Cast your vote now!
What a horrid display of ref'ing ... in my humble opinion. Perhaps the answer to this sort of ref'ng problem is to give the refs two yellow cards per game and the player sent off has to take it with them!!!
What do you think????
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
POLL RESULT: RWC2011 ground allocations
Q: Do you think the RWC 2011 ground allocations are fair?
results: 50% yes; 50% no
results: 50% yes; 50% no
Kia X Games Asia 2009 Gets Off To Winning Start
11th Edition of Asia’s Biggest Action Sport Competition Attracts More Sponsors and Partners
23 March 2009, Shanghai – This year’s edition of the KIA X Games Asia is set to be bigger and better, even before the event gets underway on April 30 – May 5, 2009.
Organized by Asia’s No. 1 sports broadcaster ESPN STAR Sports in collaboration with title sponsor Kia Motors, the eleventh edition of Asia’s biggest action sports competition, and the third to be held in Shanghai, will be bolstered by the addition of a new Silver Sponsor in Mountain Dew and the elevation of Apparel Sponsor Pony to Silver Sponsor.
New brands like Doritos as the Official Snack Partner and Cold Stone ice-cream have also picked up sponsorship packages. With the addition of more media partners like International Channel Shanghai and Shanghai Daily joining this year’s event, the total number of sponsors and partners has grown to 32 this year – nearly three times more than last year. Like Pony, all the brands stand to benefit from various promotional and marketing opportunities as part of their association with Kia and the KIA X Games Asia.
This year, competitors can look forward to the increase in prize money for the event, which has been raised from US$120,000 last year to US$130,000. Aggressive In-Line, Skateboard and BMX Freestyle participants for the street discipline can also expect a new and revamped course that will resemble real street conditions.
Visitors to this year’s KIA X Games Asia can also expect a bigger carnival atmosphere in the “X Fest”, which will have many exciting entertainment acts such as break-dance performances, DJs spinning the hottest tracks, as well as an interactive arena with many fun activities such as professional skateboarding coaching, games and prize giveaways.
The KIA X Games Asia has earned a strong global reputation with a significant increase in awareness about action sports in the region. Last year’s event was enthusiastically received by the Shanghai community and broke attendance records with more than 52,800 people passing through the gates of Yangpu District’s KIC Jiangwan Sports Center – an increase of more than 55% from 2007.
“We are very happy to be back in China, and look forward to delivering another exhilarating event to KIA X Games Asia fans in Shanghai,” said Harvey Davis, ESPN STAR Sports Vice President, Event Management. “We’re excited to work closely with Kia Motors to bring this world-class action sports competition to new heights, and are heartened by the enthusiasm of our new sponsors in developing so many new spectator and interactive elements this year.”
Themed as “X’press Without Limits”, this year’s event will showcase nearly 200 of the best action sports athletes from more than 30 countries from five continents in the categories Aggressive Inline (Vert and Street), Skateboard (Vert and Street), BMX Freestyle (Vert and Street) and Sport Climbing (Men Speed and Women Speed), accompanied by Moto X Freestyle demonstration (Big Air).
In addition to the high-level competition, many young and trendy artists, musicians and dancers will give spectacular performances to local audiences. The event ambassador, Go Go Club returns to the event as well, and will sing the Chinese theme song “Rise Up”. The highly entertaining concerts will also feature performances by Javis Jian-Fei Wu, Ren-Jie Shen, Juliet Li-Ye Zhu, and Andrew Zhi-Lin Cheung. Kindly refer to the factsheet for more information.
23 March 2009, Shanghai – This year’s edition of the KIA X Games Asia is set to be bigger and better, even before the event gets underway on April 30 – May 5, 2009.
Organized by Asia’s No. 1 sports broadcaster ESPN STAR Sports in collaboration with title sponsor Kia Motors, the eleventh edition of Asia’s biggest action sports competition, and the third to be held in Shanghai, will be bolstered by the addition of a new Silver Sponsor in Mountain Dew and the elevation of Apparel Sponsor Pony to Silver Sponsor.
New brands like Doritos as the Official Snack Partner and Cold Stone ice-cream have also picked up sponsorship packages. With the addition of more media partners like International Channel Shanghai and Shanghai Daily joining this year’s event, the total number of sponsors and partners has grown to 32 this year – nearly three times more than last year. Like Pony, all the brands stand to benefit from various promotional and marketing opportunities as part of their association with Kia and the KIA X Games Asia.
This year, competitors can look forward to the increase in prize money for the event, which has been raised from US$120,000 last year to US$130,000. Aggressive In-Line, Skateboard and BMX Freestyle participants for the street discipline can also expect a new and revamped course that will resemble real street conditions.
Visitors to this year’s KIA X Games Asia can also expect a bigger carnival atmosphere in the “X Fest”, which will have many exciting entertainment acts such as break-dance performances, DJs spinning the hottest tracks, as well as an interactive arena with many fun activities such as professional skateboarding coaching, games and prize giveaways.
The KIA X Games Asia has earned a strong global reputation with a significant increase in awareness about action sports in the region. Last year’s event was enthusiastically received by the Shanghai community and broke attendance records with more than 52,800 people passing through the gates of Yangpu District’s KIC Jiangwan Sports Center – an increase of more than 55% from 2007.
“We are very happy to be back in China, and look forward to delivering another exhilarating event to KIA X Games Asia fans in Shanghai,” said Harvey Davis, ESPN STAR Sports Vice President, Event Management. “We’re excited to work closely with Kia Motors to bring this world-class action sports competition to new heights, and are heartened by the enthusiasm of our new sponsors in developing so many new spectator and interactive elements this year.”
Themed as “X’press Without Limits”, this year’s event will showcase nearly 200 of the best action sports athletes from more than 30 countries from five continents in the categories Aggressive Inline (Vert and Street), Skateboard (Vert and Street), BMX Freestyle (Vert and Street) and Sport Climbing (Men Speed and Women Speed), accompanied by Moto X Freestyle demonstration (Big Air).
In addition to the high-level competition, many young and trendy artists, musicians and dancers will give spectacular performances to local audiences. The event ambassador, Go Go Club returns to the event as well, and will sing the Chinese theme song “Rise Up”. The highly entertaining concerts will also feature performances by Javis Jian-Fei Wu, Ren-Jie Shen, Juliet Li-Ye Zhu, and Andrew Zhi-Lin Cheung. Kindly refer to the factsheet for more information.
ICC Women’s World Cup Final England Quotes
England women yesterday lifted the coveted Women’s World Cup for the third time in its 36 year history after beating New Zealand by four wickets.
The last time England won was in 1993 when they beat the same opposition at Lord’s.
Following the tournament which saw England lose just one game – a dead group match against Australia - captain Charlotte Edwards, herself a veteran of four World Cups said:” It's great having the trophy but I think it will take a couple of days to sink in. I'm not too sure what I am feeling at the moment, but I am just so happy we got over the line in the end. We are World Champions - it's just believing it now.
“We made really hard work of it but it doesn't matter how you win, as long as you win. The girls have worked really hard. I was biting my fingernails at the end because I didn't want us to mess it up. We had done so well in the field, we bowled and fielded well, so to let it slip stupidly would have been disastrous. Holly and Shawsy had it all under control.
“I have mixed emotions about that. It was hard telling her she was not in the team. You have to give a lot of credit to Jenny Gunn though for pulling out at the last minute. Everyone wants to play in a World Cup Final but she was honest to the team and that is what this team is all about. There are a lot of great people in this dressing room.
“I am a bit emotional at the moment. My family are here, my dad passed away recently - I am feeling a lot at the moment. I am just pleased I have done it. My brother said to me three months ago that we would win it, and I have done it. If I really put my mind to something it normally happens, but it would not happen if I didn't have such a great bunch of people around me. They have done fantastically well and it's great to see their faces. It's amazing.”
Mark Lane, Head Coach, commented: “We played some really good cricket. I thought we bowled well and then took our catches. It was a bit nerve-jangling when we batted.
“Luckily Nicky Shaw showed all her experience at the end and came good - Jack said it was a masterful piece of coaching. It was one of the hardest decisions in my life to leave her out in the first place.
“Jen was really struggling and showed some real guts to say that. Shawsy came in and filled her boots so I am really pleased.
“I was a little bit nervous but I have full confidence in people like Holly [Colvin]. Cricket is all about winning and getting over that line and that's what we did yesterday.
It means absolutely everything to me. In my coaching career I have had lots of hard nights down at Guildford Cricket Centre until 10pm and there early on Sunday mornings, so it's days like yesterday that make it all worth it.
“I'd like to thank anyone who coaches female cricketers anywhere in England because winning this is a tribute to all of them.”
