The Guardian from London, Greater London, England • 22

SPORTS GUARDIAN Tuesday May 15 1982 22 David Irvine in Rome David Lacey Ipswich 2, Tottenham 1 Spurs smoke-screen Mottram in new Roman conquest Robert Armstrong Ban hits Leeds chances Miller two more bad turns. First he was cautioned, having been beaten by Brazil's pace and forced to haul his man down. Then Muhren's free-kick found Mariner in space and the England forward twisted past Miller and Hughton before giving Mills the chance to score through a crowd of players. Brazil put Ipswich further ahead in the 68th minute, scoring his 28th goal of the season in the manner of many of his previous 27. Sent clear by Muhren, he calmly drew Parks then took the ball past the young goalkeeper before slipping it in.

Crook's well-taken header four minutes later from Price's centre whetted Tottenham's appetite for the rest of the match. Ipswlcvh. Sivell; Bnrley. McCall, Butcher. Wark, Muhren, Mariner, Brazil.

O'Callaghan. Tottenham Hotspur. Parks; Huqhton, Miller, Roberts, Hazard, Perryman, Brooke, Archibald, Villa. Hoddle, Crooks. Referee.

P. Richardson (Lincoln). presence in the final will not be challenged it was noticeable that Spurs football gained impetus once he had been replaced by Price, with Roberts moving upfield. But for the alertness of Roberts, Spurs would have been two goals down after 20 minutes. Ipswich, showing verve and imagination to the last, thought they had scored when O'Callaghan flicked out a foot, as Miller was slow dealing with Muhren's long pass, and rolled a gentle shot against the inside of the far post.

Robetrs cleared the ball off the line and repeated theresciie after Mariner had outjumped Parks and met Butcher's centre with a firm header. Both Mariner and Butcher showed encouraging form before joining the England World Cup squad. Ipswich eventually took the lead 10 minutes before half-time with a goal which did Grahame Lloyd Cardiff 2, Luton 3 Cardiff are relegated SOCCER Tottenham Hotspur's performance in losing 2-1 at Ipswich last night seemed to be admirably designed to confuse Queen's Park Rangers, their opponents in Saturday's FA Cup Final. Those hoping to gain a clue as to the Cup-holder's mood and fomii five days before Wembley, were given several false trails, a number of which Spurs themselves appeared keen follow. Galvin's stomach bug and a slight calf strain affecting Clem-ence prevented Tottenham from fielding what many would assume to be their Cup Final team.

Indeed, given the doubts concerning several positions, a number of Spurs players could not afford to treat the occasion as an insignificant evening's stroll, so their football was not short of commitment in certain areas. Miller and Crooks even managed to get themselves cautioned, one for a founl and the other for arguing with a linesman, and it was after Crooks had brought Tottenham back into the game at 2-1 that they retained sufficient interest in the proceedings to pursue to the finish what would have been their season's most pointless point. Brooke, the player most likely to win a place at Wembley instead of one of the more regular first team players, nearly forced a draw two minutes from the end with a shot that Sivell saw late and did well to push wide. After the game Keith Burkinshaw, the Tottenham manager, admitted for the first time that because of the Falk-lands crisis he might leave out Villa, the Argentine international, who won them the Cup last season with that memorable goal in the replay against Manchester City. "We'll just have to see if the situation gets any worse," said Burkinshaw.

Hoddle was rested for the last half-hour with a slight groin strain, and while his match anchored to the baseline, suddenly went for volleys at every opportunity and, inevitably, paid the price. Mottram now meets the 17-year-old Jimmy Brown from Tennessee, the American Junior clay-court champion. Brown, a qualifier, defeated the Brazilian Julio Goes 6-3, 7-6 one of a series of upsets great and small which illustrated yet again how unpredictable matches can be on Rome's slow and dusty courts. Two American seeds fell. Brian Gottfried, seventh, was crushed 6-1, 6-1 by Pedro Re-bolledo of Chile, who won a Grand Prix event in Argentina earlier in the year, while Van Winitsky, sixth, lost 6-2, 6-3 to the Australian Phil Dent.

But the youngsters refused to wilt. Another American, Jimmy Arias (18) beat Claudio Panatta 6-1, 4-6, 6-1 and two of the most promising French boys, Henri Leconte (18) and Guy Forget (17) were winners in straight sets over Bernard Fritz and Francisco Gonzales. Fritz retired with an elbow injury but Gonzales, who once beat Jimmy Connors, was outclassed 64, 6-3 by an opponent making his first Grand Prix appearance. Finally to cap the teenagers' day, Mats Wilande.r. a 17-year-old from Sweden, defeated Dominique Bedel of France 6-2, 7-5.

