Wednesday's results

BASEBALL

MAJOR LEAGUE

New York Yankees 12 Los Angeles Angels 4, Washington Nationals 3 Philadelphia Phillies 1, Chicago Cubs 9 Cincinnati Reds 11, Boston Red Sox 8 Baltimore Orioles 11, New York Mets 3 Atlanta Braves 4, Kansas City Royals 1 Minnesota Twins 2, St Louis Cardinals 5 Milwaukee Brewers 3, Toronto Blue Jays 7 Tampa Bay Devil Rays 5, Colorado Rockies 3 Florida Marlins 9, Texas Rangers 4 Seattle Mariners 7, San Francisco Giants 6 San Diego Padres 5, Los Angeles Dodgers 6 Arizona Diamondbacks 3, Oakland Athletics 9 Chicago White Sox 7.

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BASKETBALL

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Waikato 98 (G. Lewis 38, P. Cameron 25, L. Martin 18) Auckland 83 (M. Homik 22, D. Boucher 18, K. Johnson 14). HT: 57-44.

Manawatu 86 (M. Coleman 31, D. Cooper 23, M. Pearce 14, S. Lambert 11, C. Brock 5) Hawkes Bay 98 (D. Moore 20, P. Winitana 17, A. Majstrovich 16, P. Henare 14, D. Davies 11). HT: 43-48.

Wellington 80 (T. McLean 17, T. Lewis 14, D. Hopoi 13, B. Knight 11) Taranaki 91 (L. Abrams 24, T. Rampton 17, W. Banks 16, M. Tompson 14, B. Davidson 12). HT: 40-50.

NBA

Alonzo Mourning nailed a season-high 21 points and snared nine rebounds as the Miami Heat thumped the New Jersey Nets 104-87 to take a 2-0 lead in their Eastern Conference quarter-final.

The best-of-seven series now shifts to New Jersey for the third match tomorrow, with the Nets desperately needing a win.

It was a frustrating game for the Nets, who did a solid job controlling the Heat's two all-stars, holding Shaquille O'Neal to 14 points and Dwyane Wade to 17.

But an inspired Mourning, 35, stepped in to take up the slack, making several big baskets and keying pivotal runs.

The Nets established a 7-0 lead before the Heat gained control and led 48-39 going into halftime.

After the break, the Heat turned up the pressure, with Mourning hitting the final eight points in a 19-8 third-quarter run as Miami extended their advantage to 72-52.

In Auburn Hills, Richard Hamilton poured in 23 points and Chauncey Billups 20 as the defending champions, the Detroit Pistons, rolled to a 99-84 win over the Philadelphia 76ers, taking a 2-0 lead in their quarter-final.

The series now shifts to Philadelphia where the 76ers will try to erase a 2-0 series deficit for the first time in franchise history.

In Seattle, Ray Allen had 26 points and Jerome James added 19 points and nine rebounds as the SuperSonics held off a late comeback bid by the Sacramento Kings to claim a 105-93 win and a 2-0 lead in their Western Conference quarter-final.

The third match match will be in Sacramento on Saturday. Eastern Conference: Detroit 99 Philadelphia 84 (Detroit lead best-of-seven series 2-0), Miami 104 New Jersey 87 (Miami lead 2-0).

Western Conference: Seattle 105 Sacramento 93 (Seattle lead 2-0).

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BOWLS

The Pakuranga club's Neil Fisher was yesterday named the Auckland centre's bowler of the year.

Fisher won the award at a Rawhiti club fundraising event, which raised $14,000 for the Child Cancer Foundation, ahead of Avondale's Mike Bradshaw and Hillsboro's Carole Griffiths.

Henderson, the hosts of this season's national championships, took the club of the year award.

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CRICKET

INDIA

The country's cricket chiefs will not rush in naming a national coach to succeed New Zealander John Wright, even as contenders line up for one of the most high-profile and demanding jobs in the sport.

Australians Steve Waugh, Greg Chappell, Tom Moody, Dav Whatmore and Dean Jones have all been linked to the post left vacant after Wright voluntarily stepped down as India's first foreign coach last month after five seasons at the helm.

With India's next assignment - a one-day series in Sri Lanka in August - three months away, the Board of Control for Cricket in India is in no hurry to appoint a successor to the genial Wright.

Sri Lanka and South Africa are also seeking new coaches and could poach any of the contenders for the India job.