Player of the tournament, England’s Claire Taylor added: It's absolutely brilliant. It's starting to sink in now and it just feels amazing. What has been a long time in planning, training, preparing and sacrifice has all some to fruition in the end.
“I like to have my goals, the girls take the mick sometimes, but after 2005 where I didn't even make a contribution, to come out of that, make some significant life changes and for it all to work is just brilliant.
“It's a team game and everyone has put their hand up in some way to get us over the line. It shows the strength of the girls and the people we have around us that we have come through.
“It was a little bit surreal when I went up to pick up the trophy. It was like the Champions League when all those things go off. To be involved in it is just brilliant.
“What will mean more though is standing here with all the players and all the support staff - we will sing our victory song and enjoy the moment together. This is a long journey which we have made together and it's been such a hard one.”
Player of the match Nicky Shaw added: “It's absolutely brilliant to have won the World Cup but it hasn't sunk in yet.
"I didn't know if I would play or not. I thought they would pick the same team as the one that played New Zealand last time.
"I kept it in when they announced the team - I got my thoughts together and carried on with the warm-up. Then I got the nod from Laney and the tears rolled down my face. I was going through a mix of emotions.
"It was right before the toss - we had people running across the field trying to change the team sheet. At that point I was pretty much crying. I had gone through a lot of emotion thinking I wasn't going to play. The one thing I hadn't dealt with was how I'd feel if I did play.
"It was really big of Jen to do that. It must have been the hardest thing she has had to do."
"Suzie Bates and Haidee Tiffin were good wickets to get. I could not ask for anything better, but everyone contributed."
"I was hoping I wouldn't have to bat as we were only chasing 167 to win. I didn't mind being out there though. It was great having Holly [Colvin] out there with me. She bowled so well yesterday and throughout the tournament, so she deserved to hit the winning runs.
"I was just waiting for the ball. I didn't want to hit a four and then get out. I just wanted to wait for the right ball and that's what I did."
The last time England won was in 1993 when they beat the same opposition at Lord’s.
Following the tournament which saw England lose just one game – a dead group match against Australia - captain Charlotte Edwards, herself a veteran of four World Cups said:” It's great having the trophy but I think it will take a couple of days to sink in. I'm not too sure what I am feeling at the moment, but I am just so happy we got over the line in the end. We are World Champions - it's just believing it now.
“We made really hard work of it but it doesn't matter how you win, as long as you win. The girls have worked really hard. I was biting my fingernails at the end because I didn't want us to mess it up. We had done so well in the field, we bowled and fielded well, so to let it slip stupidly would have been disastrous. Holly and Shawsy had it all under control.
“I have mixed emotions about that. It was hard telling her she was not in the team. You have to give a lot of credit to Jenny Gunn though for pulling out at the last minute. Everyone wants to play in a World Cup Final but she was honest to the team and that is what this team is all about. There are a lot of great people in this dressing room.
“I am a bit emotional at the moment. My family are here, my dad passed away recently - I am feeling a lot at the moment. I am just pleased I have done it. My brother said to me three months ago that we would win it, and I have done it. If I really put my mind to something it normally happens, but it would not happen if I didn't have such a great bunch of people around me. They have done fantastically well and it's great to see their faces. It's amazing.”
Mark Lane, Head Coach, commented: “We played some really good cricket. I thought we bowled well and then took our catches. It was a bit nerve-jangling when we batted.
“Luckily Nicky Shaw showed all her experience at the end and came good - Jack said it was a masterful piece of coaching. It was one of the hardest decisions in my life to leave her out in the first place.
“Jen was really struggling and showed some real guts to say that. Shawsy came in and filled her boots so I am really pleased.
“I was a little bit nervous but I have full confidence in people like Holly [Colvin]. Cricket is all about winning and getting over that line and that's what we did yesterday.
It means absolutely everything to me. In my coaching career I have had lots of hard nights down at Guildford Cricket Centre until 10pm and there early on Sunday mornings, so it's days like yesterday that make it all worth it.
“I'd like to thank anyone who coaches female cricketers anywhere in England because winning this is a tribute to all of them.”
Player of the tournament, England’s Claire Taylor added: It's absolutely brilliant. It's starting to sink in now and it just feels amazing. What has been a long time in planning, training, preparing and sacrifice has all some to fruition in the end.
“I like to have my goals, the girls take the mick sometimes, but after 2005 where I didn't even make a contribution, to come out of that, make some significant life changes and for it all to work is just brilliant.
“It's a team game and everyone has put their hand up in some way to get us over the line. It shows the strength of the girls and the people we have around us that we have come through.
“It was a little bit surreal when I went up to pick up the trophy. It was like the Champions League when all those things go off. To be involved in it is just brilliant.
“What will mean more though is standing here with all the players and all the support staff - we will sing our victory song and enjoy the moment together. This is a long journey which we have made together and it's been such a hard one.”
Player of the match Nicky Shaw added: “It's absolutely brilliant to have won the World Cup but it hasn't sunk in yet.
"I didn't know if I would play or not. I thought they would pick the same team as the one that played New Zealand last time.
"I kept it in when they announced the team - I got my thoughts together and carried on with the warm-up. Then I got the nod from Laney and the tears rolled down my face. I was going through a mix of emotions.
"It was right before the toss - we had people running across the field trying to change the team sheet. At that point I was pretty much crying. I had gone through a lot of emotion thinking I wasn't going to play. The one thing I hadn't dealt with was how I'd feel if I did play.
"It was really big of Jen to do that. It must have been the hardest thing she has had to do."
"Suzie Bates and Haidee Tiffin were good wickets to get. I could not ask for anything better, but everyone contributed."
"I was hoping I wouldn't have to bat as we were only chasing 167 to win. I didn't mind being out there though. It was great having Holly [Colvin] out there with me. She bowled so well yesterday and throughout the tournament, so she deserved to hit the winning runs.
"I was just waiting for the ball. I didn't want to hit a four and then get out. I just wanted to wait for the right ball and that's what I did."
Bristol Rugby Forced Into Back Line Changes
Bristol Rugby have been forced to reshuffle their back line for the Guinness Premiership fixture at London Wasps on Sunday.
New Zealander Neil Brew has failed a late fitness test on a knee injury capping a bad week for the Brews with namesake Nathan also ruled out.
Luke Arscott moves into the centre to take over from Brew with Tom Arscott taking over from his brother at full back.
Luke Eves rejoins the squad having represented England U20s against Scotland at Worcester on Friday night and is named amongst the replacements as is England Sevens international Greg Barden.
Bristol Rugby:
Tom Arscott; Lee Robinson, Luke Arscott, Junior Fatialofa, David Lemi; Ed Barnes, Shaun Perry; Mark Irish, Scott Linklater, Darren Crompton, Roy Winters, Robert Sidoli; Redford Pennycook, Joe El Abd (capt), Alfie To'oala
Replacements:
Ollie Hayes, Wayne Thompson, Mariano Sambucetti, Dan Ward-Smith, Haydn Thomas, Luke Eves, Greg Barden
New Zealander Neil Brew has failed a late fitness test on a knee injury capping a bad week for the Brews with namesake Nathan also ruled out.
Luke Arscott moves into the centre to take over from Brew with Tom Arscott taking over from his brother at full back.
Luke Eves rejoins the squad having represented England U20s against Scotland at Worcester on Friday night and is named amongst the replacements as is England Sevens international Greg Barden.
Bristol Rugby:
Tom Arscott; Lee Robinson, Luke Arscott, Junior Fatialofa, David Lemi; Ed Barnes, Shaun Perry; Mark Irish, Scott Linklater, Darren Crompton, Roy Winters, Robert Sidoli; Redford Pennycook, Joe El Abd (capt), Alfie To'oala
Replacements:
Ollie Hayes, Wayne Thompson, Mariano Sambucetti, Dan Ward-Smith, Haydn Thomas, Luke Eves, Greg Barden
Foursomes The Key To England's Success In Spain
England completed their 12th victory in 13 internationals with Spain going back to 1985 when they came out on top in the biennial match at La Reserva in Sotogrande.
After going into the second and final day 7-5 ahead, England completed a 13½ - 10½ victory to give new captain Colin Edwards a winning start in charge.
“I am extremely proud to get a win in Spain and captaining my country for the first time was an awesome experience,” he said.
The two morning sessions of foursomes provided the foundation for England’s success. On each occasion they came out on top 3-1, while the first day singles were drawn and Spain edged the final series 4½ - 3½.
England’s top scorer was Matt Haines (photo courtesy of Tom Ward) with a 100% record from his four matches, while Charlie Ford maintained his good form with 3½ point from four while Tommy Fleetwood scored three from four.
