The Guardian from London, Greater London, England • 18

THE GUARDIAN Tuesday January 1 1991 Soccer Chess Final cflraw gives Kasparov tittle and diamonds 18 SPORTS NEWS Palace's triumph hardened out with a knee injury and Walsh. Samwavs and Thorst- Leonard Bartien David Lacey Kasparov's 20th move looked dangerously passive and Karpov immediately replied with an attacking pawn advance which showed his increasing confidence in the chances of a dramatic last-ditch victory. Karpov's good points total has renewed the controversy as to whether Kasparov has really proved himself the best player of all time ahead of Karpov and America's reclusive Bobby Fischer. Many, are contrasting Kasparov's unconvincing performances in the 1987 title match and now again in New York and Lyon with Fischer's comprehensive rout of Boris Spasskyinl972. The overt hostility between the rivals has probably caused Kasparov to overpress.

In a pre-match interview where both were present Karpov was asked what he would do if he entered a crowded restaurant ant the only empty table was occuoied by Kasparov and his wife. He replied: "I can easily go without food for 24 hours." Britain's Tony Kosten defeated the overnight leader Bent Larsen (Denmark) in the fourth round of the Foreign Colonial Premier tournament at Hastings. The four overseas players are now joint leaders with the four Britons trailing. WMtet Kasparov Btodu Karpov Game 24 JARY KASPAROV last Ilnnight agreed a draw in a NflB Jmuch superior position to ensure outright victory by 12'-ll' in the 1.6 million, three-month world championship against his old rival Anato- ly Karpov. He thus secured the 62.5 per cent lion share of the prize fund, as well as the 400,000 gold and diamond trophy offered by a Lyon jeweller for the outright match winner.

A tied series would have been a major setback to his claim to be the best player in history. But in the event Karpov, with an excellent position around move 20, then overpressed and got his pieces in a tangle. The challenger accepted the draw as Kasparov was about to gain the advantage of two pieces for a rook. The champion revealed his intentions with his very first move, developing a knight instead of his usual open game, 1 e4. By move 10, three bishops were fianchettoed on long diagonals, which usually leads to a slow strategic battle.

By move 19 the tension in creased as Karpov tried for a space advantage while Kasparov probed from long range, with neither side yet ready for a major offensive. Karpov I EARLY seven hours of football today, starting at Anfield at noon and ending at White Hart Lane after tea, villi confirm whether the First Division has a contest on its hands this season. Six of the top seven teams play one another and defeats for Liverpool, Arsenal, Crystal Palace and Tottenham would send the leading pack into the new year with the championship intriguingly poised. Crystal Palace's 1-0 win against Liverpool on Sunday has begged what is almost a perennial question. Is this just another Liverpool lull, or are the champions for 10 of the last 15 seasons heading for a period of relative decline? Kenny Dalglish's side may provide an answer before the rest of the First Division kicks off today.

Liverpool's match against Leeds United begins at 12 o'clock and recalls the late Sixties and early Seventies when the teams built by Bill Shankly and Don Revie used to meet with an almighty judder, like warring bison. Leeds have taken maximum points from their three Christmas matches while Liverpool have managed just four, a slump which has put them within reach of Arsenal, now-only a point behind but having played a game more. After winning eight of their last 10 League fixtures, Leeds will expect at least a draw. Ster-land, their attacking right-back who has scored three times in three matches, was passed fit yesterday. Dalglish will make late fatness checks on Beardsley and Whelan.