"We will not be rushed," board secretary Karunakaran Nair said yesterday. "The selection process itself could take a long time."

The board will first appoint a panel of experts, comprising former test stars, to interview the candidates. Their choice will then be debated by the board's decision-making working committee before the coach is finalised.

Nair said no names had been shortlisted and declined to say who had officially applied for the job.

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GOLF

SOUTH ISLAND UNDER-19
(Timaru)

Leading scores after the second of three rounds (par 70).-

139: C. Harper (Invercargill) 68 71.

141: A. Leech (Manor Park) 72 69.

143: B. Ji (Christchurch) 74 69, D. Cameron (Amberley) 72 71, J. Park (Waitikiri) 70 73.

144: G-J Hill (Sherwood Park) 71 73.

145: J. Falkner (Russley) 71 74, L. Johnston (Park International) 70 75.

146: D. Harvey (Windsor) 75 71, R. Smith (Masterton) 74 72.

148: K. Sohn (Waitikiri) 75 73.

149: Min Hun Kim (Shandon) 77 72, S. Roach (Arrowtown) 76 73, T. Sinclair (Hedgehope) 72 77, W. Moore (Windsor) 76 73.

150: M. Brooks (Otago) 78 72, M. Earnshaw (Rangiora) 75 75, P. Hayman (Manor Park) 77 73, T. Ilott (Windsor) 76 74.

151: B. Wallace (Auckland) 76 75, C. MacDonald (Otago) 78 73, S. Riordan (Takaka) 76 75.

AUCKLAND

President's pennants: Maramarua 6 Wattle Downs 6, Aviation 8 1/2 Onewhero 3 1/2, Pakuranga 10 Formosa 2, Howick 9 1/2 Waiuku 2 1/2, Pukekohe bye.

Points: Pakuranga 64 1/2, Aviation 50 1/2, Howick 46 1/2, Pukekohe 46, Onewhero 39 1/2, Wattle Downs 38, Formosa 34 1/2, Maramarua 34 1/2, Waiuku 30.

Inter-club A pennants: Formosa 7 Titirangi 5, Pukekohe 9 Wattle Downs 3, Remuera 6 1/2 Onewhero 5 1/2, Akarana 9 1/2 Maramarua 2 1/2.

Final points: Akarana 63 1/2, Pukekohe 57, Auckland 53, Titirangi 50, Remuera 44, Formosa 43 1/2, Maramarua 43, Onewhero 40, Wattle Downs 38.

Inter-club B pennants: Manukau 6 1/2 Whitford Park 5 1/2, Howick 7 Maungakiekie 5, The Grange 7 Clarks Beach 5, Pakuranga 8 Aviation 4.

Final points: Manukau 62 1/2, Whitford Park 62, Pakuranga 54 1/2, Clarks Beach 50 1/2, The Grange 49 1/2, Howick 45, Aviation 41 1/2, Maungakiekie 40 1/2, Waiuku 26 1/2.

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LEAGUE

NRL

Sydney Roosters halfback Brett Finch will miss his side's next two matches for his for his role in the brawl late in the Anzac Day clash with St George Illawarra.

Finch yesterday offered an early guilty plea for his grade one contrary conduct charge.

He was found to have a case to answer for getting involved in a fight initially involving team-mate Michael Crocker and Dragons prop Justin Poore.

Finch and Poore were sin-binned over the fight.

The No 7 will be forced to sit out the Roosters' match in North Queensland on Saturday night and the home game against Newcastle the following Sunday.

Dragons winger Wes Naiqama will also spend two weeks on the sidelines for his attempted trip on Roosters fullback Anthony Minichiello, after pleading guilty to his grade two contrary conduct charge.

Canberra centre Adam Mogg is the only other player to miss any matches following an early guilty plea for a dangerous throw in the Raiders' loss to Melbourne.

He will miss the trip to Newcastle on Sunday.

Parramatta five-eighth John Morris is the only one of nine players charged to opt to contest his case before a hearing, and did so even though he wasn't facing suspension.

He will appear before the judiciary on a grade one tripping charge. He will not miss any matches if found guilty.

Five other players, including representative props Jason Cayless (Roosters) and Jason Ryles (Dragons), took early guilty pleas but will be free to play this weekend.

STATE OF ORIGIN

Queensland preliminary squad for the opening match on May 25: S. Berrigan, M. Bowen, P. Bowman, T. Carroll, P. Civoniceva, M. Crocker, C. Flannery, D. Johnson, D. Lockyer, S. Price, S. Prince, B. Ross, M. Sing, B. Slater, C. Smith, B. Tate, B. Thorn, J. Thurston, W. Tonga, C. Webb, R. Wesser.

