Sport in brief

Press, 23 February 1989, Page 32

Sport in brief

Skier’s smile golden NZPA-Reuter Lahti, Finland Marjo Matikainen had every reason to smile after leading Finland’s second medals sweep of the world Nordic ski championships yesterday. The 24-year-old engineering student collected her third medal in five days but her first gold as she edged out MarjaLiisa Kirvesniemi to win the women’s 15km classic crosscountry. With Pirkko Maatta placing third, the same Finnish trio were on the victory podium as for the opening race on Friday, the 10km classic. This time the order was reversed. Matikainen, the bronze medallist in that race, put, in a powerful finish to deprive veteran Kirvesniemi of her second gold medal by just two seconds. The only leading skier to enter all three races so far, Matikainen won silver in Sunday’s 10km freestyle. Halifax coach sacked NZPA-AAP . V" * '' London A former Queensland halfback,-Ross Strudwick, was sacked yesterday as coach of English first division rugby league club, Halifax. '- ‘ f’X . . ’ . The decision, announced by the Halifax, president, David Brook, ended an unhappy seven-month' term for Strudwick. He was not available for comment.-Halifax, a Challenge Cup finalist last season,-has.lost 13 of its I 8 premiership fixtures this season and is’last,of the 14 teams , m the'first division. Several key players have left .-the -club in protest at Strudwick’s coaching style and he has at times been booed off the field .by disgruntled Halifax supporters. Strudwick’s successor has not been named. Cyclist off to U.S. PA . ■ .. ''' v/ Hamilton A professional cyclist, Stephen Swart, leaves for the United States today .to break into the American racing scene. Swart, aged 24, and his wife, Jan, are' flying to California unsure of what the, season holds but determined to stick it out and clinch a contract with a professional team. “We don’t really know what’s going to happen. We’re not committing ourselves to anything,”- Swart said yesterday. Swart, who has recently been based In Auckland, said he was hoping to get a start in the Tour of Texas beginning in three weeks time but that now looks unlikely. In the meantime he would race by himself and hope for good results. Tm pretty sure if you go okay by yourself you’re going to get an offer (of a contract) anyway,” Swart said. - ■ Karpov wins game NZPA-Reuter Linares, Spain A former chess world champion, Anatoly Karpov, notched up his first win in an international tournament in Spain yesterday, beating Alexander Beliavsky,.. of the Soviet Union, after 39 moves in an English opening. ' Vasily Ivanchuk took the over-all lead after the third round, beating the British grandmaster, Nigel Short, after 40 moves in a Ruy Lopez opening. Devoy favourite PA London The New Zealand women’s squash team flies to Dublin today to compete in the Irish Open as part of its preparations for next month’s world championships in Holland. It will be a major surprise if Susan Devoy fails to retain her title but the manager, Jane Weir, said yesterday that she was also looking for good performances from the other members of the team — Donna Newton, Joanne Williams and Fleur Townsend. The team has been training hard at its base in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, for the last week but Ms Weir said she was worried lack of match practice could jeopardise their chances.