"We're still in the position everyone wants to be in," the Liverpool manager said yesterday, "and as long as we keep working hard it will come." 1NI3 N(6 2c4 e6 3Nc3 Bb4 4Qc2 0-0 Sa3 Bxc3 6Qxc3 t6 7b4 d6 8Bb2 Bb7 9g3 C5 10Bg2 Nbd7 11 0-9 Rc8 12 d3 Re8 13 e4 a6 14Qb3 bS 15Md2 Rb8 16Rfc1 Ba8 17 0d1 Qe7 18cxb5 axb5 19Mb3 65 20(3 h5 21 bxc5 dxc5 22 a4 h4 23 g4 c4 24dxc4 bxa4 25 8a3 Qd8 26Nc5 Bc6 27Nxa4 Nh7 28Nc5 Ng5 29Nxd7 Bxd7 30Rc3 QaS 31 Rd3 Ba4 32Qe1 Qa6 33 Bel Ne6 34Rda3 Nc5 35Be3 Qd6 38Hxa4 Drawn Palace glide Michelle Weir, of Australia, the Crystal Laurentian Voyageurs defence, but the Ontario side went on Palace No. 8, slides past the to win photograph: frank baron a bedafgh Kasparov Final position American Football Tiger Jenkins burns bright Real frroooble in Madrid. Small comfort for the Giants Jenkins, a 6ft 7in American forward with an exotic pedigree that reads out of Clemson via Sligo, led the recovery himself. Favouring his tender hamstring and shaking off the over-solicitous attentions of Hario Ben-aes, he hit a three-pointer to put the Tigers back ahead at 74-73, fed Dale Roberts for a three-point play, then hit two free throws to give Thames Valley a decisive 81-75 advantage with 37 seconds to play. He finished with 23 points and the Player of the Game award.

Thames Valley will play the Sunderland Saints, 113-90 winners over the Wor Robert Pryco NGLISH teams have sent the world packing at the World Invitation Club Championship. The last foreigners in contention for the men's trophy were run off the main arena in the first semi-final at Crystal Palace last night, when the Thames Valley Tigers beat Bestmate Haarlem 83-80. The Tigers had a little trou ble with the Dutch team's fast breaks and their own occasional blackouts, but they made a determined recovery from Anthony Jenkins's second-half injury and a subsequent 13-2 Haarlem burst. Rugby League their ambitions as title contenders but the immediate benefl ciaries were Arsenal. This afternoon, however, they face the aerial power of Quinn, a former colleague, without the defensive authority of the jailed Adams, and this may prove decisive.

With Heath suffering from a groin strain Clarke, a substitute on Saturday, stays in the Manchester City attack. Palace, the only other First Division side to take maximum points over Christmas, will be unchanged at Villa Park where much depends on how well McGrath deals with the dual threat of Wright and Bright ITV thought it had plumped for the match of the New Year when it decided to screen Tottenham's encounter with Manchester United: Gazza versus the Mighty Reds. The game is still an interesting one but not for wholly televisual reasons and Gascoigne is doubtful with the stomach bug (Gazza-enteri-tis?) which kept him out of Saturday's game at the Dell. Having lost at Coventry and Southampton after their gutsy nine-man win against Luton, Tottenham emerged from Christmas week looking sick at heart. Another defeat today would leave them in the familiar position of keeping up appearances between cup-ties.

To add to Venables's problems, not only is Gascoigne doubtful but he has Mabbutt Tottenham defer TOTTENHAM shareholders were prevented at yes terday's annual meeting at White Hart Lane from asking questions about the financial troubles of the club's publicly listed holding company. On a vote, the meeting was adjourned until a date to be decided. nation from the media. They are now eight points behind the Spanish First Division leaders, Barcelona, and with only two points7 for a win their chances of malting up the difference seem slim. Real have won the title for the last five seasons.

One headline referred to a "Bombshell in Madrid" while another described Real's defeat as "The White a reference to the champions' strip. "Real Madrid can consider the championship over," said El Pais, adding that closing the gap appeared the equivalent of "climbing Everest in At least the Real coach Alfredo di Stefano, who recently replaced John Toshack, did not say his team had a mountain to climb. But he was scathing about their performance: "Osasuna did everyOiing very well and we did everything very badly." Real were without Hugo Sanchez, the First Division's leading scorer, who is serving a two-match suspension, but this hardly excused what one radio commentator called "a lamentable Deal Madrid's hopes of com-, peting in the European Cup next season now depend on Rugby Union CLUB MATCHES Aberavon 10. Pontypridd 27; Neath 16, Maesteg Swansea 11, Llan elli 16. Tennis HEM'S HARDCOURT CHAMPIONSHIP (Adelaide Firat round (Aus) bt Haoux (Fr) 7-6, 6-1 NuKJ (Swe) MA flahunen (Fin) 6-4, 6-0; Kuhhen (Ger) bt Palchelmo (Fin) 6-0, 6-4; Santore (Fr) bt Champion (Fr) 6-2, 6-3; Courier (US) bt A Mronz (Ger) 3-6, 6-2, 6-1; Ouatafa- awn (Swe) bt Fitzgerald (Aus) 6-2, 6-3: at oucn tuerj gi rieurian (i-r) e-q, MfOWPTS HARDCOURT CHAMPIONSHIP (Bfiseane): nrat round (Australian unless stated): A NJJImuta (Japan) bt Shriver (US) on, ikc iv anarpe di penaick (usj bc, r-e; Maietva (Bui) bt Hack (Ger) 7-5.