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RUGBY

ENGLISH PREMIERSHIP

Leeds 21 Harlequins 10.

Points: Leicester 73, London Wasps 73, Bath 57, Sale 56, Saracens 53, Gloucester 46, Newcastle Falcons 43, London Irish 39, Leeds 39, Northampton 39, Worcester 38, Harlequins 37.

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SNOOKER

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Rookie Shaun Murphy was poised to reach the semifinals after taking a 12-4 lead over Steve Davis at the Crucible in Sheffield yesterday.

Murphy, who is ranked 48 in the world, dominated the opening two sessions and seized on any mistakes from former world champion Davis.

He had stormed to a 7-1 lead by the end of the opening session and continued to hold the upper hand when play resumed.

The 22-year-old Englishman needs one more frame to reach the last four when the match resumes today.

Matthew Stevens and Steven Hendry were locked at 8-8 at the end of the second session in their quarter-final tie.

Hendry, winner of a record seven world titles, hit back from 5-1 down to take a 7-5 lead after recording two centuries on his way to reeling off six frames in a row.

Welshman Stevens arrested the slide by winning the next two frames to level at 7-7.

Scot Hendry won frame 15 to edge back in front, but Stevens clinched the last frame of the day to make it all square.

The best-of-25-frames match plays to a finish today.

Defending champion Ronnie O'Sullivan opened up a 6-2 lead over Peter Ebdon in their quarter-final.

It was a one-sided session with O'Sullivan compiling breaks of 137, 101, 79 and 71, while Ebdon failed to even score in three frames.

Scotland's Alan McManus came back from 3-0 down to take a 5-3 lead over Ian McCulloch, of England.

Scores (best of 25 frames): 1-R. O'Sullivan (England) leads 8-P. Ebdon (England) 6-2 (79-1 137-0 63-68 101-0 98-0 86-8 48-71 110-14).

S. Murphy (England) leads 13-S. Davis (England) 12-4 (72-5 47-43 62-73 73-51 82-1 51-28 107-4 70-66 7-111 67-5 74-30 92-30 31-86 121-4 60-54 18-64).

3-S. Hendry (Scotland) is level with 6-M. Stevens (Wales) 8-8 (31-70 8-74 4-63 84-7 0-114 41-70 71-40 77-18 138-0 86-54 114-20 68-21 5-78 0-75 81-32 21-68).

10-A. McManus (Scotland) leads I. McCulloch (England) 5-3 (31-101 0-125 0-119 64-24 67-13 72-29 66-42 66-59).

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SOCCER

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Semifinal, first leg: AC Milan 2 (A. Shevchenko 42), J. D. Tomasson (90) PSV Eindhoven 0. HT: 1-0.

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE

West Bromwich wasted a chance to move out of the relegation zone yesterday when they were held 1-1 at home by Blackburn.

Victory would have lifted Bryan Robson's side above Crystal Palace into 17th place, but they were pegged back by Brett Emerton's second-half equaliser after Kieran Richardson had shot them ahead in the 32nd minute.

With three games remaining Southampton are bottom with 28 points. Norwich, West Brom and Crystal Palace all have 30 points, with Palace enjoying a superior goal difference.

West Brom, who are attempting to become the first side in Premier League history to survive after being bottom at Christmas, face Arsenal at home and Manchester United away in their next two fixtures before ending their season at home to Portsmouth.

THE CHAMPIONSHIP

Leicester 1 Derby 0.

LEAGUE ONE

Port Vale 0 Wrexham 2.

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TENNIS

WIMBLEDON

Prizemoney at the Wimbledon championships will exceed 10 million ($26.58 million) for the first time this year.

But women will continue to be paid less than their male counterparts.

Total prizemoney was increased by 3.9 per cent up to a pool of 10,085,510.

The men's singles champion will earn 630,000 and the champion woman will get 600,000.

The women are closing the gap, however. Their prizemoney for the singles was improved by 5.9 per cent while the men's singles money rose by 4.6 per cent.

"We are delighted to recognise the current stature of the women's game," All England Club chairman Tim Phillips said.

MALISSE BANNED

Belgium's Xavier Malisse has been suspended for four weeks by the men's ATP Tour for "aggravated behaviour" after being kicked out of the Nasdaq-100 tournament last month.