ITALIAN OPEN (Rome). First Round: J. Arias (US) beat C. Panatta (Italy). 6-1, 4-6.

6-1; M. Wilander (Sweden) beat D. Bedel (France), 6-2. 7-5; M. Martinez (Bolivia) beat C.

Kirmayr (Brazil), 6-4, 6-2; H. Leconte (France) beat B. Fritz (France). 7-6. 1-1 ret; P.

Dent (Australia) beat V. Winilskv (US). 6-2, 6-3; 6. Forqet (France) beat F. Gonrales (Paraguay).

6-4, 6-3; C. J. Mottram (GB) heat C. Barazzutti (Italy). 6-3.

6-7. 6-4: W. Flbak (Poland) heat P. Cash 6-3. 6-0: J.

Aleiander (Australia) beat R. Ycaza (Ecuador), 2-6. 6-3. 6-4. P.

Rebolledo (Chile) beat B. Gottfried (US). 6-1, 6-1 E. Teltseher (US) beat J. Nystrom (Sweden), 6-3.

6-1 Brown (US) beat J. Goes (Brazil), 6-3. 7-6 P. Elter (W. Germany) beat J.

Gunnarsson (Sweden). 6-2, 6-1. T. Tulasne (France) beat J. Fitzgerald (Australia) 6-2, 6-2.

Angela Walker (Canada)' and Jan Blackstead (US), the second and fourth seeds, are to be reported to the LTA after withdrawing from the Padding-ton tournament yesterday. DOGGED Mottram showed fitness, concentration and stamina Peter Spiring talks to Patrick Barclay about the fear of losing his job Football's dark shadow Paul Fitzpatrick at Bradford Qtennis On a day when youth had its fling, and five teenagers marked their initial appearance at the Italian championship by winning first round matches. Buster Mottram, Britain's only representative, did well to survive after looking every inch the sacrificial offering in one of those noisy Roman dramas which annually enliven the Foro Italico. Mottram took 2 hours to master the Italian No 2, Cor-rado Barazzutti, a player he beat in straight sets on the same court in the Davis Cup in March, and though the final score of 6-3, 6-7, 64 may look convincing, Barazzutti led 3-1 in the final set and seemed at stage to be the stronger. "I really thought I might have to retire," said Mottram.

I was so tired." And he looked it. But the No 11 seed stuck doggedly to his task, broke back in the fifth game, won an argument over a call in the sixth which would have given his opponent break point, and then found himself the steadier finisher. It was a test of Mottram's fitness, concentration and stamina which should encourage him in the long hot days ahead for, though much of the tennis was unexceptional, the rallies were long and, in keeping with their partisan traditions, the crowd did their best fair and unfair to lift Barazzutti. At the outset Mottram picked up exactly where he left off in March. In the second set, though, Barazzutti unsettled him with some superb lobs and, though the Italian served a wretched game at 5-4, he was the more consistent in the tie-break.

Early in the third set the position looked ominous for Mottram but he gradually regained his earlier patience and in the deciding game Barazzutti, who had spent the entire repetition of such behaviour might result in suspension. Explosive by nature, Higgins is probably too old at 33 for fundamental change but there is no doubt that the responsibilities of marriage and parenthood have had a stabilising effect. As the hosannas of a sell-out crowd saluted the new champion at the Crucible Theatre on Sunday, he tearfully called for his wife Lynn and baby daughter Lauren to share his moment of triumph. It will be remembered, too, that in his last final appearance two years ago he self-destructively cast away a 9-5 lead over Cliff Thorburn and was beaten 18-16. The 25,000 prize was a far cry from the 480 at stake when he won the world title a decade ago, and on Sunday a close friend advised him before the final session Just think of the baby." All this may read like the very stuff of soap opera, but it is a fact that there is a sensitive side to the hell-raiser so beloved of the popular prints.

Having led 15-12, Higgins seemed to have missed the boat when Reardon levelled at 15-15 after needing a snooker in the 30th frame with only the last four colours left. The threatened loss of snooker's most treasured title concentrated his mind wonderfully. Reardon missed an easy red in the 31st frame and simple black early in the 32nd "I lost it with those two shots," the Welshman later said while Higgins pulled his game together to go two up with three to play. A climatic 135 break then clinched his second title 10 years after he had won rnrokor's greatest event at his fiiot attempt. Young Yorkshire thrive two years ago and then last Yorkshire opener, Lumb, the aJmfOWfK 17HP season by limited opportunity, secondary partner in an open- ryVmVIJ(l Yesterday he opened the bat- ing stand of 127.