7-6: KMowakl (Jaoan) bt van Lottum (Fi) 6-2. 6-4; Savohenko (USSR) bt Piatt (Car) 6-3, 7-6; Oodridg bt Priller (Aut) 6- 1, 6-0; Pratt bt Vasquez (Peru) 6-3. 7-5; TTakagl (Japan) bt Herreman (Fr) 4-4 7-6. 6-4; Harwey-WiM (US) bt White tut? o-u, z-o, e-a; aj nocma (tier) di Zivec-Skull (Qer) 6-3. 6-3: Jaoaard bt Cordwell M2) 7-6, 6-2; Hauwd (Fr) bt A Winter 4-fl, 6-3.

6-2: Mlyaai (Japan) bt wiamoKova (ussn) o-z, B-i; mm di Field 6-1, 6-1; Sairtroefc (US) bt Morton o-ifi e-z: iomj (flrg) wooo (uw e-a, 6-9; Ktcriwendt (Lux) bt Stubbs 6-4. 6-0; Smith (Middx) bt Frankland (crbyg) 6-3, 4-6, 6-4; Lloyd (Lines) bt Mowlinn (SalOD) 7-6. 5-7. 6-2: Bennett (N Wales) bl Harklns (Surrey) 6-3, 7-6; WtriMMoHend (Cheshire) bt Duggan IS waios) o-v, fr-i. a Tee (loM) di Nicnoison IBeds) 6-0.

6-2: Ward (Durham) bt Von siaurrenDerg Itieretord a worcs) s-o, o-a; Wabatlw (Derbys) bt Dean (Qloucs) 4-6, 6-2, 3-4; Martin (Suffolk) ML Cox (Surrey) 4-6, 6-4. 6-1: Autt (Herts) bt Cawthorn BSIimM IB AND UNDER CHAMPtON-SHIPS (Telford): Olrla, flrat round! aaioees ttancs) oi a Buggina imirsj r-o, 6-3; Ckaudhurl (Hants) bt McMahon (Sussex) 6-4, 7-5; Humphreva-Oavlee luamos) oi House (s wales) a-e. o-, o-z; Hoof (Surrey) bt Fletcher (Durham) 6-1, 6-7, 6-2; Paaeoe (Sussex) bt Watson lYcrka) 6-1, 6-1; AOen (Essex) bt A Lee inensj z-e, tm, o-z; German (Somerset) bt Bishop (Lelcs) 6-2, 6-2; JeW (Oxon) bt Morgan (Laics) 6-0, 6-2; Cray (Devon) bt Gould (Avon) 6-0, 6-4; Woodbrldge (Sussex) tot Miller (Isle of Man) 6-4, 6-1; dray (Sussex) bt Ekins (Cambs) 6-0, 7-6; MaWiarwa; (Berks) bt Woodrotfe (Surrey) 4-e, ts-4, -i Kayaon (Nonnants) di Klrby (N Wales) 2-6, 6-3, 6-0; OMdemtth (Sussex) bt I Wyott (Oxon) 6-1, 6-2; Taylor (Oxon) bt Austin (Sussex) 6-4, 7-6; Nellie (Essex) bt A Wise (Gloucs) 6-1. 7-5: CrosanlOerbys) bt Brown (Notts) 6-2, 6-1; Eaeejlan (Hants) bt Hughe (Cheshire) 6-4, 6-3; i Kanea (Surrey) bt Ktlnker (Oxon) 6-3, 7-6; WatrtwrfgM (Essex) bt Farquhar (Cheshire) 6-0, 6-1; Oaween (Sussex) bt Hearn (Middx) 6-2. 4-6, 7-6; Jomai (Somstrset) bt Outterldae (Herts) ft- S-i' IdtMhlral ht fl Dona.

