The Guardian from London, Greater London, England • 31

Sport 1 1 1 The Guardian Monday December 15 1997 PARTING SHOT Boardroom. snugly clad competitor at the snowboardlng Grand Prix gets Into the swing of things, set against a suitably festive backdrop, at Saas Fee In Switzerland yesterday Photograph by Mike Cooper Wheelers and dealers and lure of the lira General A Question of Sport, including guests David Ginola and Chris Eubank. BBC1, 8.30pm TV SPORT HIGHLIGHTS Live Football Confederations Cupsemi-linals. Eurosport, 12.15pm and 4pm Live Pool Mosconi Cup. Sky Sports 1, 7.30pm Live Equestrianism From Olympia.

Eurosport, 9pm Akers from Leeds United was banging on about how much BSkyB makes out of Premiership football compared to the pittance the clubs receive. The solution, identified and shown in action in American football, is for teams to merge with media conglomerates so that they own the rights to their own action; that way lies the maximising of a brand's profit potential. Well, that's how Seb Coe would put it. Panorama's Steve Brad-shaw is likely to favour the alternative view that here is another example of the obscene destructive greed of football, another chance to stick the poor punter for more of his hard-earned cash. Bradshaw's programme, without revealing much that was new, still boggled the mind.

My notes ended up as a mass of figures: 52 million, 32 million, 27 million, and 100. These refer to the profits club directors had made out of shares picked up for a few thousand pounds, apart from the last which is claimed to be the gift Manchester United gave to the junior club who nurtured Nicky Butt for eight years. Top of the monetary My surfing of the wilder shores of satellite television usually extends no further than those American scream-ins on which people confess to having slept with their grandmothers. I would not know what to do to my television to receive EBN, but it kindly sent me a tape of its new show, The Big Game, which goes out on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings and is repeated at regular intervals until every one of its viewers has seen it. If you fail to catch it you are welcome to my tape.

Unlike last Monday's Panorama programme, The Big Game does not take a direct view on the increasing domination of sport by desiccated calculating machines. With the former Tory MP Seb Coe presenting, you would not expect the boot to go in too hard on big business, anyway. Mostly the programme confines itself to showing us how the wheelers and dealers are in there wheeling and dealing, something some of us worked out when we discovered that Nutella was the official hazelnut-style chocolate spread of the Champions League. SCREEN Martin Kelner 3U know how it is at 10 in the morning. You give Kilroy a miss, because you are feeling queasy enough as it is, and Sky Sports is showing an edition of Australian Aerobics you have already seen several times.

So you find yourself tuning in to EBN, the pan-European cable and satellite channel dedicated to money. The feel of the franc, the lure of the lira, the jackboot of the German mark, as Monty Python memorably put it; this is what EBN is all about, so it was only a matter of time before it turned its attention to the most grasping, money-grubbing, quick-buck business of all, European football. 1 am not what you would call a natural EBN viewer. RUGBY UNION Tetley'a Bitter County Championship North and Midlands League On Durham 26 Cumbria 66 Warwickshire 34 NilsLines Drby 26 Two Lancashire 24 Leicestershire 25 North Midlands 12 Cheshire 28 Thrs Northumberland 57 East Midlands 17 Stallordshlro 7 Yorkshire 52 South Lsagua Ona Eastern Counties 3 Cornwall 40 Two Hertfordshire 20 Gloucestershire 33 Berkshire 6 Dorset Wills 50 Thraa Buckinghamshire 16 Hampshire 47 Four Oxfordshire 17 Middlesex 46 Somerset 24 Devon 23 Allied Dunbar Premiership Ons A PtS 6 5 0 1 228 105 20 6 4 1 1 193 97 18 6 4 1 1 170 135 1 4 6 3 0 3 165 133 11 6 3 0 3 117 175 10 6 2 1 3 111 228 7 6 1 1 4 138 183 5 6 0 0 6 112 173 1 22 Cross Keys 15 25 Aberavon 20 16 Bonymaen 13 45 UWIC 5 19 Morthyrws12 20 Caerphilly 32 46 Maesleg 19 15 Abortillery 18 A Pta 16 14 0 2 563 262 81 16 12 2 2 451 262 40 16 11 0 5 429 280 41 16 8 0 8 420 322 32 16 8 3 5 305 286 30 18 8 0 8 324 283 28 16 7 1 8 336 396 2S 16 7 0 9 200 261 24 16 7 1 8 302 322 24 16 7 1 8 274 321 24 16 7 0 9 270 327 24 16 7 0 9 289 376 23 16 4 0 12 359 459 21 15 6 1 8 303 405 20 15 5 0 10 271 392 16 16 4 1 11 283 505 14 league were Southampton, where huge sums had allegedly been made out of a merger with a retirement home; an arrangement I will have to watch EBN longer to understand. It would have been interesting to hear the views of David Mellor and Tony Banks on the powerfully argued view that soccer's new business culture was breaking the relationship between the game and its followers, but, shamefully, neither felt able to comment; strange, since Mellor at least is happy to give his views on pretty well any aspect of the game as the host of "soccer's hottest There is, of course, a big difference-between spouting off to the fans and being cross-examined on television.