Ranked 36 in the world, Malisse was stripped of his prizemoney from the event, US$10,350 ($14,380), and also fined US$6000. He has accepted his punishment.

An ATP spokesman said such a ban was "very rare".

Malisse was leading 6-3, 5-5 in Miami when he was defaulted from his match against Spain's David Ferrer on March 26.

The spokesman said Malisse had thrown a ball at the line judge, hitting her on the arm.

He had also verbally abused an official, kicked over a chair and smashed his racket.

If he is fined for his conduct again this season, Malisse will be banned for a further four weeks.

MUNICH OPEN

First round (prefix denotes seeding): D. Nalbandian (Argentina) bt N. Lapentti (Ecuador) 7-5 1-6 6-4, J. Monaco (Argentina) beat L. Burgsmueller (Germany) 7-5 6-3, 7-P. Srichaphan (Thailand) bt P. Wessels (Netherlands) 6-3 6-4, 3-M. Ancic (Croatia) beat J. Acasuso (Argentina) 6-2 6-4, W. Arthurs (Australia) bt I. Labadze (Georgia) 6-3 6-3, 4-T. Haas (Germany) bt N. Almagro (Spain) 7-5 6-3, 5-A. Pavel (Romania) bt A. Waske (Germany) 6-4 6-4, S. Schalken (Netherlands) bt T. Summerer (Germany) 6-2 7-5, R. Sluiter (Netherlands) bt T. Zib (Czech Republic) 6-4 6-2, 2-N. Davydenko (Russia) bt J. Haehnel (France) 7-6 6-2, R. Mello (Brazil) bt 8-R. Schuettler (Germany) 6-4 6-2, 6-I. Andreev (Russia) bt J. Vanek (Czech Republic) 6-1 6-2.

ESTORIL OPEN
(Portugal)

Men, first round: T. Robredo (Spain) bt F. Cermak (Czech Republic) 6-2 2-6 6-4, 3-J. Johansson (Sweden) bt A. Calatrava (Spain) 7-6 (7-1) 6-4, J. C. Ferrero (Spain) bt M. Baghdatis (Cyprus) 6-3 2-6 7-6 (8-6), 1-C. Moya (Spain) bt F. Mantilla (Spain) 6-0 7-6 (7-5), A. Montanes (Spain) bt G. Blanco (Spain) 7-6 (7-5) 6-4, J. A. Marin (Costa Rica) bt J. Chela (Argentina) 6-1 6-2, D. Sanguinetti (Italy) bt F. Condor (Spain) 6-0 6-2, P-H Mathieu (France) bt 7-J. Novak (Czech Republic) 7-6 (7-5) 6-1, T. Cakl (Czech) bt K. Carlsen (Denmark) 6-3 6-0, A. Calleri (Argentina) bt R. MacHado (Portugal) 4-6 6-3 6-1, 8-F. Lopez (Spain) bt A. Corretja (Spaain) 6-7 (1-7) 7-6 (7-4) 6-4, 5-N. Massu (China) leads A. Costa (Spain) 6-3 2-3, bad light stopped play.

Women, first round: J. Craybas (US) bt M. Mihalache (Romania) 6-3 6-1, L. Cervanova (Slovakia) bt 10-A. P. Santonja (Spain) 6-4 6-0, M. S. Lorenzo (Spain) bt L. Osterloh (US) 0-6 7-5 6-1, O. Savchuk (Ukraine) bt 1-F. Pennetta (Italy) 6-3 7-6 (10-8), M. Diaz-Oliva (Argentina) bt M. Gloria (Canada) 6-1 6-1, 4-Na Li (China) bt S. Cohen-Aloro (France) 6-4 1-6 6-3, L. Safarova (Czech Republic) bt 8-V. R. Pascual (Spain) 7-5 6-7 (3-7) 6-0, 9-Jie Zheng (China) bt H. Nagyova (Slovakia) 3-6 6-2 6-4, M. Krajicek (Netherlands) bt S. Beltrame (Fraance) 3-6 6-4 6-3.