His stroke- jng jn absence 0f Geoffrey play was not as exciting as w. Boycott and struck the ball Sharp's but some strokes off overlook amfd the nersistlnce with a confidence which, re- his legs were a delight, of their nolitical upheavals must inevitably lake Love remained strokeless SsttoifiVlffi TBiandt0Dlacententl0n fr 311 ad "ear SCrele-S? 25 Yorkshire possess. When it is gL- anvthin- befpre retiring with a allowed to surface, as it was lfe athaf ff Bovcott 1 ad sllghtIy gh he nn a henisn Bradford wicket can De, tnat llda scene was left to Athey, hitting yesteVday? erfffi necSS wn asPl m'any centuns VsTr 0sh If SiX6S 6itHher fly be sufferers. "fflliwS old 'SoMSeld The0 one In this instance it was the scored a pre-ordained 100 for piayer seriously to fail this Indian bowlers, capturing three castleford on Saturday and accommodating pitch was Hart-wickets for 260 runs on a rain- would have been unlikely to ley forced to hU back foot interrupted day. There was have missed out on this wicket hv Vadav and bowled bv a ball yesterday- while4.he Vs which beat his late, despairing, though, for the -ear-oia possibly counting his iahhincr defensive stroke Kevin Sharp to complete a cen- krujr fands, harp was count- tury of high quality and for ing his blessings.

Bill Athey to continue to tap a Sharp had Snly one obvious (G YoiHiRE-First Ti rich seam which had brought spell of self-doubt. He had (Overnight: 31 for 0) him scores of 77 100 and 54 in reaclied his 50 with some glori- g- tounib Kapff Db" his previous three innings. ous shots; Madan Lai had Athey not out 61 When rain drove off the been plundered for three fours 5- players for a third and final in an 0ver but briefly the con- 0'. l. BsiVstow not out time Athey was 61 not out and fjdence evaporated, the runs Ets 1.

nh 4) 9 threatening a violent 100. dried up, and Sharp should Total (for 3) 260 Athey's talent, of course, has have been caught at short Fail of wickets: 127. 203. 27. already been recognised by extra cover by Gavaskar off s.

S- England. But his hold on his Yadav when he was 57. That MToSriaT JiV.b toJ5 6.0?' Test place was brief and came moment of fallibility behind to a disappointing end in the him, Sharp surged eagerly and Phil. Edmonds, the Middle-West Indies last year when the entertainingly on to his fourth sex spin bowler, must pro-strains of coping with Holding, first class 100. pounce his fitness by 11 a m.

Croft and company proved too He departed to the persever- today or withdraw from the much. Since there are few ing if suffering Doshi, striking MCC match with the Indians players in the country more the left-arm spin bowler high which starts at Lords tomor-gifted and since he is still only into the deep where Kapil Dev row. Edmonds trapped a nerve 24, his time should come again, judged the catch to a nicety, in his back during the Middle-Sharp's progress was re- The same combination had sex-Somerset match at Lords tarded by personal difficulties earlier accounted for the other on Saturday. FRANK WORT1IINGTON wiil miss Leeds United's crucial relegation game against West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns toniglit. The former England striker, who has scored nine goals since joining Leeds from Birmingham City in March, was banned for one match with immediate effect by an FA disciplinary commission meeting in London yesterday.

Worthington did not attend hearing. Several other players who, like Worthington, had accumulated 20 disci pi in a ry points escaped with, warnings. They included Terry Fen-wick, the Queen's Park Rangers defender, who was cleared to play against Tottenham Hotspur in the FA' Cup. Final on Saturday. David Peach of Orient and Jimmy McNichol of Brentford also received warnings.

Leeds need one point to be sure of staying in the First Division while West Bromwich require a victory to keep their place secure. Worthington's place in attack will be taken by either Par-lane or Butterworth the only change in the Leeds team which beat Brighton last Saturday. As Martin Wilkinson, the Leeds assistant manager, pointed out, Worthington has acquired only two of Jiis cautions with Leeds, "lie has not been sent off with us," said Wilkinson "but Albion will have two players playing against us who have been sent off, Cyrille Regis and Gary Owen. But because of the 14 day time lag before suspensions they arc able to play." Another Leeds player, Trevor Cherry, will appear before an FA disciplinary commission in Birmingham on Thursday, also for accumulating 20 penalty points. Meanwhile, Gary Shaw, who is a member of England's World Cup 40, will almost certainly miss Aston Villa's testimonial match for Brian Little against an England World Cup XI at Villa Park tonight.