The only occasion Spain has won this fixture was four years ago at Puerta de Hierro when they won 15-8. In 2007, England got back to winning ways with a 16-8 win at Royal Ashdown Forest.
Results
Day One
Foursomes (England names first): S Hutsby & D Whitnell lost to J F Sarasti & C Pigem 1 hole; T Fleetwood & M Haines bt P Erice & M Cobo 6&5; C Ford & T Adcock bt S Garcia & F Pintor 2&1; L Goddard & E Pepperell bt A Hortal & P Oriol 1 hole
Singles: Hutsby bt Sarasti 5&4; Whitnell bt Pigem 4&2; Fleetwood lost to B Virto 3&1; Ford bt Cobo 5&3; J Abbott lost to Erice 3&2; Haines bt Garcia 2&1; Adcock lost to Oriol 1 hole; Goddard lost to Hortal 1 hole
England 7 Spain 5
Day Two
Foursomes: Hutsby & Whitnell lost to Sarasti & Pigem 2 holes; Ford & Adcock bt Erice & Virto 4&3; Fleetwood & Haines bt Oriol & Hortal 5&3; Goddard & Pepperell bt Cobo & Garcia 5&4
Singles: Hutsby lost to Pigem 2&1; Whitnell lost to Sarasti 2&1; Pepperell lost to Hortal 2&1; Ford halved with Pintor; Haines bt Virto 1 hole; Abbott bt Garcia 4&3; Fleetwood bt Erice 3&2; Goddard lost to Oriol 1 hole
England 6½ Spain 5½
Overall: England 13½ Spain 10½
After going into the second and final day 7-5 ahead, England completed a 13½ - 10½ victory to give new captain Colin Edwards a winning start in charge.
“I am extremely proud to get a win in Spain and captaining my country for the first time was an awesome experience,” he said.
The two morning sessions of foursomes provided the foundation for England’s success. On each occasion they came out on top 3-1, while the first day singles were drawn and Spain edged the final series 4½ - 3½.
England’s top scorer was Matt Haines (photo courtesy of Tom Ward) with a 100% record from his four matches, while Charlie Ford maintained his good form with 3½ point from four while Tommy Fleetwood scored three from four.
The only occasion Spain has won this fixture was four years ago at Puerta de Hierro when they won 15-8. In 2007, England got back to winning ways with a 16-8 win at Royal Ashdown Forest.
Results
Day One
Foursomes (England names first): S Hutsby & D Whitnell lost to J F Sarasti & C Pigem 1 hole; T Fleetwood & M Haines bt P Erice & M Cobo 6&5; C Ford & T Adcock bt S Garcia & F Pintor 2&1; L Goddard & E Pepperell bt A Hortal & P Oriol 1 hole
Singles: Hutsby bt Sarasti 5&4; Whitnell bt Pigem 4&2; Fleetwood lost to B Virto 3&1; Ford bt Cobo 5&3; J Abbott lost to Erice 3&2; Haines bt Garcia 2&1; Adcock lost to Oriol 1 hole; Goddard lost to Hortal 1 hole
England 7 Spain 5
Day Two
Foursomes: Hutsby & Whitnell lost to Sarasti & Pigem 2 holes; Ford & Adcock bt Erice & Virto 4&3; Fleetwood & Haines bt Oriol & Hortal 5&3; Goddard & Pepperell bt Cobo & Garcia 5&4
Singles: Hutsby lost to Pigem 2&1; Whitnell lost to Sarasti 2&1; Pepperell lost to Hortal 2&1; Ford halved with Pintor; Haines bt Virto 1 hole; Abbott bt Garcia 4&3; Fleetwood bt Erice 3&2; Goddard lost to Oriol 1 hole
England 6½ Spain 5½
Overall: England 13½ Spain 10½
Wait is over for Walker
Chris Walker’s remarkable comeback from injury is set to be complete at Skilled Park on Friday night after the Jetstar Gold Coast Titans flyer was named on the wing for the blockbuster against the Bulldogs.
Walker, who recently turned 29, is set to play his first match in over 18 months having made a full recovery from consecutive Achilles tendon injuries.
Jetstar Titans coach John Cartwright also named halfback Scott Prince in an extended 18-man squad for the Bulldogs clash. He will give the club’s co-captain right up until kick-off on Friday night to prove his fitness after Prince injured his hamstring at training on Monday.
“He’ll be named in the side and we’ll give him up until kick-off to prove his fitness,’’ said Cartwright of Prince.
Walker’s journey to overcome problems both on and off the field will not be the only comeback story of the clash with the Bulldogs, with prop Michael Henderson also set to take his place in the starting front row for the first time in 2009.
Henderson’s start to the year was pushed back several weeks after he underwent surgery during the pre-season to remove a titanium rod in the leg which he badly broke in 2007.
Walker made history as the club’s first ever try scorer in the Jetstar Titans’ NRL debut match against St George Illawarra in 2007 but has since managed only four more games for the club in the two years that have followed.
It has been a remarkable journey for Walker, who has also turned his life around off the field – highlighted by him being a finalist for the NRL’s Ken Stephen Medal last year due to his tireless work in the community.
Jetstar Titans coach John Cartwright said Walker deserved to be back wearing a Titans jersey.
“He deserves his chance, he’s done well through the pre-season and to come back from two major operations like he has, he deserves to go out there and have a really good game for us,’’ said Cartwright.
“He’s obviously had his dark moments through it all and he had a lot of other issues to deal with as well.
“I suppose that makes it all the more sweeter when you get the call-up in the side. But for every high you have in telling Chris he’s in the side you’ve got to tell young Jordan he’s not in the side so it balances out for me but I’m very happy for Chris.’’
Walker, who recently turned 29, is set to play his first match in over 18 months having made a full recovery from consecutive Achilles tendon injuries.
Jetstar Titans coach John Cartwright also named halfback Scott Prince in an extended 18-man squad for the Bulldogs clash. He will give the club’s co-captain right up until kick-off on Friday night to prove his fitness after Prince injured his hamstring at training on Monday.
“He’ll be named in the side and we’ll give him up until kick-off to prove his fitness,’’ said Cartwright of Prince.
Walker’s journey to overcome problems both on and off the field will not be the only comeback story of the clash with the Bulldogs, with prop Michael Henderson also set to take his place in the starting front row for the first time in 2009.
Henderson’s start to the year was pushed back several weeks after he underwent surgery during the pre-season to remove a titanium rod in the leg which he badly broke in 2007.
Walker made history as the club’s first ever try scorer in the Jetstar Titans’ NRL debut match against St George Illawarra in 2007 but has since managed only four more games for the club in the two years that have followed.
It has been a remarkable journey for Walker, who has also turned his life around off the field – highlighted by him being a finalist for the NRL’s Ken Stephen Medal last year due to his tireless work in the community.
Jetstar Titans coach John Cartwright said Walker deserved to be back wearing a Titans jersey.
“He deserves his chance, he’s done well through the pre-season and to come back from two major operations like he has, he deserves to go out there and have a really good game for us,’’ said Cartwright.
“He’s obviously had his dark moments through it all and he had a lot of other issues to deal with as well.
“I suppose that makes it all the more sweeter when you get the call-up in the side. But for every high you have in telling Chris he’s in the side you’ve got to tell young Jordan he’s not in the side so it balances out for me but I’m very happy for Chris.’’
KIRK CALLED UP, LUCK BACK TO TAKE ON BRISBANE
Utility back Aidan Kirk has been called in to replace Manu Vatuvei and loose forward Micheal Luck returns from a week off for the Vodafone Warriors’ third-round NRL clash against Brisbane at Mount Smart Stadium on Saturday night.
The 23-year-old Vatuvei, one of the Vodafone Warriors’ try scorers in their 26-24 win against Manly on Sunday, has a knee injury which is still being fully assessed.
That allows Kirk (23), who played 15 times at NRL level last year, to come onto the left wing outside centre Jerome Ropati.
Also out of the side is interchange prop Leeson Ah Mau, set to be sidelined for a few weeks after he dislocated a shoulder on Sunday.
Returning from the casualty list is vice-captain Luck, named after missing the Manly match after he was knocked out by a heavy Fuifui Moimoi tackle in the season-opening 26-18 win over Parramatta.
He slots back into the No 13 jersey, Sam Rapira is again named as a starting prop – he played in the back row in the opening stanza against Manly – and Russell Packer is again listed on the bench.
Vodafone Warriors coach Ivan Cleary said the opening two weeks of the season had once again underlined how physically demanding the NRL is on the players.
“We ended up losing three players after beating the Eels and, while we beat Manly, it was a brutal battle that certainly left us with some battered players,” he said.