I should like to see Mellor and his football task force undergo a searching examination. There are others who would prefer to see him beaten about the head with a sock filled with horse manure. But that's soccer for you. We may not be able to afford to watch, but we can all have opinions. 1X Topalov(Bul) Selrawan (US) 1K Ivanchuk (Ukr) A Bellavsky (Slo) 1X Timman (Neth) A Shlrov (Sp) IK Zuniga (Peru) Adams (Eng) 2 Glor-gadze (Geo) Bareev (Rus) 2 Malaniuk (Ukr) Almasl (Hun) IX Pol-gar (Hun) Akoplan (Arm) 1XT Luther (Ger) Svldler (Rus) 1X Adianto (Indo) Lautler (Fr) 1X Hrackek (Cz) A Khalllman (Rus) 2 NIboer (Neth) 0: van Wely (Neth) 1X1 Mila-dinovlc (Ore) Rublevsky (Rus) 1X Shaked (US) Mllos (Br) 2 Kin-dermann (Ger) 0: Tlvlakov (Rus) 1X Ro-zentalls (Lith) ON (Est) iX A Moro-zevlch (Rus) Krasenkov (Pol) 1X Garcia (Col) A Yusupov (Ger) 1X Gretarsson (Ice) A Dreev (Rus) IX A Nonashev (Uzb) A Sokolov (Rus) 2 A Istrtatescu (Rom) 0: Vaganlan (Arm) 2 Bologan (Mold) 0.

1-1 Uebreaksi Azmatvarashvila (Geo) 2X Slobodan (Ger) 1X: Tkachlev (Kaz) 3 Salov (Rus) Georglev (Bui) 2X Alterman (Isr) 1X; Sadler (Eng) 4 Ehlvest (Est) Short (Eng) 3X Korchnol (Switz) 2X: A Alexandrov (Bel) 2X Hjartarson (Ice) IX: Zvaglnsev (Rus) 4 Kaldanov (US) Mllov (Switz) 4 Andersson (Swe) 3: Epishln (Rus) 2X I Sokolov (Bos) 1X. Round 3 Pairlngai Adams Tlviakov; A Droov Sadler. Short A Sokolov. CRICKET TOUR MATCHES! Devonporti Tasmania 535-5dec (S Young 145. Marsh 129).

South Africa 132-5. Brisbane. New Zealand 266-5 (M Home 102, Fleming 95); Queensland 266-6 (M Love 76). Match tied. Port Elizabeth! West Indlos A 289 192-6dec (S Rsjoonath 76).

Provlnco 140 1 51-3. Match drawn. 8UPERSPOttT SERIES! Johannesburg! Gauteng 361 253-5dec (D Crookes 106no). Border 216 114-4. Centurion! Titans 328 89-1.

Griqualand 104 310 (M Gldley 134). Titans won by 9 wkts. Paarli Boland 165 265 (Dawson 4-61). Province 121 195-7 (L Forreira 69). Bloemf onteuii Natal 106 127 (Craven 5-25.

Bakkes 4-33). Free Stato 269. FS won by Innings 36 runs. WOMEN'S WORLD CUP (Madras): England 301-4 (50 overs: Edwards 72. Pllmmor 87.

Brittln 51). Oenmark 107-7 (50 overs; Taylor 12-2. Edwards 21-2). England won by 194 runs. FIRST TEST (Cape Town): South Africa U-19 504-edec (G Elliott 201no.

Streol 79; Franks 4-65) 19-1. England U-19 286 (G Swann 75) 286 (S Peters 92. Key 51). Match drawn. LIMITED-OVERS MATCH (Sydney): Australia A 203-9 (50 overs; Lehmann 64no; Bovan 3-38).