Shaw, who has a knee injury, would have been watched hy Ron Greenwood, the England manager, but another England international, Tony Morley, will be fit to play after missing Villa's last two games. Little, whose career was ended prematurely by a knee injury, is still only 28 and will turn out for Villa for the first 20 minutes tonight. A former England forward, Little might reasonably have expected to play in the World Cup finals next month had his career not been cut short. He is now employed by Villa in their commercial office. England and West Germany have received permission from the European Football Union to postpone their European Under-21 Championship final until next season.

The first leg will take place in England in September and the second leg in October, at venues yet to be decided. Liam Brady will be avail-abve for the Republic of Ireland's three match tour of South America later this month. Honduras, who play in the World Cup finals, are not to invite the Republic to play there in a friendly because the Irish asked too high a fee, 36,000, the Hpnduran Football Association said yesterday. Badminton THOMAS CUP. Semi-filial (Aston Villa SO: Indonesia beat England 81 (England first): N.

Yates lost to L. Swie Kine 2-15, 5-15; A. Goode lost to R. Hartono 4-15, 14-18; S. Baddeley lost to L.

Ponjoli 12-15, 8-15; M. Tredgett and M. Dew tatat Hartono and R. Heriyanto 15-10. 15-1; Yatfs and Goode lost to King and H.

Christian 18-17, 11-15, 6-15. Road Running BAY TO BREAKERS RACE (San Francisco, 7 miles) 1, R. Dixon CNZ) 35min. 7.6sec. Speedway KNOCKOUT CUP, First Rotund.

Second leg: Reading 38, Belle Vue 40 (agg. 56-97). Ice Hockey STANLEY CUP Vancouver 1, NY Islanders 3 (Islanders win series, 4-0). MARATHON Tyneside seems determined to prove that anything London can do, it can do in a bigger way. The Great North Run on June 27 from Newcastle to South Shields has so far attracted 20,000 entries 2,000 more than took part in the London Marathon earlier this month.

RUGBY LEAGUE Sal ford last night appointed Malcolm Aspey, the 34-year-old Wigan and former Widnes and Fulham centre, as coach. FIXTURES Soccer (7.30 unless stated) FIRST DIVISION. Middlesbrough v. Liverpool: West Bromwich v. Leeds.

SECOND DIVISION. Orient v. Leicester (8.0). THIRD DIVISION. Burnley v.

Chesterfield; Doncaster v. Bristol City; Fulham v. Lincoln; Gilllngham v. Reading; Newport v. Swindon: Wimbledon v.

Portsmouth. FOURTH DIVISION. Bury v. Blackpool; Darlington v. Torguay.

BRIAN LITTLE TESTIMONIAL. Aston Villa v. England XI. ATHENIAN LEAGUE. Cup Final: Ban stead Athletic v.

Uxbrldge (Leyton Wlngale FC). Boxing BarrettDuff Promotion (York Hall, Beth-nai Green). Golf English Women's Closed Amateur Championships (Branccpeth Castle GC, Durham). Scottish Women's Champlortihip Royal Troon GC, Trocn). Tennis Piddlngton Tournament.

Snooker CHALLENGE MATCH. A. Hlqglns V. S. Davis (Nine frames at Wairlfiglonl.

In front of a stoical crowd of just over 10,000, Cardiff City failed to maintain their impressive reputation as the escapology experts of the Second Division when they were beaten by Luton at Ninian Park last night. In eight of the last 11 seasons Cardiff have managed to avoid relegation in the last or penultimate matches and last year they drew with champions West Ham to stay up. In the second half Luton emphasised their superiority goals by Donaghy and Stein but Cardiff refused to abandon hope and were rewarded by goals from Kitchen and Micallef. Playing with great determination Cardiiff caused considerable panic in the visitors' defence early on. Micallef and Gary Bennett both went close and Grapes was striving prodigiously to create the crucial opening goal.

