The Sydney Morning Herald from Sydney, New South Wales, Australia • Page 31

30 SPORTING LIFE THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1996 Newk tips rich rewards after Australia down Croats was underlined in the final game, with Rafter serving out to love and finishing with an ace. On day one Stoltenberg had beaten Ivanisevic after the Croatian served for the match in the fourth set. Newcombe, who admitted he didn't think Stoltenberg could turn it around late in that fourth set, said: "Jason just hung in, just hung on to his self-belief. "Now we have guys who know they can win. They'll look at Jason and say, 'It can be done'." Sao Paulo: Thomas Mus "I really feel confident that we have an excellent chance of winning the cup next year," he said.

"We can beat anyone, including the United States." Newcombe said Australia had great depth and the players would get even better. He said Rafter, now back from injury, would zoom into the top 20. Philippoussis, the Australian No 1, had an excellent chance of reaching the top six next year, he said. Australia also had an edge over anyone in doubles. Newcombe had gambled on the doubles match when, without the injured Todd Wood-bridge, he preferred to pair Rafter with Woodforde instead of usual partner Philippoussis.

Woodforde and Rafter didn't perform like a pair who'd never played a match together before. Not that the opposition offered much. Ivanisevic had said after his singles defeat left Croatia 2-0 down that his team had only a 5 per cent chance of saving the tie. He played as if he didn't have faith in even that slim chance. Nevertheless, the Australians went about their task with great efficiency, untroubled by the rain that delayed the start for nearly three hours and forced a 90-minute suspension early in the second set.

They also took in their stride a soggy clay court that cut up badly, serving well and volleying crisply. Hirszon struggled to hold serve and was broken once in each set. Ivanisevic was also broken in the second. The Australian superiority (if Vu! rTi.ii.,m..iiil.,uiiiiiiatt,,Wf ing tie and make the results of Sunday's singles meaningless. While the doubles pair completed the job, it was Jason Stoltenberg's fightback on Friday to beat Ivanisevic, the world No 4, that was the killer blow.

Australia shared the reverse singles on Sunday, with Mark Philippoussis outclassing Goran Oresic 6-1 6-4, and Hirszon beating Jason Stoltenberg 6-2 6-2. For Newcombe, who'd virtually put his job on the line over this tie, the result brought relief and a new burst of confidence. 1 Gail Henderson, Rhonda TT Villie takes outGP motor Sport Lisbon: Canadian Jacques Vil-leneuve, driving a Williams, won the Portuguese Grand Prix at Estoril yesterday ahead of teammate Damon Hill, of Britain. Hill now leads Villeneuve in the drivers' title race by nine points, 87-78, meaning Hill needs just a sixth-place finish or better in the final race of the season, the Japanese Grand Prix on October 13, to win the drivers' title. Yesterday's result set up an exciting finale with Villeneuve knowing he must win in Japan and hope Hill is out of the top six.

Third place went to Michael Schumacher, of Germany, in a Ferrari followed by Frenchman Jean Alesi in a Benetton. Eddie Irvine, of Britain, finished fifth in his Ferrari with Austria's Gerhard Berger, driving a Benetton, in sixth. Earlier, Malaysia's Prime Minister said he hoped his country would host a grand prix in 1999. "Everybody is interested in the grand prix," Dr Mahathir Mohamad said while visiting the Portuguese Grand Prix installations. "It is good publicity for the country." Mahathir came to the Estoril circuit near Lisbon to study how a race is organised.

But he also got the opportunity to talk about his country's bid with the Formula One elite. The Malaysians already have anchored some key support for their bid, which will be submitted soon to the International Automobile Federation. before Adelaide retain their Jiame TENNIS Split, Croatia: Captain John Newcombe believes Australia can win next year's Davis Cup after his team wrapped up the tie against Croatia with clinical efficiency on Saturday. The rain was a bigger threat than the opposition as Mark Woodforde and Pat Rafter beat a dispirited Goran Ivanisevic and Sasa Hirszon 6-3 6-2 6-4 in the doubles to give Australia a 3-0 lead in the World Group qualify Despair the Flames bench BASKETBALL HEATHER SMITH The bench players watched in horror, the coach looked despairingly at her feet and the crowd at the Sydney Entertainment Centre fell strangely silent. A Sydney Flames era was fading slowly away in front of their eyes, along with the Women's National Basketball League title for which the team had craved and worked all year.