Australia 206-7 (49 ovors; Pontlng 79no). Australia won by throe wickets. HOCKEY National League! Premier Division! Barford 2 Teddington Cannock 3 Old Loughtonlans Canterbury 6 Grin-stead Hounslow 4 Guildford Reading 7 Doncaster Southgate 4 Boeston 3. Standings! 1 Cannock P12 29pts; 2 Canterbury 12-23; 3 Southgate 1 1-23. Flrat Division! Firebrands 0 Oxford Unlv Gloucester 2 Bromley Hempstead Westminster 1 Loughborough Stdts Harloston 1 Bournville Hav-ant 1 Chelmsford Lowes 2 Shellield Oxford 1 Brooklands St Albans 2 Isca Stourport 1 1ndian Gym 2: Surbllon 3 Hull Warrington 3 Blueharts 3.

Standings! 1 Surbllon P11 PU29: 2 Brooklands 11-28; 3 Havant 11-27. ICE HOCKEY EXPRESS CUPi Sheffield 7 Newcastle 3. CHRISTMAS CUPl Cardlfl 0 Guildford 14; File 9 Lanes Palsloy 8 Murray-field 4: Solihull 2 Slough Telford 3 Peterboro Wlghlllnk 6 Kingston 11. SUPERLIAOUEl Cardiff 2, Ayr 3 (ot): Newcastle 0, Manchester 4: Sheffield 0, Incidentally, since Michelin is the official World Cup tyre and Continental the Champions League tyre, does this mean that those involved in both competitions will have to mix them? I am told this can be very dangerous if it involves radials and cross-plys. The main effect, I suppose, of watching such business programmes is that they confirm your worst fears and, sure enough, someone called Chris Teams ought to merge with the media conglomerates.

That way lies maximising their brand's profit potential. Well, that's how Seb Coe would put it National Conference League Premier Division Askam 14 West Hull 20 Beverley 22 Walnoy Central 2 Dudley Hill 2 Saddleworth 24 Egremont 12 Woolston 9 Lock Lane 28 Wlgan St Patricks 4 Maytleld 10 Howorth 21 Oldham St Annes 20 Leigh Miners 19 Flrat Division Barrow Island 38 Milford 20 East Leeds 26 Oulton 8 Leigh East 10 Thornhill 28 Redhill 48 Blackbrook 10 Shaw Cross 29 Eastmoor 18 Skirlaugri 48 Motdgreon 6 Wlgan SUudes 36 Mlllom 4 Second Division Crostlelds 26 Dodworth 6 Eccles 10 Featherstone Am 12 Hull Dockers 17 Dewsbury Moor 8 Slddal 24 London Stdts 14 York Acorn 29 Ovonden 16 GOLF JOHNNIE WALKER SUPER TOUR (Taipei. Taiwan): Final acoreai 276 Parnavik (Swe) 67 71 68 70 280 NFaldo(Eng) 67 71 72 70 282 Ruangklt (Thai) 72 70 70 70 283 EEIa(SA) 69 71 71 72 288 FCasaa (Philip) 70 71 71 73 200 Chla-yuh (Taiwan) 77 77 72 73 304 Naslm (Indo) 74 87 68 7S 144 I Woosnam (Wales) 70 74 (withdrew) NEW ZEALAND OPEN (Auckland): Final scores (Aus unless slated): 278 Tumor (NZI 69 69 7168 289 Parsons 72 65 73 76 A Colter! (GB) 71 70 75 80 J-LOuepy(Fr) 76 67 78 67 286 Partridge 72 7169 74 FNobllo(NZ) 7271 73 70 287 Parry 73 71 70 73 POow 73 7668 70 Tataurangl (NZ) 71 73 74 OS 288 Davenport (NZ) 74 74 69 7 1 Kerry 73 73 71 71 281 McKenzle 72 74 72 73 PO'Mallay 73 70 75 73 202 SAIker(NZ) 71 74 72 78 PLonard 72 75 71 74 EBoult(NZ) 73 76 71 72 203 Ferguson 72 69 76 76 Senden 72 73 73 76 CSpence 72 76 73 72 Lea (NZ) 77 72 73 71 OMEQA PQA CHAMPIONSHIP (Hong Kong): Leading final acoreai 270 RCueNo (Philip) 706965 66 271 LWen-teh(Tal) 64 71 69 67 273 No-eeok (S Kor) 64 7268 60 274 Walker (Scot) 68 67 66 7 Kampa (SA) 67716868 OAIKVOOPEM (Onna. Japan): Final eeoresi (Japanese unless stated): 263 Kuboya 66 64 68 68 264 KKuwabara 65 68 70 61 Watte (US) 66 666666 267 Suzuki 716661 60 268 HMIyase 60 65 70 67 Dlahll(US) 6366 69 70 Cricket Australia New Zealand, one-day international. Sky Sports 2, 2pm Live Football UAE Czech Republic.