In the thirteenth minute Dave Bennett ran clear of the defence after paying only a third of the full-time basic of about 150 with the possibility that the directors will be able to arrange outside jobs. "It would be a bit of a sickening blow to go part-time," Spring said. I suppose just being in work is something nowadays. It would depend on the outside jobs, and the money. We're not going to sign for peanuts." If necessary, Spiring, who is a qualified electrician, will have to start his own business.

He has some money HULL CITY last night sacked Bobby Brown, their caretaker manager, but left the way open for him to remain at Boothfcrry Park in his former role of youth development officer. put by, and could raise loans. "I'm not leaving football without a fight, not after 16 years I'd miss it too much. I'm fit and I feel I have at least four years left in me. "You never know in football.

Things can turn up when you least expect them and at least I do have the advantage of a lot of experience, about 300 league games, so that people know what I'm capable of. But I'd go anywhere, at home or abroad, absolutely anywhere to stay in football," Spiring added. Spiring's fortunes have fluctuated during a career in RESULTS Soccer FIRST DIVISION Ipswich (1) 2 Tottenham H. (0) 1 Mills, Brazil; Crooks (20,764) SECOND DIVISION Cardiff (0) 2 Luton (1) 3 Kitchen. Micallef: Stein (2), Donaghy (10,277) BOTTOM SIX Grimsby 42 11 13 18 53 G5 46 Shrewsbury 42 11 13 18 37 57 46 Bolton 42 13 7 22 39 G1 46 Cardiff 42 12 8 22 45 61 44 Wrexham 42 11 11 20 40 56 44 Orient 41 9 23 33 61 36 TESTIMONIAL MATCHES.

Date Clement: QPR 6, Clement XI Tommy Burton: Ash Utd 1, Aldershot XI 3. CENTRAL LEAGUE. Bury 1, Burnley 5. FOOTBALL COMBINATION Bristol R. 1, Orient 3.

FRIENDLY MATCHES. San Salvador El Salvador XI 2. Ponte Petra 2 Tenu-dlgalpa: Honduras XI 0, Radnickl Ms 0. SOUTH-EAST COUNTIES LEAGUE. Crystal Palace 1, Watford 4.

Golf WOMEN'S TOURNAMENT (Roswell). Final Scores (US If not stated): 207 K. Whltworth 69, 68, 70: 211 S. Barrett, 71, 72, 68; B. Moxness 70, 70.

71; 213 A. Alcott 70, 74, 69; S. Ertle 71. 70, 72; J. Stanoer Pyne 68, 71.

74. COLONIAL NATIONAL INVITATION (Fort Worth). Final Scores (all US). 273 J. Nicklaus.

66. 70. 70. 67. 276 A.

North. 68, 69. 67, 72. 277. J.

Pate, 69, 68, 69, 71. Donaghy failed to cut out a through ball, but Findlay narrowed the angle well and pushed the shot to safety. In spite of Cardiff's endeavour the extra class of White, Hor-ton, and particularly Hill was always evident. Luton went ahead in the twenty-first minute when a pass from Moss on the left wing found Stein alone beyond Cardiff's defence. Healey made a brave atempt to save but Stein scored with an emphatic right-foot shot.

Seconds later he almost scored again from close range but this time the luck was with Healey and the ball cannoned clear off his legs. Stein's second goal, sandwiched between two incredible misses, clinched the inevitable and at the final whistle two divisions separated the teams. Cardiff Cltv. Hpaley; Jones, Micallef, Mullen, Grapes (Kitchen, 56 min), Gilbert, G. Bennett, Stevens, D.

Bennett. Luton. Findlay: Stephens, Money, Horton, Goodyear. Donaqhy, Hill. Stein, White, Antio.

Moss (Small, 80 min). Referee. Mr. A. Robinson (Waterlooville).

which he went to Liverpool from Bristol City in 1973, full of promise, only to suffer a serious Achilles tendon injury. He then moved to Luton, who promptly announced that they were in danger of going into liquidation. "I must be a jinx." His cheerful character has been somewhat strained by recent events. He says it is ridiculous that Hereford are planning for next season with a dozen players, three of them semi-professionals. The view is shared by Gordon Taylor who feels that some clubs have over-reacted to the recession and says It can only harm the fabric of the game.

I fear for what can happen next season if clubs with only a dozen players are hit by injuries and suspensions. They will throw in youngsters who cannot be expected to cope. Then the same clubs will complain that the crowds are not turning up." Only yesterday it was announced that another batch of clubs were making cuts. At Wrexham Ian Edwards and Frank Carrodus, bought for a total of 200,000 in 1979, can now take pay cuts or go. Shrewsbury have released eight, including their captain, Jake King, and the 100,000 John Dungworth.