2. son vedt suffering from a variety of bumps, bruises and strains, With Minims, the reserve goal keeper, sold to Blackburn Rovers. Ian Walker, a 19-year- old former trainee, has been drafted into the squad. Manchester United are still performing in fits and starts but they have lost only once in 11 League games since the brawl with Arsenal which led to their having a point de ducted. Wallace, who has missed two games with a knee injury, may be back in the attack in place of Sharpe Bryan Robson, who came off against Villa on Saturday with a cait strain, is expected to play.

Match of the day at the bot tom is QPR's visit to Bramall Lane, where a third win for Sheffield United in four matches would stir the silt of the relegation struggle Rangers are hoping that Pea cock, recently signed from Hereford, will be fit to replace the accident-prone Caesar at the centre of their defence. Nobody has managed to step up the pace at. the top of the second Division, so far over the holiday period the four leaders West Ham, Oldham, Sheffield Wednesday and Middlesbrough have won one match apiece, and Middlesbrough can tighten tilings up a ntue oy beating Wednesday at Ayre- someParK. West Ham make the tricky trip to Bath to play Bristol Rovers, with Allen out for three weeks, Foster doubtful and Robson's return after a long lay-on further delayed by flu, Yesterday they signed the for mer Tottenham defender Chris Hughton, who has been on loan at the club, on a free transfer. This match has a noon start, so Oldham, kicking oft asamst Newcastle an hour later, will have some idea of their chances of going top again.

winning the trophy this year and they will want to get then-act together before they face Moscow spartak in the quarter finals in March. Barcelona, who lead Atletico Madrid by five points, remain Spam most likely representatives, for 1991-92. In Italy the contest grows ever tighter. The top four teams met at the weekend, with Samp-doria beating Internazionale 3-1 and Milan overcoming Ju-ventus 2-0. Sampdoria are top, but only on goal difference from Inter, and goal difference also separates Milan and Ju-ventus, lying third and fourth a point behind.

Two goals from Vialli, upstaged by Schillaei in the World Cup, helped to end Inter's two-month unbeaten run. Sampdoria won in spite of having Mikhailichenko sent off shortly before half-time after an incident with Bergomi when they were leading l-O. Ancelotti and Giillit scored Milan's goals as they kept up the pressure on the leaders. But Napoli, the Italian champions, ended 1990 without Maradona and could only draw 0-0 with lowly Cesena, a result which keeps them ninth out of eighteen. Basketball NATIONAL ASSOCIATIONi laadlno atandlngai Baatem Conferences Atfantio Division: 1, Boston (W23, L5, Pcl.821, GB-); 2, Philadelphia 3, New York Central DfvWam 1.

Milwaukee 2, Chicago 3, Detroit Western Conferenosv Mkhnaat Ohrialom 1, San Antonio 2, Utah 3, Houston Pectflo DtviaSora 1. Portland (27-4-871 Phoenix 3. LA Lakers Cricket CUP (Calcutta): Sri Lanka 249-4 (45 overs). Bangladesh 1784 (45 overs). Sri Lanka won by 71 runs.

American Football NATIONAL LEAGUEl NY Giants 13. New England 10: Washington 29. Butlalo 14; Atlanta 26, Dallas Miami 23. Indianapolis 17: Cincinnati 21, Cleveland 14; San Francisco 20, Minnesota 17; NY Jets IS, Tampa Bay 14: LA Raiders 17, San Diego 12: Seattle 30, Detroit 10; Houston 34, Pittsburgh 14. Lead-ins standings) Armrfcan Conference! astern Division! 1, Butlalo (WI3, L3.

PF428. PA263); 2, tMiairri (12-4-336-242); 3. Indianapolis (7-9-281-353). Central DJv-tolonl 1, 'Cincinnati (0-7-36O-352); 2, tHous-ton (9-7-405-307); 3. Pittsburgh (9-7-282-240).

Western Deviefcxu 1, "LA Raiders (12-4-337-266): 2. tKansas City (11-5-369-257); 3. Seattle (9-7-306-286). National Conference, aTattern Division! 1, NY Giants (13-3-335-211); 2, rPMIadelphla (10-6-396-299); 3. Washington (10-6-381-301).

Central Mvkeom 1, -Chicago (11-5-348-280); 2. Tampa Bay (6-10-264-367); 3, Green Bay (6-10-271-347). Western DeVlslonl 1, 'San Francisco (14-2-353-239); 2. New Orleans (7-8-254-258); 3, LA Rams (6-10-328-393). Clinched division title.