Eurosport, 3pm Live Football Uruguay South Africa. Eurosport, 5pm Live Football England U-21 Greece U-21. Sky Sports 2, 7.30pm Live Equestrianism Olympia International Show Jumping Championships. Eurosport, 9pm Live Pool Mosconi Cup. Sky Sports 1, 7pm General They Think It's All Over.

BBC1, 10pm Live Boxing Including Naseem Hamed Kevin Kelley, WBO featherweight title. Sky Box Office, 8pm Live Biathlon World Cup from Finland. Eurosport, 8-9. 20am and 11. 30am-12.

15pm Live Skiing Women's World Cup from Switzerland. Eurosport, 9.50am TODAY (7.45 unless stated) FOOTBALL FA Challenge Cupi Second round replayi Stevenago Cambridge. FA Carting Premlerahlpi Man Utd Aston Villa (8.0). The Ryman League! Premier Division! Purfloot Harrow Bor (7.30). UniBond League! Premier Division! Hydo Utd Spennymoor (7.30).

Pontlns Loaguoi Premier Division! Preston Birmingham (7.0). First Division (7.0): Huddersfield Middlesbrough: Sunderland Man Wolverhampton Notts Co Second Division (7.0): Lincoln Bradlord; Shell Utd Roth-orham. Third Division! Nowcastlo Hull (7.0). Avon Insurance Combination! First Division! Chelsea Wimbledon (7 0 CRICKET Women's World Cup (India): Pool At Chandigan Pakistan Australia Pool Bi New Delhi! New Zealand West Indies. TUESDAY FOOTBALL FA Challenge Cupt Scond round replays.

Basingstoke Northampton (7.30); Qoreham Wood Choltonham (7.30); Chostorliold Grimsby; Hereford Colchester; Notts County Proston; Watford Torquay. Spalding Challenge Cupi Quarterfinals. Hayes Yeovil; Northwlch Hodneslord; Woking Farnborough. Ouardlan Inauranoo Cupi Third round: Camborley Tn Oxford (7 30); Canvoy Island Hitchln (7.30); Car-shalton Billerlcoy Tn; Romford Bromley; St Albans Bedford Tn; Wokingham Walton Hers ham. Ryman Laaguai Premlar Division.

Bishop's Stortford Hendon. Or Martens League) Premier Division (7.30): Afherstono Worcester Oorchoster Siltingbourne; Nuneaton Gloucester C. Cupi Second roundi Bath Newport loW; Burton Albion Moor Green (7.30); Cambridge Hinckley Utd; Hastings Margate. Pontine Leaguei Third Division. Chosterfiold Doncaster (7.0).

Avon Insurance Combination) Flrat Division (2.0): Arsenal Ipswich; Crystal Palaco Luton; Millwall Charlton: QPR Portsmouth. 8-E Counties League Cupi Third roundi Reading Watford (1.0). Gilbert League Cupt Second round, aecond legt Rhayader Tn Barry Tn (7.30). County Antrim Shield) Quarter-finals (7.30): Distiller Ballyclaro; Dundela Larne; Llntlold Cliftonvillo; Porta-downv Crusaders. RUQBY UNION Allied Dunbar Premiership) Onet Richmond Leicester (8.0).

CRICKET Sharjah Cupi Dubalt England Pakistan. Sharjah: India West Indies. Women's World Cup (India): Pool At Barodai England Ireland- Qurgaont South Africa Denmark. Pool Bi Nag-pun Netherlands India. WEDNESDAY FOOTBALL Europe sn U-21 Championship Qualifying) Play-off, aocond legi England Greece (Norwich).

FA Challenge Cupt Second round replays. Emloy Lincoln Ilkeston Tn Scunthorpe. PA Carllng Premlarshipi Newcastle Derby. Spalding Challenge Cup Quarter-flnalst Gateshead Morecambo. Dr Martena Cupi Seoond roundi Reddltch Utd Bllston Tn (7.30).

Pontine Leaguei Premier Divlalon (7.0): Nottm Forest Evorton; Tranmoro Blackburn. Flrat Division (7.0): Bol Live Rugby Union Bath Pau, Heineken Cup semi-final. SkySports2, 1.30pm Sailing Whitbread Round the World Race. BBC2, 11.40am Grandstand Including racing from Ascot and Ice Skating. BBC1, 12.15pm Live Pool Mosconi Cup.

Sky Sports 3, 3-6pm and 7-1 0pm Equestrianism From Olympia. Eurosport, 6pm Live lee Hockey Newcastle Bracknell. Sky Sports 2, 6.30pm Live Football Newcastle Manchester United. Sky Sports 1, 3pm Live Football QPR Bradford. Sky Sports 2, 12 noon Live Equestrianism From Olympia.