Chesterfield's entire staff are for sale with the exceptions of the club captain, John Ridley, Alan Crawford, and others who can go free. Hockey WOMEN'S TOURNAMENT (Palmerston North). W. Germany 7. Japan O.Austria 5, NZ U-23 US 2.

NZ Netherlands 3, Canada 2. MERCIAN WOMEN'S INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS. County Final Surrey 2. Lanes 6. Club Final Highlown 5, Chelmsford 1.

Tennis GP TOURNAMENT (Munich). First Round: J. Lopez-Maeso (Spain) beat A. Gimenez (Spain). 7-5, 6-4; J.

Gunnarsson (Sweden) beat P- Elter (W Germany), 6-2, 6-1 J. 11 tea (Snain) heat K. Mcilcr (W. Germany). 6-4, 6-4; S.

Blmer (Czech) beat H. Ismail (Zimbabwe), 6-2. 6-1. C. Hooper (US) beat G.

Moretton (France). 6-3. 6-1; D. Heretic (W Germany) beat A. Ganzabal (Argentina).

4-6, 6-1, 7-6; C. Roger-Vasselln (France) beat W. Zirn-gibl (W Germany), 5-7, 6-2, 7-5. OPEN TOURNAMENT (Tulsa) S. Glicksteln (US) beat J.

Sadri (US). 7-6. 7- 6. Doubles Final: S. Smith and B.

Lutz (US) beat R. Tanner and D. Stockton (US). 7-6, 6-7. 6-3.

GFRMAN WOMEN'S OPEN Berlin). First Round J. Durle (GB) beat B. Rossi (Italy), 6-2, 6-3. Cycling TOUR OF ITALY.

Fourth Staqe (Asslsl to Rome, 105 1. U. Frailer (Switzerland), 4hr 18min 45sec. Overall Standings: I. B.

Hinault (France). 15:41:41 2. T. Prim (Sweden) at 26sec 3, F. Moser (Italy), at 39, 4, G.

Saronnl (Italy), at lmin 8sec. PLACE RACE. Seventh Stage (Piotrkow to Warsaw. 94 miles) 1. S.

Zagretdinov (USSR). 3:13:53. Overall standings :1, Zagretdinov, 27:45:10: 2 R. Suun (USSR), at 16 sec 3, T. Barth (E Germany), at 26.

3, Saritamer City (16-1). Dale Palm 7-2 fav. 15 ran (M. Stoutc). CSF: 14.90.

Trlcast: 201.67. NOTTINGHAM 6.0 (2m Hdle): 1, PENSCYNOR, P. A. Charlton (evens fav); 2. fulham Venture (2-1); 3, Little Tyrant (5-1).

7 ran. (M. Lambert). Tote: 19p; lip, 15p. Dual 49p.

CSF: 330. 6.30 (2m Ch): 1. PINER0, M. Brennan (5-1); 2. Even Melody (11-8 fav): 3, Bowshot (7-1).

6 ran. (0. Brennan). Tote: 36p; 12p. 15p.

Dual 18P. CSF: 1.13. 7.0 (2m Hdle): 1. GHAZ4L, J. Francome (4-9 fav); 2.

Skateboard (2-1). 3. Nettle-fold (50-1). 4 ran (J. Hardy).

NR: City Link Express. Tote: lip. Dual 14p. CSF: 14p. 7.30 (3m Ch): 1.

SPACE BRIDGE, J. iancome (7-4 fav); 2, Ablata (16-1): 3, Rnapp Flight (5-2). 6 ran. (0. Gandolfo).

Tote: 21p; 13p, 13p. Dual 95p. CSF: 3.08. 8.0 ch): 1, FLORAL S0MER Mr W. Wales (16-1); 2, Sealed (5-1): 3.

Wang The Miller (13-8 fav). 14 ran. (Mrs Patrick). NR: Spare Slipper, Clipston. Tote: 1.74p; 46p, 18p, 19p.

Dual 4.61. CSF: 9.23. 8.30 (23m Hdle) 1, GAZAAN. R. G.

Hughes (5-4 fav) 2. Royal Bounty (4-1) 3. Solldor (6-4). 8 ran. (P.

Mitchell). Tote 16o; 14p, 27p. 10P. Dual 27p. CSF 65p.

