Sport in brief

Press, 7 September 1989, Page 29

Sport in brief

Tyson fight set NZPA-Reuter Edmonton, Alberta The world heavyweight boxing champion, Mike Tyson, will defend his title on November 18 in Edmonton against Donovan ‘Razor’’ Ruddock of Canada, the promoters announced yesterday. Tyson, whose 37-0 record includes 33 that failed to go the distance, will fight Ruddock in the 17,000-seat Northland Coliseum which is home to the Edmonton Oilers ice hockey team. Ruddock, who was stripped of his Canadian heavyweight title for refusing to defend it, has 22 wins, a loss and a tie with 15 knockouts. The promoters, Garry Stevenson and Sonny McPhee, said they paid Don King, who represents Tyson, $3 million to stage the fight. Aust, wins one-dayer NZPA-Reuter Copenhagen Australia weathered a fine spell of pace bowling by Ole Mortensen to beat Denmark by 45 runs in the first of two limited-over matches yesterday. Australia, batting first on the matting surface used on all Danish pitches, quickly abandoned thoughts of an easy victory when Mortensen, the only professional in a team of amateurs, came on to bowl. Mortensen, who plays for English county Derbyshire, rattled the Australians during a 10-over spell in which he claimed three for 15, the best bowling figures of the match. Australia recovered thanks to Tom Moody, the top scorer of the day with 53, and was all out for 191 in 39.3 of its 40 overs. Revenge bid fails NZPA-Reuter Oslo France and Norway drew,-1-1, in a World Cup qualifying match yesterday, with French hopes for revenge after a humiliating 1987 defeat in Oslo thwarted by a late goal. Neither side had any realistic hope of reaching next year’s finals in Italy. But the French coach Michel Platini’s young squad had hoped to avenge the 2-0 defeat which cost France the chance of defending its European championship title. Compensation row NZPA-AFP Wigan, England A Sydney rugby league club, Western Suburbs, will receive a compensation demand from English giant Wigan over an injury to the Great Britain skipper, Ellery Hanley, which may see him miss the test series against New Zealand. The British Challenge Cup holder claims that Wests did not keep them fully informed about the seriousness of the stomach muscle trouble Hanley suffered during his recent stint in Australia. Wigan fears that its star player may need surgery, which would keep him out until Christmas. Sydney Todd dies PA Dunedin Sydney Todd, well-known as the compiler of two books of New Zealand sporting records, has died in Dunedin. He was 77. Mr Todd compiled “Champions All” and “Sporting Records of New Zealand” which proved invaluable statistical aids for sports enthusiasts throughout New Zealand and further afield. “Champions All” eventually sold 72,000 copies. Mr Todd was born in Millerton on the West Coast and, after living in Westport and Wellington, went to Dunedin in 1932. Herlihy wants job p A Auckland The New Zealand softball great, Kevin Herlihy, has put his name forward as a national selector. Nominations close on September 15 and the selectors will be chosen next month. Herlihy, who played in every world series from 1966 to 1984, says he recognises a New Zealand selector’s job as a step towards coaching the national team. But he stresses he is not keen to continue coaching at club level as he did last year. Herlihy was called in to lead Hamilton’s Fraser Tech after it was promoted into the Lion Red national league at the last minute. “I don’t want to do that again,” he says. “If I coach a regular team it interferes too much with my insurance work. "But as a national selector it would be easy to take a week or two whenever I needed it out of my schedule.” Buller scores upset pA Westport Buller upset the odds and a confident Horowhenua team at Westport yesterday to win a national rugby championship third division match, 19-15. The result ends Horowhenua’s 100 per cent record, which before the kick-off stood at four wins from four outings. For Buller, it was win No. 3 from five games. The visitors could attribute the loss to their own lack of discipline and failure to use the ball they won. The match was played in fine weather on a hard ground. The first half saw Horowhenua dominating possession but down by nine points in the first quarter after the Buller first five-eighth, David Baird, converted three penalties awarded for indiscreet play. Scorers: Buller 19 (Tony O’Day, David Baird, tries; Baird, conversions, 3 penalty goals) bt Horowhenua 15 (Paul Hirini, Gerald Baines, tries; Craig Laursen, 2 conversions, penalty goal). Half-time: 9-12.