Eurosport, 3pm Live Pool Mosconi Cup. Sky Sports 3, 3-6pm and 7-10pm Live Football Confederations Cup final. Eurosport, 6pm ton Coventry; Oldham Grimsby; West Brorn Port Vale Second Division) Burnley Blackpool (7.15); Carlisto Shrewsbury (7.0); Rochdale Barnsley (7 0). Third Division: Bury Scunthorpe (7.30); Chestor Scarborough (7.0). Wtganv Walsall (7.0).

Avon Insurance Combination) Flrat Division) Oxford Utd Norwich (7.30); Swindon Brighton (7.15). CRICKET World Series Cup (Melbourne): Australia New Zealand Three-day Match (Port Elizabeth): England U-t9 South African Stdts (to Dec 19. Women's World Cup (India): Pool A) Indorei Ireland Pakistan. New Oolhh New Zealand India. Pool Bi New Delhi) Netherlands Sn Lanka.

THURSDAY FOOTBALL Pontine Leaguei Premier Division) Derby Aston Villa (7.0). FAI National Leaguei Premier Division. Dundalk Shamrock Rvrs. CRICKET Women's World Cup Pool At Nag-pun England Australia. Delhi) Ireland Pakistan.

FRIDAY FOOTBALL Nationwide League: Second Division! Fulham Burnloy; Oldham Walsall; Southend York Third Division) Colchostor Chuster; Doncaster Rotherham (7.30); Scarborough Barnet (7.30). QM Vauxhall Conferencei Stoven-ago Cheltenham FAI National Loaguet Premier Division) Drogheda Utd UCD. St Patrricks Ath Cork Sholbourno Finn Harps. CRICKET Sharjah Cup Final (Dubai) SATURDAY FOOTBALL (3.0 unless stated) FA Carllng Premlerahlpi Aston Villa Southampton: Blackburn West Ham: Derby Crystal Palace; Leeds Bolton; Leicester Everlon: Liverpool Coventry; Shoff Wod Chelsoa; Tottenham Barnsley. Nationwide League) First Division) Bury Shell Uld; Crowe Sunderland (a-t); Man City Middlesbrough; Norwich Stoke; Nottm Forest Stockport; Port Vale Ipswich: Portsmouth Charlton; Reading Wolverhampton, Swindon Birmingham; Tranmore Oxford Utd; West Brom Huddersfield.

Second Division) Blackpool Preston (a-t); Bournemouth Watford: Bristol City Chesterfield; Grimsby Carlisle: Luton Bristol Rovers; Millwall Wycombe; Northampton Plymouth; Wtgan Brontlord; Wrexham GHIingham. Third Division) Brighton Shrews bury; Darlington Scunthorpe; Exeter Rochdale; Hartlepool Mansfield; Leyton Orient Hull; Macclosflold Cardlfl; Peterborough Lincoln Cily; Swansea Cambridgo Utd; Torquay Notts County. Dell's Scottish Leaguei Promler Division) Celtic Hibornlon; Dundee Utd St Johnstone; Hoarts Rangers; Kilmarnock Aberdeen; Motherwell Dunfermline. Scottish Leaguei Flrat Division! Falkirk Alrdrle; Groonock Morion Stirling; Pai tick Ayr: Haith Hamilton: SI Mlrren Dundoo, Second Division) Brechin Stonhousomulr. Inverness Cal Forfar; Livingston Clyde; Ouoen of South East Fife; Stranraer Clydo-bank.

Third Division) Albion Arbroath; Alloa Ross County; Cowdenboath Berwick; Dumbarton East Stirling; Montrose Queen's Park. Live Football Manchester United Aston Villa. Sky Sports 1, 7pm Live Football United Arab Emirates South Africa, Confederations Cup. Eurosport, 3pm Live Skiing Men's World Cup. Eurosport, 5-6pm and 7.45- 8.30pm Football Czech Republic Uruguay.

Eurosport, 8.30pm American Football The Big Match. C4, 11.40pm Live Boxing Johnny Nelson Alexander Gurov, European cruiserweight title. Eurosport, 8pm Live Football Saudi Arabia Australia. Eurosport, 3pm Live Football Brazil Mexico. Eurosport, 5pm Live Football Basingstoke Northampton, FA Cup second round replay.