Clive Everton Higgins fined 1,000 MOTORCYCLING Jean Stead Cloud over Irish circuit The death of John Newbold on the North West 200 circuit in Northern Ireland last Saturday has put a question mark nver thf pirpnit'c fntnro for championship racing. Two iiiui ui i3i iicij us leading riders, the late Tom Herron and John Williams, have been killed there during the last few years. Newbold, attempting at 100 mph to pass Mick Grant's Suzuki, came off and hit a brick wall. The North West 200 is one of the circuits scheduled in the national Superbike championship. At an informal riders' meeting on Saturday night after the crash, many of the leaders said they had no intention of returning to the circuit next year.

"The feeling was that if you came off your chances of survival were grim," said one. Suzuki, for whom Newbold was a works rider as were Herron and Williams-will probably consider withdrawing their riders from the circuit next year, according to a spokesman. Talk are likelv to be held with Honda, the othpr lpartinrr fanfnn, ing in the Superbike champion- snips. Newbold, from Derbyshire, was 32 years old, married, with a three-year-old son. He was a consistent and reliable rider on whom Britain has depended manV times in thp Marlhnrn Transatlantic Trophy series against American teams.

This year he was vice-captain to Barry Sheene during the series, and last year was top scorer. As team-mate to the New Zealand grand prix rider Graeme Crosby, he was runner-up last year in the British Formula One championship. He was a likeable and much-loved man in the racing world, and his death has spread sadness over the start of the season. GOLF Crosby noted Nathaniel Crosby, son of the late Bing Crosby, will be aiming for a rare title double when he competes in the Amateur Championship at Royal Cinque Ports, Deal, on May 31-June 5. Crosby, the reigning US amateur champion, is seeded to meet defending title-holder Philippe Ploujoux of France in the 36-hole final.

The last player to hold the US and British amateur titles in the same year was the American Bob Dickson in 1967. Crosby's first-round opponent will be David Gilford, the 16-year-old from Staffordshire who finished joint runner-up for the Brabazon Trophy at Woburn. Gary Player's son Wayne is in the opposite half of the draw, but unlike Crosby is not among the eight seeds. His first match is against an England junior international, Michael Reynard of Birmingham. Dick Siderowf, the New York stockbroker who won th championship in 1973 and 1976, is also among the 39 Americans in the field.

BEHIND LAST week's predictions of widespread redundancy among Britain's footballers are people like Peter Spiring, who has been told by Hereford United that he is a free agent. In current circumstances, with the industry gripped by fear and recession, Spiring may find that he is tasting the freedom of the poor man who may dine at the Ritz. There are not really so many places to go. Spiring, a 31-year-old- mid-field player with a wife and two children, is one of a thousand in the football league whose contracts expire this summer. He is also one of the 500 whom Gordon Taylor, secretary of the Professional Footballers' Association, says will not be offered new terms.

What he is now determined to avoid is the unkindest cut: a place among 250 Taylor expects to go out of the game altogether. "I do not want to talk about it," Spiring said. "I don't even want to think about it why should I give Spring because they cannot up just because football's got itself into a mess?" Hereford have released Spiring because they cannot afford to play the older players such as him and his friend, Danny Bartley. Both have been regular members of the Fourth Division team this season. Yet the manager, Frank Lord, still wants them and the club have offered them part-time contracts BADMINTON Dilip Rao England go out The strongest and best organised challenge England have ever made for the Thomas Cup ended yesterday in Birmingham when Liem Swie King beat Nick Yates 15-2, 15-5 to give Indonesia a winning 5-0 lead in the semi-final.

They play China at the Albert Hall in Thursday's final. This first match of the second day was won more easily by Indonesia than any of the four on Sunday. Swie King fast, agile and classic in stroke production won in only 31 minutes. Yates had opportunities to score more than two points in the first game. He was in hand on more than a dozen occasions.

But he lacked the flair and power to be able to gain ground against a player of Swie King's class. In the first of the dead rubbers Rudi Hartono, playing his sixth Thomas Cup competition, beat Andy Goode in his first. Hartono, probably the greatest player ever, is only third string here. It is felt that at 32 he might lack the strength to play two demanding matches in two days. At No 3 he has to make only one effort.

BOXING: Lotte Mwale, the Zambian-born light-heavyweight currently ranked No. 3 in the world has injured his left eye in training and may pull out of his challenge to Dwight Braxton for the WBC world title at Atlantic City on Saturday. The postponed world middleweight title fight between Marvin Hagler and challenger Thomas Hearns will now be held on July 15 at Detroit's Windsor arena, according to Bob Arum, promoter of the fight. SAILING Bob Fisher James has pace There are 99 confirmed and qualified entries for the Bina-tone Round Britain and Ireland Race which starts at Plymouth on July 10. They range in size from 25 to 50 feet long and have one, two or three hulls depending on the skipper's preference.

