winner Irlna Prlvalova with 11.32, second placegetter Lilians Allen of the Americas In 1 1 .50 and African Mary Onyall in 1 1 .52. The 22-year-old Australian, who had a heavy cold, said she was pleased with her effort given the stiff International competition.

"This was a horrible day but I'm really quite pleased given that finishes athletics season on a high I was sick and the top three are all Olympic finalists," she said. Gainsford now plans to return to Australia for a break after her gruelling northern summer schedule. "When I get home I'll have a couple of weeks off and then really get Into training for the domestic season," she said. "But I've been happy with this year and there's a lot of things I've learned, things which I'll do differently next year." That Includes heading to the Northern Hemisphere earlier next year to compete In more summer events ahead of the world In the men's events, Australian Werner Relterer just missed out on third place In the discus. He and African Adewale Olu-kou tied for third on 60.22 metres, behind Europe Vladimir Dubrovshchik on 64.54 and the Americas' Alexis Ellzarde on 61.50, but the 26-year-old Australian slid Into fourth on a count-back.

Oceania's 4 100 metres men's relay was also In with a chance after a good start by New Zea-lander Gus Nketla, but the team did not finish after a crucial miss in the final baton change by Tim Jackson. After the second day In the men's World Cup standings, Oceania was last of the eight teams with 36 points, with Africa leading on 86, followed by the Americas on 69.5 and Great Britain and Northern Ireland on 66. In the women's standings, Europe leads on 79, followed by the Americas on 73 and Germany on 56, with Oceania In seventh spot with 37 points. Oceania team manager Don Chadderton said he was "pretty happy" with the team..