Sky Sports 2, 7.30pm Nottingham 5. Saturday! Basingstoke 2 Ayr Bracknell 4 Cardiff Nottingham 3 Manchester 6. NHLt Buffalo 3 Carolina Edmonton 3 Detroit New Jersey 5 Montreal Florida 4 NY Rangers Philadelphia 3 Chicago San Jose 1 Dallas Calgary 3 Colorado Phoenix 2 Pittsburgh 2: Anaheim 6 Washington NY Islanders 4 Florida Boston 4 Montreal Tampa Bay 3 Ottawa New Jorsoy 3 Toronto Edmonton 4 St Louis LA 2 Washington Colorado 5 Vancouver 2. ICE SKATING BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIPS (Hull Arena! Mem 1 Cousins (Deeside) 1.5pls; 2 Wilson (Belfast) 3.0; 3 Shorten (Chelmslord) 4.5; 4 1 Macadam (Kilmarnock) 6.0 (four competitions). Womoru 1 Arrowsmith 2.0; 2 Manning (Chelmslord) 2.5; 3 Sear (Oxlord) 4.5; 4 Papavasillou (Glasgow) 6 0 Palrsi (one couple only): 1 Polu-liaschenko A Seabrook (Swindon) 1.5.

Ice Dancel 1 ClementsG Short-land (Slough) 3.2; 2 ChrobokovaJ Lan-nlng (Strotham) 3.4; 3 KorrJ Ferguson (Aberdeen) 5.4; 4 O'ConnorJ O'Dougherty (Blackburn) 6.0. SAILING WHITBREAD ROUND THE WORLD RACEi 1 Chesslo Racing 1.819.8 miles to finish ol 3rd leg: 2 Toshiba 2.8 miles behind leader; 3 Innovation Kvaerner 3.4; 4 Merit Cup 4.1; 8 BrunelSunergy 4.3, 8 Swedish Match 6.2; 7 Silk Cut 6.6; 8 EF Language 7.3; 8 EF Education 7.9. SNOOKER GERMAN OPEN (Blngen): Seml-fln- alel Hlgglna (Scot) bt O'Sulllvan (Eng) 6-4; Parrott (Eng) bt Doherty (Ire) 6-4. Final! Hlgglna bt Parrolt 9-4. SQUASH WORLD DOUBLES C'SHIPS (Hong Kong): Mem Quarter-finals! England (C WalkerC Jackman) bt US 15-6 15-13; Canada bt Malaysia 15-10 15-11; SA bt Hong Kong 15-13 15-13: Australia bt New Zealand 11-15 15-11 15-13.

Semi-finals! England bt Pakistan 15-13 15-12: Australia bt Malaysia 15-4 15-3 Final! England bl Australia 15-11 15-13. Womem Seml-flnalsi England (C Jackman Wright) bt SA 15-5 9-15 15-12; New Zealand bl Australia 15-7 15-13. Flnali New Zealand bt England 15-4 15-12. Mixed eeml-flnalai England (C Walker Jackman) bt Canada 15-7 15-11; Australia bt SA 15-5 8-15 17-15. Final! Australia bt England 15-10 15-11.

SWIMMING BRITISH C'SHIPS (Sheffield): Mem BOm freestyle! 1 Foster (Bath Unlv) 22.97. 200m freestyle! 1 Stevens (Bath Unlv) 1. 50.33. 200m Baokstrofcei 1 Mllllls (Portsmouth) 2.02.90. 200m Breaetatrokei 1 A Whitehead (Coventry) 2.16.45.

400m Individual Medleyi 1 Hickman (Stockport) 4.22.24 (British Record). 1500m freestyle! 1 Smith (Stockport) 15.21.00. BOm butterfly! 1 Tonus (Bel) 25.35. 200m butterfly! 1 Ashcroft (Wlgan) 2.02.36. 200m Individual medleyi 1 Hickman (Stockport) 2.02.74 (GB record).

exIOOm Freestyle Relay! 1 Bath Unlv 3.28.44. 4x100m medley ralayi 1 Bath Unlv 3.49.00. Womem 80m butterfly! 1 Fool (York) 28.16. BOm Freostylei 1 Rolph (Newcastle) 26.29. 1O0m Back-stroke! 1 Jlgglns (Norwich) 1.04.10.

1 00m breastetrokei 1 Hlndmarsh (Leeds) 1.11.36. 200m Butterfly! 1 Podder (Portsmouth) 2.13.59. 400m freestyle! 1 Craig (Haverhill) 4.15.70. 200m Individual medleyi 1 Rolph (Newcastle) 2.17.69. 4100m freestyle relays 1 Leeds 3.55.81.