“While we don’t know the full extent of Manu’s injury yet we couldn’t see him being ready for Brisbane so that opens the way for Aidan (Kirk) to have his first NRL run of the year. He did a terrific job for us last year.
“And Lucky has trained well the last few days. It was a good decision to give him the week off.”
Brisbane heads to Auckland with the same two-from-two record as the Vodafone Warriors so far this year.
They started with a 19-18 victory over North Queensland and held out Melbourne 16-14 last Friday night.
“They’ve come off two very tough matches impressively. While we have started with the results we aimed for, this takes it up to another level again because the Broncos just have so much to throw at you from all over the park,” said Cleary.
“We’ll need to be a lot better than we were at times against Manly. While we came back to win the match, there were periods when we weren’t playing as well as we needed.”
Saturday night’s match will be halfback Nathan Fien’s 99th for the club. That will leave him on target to reach his 100th in the home match against South Sydney on April 5, making him just the 13th player to reach the milestone for the Vodafone Warriors.
Stacey Jones, again named on the interchange bench after his match-winning deeds against Manly, will play for the Vodafone Warriors at home for the first time since taking on Newcastle on August 20, 2005.
Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland
7.30pm, Saturday, March 28
Referees: Jason Robinson and Matt Cecchin
VODAFONE WARRIORS
1 WADE McKINNON
2 DENAN KEMP
3 BRENT TATE
4 JEROME ROPATI
5 AIDAN KIRK
6 JOEL MOON
7 NATHAN FIEN
8 SAM RAPIRA
9 IAN HENDERSON
10 STEVE PRICE (c)
11 SIMON MANNERING
12 JACOB LILLYMAN
13 MICHEAL LUCK
Interchange:
14 STACEY JONES
15 RUSSELL PACKER
16 JESSE ROYAL
17 UKUMA TA’AI
18TH MAN: DANIEL O’REGAN
COACH: IVAN CLEARY
The 23-year-old Vatuvei, one of the Vodafone Warriors’ try scorers in their 26-24 win against Manly on Sunday, has a knee injury which is still being fully assessed.
That allows Kirk (23), who played 15 times at NRL level last year, to come onto the left wing outside centre Jerome Ropati.
Also out of the side is interchange prop Leeson Ah Mau, set to be sidelined for a few weeks after he dislocated a shoulder on Sunday.
Returning from the casualty list is vice-captain Luck, named after missing the Manly match after he was knocked out by a heavy Fuifui Moimoi tackle in the season-opening 26-18 win over Parramatta.
He slots back into the No 13 jersey, Sam Rapira is again named as a starting prop – he played in the back row in the opening stanza against Manly – and Russell Packer is again listed on the bench.
Vodafone Warriors coach Ivan Cleary said the opening two weeks of the season had once again underlined how physically demanding the NRL is on the players.
“We ended up losing three players after beating the Eels and, while we beat Manly, it was a brutal battle that certainly left us with some battered players,” he said.
“While we don’t know the full extent of Manu’s injury yet we couldn’t see him being ready for Brisbane so that opens the way for Aidan (Kirk) to have his first NRL run of the year. He did a terrific job for us last year.
“And Lucky has trained well the last few days. It was a good decision to give him the week off.”
Brisbane heads to Auckland with the same two-from-two record as the Vodafone Warriors so far this year.
They started with a 19-18 victory over North Queensland and held out Melbourne 16-14 last Friday night.
“They’ve come off two very tough matches impressively. While we have started with the results we aimed for, this takes it up to another level again because the Broncos just have so much to throw at you from all over the park,” said Cleary.
“We’ll need to be a lot better than we were at times against Manly. While we came back to win the match, there were periods when we weren’t playing as well as we needed.”
Saturday night’s match will be halfback Nathan Fien’s 99th for the club. That will leave him on target to reach his 100th in the home match against South Sydney on April 5, making him just the 13th player to reach the milestone for the Vodafone Warriors.
Stacey Jones, again named on the interchange bench after his match-winning deeds against Manly, will play for the Vodafone Warriors at home for the first time since taking on Newcastle on August 20, 2005.
Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland
7.30pm, Saturday, March 28
Referees: Jason Robinson and Matt Cecchin
VODAFONE WARRIORS
1 WADE McKINNON
2 DENAN KEMP
3 BRENT TATE
4 JEROME ROPATI
5 AIDAN KIRK
6 JOEL MOON
7 NATHAN FIEN
8 SAM RAPIRA
9 IAN HENDERSON
10 STEVE PRICE (c)
11 SIMON MANNERING
12 JACOB LILLYMAN
13 MICHEAL LUCK
Interchange:
14 STACEY JONES
15 RUSSELL PACKER
16 JESSE ROYAL
17 UKUMA TA’AI
18TH MAN: DANIEL O’REGAN
COACH: IVAN CLEARY
Kiwis Look Forward To A Busy Second Day At ASB Pro Circuit Tennis Futures
New Zealand may have found a new star in tennis with recently turned 16-year-old Katherine Westbury gaining a win over a seeded player in the opening match of the Wellington tennis Futures tournament.
Westbury who was originally born in Hamilton but has spent time living in Christchurch, Sydney and Thailand defeated eighth seed and 450th ranked Nudnida Luangnam of Thailand in the first round of the US$10,000 ASB Pro Circuit at the Renouf Tennis Centre.
The 6-2 6-3 scoreline showed the complete dominance of the Kiwi and also the lack of composure of Luangnam who struggled to handle the often blustery conditions. The Thai player displayed her disapproval at the loss to an as yet ranked opponent by flinging her racquet half of the court at the completion of the match to which Westbury picked it up and then handed back to her.
Westbury will gain a WTA ranking next week after making the second round at Hamilton and previously a quarterfinal of a tournament last year.
She faces the Hamilton tournament winner, Ayu-Fani Damayanti(Indonesia) in the second round on Thursday.
In the men’s US$15,000 draw early wins went to Russian fifth seed Artem Sitak who is investigating applying for New Zealand citizenship. Sitak defeated Barbados player Haydn Lewis in three sets while eighth seed and North Harbour Futures winner, Rameez Junaid from Australia accounted American lucky loser Jordan Cox.
But New Zealand’s solitary male player in singles action on day one, GD Jones continued his wretched results in the series, losing to second seed Tatsuma Ito of Japan.
Jones led 4-1 in the first set but eventually 7-5 6-3. For Ito ranked at 333 it was another Kiwi scalp to add to his recent run. Last week he beat four New Zealanders on his way to the final in Hamilton where he was eventually stopped by Australian Carsten Ball.
Day two of the event will see nine locals take the court in singles the clash between No1 Rubin Statham and fellow Davis Cup team member, Adam Thompson late in the afternoon.
Dan King-Turner, Oliver Statham, Logan MacKenzie will all play along with Wairarapa professional Marcus Daniell who faces193rd ranked top seed and Hamilton winner Carsten Ball.
Daniell did have some success winning in doubles by teaming up with Joel Lindner(Australia) to defeated the highly respected top seeded Australians Adam Feeney 147th in doubles and Junaid ranked at 110 by a score of 2-6 6-4 10-7.
In women’s day two action Kairangi Vano plays Australian Alenka Hubacek, Di Hollands takes on fifth seed Kyung-Yee Chae(Korea) and Canterbury teenager, Leela Beattie comes up against American qualifier Sabrina Capannolo.
Westbury who was originally born in Hamilton but has spent time living in Christchurch, Sydney and Thailand defeated eighth seed and 450th ranked Nudnida Luangnam of Thailand in the first round of the US$10,000 ASB Pro Circuit at the Renouf Tennis Centre.
The 6-2 6-3 scoreline showed the complete dominance of the Kiwi and also the lack of composure of Luangnam who struggled to handle the often blustery conditions. The Thai player displayed her disapproval at the loss to an as yet ranked opponent by flinging her racquet half of the court at the completion of the match to which Westbury picked it up and then handed back to her.
Westbury will gain a WTA ranking next week after making the second round at Hamilton and previously a quarterfinal of a tournament last year.
She faces the Hamilton tournament winner, Ayu-Fani Damayanti(Indonesia) in the second round on Thursday.
In the men’s US$15,000 draw early wins went to Russian fifth seed Artem Sitak who is investigating applying for New Zealand citizenship. Sitak defeated Barbados player Haydn Lewis in three sets while eighth seed and North Harbour Futures winner, Rameez Junaid from Australia accounted American lucky loser Jordan Cox.
But New Zealand’s solitary male player in singles action on day one, GD Jones continued his wretched results in the series, losing to second seed Tatsuma Ito of Japan.