With coach Carrie Graf taking a year's sabbatical, champion point guard Michele Timms bound for the US, the retirement of at least one senior player and doubt over the status of starting-five forward Shelley Sandie in 1997, the Flames' desire to finish the season on the ultimate high note was understandable. But their winning streak of 18 matches and the WNBL minor premiership meant nothing as the superbly drilled Adelaide Lightning confirming their status as the team of the '90s steamrolled Sydney 80-65 in Saturday's grand final for their third straight title. For the Flames, the agonising process of losing went on, seemingly, forever. The match slipped away gradually. Adelaide's one-point lead at half-time stretched to three, then five, then six points and suddenly it was out to double figures.

After 12 minutes of the second half, the Flames had, scored only seven paints to the Lightning's 20 and the home side was facing defeat. The clock was then stopped repeatedly as a procession of Adelaide players were sent to the free-throw line by the Flames, who kept fouling their opponents in a desperate attempt to quickly regain possession. Their efforts only delayed the inevitable. The Lightning led by their trio of Australian Opals forwards Michelle Brogan, XT' tJ Cats, Rollers go as NBL heads for super league wait out the final moments Winners are grinners Jae Kingi celebrate as -4! i. ter was disqualified from Austria's vital Davis Cup World Group qualifying tie with Brazil after staging an angry walk-off during the doubles on Saturday.

Muster, with Austria level at 1-1 after Friday's singles, was upset by the jeers and abuse of the partisan home crowd, picking up a warning for making an obscene gesture to spectators in the fourth set before stalking off at 0-2 in the fifth. The match was awarded to the Brazilians 7-6 (7-2) 4-6 6-3 3-6 2-0. title. Photographs by TIM CLAYTON against Rapid Vienna on Wednesday were thrown into some confusion as defender Gary Pallister twisted his knee at Villa Park. The champions already have David May struggling after injuring his ankle in a reserve game last Wednesday, and manager Alex Fprguson said: "I think Gary will make it all right because it's a very big game for us.

But he'll probably need treatment right up to Wednesday night." Newcastle leapfrogged over United into second place after their 1-0 win at Leeds, who had former England defender Carlton Palmer sent off. Alan Shearer, who has scored 10 times against Leeds in 11 matches in his career, scored the only goaf of the game after 59 minutes. Arsenal, whose new manager Arsene Wenger does not arrive until the end of the month, also put their recent troubles further behind them with a 2-0 win at high-flying Middlesbrough. Blackburn are still searching for their first win after drawing 1-1 at home with Everton, who had Scottish striker Duncan Ferguson sent off near the end. racr Bates, Shelley Sandie, Robyn after agreeing to undisclosed "generous" payouts at a special NBL meeting on Saturday.

American guard Isaac Burton gave a superb performance for his parents when he led the Sydney Kings to an impressive 140-120 win over Adelaide 36ers in Sydney on Saturday night. Burton's parents had flown from the United States for the game and saw their quicksilver son notch a game-high 36 points in a bruising struggle. The match ended a seven-game losing run for the Kings against Adelaide but was marred by an alleged spitting incident involving Shane Heal and Adelaide's Rick Brunson. It occured near the end of the first quarter in which Heal spoke heatedly to the referees. she was sent to the line only three times.

Adelaide won the title fair and square, a point both Timms and Graf were quick to make. "They outplayed us; we played like dogs," said a despondent Graf. "We're not blaming the referees. Adelaide deserved to win. They spanked us on the boards.

They're big and athletic and they did a super job." Graf lamented that no Sydney player could "step up" when it counted and that, in part, could be attributed to the Lightning's tremendous defensive tactics. Realising the in-form Timms was likely to score under, virtually any circumstances, Adelaide concentrated most of their efforts on denying other players opportunities. So, players like Sandie, clearly not fully fit after a severe defeat of Eastwood in the major semi-final on Friday, the club has had more satisfaction, with its third and fourth-grade teams qualifying for grand finals. Williams is seeking two players in particular for his squad an open-side breakaway and a full-back-cum-winger as a back-up for Matthew Burke, Alistair Murdoch and David Campese. Backs in the reckoning are Warringah's fullback and emerging Wallaby Andrew Apps, Randwick's dashing Australian under-21 fullback Chris Latham, and Sydney University's former Wallaby Tim Kelaher.

Another player who entered calculations on Friday was Warringah's utility back Matthew Skene, who returned to rugby this winter after 3'A years with the North Sydney and Manly-Warringah rugby league clubs. Skene is an exciting attacking player, is adept at fullback, centre or five-eighth and has a long kicking game. A memorial service will be held at 3.30 pm today for the last of the famous 1927-28 Waratahs Rugby Union side, Dr Alec Ross, at the Uniting Church, Turramurra. jh Maher and Emily Mclnerny stomach virus on Thursday, and captain Robyn Maher were kept largely out of the game. "It's the end of a four-year slog," said a subdued Timms.