Bristol 12 Richmond 13 Harlequins 53 Wasps 17 Leicester 55 Sale 15 London Irish 10 Northampton 51 Newcastle 37 Gloucester 27 Saracens 50 Bath 23 A Pts Saracans 7 7 0 0 195 103 1 4 Nswcaatla 6 6 0 0 180 109 1 2 Harlaqulns 6 4 0 2 184 161 a Lalcaster 4 3 0 1 127 78 Sala 7 3 0 4 232 201 Richmond 6 3 0 3 134 120 Bath 6 3 0 3 176 169 6 Northampton 6 2 0 4 139 120 4 Oloucastsr 6 2 0 4 147 149 4 Wasps 5 1 0 4 109 153 2 Ldn Irish 6 1 0 5 90 190 2 Bristol 7 1 0 6 92 252 2 Premlsrshlp Two Coventry 24 Blackheath 22 Fylde 9 Orroll 21 London Scottish 35 Rotherham 29 Mosetoy 28 Wakefield to Waterloo 14 Bedford 28 West Hartlepool 34 Exeter 14 A Pts Bsdlord 10 10 0 0 335 154 20 LdnSeottlsh 11 8 0 3 290 213 10 Waterloo 11 7 0 4 284 232 1 4 Hartlepool 10 7 0 3 237 199 14 Covsntry 11 7 0 4 213 257 14 Orrall 10 6 0 4 234 171 12 Mosslsy 10 6 0 4 198 183 1 2 Rotharham 10 4 0 6 217 206 8 Blackheath 11 4 0 7 245 277 a Exater 11 2 0 9 172 277 4 WaksfMd 11 1 0 10 188 280 2 Fylda 10 1 0 9 133 297 2 Swansea Pontypridd Cardiff Llanelli EbbwVale Bridgend Neath Newport Flrat Division Blackwood Dunvant Llandovery Newbridge Ponlypool Rumnoy Wales Police Troorchy Caerphilly Aberavon Treorehy Wales Pollco Merthyr Uandovory Dunvant Bonymaen Cross Ksys Anartlllery Newbrldgo Blackwood UWIC Rumnay Maaatag Pontypool SRU Tannenta Premiership First Division Edinburgh Acads 15 Jed-Forest 20 Hawick 6 Boroughmuir 18 Melrose 31 He-lots FP 22 Watsonians 58 Currle 0 West of Scotland 6 Stirling County 11 A Pts Stirling Co 3 3 0 0 75 23 13 Mslrosa 3 3 0 0 72 25 13 Watsonlana 3 2 0 1 108 41 10 Jad-Foraat 3 2 0 1 57 81 of Scotland 2 1 0 1 57 17 Boroughmuir 2 10 1 21 27 4 Hawick 3 1 0 2 44 59 4 EdlnAcada 3 0 0 3 25 75 1 Harlots FP 2 0 0 2 27 68 Currle 2 0 0 2 14 84 Second Division Biggar 13 Kelso 32 Dundee HSFP 26 Gala 24 Kilmarnock 8 Peebles 19 Kirkcaldy 31 Musselburoh 5 Preston Lodge 8 Glasgow Hawks 37 Third Division Gordonians 17 Glasgow Southern 8 HlllheadJrdnhlt 16 Ayr 16 Selkirk 18 Aberdeen GSFP 15 Stowarlry 24 Grangemouth 28 Poatponedi Glenrothes Stewarts Mel FP. AlB League First Division Ballymena Dolphin Garryowen Shannon St Marys Lansdowno Old Crescent Second Division Buccaneers Galweglans Greystones Monkstown Old Wesley Skerries UCC 44 Blackrock College 6 15 Young Munster 31 37 Old Belvedere 31 Clontarf 70 Dungannon 9 Terenure 10 Constitution 22 21 Sundays Well 50 Derry 25 Instonlans 22 Wanderers 25 Malono 19 DLSP 14 Becllve Rangers Club Matches Cheltenham 16 Blr'Solihull 13 Hinckley 21 MktBosworth 12 Manchester 69 Broughton Pk 14 Mel Police Stroud 34 Plymouth 58 Okehampton 8 RUQBY LEAGUE Kusakabo Hlgaki 68 65 67 69 68 65 67 69 TENNIS CHAMPIONS INDOOR TOURNAMENT (Sydney): SemM inalsi Lloyd (GB) bt Kriek (SA) 7-6 6-1 Connors (US) bt Wilklson (US) 7-6 6-3. Final! Connors bt Lloyd 3-6 6-2 10-7 (third set tiebreaker). QIROBANK TOUR (Nottingham): Finals! Mem Weal (Hants) bt Hand (Berks) 6-7 6-4 6-3 Womem Lu-trova (Rus) bt Egorova (Rus) 6-1 rtd. ATHLETICS EUROPEAN CROSS COUNTRY C'SHIPS (Lisbon): Sonlorst Man (9.3km): 1 Jorgonsen (Don) 27min 19sec; 2 Nyberg (Swe) 27.20.