Jones led 4-1 in the first set but eventually 7-5 6-3. For Ito ranked at 333 it was another Kiwi scalp to add to his recent run. Last week he beat four New Zealanders on his way to the final in Hamilton where he was eventually stopped by Australian Carsten Ball.
Day two of the event will see nine locals take the court in singles the clash between No1 Rubin Statham and fellow Davis Cup team member, Adam Thompson late in the afternoon.
Dan King-Turner, Oliver Statham, Logan MacKenzie will all play along with Wairarapa professional Marcus Daniell who faces193rd ranked top seed and Hamilton winner Carsten Ball.
Daniell did have some success winning in doubles by teaming up with Joel Lindner(Australia) to defeated the highly respected top seeded Australians Adam Feeney 147th in doubles and Junaid ranked at 110 by a score of 2-6 6-4 10-7.
In women’s day two action Kairangi Vano plays Australian Alenka Hubacek, Di Hollands takes on fifth seed Kyung-Yee Chae(Korea) and Canterbury teenager, Leela Beattie comes up against American qualifier Sabrina Capannolo.
Jamie How joins BLACKCAPS squad as cover for Flynn
Central Districts batsman Jamie How will join the BLACKCAPS squad tonight as cover for Daniel Flynn.
Flynn sustained an injury to his left hand while batting in the first Test against India. Tests today showed no indication of any fracture, but the hand is swollen, affecting Flynn's ability to bat.
He will continue to receive treatment and will be further assessed tomorrow before any decision is made on whether he plays in the match.
Flynn sustained an injury to his left hand while batting in the first Test against India. Tests today showed no indication of any fracture, but the hand is swollen, affecting Flynn's ability to bat.
He will continue to receive treatment and will be further assessed tomorrow before any decision is made on whether he plays in the match.
New Zealand Cricket has no concerns over Test playing strip
New Zealand Cricket has confirmed that the wicket at McLean Park, Napier is expected to be in top playing condition for the second Test starting at McLean Park, Napier on Thursday.
The Test playing strip is slightly to one side of the strip originally scheduled to be used for the match, which was affected by minor patchiness after reseeding following the West Indies series. The patchiness is purely cosmetic and not the result of disease.
The new strip appears hard and flat, with affected areas well outside the playing zone. The strip has been extensively prepared over the past 10 days and is in excellent condition.
The Test playing strip is slightly to one side of the strip originally scheduled to be used for the match, which was affected by minor patchiness after reseeding following the West Indies series. The patchiness is purely cosmetic and not the result of disease.
The new strip appears hard and flat, with affected areas well outside the playing zone. The strip has been extensively prepared over the past 10 days and is in excellent condition.
NZC endorses ICC appointment of Tony Hill to world's elite umpires
The ICC release below details the appointment of New Zealand umpire Tony Hill to the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC umpires.
New Zealand Cricket Chief Executive Justin Vaughan comments on the appointment:
"New Zealand Cricket is delighted with Tony Hill's appointment to the Emirates Elite Panel. Tony has been an outstanding umpire for many years both in New Zealand and overseas and has earned the respect of teams and officials throughout the cricketing world.
"Tony's promotion reflects well on the standard of umpiring in New Zealand and it is great we now have two umpires on the Elite Panel, with Tony joining Billy Bowden as one of the top tier of cricket's match officials."
------------------------------
Gould and Hill make the step up to join the world’s elite umpires
Andy Pycroft appointed to Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees
The International Cricket Council (ICC) today announced that umpires Tony Hill and Ian Gould have been added to the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires following the annual review and selection process.
The two umpires, who have been serving on the Emirates International Panel of ICC Umpires, have been elevated to the top level by the ICC Umpires Selection Panel made up of David Richardson, ICC’s General Manager – Cricket, ICC Chief Match Referee Ranjan Madugalle, ex-England player, coach and former first-class umpire David Lloyd and Srinivasaraghavan Venkataraghavan, the former India captain and international umpire.
With the imminent retirement of Steve Bucknor coupled with last year’s retirement of Darrell Hair the number on the elite panel will be back up to 12.
In addition, four other umpires from the Emirates International Panel of ICC Umpires – Marais Erasmus (South Africa), Rodney Tucker (Australia), Amish Saheba (India) and Nigel Llong (England and Wales) – have been identified for overseas appointments in addition to umpiring international fixtures taking place in their own countries.
“We are delighted to confirm the promotion of both Ian and Tony to the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires,” said Mr Richardson.
“Their promotions are a result of perseverance, hard work and commitment and I am sure these two umpires will serve as an inspiration to the other Emirates International Panel umpires who are striving hard to break into the top flight.
“Apart from their sound decision-making, we have been particularly impressed with Ian and Tony’s team-work and ability to handle pressure when they have been given opportunities to umpire Test and high-level ODI cricket.
“They both enjoy a good rapport with players and have earned a lot of respect in their international careers to date. We are confident they will be able to make the step up to the elite level,” he said.
Following the appointment, Mr Gould said: “I am delighted to have been selected on to the elite panel. I believe that having played cricket at a high level for 21 years I understand the game from the players’ point of view and that I bring that empathy out in my umpiring. Although it’s a very different challenge to playing the game, being an umpire is enormously rewarding and a great way to stay involved.”
Mr Hill added: “I am thrilled by this appointment. For me, umpiring is all about teamwork and so to be part of such a great team as the Emirates Elite Panel is huge for me. I am looking forward to continuing to work hard and repaying the faith the ICC has shown in me.”
Appointments to fill the vacancies left by Gould and Hill on the Emirates International Panel of ICC Umpires will be made by the relevant home boards in due course.
Meanwhile in a separate appointment, former Zimbabwe Test batsman Andy Pycroft has been added to the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees bringing the total number of referees on the Elite Panel to seven.
ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said: “Andy is a real cricket man with a remarkably diverse background within the game. At the highest level, he has been a player, team manager, selector and broadcaster so that, coupled with his legal background, makes him an excellent addition to the elite referees’ panel.
“He has a deep understanding of and passion for cricket and I am confident he will do an excellent job,” said Mr Lorgat.
Mr Pycroft added: “I am fortunate that I have been involved in cricket for many years and in many different capacities. Whether as a player, coach, administrator or commentator I have always tried to be fair and respect the game. I am looking forward to this new challenge and I will be doing my very best to apply that range of skills effectively.”
Background:
Ian Gould (51) joined the first-class umpires’ panel in England in 2002 and was elevated to the Emirates International Panel in 2006. Since then he has stood in two Tests and 31 ODIs. During his playing days, he was a wicketkeeper-batsman for Middlesex, Sussex and England in a first-class career that ran from 1975 to 1996. In that time he played 298 first-class matches scoring 8,756 runs at an average of 26.05. He played 18 One-Day Internationals for England in 1983.
From Auckland, New Zealand, Tony Hill (57) has been a consistent and reliable umpire at every level at which he has been appointed and has been a member of the Emirates International Panel since 1998. In that time he has stood in nine Tests and 63 ODIs. He is very active in New Zealand and when he travels in the role of training and mentoring up-and-coming umpires. He is a regional training officer in the Northern Districts and runs an online question-and-answer forum for umpires of all levels.
Andy Pycroft (52) played three Tests and 20 ODIs for his native Zimbabwe and appeared as a player in three ICC Cricket World Cup tournaments. Apart from captaining his country he has also completed stints as national coach, national team manager, national selector and television commentator. He has sat on several ICC committees including the ICC Technical and Rules Committee and the ICC Cricket Committee. Having attended Cape Town University he worked as an attorney-at-law for 22 years, including 17 years as a partner of the law firm, Winterton, Holmes and Hill.
The Emirates Elite Panels of ICC Umpires and ICC Match Referees comprise the top match officials in the world. To ensure the highest possible standards and guarantee impartial adjudication, two umpires from the Emirates Elite Panel stand in almost all Test matches around the world, while one member stands with a home umpire from the Emirates International Panel of ICC Umpires for One-Day International matches.
On average, each member of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires annually stands in eight-10 Test matches and 10-15 ODIs, not including any ICC events in that year. This is a potential on-field workload of 75 days plus travel and preparation time, per year. The composition of both panels is reviewed every year and announced around the end of March/beginning of April. These selected officials are contracted to work for the ICC on a full-time basis in a programme shared with their home boards.
The ICC supports the ongoing development of all international officials through the appointment of Regional Umpiring Performance Managers, by bringing them together for training on an annual basis, by employing a full-time digital video specialist to help review decisions, and by conducting regular reviews in Dubai as they pass through on assignment.