Clincher) play-off' berth. Ice Hockey NATIONAL LEAQUli MY Rangers 2, New Jersey 2 (aet); Edmonton 4, Hartford 3. Lead-Ins standing! Walee Conference. Patrick Divisions 1, NY Rangers (W21, L13, T7, Pts49. GF154, GA126); 2, Philadelphia (21-17-5-47-154-126): 3.

New Jersey (19-13-0-47-156-133). Mum Division! 1, Boston (20-12-8-47-136-13O); 2, Montreal (19-16-6-43-129-126); 3, Hartford (16-20-4-36-111-135). CanstibeS Conference! Norrle Divisions' 1. Chicago (26-13-3-55-137-112); 2, St Louis (21-11-6-48-135-108); 3. Detroit (19-16-4-42-138-135).

Smyths oMstom 1, Calgary (21-14-4-46-159-125); 2. Los Angeles (18-13-5-41-147-123); 3, Edmonton (18-17-2-38-125-117). Chess KMnON COLONIAL llaatlnga): Fsurtli (tee) ia, Sax (Hun) i2; Chandler (UK) 1, miiu iwrtf ouotiiiicii! (vni ua, on. 1 I rtnfnn laranit niAfx. son, Sax all 2s.

David Lacey REAL MADRID and their followers spent New Year's Eve feeling like those unfortunates who have tried to outrun the bulls of Pamplona and lost The reaction to the Spanish champions' 4-0 home defeat by Osasuna, the first time they had been beaten in a league fixture at the Bernabeu Stadium for three years, was savage. After the visitors, inspired by a hat-trick from their Polish striker Jan Urban, had achieved their first away victory of the season, angry Real fans broke windows and smashed furniture in a nearby cafe. Others damaged cars registered in Navarre, of which Pamplona, home of Osasuna, is the capital. The defeat ends any lingering hopes Real might have had of retaining the championship. Yesterday, already disgraced by their hooligan element, Real had to face universal condem PA CUP Dnnls fAMMst A time for vision and guts I RAcailf-cx thing Bears, in today's final, Steven Bucknall, who scored 36 points, won his third Player of the Game award.

While the unseeded English occupied the main arena, the Mew York Radia tors were exiled to the cricket school to play off for the minor places. How are these legends of the play grounds and summer leagues going to explain that at home? Yesterday they lost again, 105-86 to St Quentin, France. The men's final today will be the first all-English affair in the 14 years of this tournament. Its a funny old World Invitation Club Championship. Australia's "draft" system, similar to American gridiron's, is also worthy of examination and possible adoption.

Under this system the bottom clubs have first pick of those players who have not been signed up for the new season. If rugby league needs to look to its finances it also needs to look to its structure, which is placing too great a strain on players, the leading ones in particular. No one, at so many levels, is closer to the snort's problems than Phil Larder, the national director of coaching, and in his latest article for Open Rugby he offers some urgent advice for the forthcoming year. "I am confident that British rugby league will continue to progress, but I Question whether that progress will be drastic enough," he says. "We are almost level with Australia but, like climbing Everest, the first and last steps are often the hardest." Larder says that, to compete with the Australians, Britain's international, players must be involved in weekly competition as intense as that of Sydney.

But such an intensity will not be realised until the close season is extended and fixtures are reduced to 32 at most. That sounds slmole enough. but it would involve the game's administrators taking some radical, possibly painful, decisions. Will they prove in 1991 that they have the guts and the vision required? "During the past eight years," says Larder, the ma jority of coaches and players have revolutionised their preparations, and the improvements on the field have been apparent. The recent Test series has surely proved, once and for all, that the best vehicle for national expansion is a successful international team capable of competing on equal terms with Australia.

"The process will only come to fruition if the game's administration comes to terms with the problems identified. This is a new era tor rugby league. They will not fall us, will they?" Paul Fitzpatrick sees ahead unless drastic RUGBY LEAGUE goes into 1991 in high spirits. Whether they are justi fied is another matter. Is the sport, after some five years of undeniable buoyancy, sailing close to the rocks? The three Test matches against Australia sparked unprecedented interest in the sport and put real money into central funds.