3 Lobiok (Ukr) 27.23. Teams: 1 Portugal 34pts: 2 Franco 46; 3 Spain 56. Women (5.45km): I Llado (Fr) 17.20: 2 Filalova (Rom) 17.33; 3 Jevllc (Yug) 17 37. Also! II McPherson (GB) 18.27. Teamt 1 Franco 21pts; 2 Romania 22; 3 Spain 46.

BADMINTON WORLD OP (Jakarta): Mem Soml-flnalsi Dong Jlong (China) bt Hoyer Larson (Don) 15-9 15-7; Jun (China) bt Christonsen (Den) 15-10 15-17 15-6. Final! Dong Jlong btSun Jun 15-9 15-6. Doubles! Final! Candra WBudlarto (Indo) bt Cheah Soon KitYap Kim Hock (Mai) 17-15 11-15 15-6. Women! Semi-finals! Susantl (Indo) bt Zhlchao (China 1 1-8 1 1-4: Zhaoylng (China) bl Chon (China) 11-611-4. Final! Ve Zhaoylng bt Susantl 11-411-4.

Doubles! SemM Inalsi VlyuanT Vongshu (China) bt HongL Lu (China) 15-9 15-10; FslO Jun (China) bt ER Zolln (Indo) 15-6 15-9. Final! Oe FeiQu Jun bl Oln Yiyuan Tang Yongshu 15-1 15-8. Mixed Doubles! Final! Liu VongOo Fal (China) bt TrlkuaMlnartl (Indo) 15-9 15-13. BASKETBALL BUDWEISER LEAGUE! Birmingham 87 Derby 72 (ot). Saturday! Derby 85 London 96 (ot); Newcastle 64 Birmingham 70: Thames Valloy 84 Sheflield 87.

UNI-BALL TROPHY! Chester 88 Leicester 98; Sheffield 65 Newcastle 68. Saturday! Palace 91 Watford 108; Worthing 88 London 99-NBAi Indiana 109 Washington 92; Charlotte 85 Cleveland 84: Detroit 93 Boston 77: Jorsoy 133 Denvor 95; NY 95 Philadelphia 83; Minnesota 112 Phoenix 101; Chicago 97 Toronto 70; San Antonio 107 Orlando 78, Miami 87 Milwaukee 84; Golden Stato 95 Sacramento 91; Boston 97 Washington 88; Charlotte 79 Chicago 77: Philadelphia 106 Denvor 91: Indiana 104 Miami 89; Utah 68 Dallas 66; Seattle 1 1 1 Portland 98; Vancouvor 95 Goldon Stato 88; Allanta 83 LA Clippers 74; LA Lakers 1 19 Houston 102. BOBSLEIGH WORLD CUP (La Plagne. Fr); Two-man bob! 1 Canada I (P LuedersR Groenldge) 1min 58.97soc; 2 Germany II 1.59.14: 3 Italy I 1.59.20. BOXINQ PROFESSIONAL BILL (Sheffield): WBO Middleweight title (vacant): Orant (Can) bt Rhodes (Shofllold) pis.

IBF Inter-Contlnentel Light-heavy-weight tltlei Prince (Tdttenham) bt WHanklns(US) rsf3rd. CHESS FIDE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP (Gronlngon. Nelh): Round 2i Anand (Ind) 2 Nlkolic (Bos) 0: Plkel (Nolh) National League Ona Harrogate 17 London Welsh 32 Liverpool St Helenas Leeds 21 Nottingham 22 RosslynPark 10 Worcester 47 Reading 19 A Pta Ldn Walsh 12 10 1 1 416 19121 Woroaster 12 10 0 2 412 147 20 Rugby 11 9 0 2 341 192 1 8 Loads 11 8 1 2 270 197 17 Otlay 11 7 0 4 213 222 1 4 Nswbury 11 8 0 280 227 1 2 Reading 12 6 0 6 307 324 1 2 RosslynPk 11 1 5 186 191 11 Uv St Helens 11 4 1 6 161 259 Nottingham 11 4 0 7 194 248 8 Wharfsdala 11 4 0 7 200 294 a Harrogate 11 2 0 9 222 271 4 Lydnsy 11 1 0 10 120 214 2 Moriay 12 1 0 11 143 478 2 Two North Stourbrldgo 41 Nuneaton 3 Two South Camborley 10 Tabard 13 Walsh National Lsagua Premlar Division Cardiff 22 Swansea 31 EbbwVale 31 Neath 11 Newport 24 Llanelli 32 Pontypridd 46 Bridgend 10 Silk Cut Challenge Cup First Round Raplay Folly Lano 22 Normanton.