The Emirates Elite Panel was first introduced in April 2002. The current panels are:
Umpires
Mark Benson
Billy Bowden
Steve Bucknor*
Aleem Dar
Steve Davis
Asoka De Silva
Billy Doctrove
Ian Gould
Daryl Harper
Tony Hill
Rudi Koertzen
Asad Rauf
Simon Taufel
*Steve Bucknor has announced his retirement from international cricket umpiring with his final appointments set to come during the West Indies v England ODI series currently underway in the Caribbean.
Match Referees
Chris Broad
Jeff Crowe
Alan Hurst
Ranjan Madugalle
Roshan Mahanama
Andy Pycroft
Javagal Srinath
For more information about the ICC match officials go to http://icc-cricket.yahoo.net/about-icc/match-officials.html
New Zealand Cricket Chief Executive Justin Vaughan comments on the appointment:
"New Zealand Cricket is delighted with Tony Hill's appointment to the Emirates Elite Panel. Tony has been an outstanding umpire for many years both in New Zealand and overseas and has earned the respect of teams and officials throughout the cricketing world.
"Tony's promotion reflects well on the standard of umpiring in New Zealand and it is great we now have two umpires on the Elite Panel, with Tony joining Billy Bowden as one of the top tier of cricket's match officials."
------------------------------
Gould and Hill make the step up to join the world’s elite umpires
Andy Pycroft appointed to Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees
The International Cricket Council (ICC) today announced that umpires Tony Hill and Ian Gould have been added to the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires following the annual review and selection process.
The two umpires, who have been serving on the Emirates International Panel of ICC Umpires, have been elevated to the top level by the ICC Umpires Selection Panel made up of David Richardson, ICC’s General Manager – Cricket, ICC Chief Match Referee Ranjan Madugalle, ex-England player, coach and former first-class umpire David Lloyd and Srinivasaraghavan Venkataraghavan, the former India captain and international umpire.
With the imminent retirement of Steve Bucknor coupled with last year’s retirement of Darrell Hair the number on the elite panel will be back up to 12.
In addition, four other umpires from the Emirates International Panel of ICC Umpires – Marais Erasmus (South Africa), Rodney Tucker (Australia), Amish Saheba (India) and Nigel Llong (England and Wales) – have been identified for overseas appointments in addition to umpiring international fixtures taking place in their own countries.
“We are delighted to confirm the promotion of both Ian and Tony to the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires,” said Mr Richardson.
“Their promotions are a result of perseverance, hard work and commitment and I am sure these two umpires will serve as an inspiration to the other Emirates International Panel umpires who are striving hard to break into the top flight.
“Apart from their sound decision-making, we have been particularly impressed with Ian and Tony’s team-work and ability to handle pressure when they have been given opportunities to umpire Test and high-level ODI cricket.
“They both enjoy a good rapport with players and have earned a lot of respect in their international careers to date. We are confident they will be able to make the step up to the elite level,” he said.
Following the appointment, Mr Gould said: “I am delighted to have been selected on to the elite panel. I believe that having played cricket at a high level for 21 years I understand the game from the players’ point of view and that I bring that empathy out in my umpiring. Although it’s a very different challenge to playing the game, being an umpire is enormously rewarding and a great way to stay involved.”
Mr Hill added: “I am thrilled by this appointment. For me, umpiring is all about teamwork and so to be part of such a great team as the Emirates Elite Panel is huge for me. I am looking forward to continuing to work hard and repaying the faith the ICC has shown in me.”
Appointments to fill the vacancies left by Gould and Hill on the Emirates International Panel of ICC Umpires will be made by the relevant home boards in due course.
Meanwhile in a separate appointment, former Zimbabwe Test batsman Andy Pycroft has been added to the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees bringing the total number of referees on the Elite Panel to seven.
ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said: “Andy is a real cricket man with a remarkably diverse background within the game. At the highest level, he has been a player, team manager, selector and broadcaster so that, coupled with his legal background, makes him an excellent addition to the elite referees’ panel.
“He has a deep understanding of and passion for cricket and I am confident he will do an excellent job,” said Mr Lorgat.
Mr Pycroft added: “I am fortunate that I have been involved in cricket for many years and in many different capacities. Whether as a player, coach, administrator or commentator I have always tried to be fair and respect the game. I am looking forward to this new challenge and I will be doing my very best to apply that range of skills effectively.”
Background:
Ian Gould (51) joined the first-class umpires’ panel in England in 2002 and was elevated to the Emirates International Panel in 2006. Since then he has stood in two Tests and 31 ODIs. During his playing days, he was a wicketkeeper-batsman for Middlesex, Sussex and England in a first-class career that ran from 1975 to 1996. In that time he played 298 first-class matches scoring 8,756 runs at an average of 26.05. He played 18 One-Day Internationals for England in 1983.
From Auckland, New Zealand, Tony Hill (57) has been a consistent and reliable umpire at every level at which he has been appointed and has been a member of the Emirates International Panel since 1998. In that time he has stood in nine Tests and 63 ODIs. He is very active in New Zealand and when he travels in the role of training and mentoring up-and-coming umpires. He is a regional training officer in the Northern Districts and runs an online question-and-answer forum for umpires of all levels.
Andy Pycroft (52) played three Tests and 20 ODIs for his native Zimbabwe and appeared as a player in three ICC Cricket World Cup tournaments. Apart from captaining his country he has also completed stints as national coach, national team manager, national selector and television commentator. He has sat on several ICC committees including the ICC Technical and Rules Committee and the ICC Cricket Committee. Having attended Cape Town University he worked as an attorney-at-law for 22 years, including 17 years as a partner of the law firm, Winterton, Holmes and Hill.
The Emirates Elite Panels of ICC Umpires and ICC Match Referees comprise the top match officials in the world. To ensure the highest possible standards and guarantee impartial adjudication, two umpires from the Emirates Elite Panel stand in almost all Test matches around the world, while one member stands with a home umpire from the Emirates International Panel of ICC Umpires for One-Day International matches.
On average, each member of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires annually stands in eight-10 Test matches and 10-15 ODIs, not including any ICC events in that year. This is a potential on-field workload of 75 days plus travel and preparation time, per year. The composition of both panels is reviewed every year and announced around the end of March/beginning of April. These selected officials are contracted to work for the ICC on a full-time basis in a programme shared with their home boards.
The ICC supports the ongoing development of all international officials through the appointment of Regional Umpiring Performance Managers, by bringing them together for training on an annual basis, by employing a full-time digital video specialist to help review decisions, and by conducting regular reviews in Dubai as they pass through on assignment.
The Emirates Elite Panel was first introduced in April 2002. The current panels are:
Umpires
Mark Benson
Billy Bowden
Steve Bucknor*
Aleem Dar
Steve Davis
Asoka De Silva
Billy Doctrove
Ian Gould
Daryl Harper
Tony Hill
Rudi Koertzen
Asad Rauf
Simon Taufel
*Steve Bucknor has announced his retirement from international cricket umpiring with his final appointments set to come during the West Indies v England ODI series currently underway in the Caribbean.
Match Referees
Chris Broad
Jeff Crowe
Alan Hurst
Ranjan Madugalle
Roshan Mahanama
Andy Pycroft
Javagal Srinath
For more information about the ICC match officials go to http://icc-cricket.yahoo.net/about-icc/match-officials.html
Wenger: We are improving in every game
I think it was a very good football game on Saturday. Newcastle had a very good first half and put us under pressure and could have been in front, of course, with the penalty. They had two or three other good chances as well.
In the second half we kept the tempo high, slowly took over and then won the game in a convincing way. I must say as well Newcastle were unfortunate to lose players, like Sebastien Bassong and Steven Taylor, at the wrong period of the game.
Manuel Almunia's penalty save in the first half was very important. I felt, though, that when the penalty was given, our shoot-out win in Rome would help him; it made him feel strong on penalties. Of course it is a bit of a toss-up, but I think some part of a penalty is psychological. On that front, the fact he helped us to win in Rome gave him the needed confidence.
With Chelsea and Manchester United losing it was a good opportunity for us to close in on those at the top. You never know, even in a one in a billion chance, we want to come back and fight to get as close to the team at the top.
We are unbeaten in 16 games in the Premier League and I feel we are improving in every game. This is a young side and the spirit is great, the quality is there and we feel we can go forward from game to game. People don’t realise how young we are in the Premier League, and what we achieve. I think today you had six or seven players between 20 and 22 years of age.
We are now ahead of Aston Villa in fourth place but the only thing that has changed from two weeks ago is that it is in our hands now. We do not have to focus too much on the results of Villa.
That shows you, if you drop a little bit, you are quickly caught. We could have been eight points behind Aston Villa two weeks ago, so we want to keep our focus, and our performances at a high level.