WOMEN'S WARSAW CUP

First round: A. Ivanovic (Serbia and Montenegro) bt M. Sucha (Slovakia) 6-0 6-0, M. Domachowska (Poland) bt V. Razzano (France) 7-6 7-5, 6-N. Dechy (France) bt M. Maleeva (Bulgaria) 6-4 6-4, J. Vakulenko (Ukraine) bt A. Chakvetadze (Russia) 7-6 (7-5) 6-1, J. Henin-Hardenne (Belgium) bt D. Chladkova (Czech Republic) 6-2 6-2, M. Vento-Kabchi (Venezuela) bt 9-F. Schiavone (Italy) 5-1 retired, K. Clijsters (Belgium) bt T. Perebiynis (Ukraine) 7-5 6-7 (5-7) 6-1, D. Hantuchova (Slovakia) bt K. Kosinska (Poland) 6-4 7-5, 8-S. F. Elia (Italy) bt M. Pastikova (Czech Republic) 6-2 6-0, Z. Ondraskova (Czech Republic) bt V. Douchevina (Russia) 6-3 6-4, A. Smashnova (Israel) bt K. Koukalova (Czech Republic) 7-5 7-5.

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UNIVERSITY GAMES
(Auckland)

The Auckland University of Technology have won the Games for the first time.

Their victory yesterday came five years after AUT first competed.

AUT accumulated 239 points to head off Auckland with 194 and Victoria 122.

AUT won the aquathon, road race, men's basketball, women's hockey, men's soccer, women's squash, table tennis, women's tennis and women's water polo.

The overall winner was based on points won in the 21 competitions held at the Games at North Shore in the past three days, as well as the rowing at Lake Karapiro in Waikato last Saturday.

Final points: AUT 239, Auckland 194, Victoria 122, Waikato 114, Otago 92, Massey Albany 70, Canterbury 62, Massey (Palmerston North campus) 55, Lincoln 40, Auckland (Tamaki campus) 16.

Badminton, men, final: Victoria 6 Waikato 0. Women: Final placings, Victoria 1, AUT 2, Auckland 3.

Basketball, men, final: AUT A 42 Victoria A 34. Third-fourth, Auckland A 46 Canterbury 38. Fifth-sixth, Massey PN 66 AUT B 51. Seventh-eighth, Victoria B 70 Waikato 46. Ninth-10th, Auckland B bt Massey Albany walkover. Women, final: AUT A 70 Auckland 38.

Hockey, men, final: Auckland B 7 AUT 2. Women, final: AUT A 2 Lincoln 0.

Netball, final: Waikato 51 AUT A 42.

League, semifinals: Victoria 14 Otago 12, Auckland 42 Canterbury 14. Final: Auckland 24 Victoria 6. Third-fourth: Otago 12 Canterbury 0. Fifth-sixth: AUT 32 Waikato 18.

Soccer, men, final placings: AUT A 1, Auckland A 2, Waikato 3. Women: Massey PN 1, AUT A 2, Auckland 3.

Table tennis, final: AUT A 5 Massey Albany 0. Third-fourth, Auckland 5 Auckland B 4.

Tennis, men: Auckland A 1, Victoria 2, AUT 3. Women: AUT 1, Auckland B 2, Auckland A 3.

Touch, men, final: Waikato 5 AUT A 3. Mixed: Waikato A 1, UWS 2, AUT A 3.

Volleyball, men, final: Otago 3 AUT 1. Third-fourth: Auckland A 3 Victoria 0. Fifth-sixth: Lincoln 3 Auckland B 0. Women, final: Otago 3 AUT 2. Third-fourth: Victoria A Victoria B 0.

Water polo, men: Auckland 1, AUT 2, Massey PN 3. Women: AUT A 1, Auckland 2, AUT B 3.

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YACHTING

SECONDARY SCHOOLS NATIONALS
(Kohimarama)

Standings after day three: Kerikeri HS 16 wins; Mahurangi College 15 wins, 1 loss; Auckland Grammar 13 wins, 2 losses; Westlake BHS 12 wins, 2 losses; Tauranga Boys College 12 wins, 4 losses; Lindisfarne College 10 wins, 6 losses; St Cuthberts College 9 wins, 6 losses; Wellington College 9 wins, 7 losses; Queen Charlotte College 8 wins, 7 losses; St Kentigern College 8 wins, 8 losses; New Plymouth BHS 6 wins, 7 losses; Christchurch BHS 6 wins, 10 losses; Waikato-Thames Combined 4 wins,10 losses; Nelson College 4 wins, 11 losses; Francis Douglas Memorial School 4 wins, 12 losses; New Plymouth GHS 1 win, 13 losses; Paraparaumu-Kapiti Combined 1 win, 15 losses; Christchurch GHS 14 losses.