"It's a very emotional time." Timms was able to put some of the disappointment behind her yesterday when she flew to Germany to rejoin her club, Barmer TV, for the coming northern winter season. Meanwhile, the rest of the Sydney team began the painful splintering process. Graf, burnt out after four non-stop years of coaching the Flames and working as an assistant coach of the Opals, has resigned from both programs for 12 months' rest. "I need to get my passion back," Graf said. "I'll have a holiday and then work in a pub, or sell hot-dogs outside a pub anything that's not too mind-straining." Who will take over as Flames coach isn't known yet.

There are several quality candidates, including Guy Molloy, who has just ended his tenure at the Perth Breakers, and this year's championship coach Jan Stirling, who is believed to be on the verge of quitting Adelaide. Among the players, Timms will miss the 1997 WNBL competition so she can take up a contract in the US with the new Women's National Basketball Association next May. Sandie is joining the WNBA's rival competition, the American Basketball League, in October and will need a special clearance to play in next year's Australian national league. Long-time bench guard Kara' Ward is retiring and veteran centres Karen Dalton, 35, and Gail Henderson, 37, will decide their futures within the next few months. Maher and exciting forward Trish Fallon would definitely be back next year, Graf said.

Socceroos too strong for Kenya Pretoria: Australia outclassed Kenya 4-0 in the Four Nations soccer tournament at Loftus Versfeld here on Saturday. It was a dismal night for Kenya, who suffered their biggest defeat in the Simba Cup and had coach Vojo Gardesevic and defender Tom Juma sent off during the Second half. Yugoslav Gardesevic was dismissed for dissent after Australia scored their third goal, and Juma received a red card from South African referee lan McLeod for a second bookable offence. Hosts South Africa won the tournament when they held Ghana to a 0-0 draw in the final match of the competition. Three players were sent off and six others cautioned as the home team struggled to secure the point they needed to edge Australia into second place.

Australia, showing six changes from the team beaten by South Africa midweek, led 2-0 at half-time. Their goals came from Jason Polak, Warren Spink, Damian Mori and captain Alex Tobin. The Socceroos, who gave a first cap to forward Kris Trajanovski, took control from the start and slick passing carved frequent gaps in the Kenyan rearguard. Sport In Brief TENNIS Seles again Tokyo: World co-No 1 Monica Seles underlined her status by beating No 2 Arantxa Sanchez Vicario to regain the Nichirei title she had won twice previously. Seles powered to a 6-1 6-4 victory on Sunday.

GOLF Funk's feat New York: American Fred Funk fired an eight-under 63 to catch Pete Jordan and share a three-stroke lead after three rounds of the BC Open. Among Australians, Bradley Hughes is seven strokes off the lead after a six-under 65, while Craig Parry is one further back after a 69. OLYMPICS Baseball's best Lausanne: Heeding the IOC's warning that baseball might be eliminated as an Olympic sport unless eligibility rules were liberalised, the International Baseball Association voted overwhelmingly on Saturday to follow the lead of basketball, ice hockey and tennis by opening major championships to professionals. TRIATHLON On the rise Ilheus, Brazil: Australian pen-tathlete Nicole Andronicus achieved her best performance by finishing one second behind winner Carol Montgomery, of Canada, in the sixth round of the World Cup on Saturday. MOTOR SPORT Audi audacity Audi's Brad Jones and Greg Murphy returned to their championship-leading form by winning a race each in round six of the Australian two-litre super touring championships at Phillip Island yesterday.

CRICKET All square Toronto: The Sahara Cup will be decided by a fifth and final match after Pakistan scored an emphatic 97-run victory against India on Saturday. GOLF Euro-rally London: The European women's team rallied to seize a 9-7 lead at Chepstow, Wales, against the US, to guarantee the Solheim Cup would be decided in the final day's 12 singles matches. SOCCER United repeat Sydney United made it back-to-back victories in the Waratah Cup after beating Parra- matta Eagles 2-1 in the final yesterday. Collingwood Warriors won a penalty shootout against Adelaide City, 3-1, in the Johnnie Walker Cup. TRIATHLON Welch hurt Los Angeles: Greg Welch was relieved even though a six-man bike crash cost him victory in round three of the international grand prix series.