Arsène Wenger
www.arsenal.co.uk
In the second half we kept the tempo high, slowly took over and then won the game in a convincing way. I must say as well Newcastle were unfortunate to lose players, like Sebastien Bassong and Steven Taylor, at the wrong period of the game.
Manuel Almunia's penalty save in the first half was very important. I felt, though, that when the penalty was given, our shoot-out win in Rome would help him; it made him feel strong on penalties. Of course it is a bit of a toss-up, but I think some part of a penalty is psychological. On that front, the fact he helped us to win in Rome gave him the needed confidence.
With Chelsea and Manchester United losing it was a good opportunity for us to close in on those at the top. You never know, even in a one in a billion chance, we want to come back and fight to get as close to the team at the top.
We are unbeaten in 16 games in the Premier League and I feel we are improving in every game. This is a young side and the spirit is great, the quality is there and we feel we can go forward from game to game. People don’t realise how young we are in the Premier League, and what we achieve. I think today you had six or seven players between 20 and 22 years of age.
We are now ahead of Aston Villa in fourth place but the only thing that has changed from two weeks ago is that it is in our hands now. We do not have to focus too much on the results of Villa.
That shows you, if you drop a little bit, you are quickly caught. We could have been eight points behind Aston Villa two weeks ago, so we want to keep our focus, and our performances at a high level.
Arsène Wenger
www.arsenal.co.uk
A1GP News Round Up
With A1GP World Cup of Motorsport now back in Europe teams are looking forward to the next event, A1GP Algarve, Portugal, 10 – 12 April 2009.A1GP is heading to Portugal for only the second time in its history and for the first time to the brand new Autódromo Internacional do Algarvecircuit. With several teams, including A1 Teams Switzerland, Ireland, Netherlands and the home team A1 Team Portugal, all battling for the championship and to win the prized World Cup of Motorsport trophy, the event promises to be one of the most memorable of the season.
Ahead of A1GP Brands Hatch, Great Britain, 1 – 3 May, fans can now keep up to date with the latest information through a dedicated A1GP Brands Hatch mini-site, www.a1gpbrandshatch.com, which was launched last week. The new website features the latest news, images and videos on the 2008/09 A1GP season, as well as information on the upcoming Brands Hatch event.
Through the site, fans can book tickets and find out more about the entertainment on offer both on and off the track during race weekend as well as directions to Brands Hatch and local accommodation details.
The website also includes details of raceday hospitality packages - including the brand new Trackside Lounge pass, which gives access to one of Brands Hatch’s stylish trackside suites at Brands Hatch, with superb views of the race circuit along the start/finish straight, available for £115 per person.
General admission tickets cost from £29 for adults, with free entry for children aged 12 and under.
A1 Team Malaysia joined one of its partners, The Otomotif College (TOC), last weekend at the Facon Education Fair held at the KL Convention Centre. The Otomotif College is an established training institution specialised in automotive education and skills training for the retail automotive sector. The fair is aimed at encouraging post secondary students to consider the college options available to them and A1 Team Malaysia were keen to be involved to help attract a new generation of talent to the automotive industry. The A1 Team Malaysia simulator was one of the main attractions on the TOC stand, drawing in prospective students to learn more about the offering of the college and having nearly 200 people put their skills to the test in the virtual A1GP race car. A1 Team Malaysia driver, Aaron Lim, also visited the stand, spending time meeting fans and signing autographs.
Higher Education Ministry Director general Datuk Professor Radin Umar Radin Sohadi did not miss a chance to try the simulator and commented about the fair, “Although our country is facing an economic slowdown and there are many unemployed graduates, students should still take tertiary education seriously and acquire the right attributes in order to be marketable later on.”
A1 Team Malaysia driver Aaron Lim was on hand to guide and tutor the budding race drivers on the simulator and he commented after the event, “The Facon Education fair is a great environment for students to be able to look at the options for the next step in their career ladders. The A1 Team Malaysia simulator was a real crowd puller to the TOC stand and it was great to be able to chat with students who are interested in the automotive sector and motorsport.
“As a long term partner to the Malaysian A1GP team, we know first hand how the TOC can assist young students with their career goals. The students who study at the TOC could potentially make the transition into Malaysian motorsports in the future and grow into race series such as A1GP.”
Looking ahead to Season Five, the SuperGP on Australia’s Gold Coast has been strengthened by the announcement of a new three-year naming rights partnership with the Nitro energy drink brand.
Nitro Energy Drink is an Australian-owned product with its national headquarters on the Gold Coast. Nitro Energy Drink Joint MD Matt Nielsen and Nitro SuperGP chairman Terry Mackenroth officially confirmed the partnership last week.
“I think, like the Nitro SuperGP, our products are for everyone - and being a proud Queensland and Australian-based company, we have had our eye on a major event to be associated with for a long time,” Nielsen said, “For this opportunity to present itself at this stage of our company's growth is fantastic for everyone involved and we look forward to accelerating our brand's position and our sales through a positive and rewarding relationship.
“The slogan we have associated with Nitro Energy Drinks is 'Go hard or go home' and, in a lot of respects, that is a perfect fit for one of the world's most exciting and entertainment-packed events which really does test a fan's stamina. That will be made a little easier with a can of Nitro Energy Drink or two!”
''I am very pleased to welcome Nitro Energy Drink onboard as the naming rights partner in what is the start of a new era for the event,” said SuperGP chairman Terry Mackenroth.
“The SuperGP is considered one of the world's best street races and to secure Nitro Energy Drink as the new naming rights partner for a three-year period further reinforces its strength and appeal. I believe the addition of a dynamic and proactive naming rights partner in Nitro Energy Drink and their ability to leverage the event on a national stage, will provide enormous opportunities for both parties.”
The Nitro SuperGP will feature A1GP and V8 Supercars with the two series to co-headline the event in Queensland on the 23-25 October 2009. The event is produced through a partnership between the Queensland Government and IMG. Tickets for the event officially go on sale on 23 March 2009 through Ticketek (www.Ticketek.com ) and the event’s new website www.SuperGP.com.
Ahead of A1GP Brands Hatch, Great Britain, 1 – 3 May, fans can now keep up to date with the latest information through a dedicated A1GP Brands Hatch mini-site, www.a1gpbrandshatch.com, which was launched last week. The new website features the latest news, images and videos on the 2008/09 A1GP season, as well as information on the upcoming Brands Hatch event.
Through the site, fans can book tickets and find out more about the entertainment on offer both on and off the track during race weekend as well as directions to Brands Hatch and local accommodation details.
The website also includes details of raceday hospitality packages - including the brand new Trackside Lounge pass, which gives access to one of Brands Hatch’s stylish trackside suites at Brands Hatch, with superb views of the race circuit along the start/finish straight, available for £115 per person.
General admission tickets cost from £29 for adults, with free entry for children aged 12 and under.
A1 Team Malaysia joined one of its partners, The Otomotif College (TOC), last weekend at the Facon Education Fair held at the KL Convention Centre. The Otomotif College is an established training institution specialised in automotive education and skills training for the retail automotive sector. The fair is aimed at encouraging post secondary students to consider the college options available to them and A1 Team Malaysia were keen to be involved to help attract a new generation of talent to the automotive industry. The A1 Team Malaysia simulator was one of the main attractions on the TOC stand, drawing in prospective students to learn more about the offering of the college and having nearly 200 people put their skills to the test in the virtual A1GP race car. A1 Team Malaysia driver, Aaron Lim, also visited the stand, spending time meeting fans and signing autographs.
Higher Education Ministry Director general Datuk Professor Radin Umar Radin Sohadi did not miss a chance to try the simulator and commented about the fair, “Although our country is facing an economic slowdown and there are many unemployed graduates, students should still take tertiary education seriously and acquire the right attributes in order to be marketable later on.”
A1 Team Malaysia driver Aaron Lim was on hand to guide and tutor the budding race drivers on the simulator and he commented after the event, “The Facon Education fair is a great environment for students to be able to look at the options for the next step in their career ladders. The A1 Team Malaysia simulator was a real crowd puller to the TOC stand and it was great to be able to chat with students who are interested in the automotive sector and motorsport.
“As a long term partner to the Malaysian A1GP team, we know first hand how the TOC can assist young students with their career goals. The students who study at the TOC could potentially make the transition into Malaysian motorsports in the future and grow into race series such as A1GP.”
Looking ahead to Season Five, the SuperGP on Australia’s Gold Coast has been strengthened by the announcement of a new three-year naming rights partnership with the Nitro energy drink brand.
Nitro Energy Drink is an Australian-owned product with its national headquarters on the Gold Coast. Nitro Energy Drink Joint MD Matt Nielsen and Nitro SuperGP chairman Terry Mackenroth officially confirmed the partnership last week.
