THE CHANCER: Internet firms put the fun back into having a flutter

BETTING has become more complex, varied and, to a certain extent,more fun than even the inventors of the internet, who surely onlyset up cyberspace with punters in mind, could have imagined.

Yesterday, for example, you could have backed Darren Clarke at 5-1 when he was four under with three to play. A dropped shot at the16th and suddenly he was 14-1. Colin Montgomerie's price, like hisgolf, was pretty consistent and he was around the 2-1 mark when hefinished play last night, but it is mighty difficult to get awayfrom Tiger Woods who was still being quoted at 3-1 for the Openafter his 18 which saw him in touch with the leaders at three under.You can not oppose the world's No1.

It is the sorry lot of the punter to sit on the bar stool andtell anyone who is stupid enough to listen about the great might-have-beens of sport. I don't want to dwell on the Lions tour and,having made a profit by backing Australia to win the series 2-1, itis almost churlish to bring this up.

Last week, however, I had a minor interest of GBP 20 on Tom Smithat 80-1 to open the try scoring. It was one of those speculativebets that occasionally come off. And there he was. A yard from theline. The cover coming across. All he had to do was fall over toscore. He passed and Jason Robinson, a slim 10-1 shot, strolled in.Tom, Tom, Tom, why? He probably had a fiver on the Englishman orsomething. When it comes to whinging this week, Austin Healey is asecond-rater compared to me.

Now that is off my chest, I can concentrate on this weekend'srugby action. The magnificent Tri-Nations tournament gets underway,with New Zealand visiting South Africa. It has been raining all weekin Cape Town which should suit the more agricultural Springbok andwhile, on the evidence of the Test matches against France, the AllBlacks are the better side, the conditions may swing it the SouthAfrican way. Back them at 10-11 with Paddy Power, receiving fivepoints. If South Africa do prevail it paves the way for Australia towin the tournament outright at around the 6-5 mark.

Celtic's Champions League draw saw them pitched against Ajax ofAmsterdam in the preliminary round and layers reacted instantly bymaking the Scottish treble-holders a massive 100-1 to win Europe'stop trophy.