A suspected broken collarbone turned out to be no worse than a strained AC joint Chairman Mai Speed yesterday claimed to have taken the National Basketball League towards a slimmed-down "super league" as the Gold Coast Rollers and Geelong Supercats were for next season. With the Hobart Devils having agreed to surrender their licence earlier in the year, the league next season will comprise 11 teams and feature 30 home-and-away Speed made the departures of the three cash-strapped clubs official yesterday as the league gears up to switch from winter to a summer season in 1997-98. Gold Coast and Geelong lack high-quality, large-capacity venues and leave the competition Rachael Sporn and Carla Boyd pounded the Flames on the boards 55-37 and controlled the tempo for most of the game. Even so, the Flames were solid in the first half, led by Timms with 16 points. The second period, to the dismay of the impressive crowd, was disastrous for the Flames.

Shots refused to fall, rebounds were tipped from their hands and, according to Timms, refer-eeing decisions went constantly against them. Timms described the officiating by Carolyn Gillespie and Alan Godden as "poor in the first half and out of control in the From an observer's viewpoint it seemed that Timms herself, rather than the team, suffered at the referees' hands. The 31-year-old was constantly buffeted by defending guard Jae Kingi, yet each of the candidates for his NSW squad videotaped during the play-offs to examine their game-long performance. Pinkerton is rangy and mobile and is developing the John Maxwell whipcord hide of toughness after two seasons of first grade under the coaching of the former Australian seven-aside and NSW breakaway. There are few quicker than Warringah's Pither, but he may need more experience; few more physically involved than Leach without having Pither's speed; and none more daring and adroit on the ground than Williams, whose only drawback is that he is in his mid-30s.

Pinkerton is in his physical prime, an excellent support player, quick and effective at the breakdown and a strong tackier. His overall qualities may give him the edge. Pinkerton will be in Randwick's back row beside punishing No 8 Michael Cheika and Test blind-side breakaway Owen Finegan for Saturday's preliminary final against Eastwood at Waratah Stadium, with the winners advancing to the grand final against Warringah. Following Warringah's 21-6 Rachael Sporn, Jo Hill, Michelle Brogan, Carla Boyd and Adelaide Lightning regain the WNBL championship. Pinkerton gallops towards rep squad Liverpool sound an ominous warning Rugby PHILWILKINS Randwick's long march along death row towards the NSW rugby union premiership has coincided with Stuart Pinker-ton's challenge for a NSW Waratah squad berth.

The former Australian under-21 back-rower is one of four players under consideration for a contract as NSW's next open-side breakaway. Each of the candidates Pinkerton, Eastwood's tireless leader Adam Leach, Warringah speedster Cameron Pither and Eastern Suburbs' skilful Dirk Williams have been under intense scrutiny during the AAMI Cup play-offs. NSW coach Matt Williams, chairman of selectors Barry Want and former Test prop John Coolican will settle on a squad of approximately 28 for next season within the fortnight. Pinkerton shone in Randwick's elimination of Eastern Suburbs on Friday night at the Sydney Football Stadium, one of four sudden-death games the Galloping Greens had to win to claim the premiership. Coach Williams is having UK Soccer London: Liverpool manager Roy Evans warned his English premier league rivals yesterday his side can play even better after demolishing Chelsea 5-1 in their top-of-the-table clash.

"We can play better than this," Evans said. "I was pleased with our movement but our passing was sloppy. "I was delighted with the result in the end but only reasonably pleased with the performance." Liverpool, who have won five and drawn two of their opening seven matches to lead the standings by two points over Newcastle, outclassed Ruud Gullit's previously undefeated team, who started the day in third place in the league. Despite the emphatic win, which establishes Liverpool as serious contenders for the title they last won in 1990, Evans kept his feet on the ground. "We can't complain about the first seven matches, but we've not been brilliant or played out of our skin.

We've ground out results and worked hard for them, and we probably deserve to be top. It's nice, no-one is getting carried away, and I just hope we can improve from here." Robbie Fowler opened the scoring with a cleverly taken header after 15 minutes before the man-of-the-match, Czech striker Patrick Berger, playing in place of Stan Collymore, rounded Chelsea keeper Kevin Hitchcock for the second three minutes before half-time. A headed own goal by Andy Myers put Liverpool 3-0 up just before the break, and further goals by Berger after 49 minutes and John Barnes put Liverpool 5-0 up. Frenchman Frank LeBouef scored a consolation for Chelsea with an 85th-minute penalty after Mark Hughes was tripped in the Liverpool box. Gullit said: "We played more against ourselves than Liverpool today.

The goals came from individuals and mistakes. We must avoid similar performances if we are to improve." Liverpool and Manchester United are now the only teams in the division yet to lose, but the champions slipped from second to fourth after an entertaining 0-0 draw at Aston Villa. United's plans for their Champions League match.