But alarming cries of financial distress are to be heard from some clubs and, while Leigh may be an extreme case, the depression possibly runs deeper than it appears. Freedom of contract was in troduced Z'A years ago and has its critics, but is that at the heart of the trouble or are the clubs the real culprits for agree ing to terms they cannot meet? Professional sportsmen are the same everywhere: they will get away with what they can. Emma Rosewarne, who is head of player personnel at the Rugby League, says that the contract system had to come be Third round 1 AtmimI Sunderland 3 Aston Villa Wimbledon 3 Barnsley laadatltd 2 4 Blackburn Liverpool 2 5 Brighton Scunthorpe Charlton Evarton 2 7 Coventry Wigan 1 8 Hull Notts Co 0 MfcMtaalxough Plymouth I 10 MlftwaB Leicester 1 11 Newcastle Derby Co 12 Norwich Bristol 1 13 Shaft Utd Luton 1 14 Southampton Ipswich 1 'Playing Sunday Panel will adjudicate. THIRD DIVISION 15 Orimaby Bury 1 FOURTH DIVISION IS Darlington Carlisle 1 17 Hereford Rochdale 18 Lincoln Walaail 2 quarterback Jeff Hostetler has won both his games since coming in for the injured Phil Simms he has not looked impressive. He was the Giants' leading rusher in Sunday's game with 82 yards but he is no Randall Cunningham, able to throw as well as run.

Against the Patriots, Hostetler threw for only 123 yards, completing 12 of 23 passes, and he took some hits. With, their 13-3 record the Giants fortunately have a bye in next week's play-off openers, and if they can get to the NFC championship game they may have Simms fit again. The way they are playing they would have a tough time against the 49ers, should the two meet for the NFC championship. San Francisco gave another demonstration of their comeback prowess, but this time without Joe Montana, who was replaced in the second half by Steve Young. Montana played poorly, throwing for only 88 yards and one interception.

Young showed why he is the league's best back-up quarterback by rallying the 49ers to a 20-17 win over the Minnesota Vikings, completing 15 of 24 passes for 205 yards and two touchdowns. The second touchdown came with 29 seconds left, caught by John Taylor for 34 yards. But despite their 14-2 record, the 49ers look ripe to be knocked off their perch. Tennis Wheaton is on song IF DAVID WHEATON were a singer on the American music charts he would be 27 with a bullet, indicating a performer on the up. Instead the 21-year-old from Minnesota is No.

27 in the tennis world rankings, he is the one firing the bullets and he is definitely on the up, writes Martin James. Yesterday, in his opening match in the Hopman Cup in Perth, he gave another example of his emerging talent when he overpowered Petr Korda 6-4, 6-2. serving and volleying in the classic manner to complement perfectly Zina Garrison's 6-4, 6-4 win over Regina Rajchrtova to carry the United States into the semi-finals at the expense of Czechoslovakia. Since starting out on the circuit in 1988 the 6ft 3in Wheaton has risen from 441st in the rankings, and although he has not made the same impact as his compatriots Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras he knows he has the game to cause more than a ripple. "The main difference from last year is that I feel more experienced and more settled.

Now I know I can beat some of the top players." Mark Tran in New York in HE only clear thing about Super Bowl XXV, as the final piece of the play-off jigsaw tell into place in last night matcn between the New Orleans Saints and the Los Angeles Rams, is the absence of an overwhelming favourite. The two teams fancied at the start of the season, the New York Giants and the San Francisco 49ers, both won their sea son finales unconvincingly. The Giants in particular looked a spent force in struggling to a 13-10 win over the New England Patriots the so-called Patsies whose one-win, 15-de-feat season was the worst in the franchise's 31-year history. While the Giants are already in the play-offs and may not have been fully motivated, it was still an embarrassing performance against the league's most feeble team and no Super Bowl morale-booster. The poor Patsies, playing be fore a capacity crowd at Fox-boro Stadium, looked the better team for much of the game and drew level just before half-time.