One of the favourites to win is Rob James, who crewed for Chay Blyth in Great Britain IV when they won the last race four years ago. James will be crewed by his wife, Dame Naomi, in the 60-foot trimaran Colt Cars. This first multi-hull design by Ron Holland was built by SP Composites in Cowes, utilising aircraft construction techniques. Its extremely light structure maintains high torsional stiffness between the hulls by the use of carbon-fibre and Kevlar laminates over foam honeycomb cores. Cots Cars has a very tall rig which proved its worth on the 200-mile qualifying cruise, the maiden vogale of the boat, only a few hours after the launching.

In light winds she crossed the English Channel from St Catherine's Point to Cherbourg at an average of 12 knots. Blyth has teamed with Peter Bateman for this race in the 66-foot trimaran Britanny Ferries, in which he and James won the Two-handed Transatlantic Race last year. He has modified Brittany Ferries for the event, adding height to the rig. for more power in light airs. His battle with James will be one of the highlights of this race.

HANG-GLIDING: Britain have beaten France in the five-day Bleriot Cup competition at Lachcns, France, taking the first four places. SNOOKER Alex Higgins, whose 18-15 victory over Ray Reardon in the final of the Embassy World Professional Championship at Sheffield on Sunday gave him the sport's richest-ever prize of 25,000, yesterday began his reign in an unfortunate mannerby being fined 1,000 by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association for unprofessional conduct. During his semi-final match against Steve Davis at the Benson and Hedges Irish Masters tournament in March, an irritated Higgins told a group of spectators to "shut your traps." The referee, John Smyth who coincidentally also refereed Sunday's world final told him to "behave like a professional." Last night, Mike Green, secretary of the WPBSA, announced: Alex has been fined for bringing the game into disrepute." The complaint against the 33-year-old Ulsterman was brought by referee Smythe. Also taken into consideration was Higgins' "watering" of a BBC-TV floral display after a late-night practice session at the Crucible Theatre during this year's championships, but another incident on the same night, when Higgins scuffled with a lighting electrician who wanted to end his practice session, was not considered. Tonight, the new world champion is due to face last year's winner, Steve Davis, in a nine-frame challenge match at Warrington.

This time last year Higgins was docked two ranking points for misconduct at an exhibition engagement at Herringthorpe Leisure Centre. He was nls" fined 200 and warned that any Last evening's racing results WINDSOR 6.25 (5f 1. SPEED BABY, G. Starkey (20-1) 2, Broken Habit (16-1): 3. Tyndrum (M-ll fav).

12 ran. (P Cole). Tote 1.37 31o, 32p, 23p. Dual 8.02. CSF: 27.63.

6.50 (1m 70yds) 1. COMEDY LADY, Pat Eddery (2-1 fav) 2. Crestboy (33-1) 3. Record Winn (8-1). 21 ran.

(P. Makin). Tote 33p 13D. 9.20. 17p.

36D. Dual 8.47. CSF: 7.80. Trlcast 45.64. 7.15 dim 22yds): 1.

KNAVE OF TRUMPS L. Plggott; 2. Tilly Scott: 3. Victoria Palace. No starting prices returned.

3 ran. (H. Cecil). Tote lip. Dual 12p.

7.45 (5f): 1, COUNTY BROKER, L. Plggott (11-10 fav); 2. Grenfell Boy (7-4); 3, Sylvan Navarro (11-2). 10 ran. (A.

Jarvls). Tote: 25p; 12p, 13p, 12p. Dual 26p. CSF: 32p. 8.15 6f): 1.

IN SLIPS G. Dufheld (5-1 It-fav); 2. Premier Lass (7-1); 3, Pete Rocket (14-1); 4. Northorpe (6-1). Shock Treatment 5-1 Jt fav.

24 ran. (M. Prescott). NR: Lady Saxon. Tote: 37p; 13d, 22b.

23p. 16p. DF: 1.36. CSF: 4.32. Trlcast: 44.15p.

Premier Lass was first past the post but after an objection and stewards inquiry was placed second. 8.45 1m 31): 1. HIPPO DISCO, L. PISDOlt (9-2); 2, Profit Warrant (33-1);.