But 16 seconds before the interval the quarterback Tommy Hodson and the centre Danny Villa fumbled the snap and the Giants recovered the ball at the Patriots' 25 to set up the winning field goal, a 27-yard effort byMattBahr. Although the replacement Sailing Smith's appeal is overruled THE British yacht Rothmans, first across the line in the Sydney-Hobart race on Saturday but stripped of line honours for hoisting an illegal sail, failed yesterday in her appeal against the penalty. The maxi, skippered by Law-rie Smith, was penalised for flying a spinnaker emblazoned with "Rothmans Under international rules it is illegal to use promotional spinnakers while racing. After a two-hour meeting the organisers said: "K100 the boat's sail numoerj tailed to convince the protest committee that the race committee had erred in their deliberations re the imposition of a penalty." Smith said he was forced to fly the illegal spinnaker as one of three spinnakers without logos had blown out during the race, which experienced winds ud to SO knots, and the other two were too light. The Australian maxi Raga muffin, which crossed the finish line two hours behind Rothmans, was confirmed as line-honours winner with the dismissal of the appeal.

Rothmans, penalised 10 per cent of places, finished well down. serious problems action is taken soon cause the old registration sys tem, as soccer found, could not be supported legally. She is optimistic. "What has surprised me. in spite of recent problems, is how well the system has dropped into place.

Now, after 354 years, players and administrators can see what kind of animal they are dealing with, and I believe that if we make certain adjustments it will work very successfully." Doug Laughton, the Widnes coach, is not so sure. He says the system needs revision; all the bad points have been taken from the Australian system and none of the good ones. The Australian game produces more money but also keeps a tighter control of its fi nances through salary capping" whereby clubs have to remain within a strict budget imposed before the start of the season; ana a ceiling on tranfers (maximum about with Paul Loughlin (a recurrence of groin trouble) and Paul Bishop (knee ligaments) possible long-term casualties. Wigan should have the edge in freshness over Warrington, for whom Bate man and Harmon may play. Five points behind Hull and three behind Widnes, Wigan are in a position to take advantage of any lapses by sides above them.

Leeds, in fourth place, have problems at scrum-half, with Paul Harkin and Paul De-lsmey suffering from heavy colds, which could mean a debut for Martin Rowse against Oldham. Simon Irving', who has scored 146 points in 15 matches, returns after suspension. Early risers Hull prepare to steal a march on the pursuing pack VAUXHAU. CONFERENCE 10 Boston Carlisle 20 Gateshead 21 ottering 22 MerthyrT 23 Northwlch 24 WaMng Cheltenham Kidderminster 1 Runcorn 1 Fisher 1 Yeovil 1 HF8 LOANS LEAQUB 25 Auckland 26 Frickley 27 Gainsborough 28 Hydo 20 Mattooh 30 Shepshed Southport Mossley a Morecambe 1 Droylsden 1 Wltton I BBAZER HOMES PREMIER 31 Crawiay 32 Gloucester 33 Gravesend 34 Halaaowan 35 Moor Green 35 VS Rugby 37 Weymouth VAUXHAU. LEAGUE 38 Aylesbury 30 BStortford 40 Bognor 41 Qraya 42 Harrow 43 Hendon 44 Klnoatonlan 45 Marlow 48 Whranhoe Dorchester 1 Chelmsford Waal torn 2 Rushden 1 Oartford 2 Dover 1 Bromsgrove Enfield Basingstoke Windsor St Albans Wokingham RadbrMo LeytonW Hayes Barking SCOTTISH PREMIER DIVISION 47 Cattle Hibernian 48 DundMUtd StMirren 40 Dunfermline Aberdeen 60 Hearts Rangers 61 Motherwell St Johnstone SCOTTISH FIRST DIVISION 62 Brechin Mendowbank 63 Clyde 54 rafc hfc 85 Hantttoaj 58 KOmamoek 57 Merlon 58 Ralth Rvrs Ayr Utd Clydebank Parllck Forfar Alrdrle MITH the leaders Hull in volved in an early kick-off with Hull Kingston Rovers at Craven Park, the rest of the main contenders in the Stones Bitter Championship will play today with objectives clear, writes Paul Fitzpatrick.

Hull, before a capacity crowd of 8,500, will be expecting at least to maintain their lead of two points over Widnes, although they may be without Andy Dannatt and Ian Marlow in the pack. Dean Busby, a loose forward. stands by for his debut. Injuries mount for Widnes who, already without Davles, Wright and Atcheson, have now lost Koloto and Currier. But their opponents, St Helens, have their problems.

von (Herts) 6-1, 6-2..