“I think, like the Nitro SuperGP, our products are for everyone - and being a proud Queensland and Australian-based company, we have had our eye on a major event to be associated with for a long time,” Nielsen said, “For this opportunity to present itself at this stage of our company's growth is fantastic for everyone involved and we look forward to accelerating our brand's position and our sales through a positive and rewarding relationship.
“The slogan we have associated with Nitro Energy Drinks is 'Go hard or go home' and, in a lot of respects, that is a perfect fit for one of the world's most exciting and entertainment-packed events which really does test a fan's stamina. That will be made a little easier with a can of Nitro Energy Drink or two!”
''I am very pleased to welcome Nitro Energy Drink onboard as the naming rights partner in what is the start of a new era for the event,” said SuperGP chairman Terry Mackenroth.
“The SuperGP is considered one of the world's best street races and to secure Nitro Energy Drink as the new naming rights partner for a three-year period further reinforces its strength and appeal. I believe the addition of a dynamic and proactive naming rights partner in Nitro Energy Drink and their ability to leverage the event on a national stage, will provide enormous opportunities for both parties.”
The Nitro SuperGP will feature A1GP and V8 Supercars with the two series to co-headline the event in Queensland on the 23-25 October 2009. The event is produced through a partnership between the Queensland Government and IMG. Tickets for the event officially go on sale on 23 March 2009 through Ticketek (www.Ticketek.com ) and the event’s new website www.SuperGP.com.
NRL Breach Notice
The Canterbury Bulldogs have been informed they will lose two Telstra Premiership competition points after breaching the Replacements (Interchange) rules against Penrith on Saturday night.
A breach notice will be issued alleging the club had fourteen players on the field when the match-levelling try was scored in the final moments of the match.
“It’s a regrettable decision to have to take but the interchange process is clear and no interchange can take place without it being followed,” National Rugby League Chief Executive, Mr David Gallop, said today.
The Bulldogs will have five business days to enter submissions in relation to the breach notice before the penalty is confirmed. Until then the club remains on four competition points. In any event, the Panthers will not be awarded the competition points.
A detailed viewing of the ‘eagle-cam’ video and other angles this afternoon cleared the club of suggestions of an improper interchange between Ben Roberts and Andrew Ryan in the 78th minute.
However, it showed clearly that when Michael Ennis was on the ground with an injury, Ryan (having previously left the field) re-entered from the ‘far’ touchline and rejoined play without abiding by the interchange process and with Ennis still being treated.
Ryan took a position in the attacking line during the try-scoring play with Ennis still on the field and with the Bulldogs therefore having 14 men.
“When the media first raised this matter the speculation was around the Roberts-Ryan interchange,” NRL Chief Operating Officer, Mr Graham Annesley, said today.
“This always appeared to be conducted properly but we could not confirm that until we received extra vision today.
“In the process, however, it became clear that after Andrew Ryan left the field on the far side and was walking away from the play, he then appeared to be called back on by a trainer.
“There are clearly fourteen men on the field when the try is scored.”
Previous instances where clubs have had first grade competition points deducted over replacement breaches: 1975 Western Suburbs; 1988 South Sydney; 1992 Gold Coast; 1993 Balmain; 1995 Auckland; 2000 North Queensland.
Brisbane was stripped of two competition points on April 14, 2004, and had them reinstated on appeal on Friday, May 21. At the time, the Appeal Committee Chairman, Sir Laurence Street, called for stricter enforcement of the Replacements (Interchange) procedures. This led to a number of changes including the elimination of ‘cross-overs’ as players exited and entered the field and players directly handing their interchange cards to the NRL Interchange Official.
Disputed matters can be taken to The NRL Appeals Committee, which comprises a Chairman who has served or qualified as a judge, a nominee of the Rugby League Players Association and a Nominee of the Chairman of the NRL Club Council.
A breach notice will be issued alleging the club had fourteen players on the field when the match-levelling try was scored in the final moments of the match.
“It’s a regrettable decision to have to take but the interchange process is clear and no interchange can take place without it being followed,” National Rugby League Chief Executive, Mr David Gallop, said today.
The Bulldogs will have five business days to enter submissions in relation to the breach notice before the penalty is confirmed. Until then the club remains on four competition points. In any event, the Panthers will not be awarded the competition points.
A detailed viewing of the ‘eagle-cam’ video and other angles this afternoon cleared the club of suggestions of an improper interchange between Ben Roberts and Andrew Ryan in the 78th minute.
However, it showed clearly that when Michael Ennis was on the ground with an injury, Ryan (having previously left the field) re-entered from the ‘far’ touchline and rejoined play without abiding by the interchange process and with Ennis still being treated.
Ryan took a position in the attacking line during the try-scoring play with Ennis still on the field and with the Bulldogs therefore having 14 men.
“When the media first raised this matter the speculation was around the Roberts-Ryan interchange,” NRL Chief Operating Officer, Mr Graham Annesley, said today.
“This always appeared to be conducted properly but we could not confirm that until we received extra vision today.
“In the process, however, it became clear that after Andrew Ryan left the field on the far side and was walking away from the play, he then appeared to be called back on by a trainer.
“There are clearly fourteen men on the field when the try is scored.”
Previous instances where clubs have had first grade competition points deducted over replacement breaches: 1975 Western Suburbs; 1988 South Sydney; 1992 Gold Coast; 1993 Balmain; 1995 Auckland; 2000 North Queensland.
Brisbane was stripped of two competition points on April 14, 2004, and had them reinstated on appeal on Friday, May 21. At the time, the Appeal Committee Chairman, Sir Laurence Street, called for stricter enforcement of the Replacements (Interchange) procedures. This led to a number of changes including the elimination of ‘cross-overs’ as players exited and entered the field and players directly handing their interchange cards to the NRL Interchange Official.
Disputed matters can be taken to The NRL Appeals Committee, which comprises a Chairman who has served or qualified as a judge, a nominee of the Rugby League Players Association and a Nominee of the Chairman of the NRL Club Council.
TITANS TO FLY THE FLAG FOR GERMANY
Germany has yet to become a force in world rugby – the Wild Rugby Academy is trying to change that. The institution was set up in Heidelberg 18 months ago to strengthen the country’s coaching and playing stocks with the aim of qualifying for the 2015 Rugby World Cup. The game plan includes exposure to overseas competition and that is why a squad from the WRA – the Wild Titans – will this week become the first German team to compete in the GFI HKFC Tens in Hong Kong.
“I’ve played and coached at the Tens before and it’s a wonderful event,” says the WRA’s Australian head coach, Murray Archibald. The quality of the rugby is super. Teams from the UK, Asia and New Zealand are regular visitors and the competition is regarded as the best ten-a-side tournament in the world.”
The 2009 GFI HKFC Tens will be held at Hong Kong Football Club in Happy Valley from March 25-26. Sixteen club and invitational teams from around the world will compete for four trophies – the Cup, Plate, Bowl and Shield.
The WRA was founded by multimillionaire German businessman Dr Hans Peter Wild, owner of the WILD group of companies and a rugby fanatic. After years of sponsoring rugby in Germany, he decided something radically different was needed to get German rugby up to world standard. The idea of an academy was conceived in May 2007 after it became obvious that foreign help should be imported from the more developed rugby nations. The WRA was officially founded in October 2007 and commenced operations in February last year. It has 35 players in the U19 and U21 age groups from the Heidelberg and Frankfurt region with expansion plans to include the best young talent from all over the country.
The WRA utilises the facilities of all clubs in Heidelberg – the major rugby centre in Germany – and has sponsorship from a local gym. It has also formed strong links with the Sharks Academy in Durban, South Africa thanks to an initiative by Springboks legend Naas Botha, who is patron of the WRA.
Three of the Titans team at the Tens – Anjo Buckman, Steffan Liebig and Jacob Scheurich – are currently at the Sharks Academy on an exchange programme and more players will follow.
“The Sharks Academy is probably the leading institution of its type in the world so our guys are receiving the most up to date coaching and guidance available in a fully professional environment,” explains Archibald.
The Titans squad will comprise national senior and U21 players plus a mix of Australian, South African and Venezuelan players competing in the Bundesliga and two representatives from the Sharks Academy in Durban. Players to watch include Germany’s 15s and sevens captain Musti Gungor and former South African Leopards representative Pieter Jordaan.
Titans captain Sean Armstrong is a former Queensland Reds A representative while lock Julio Rodriguez has been capped 15 times for Venezuela. By coming to Hong Kong, Archibald is aiming to give his team exposure to elite competition and he has got his wish – the Titans have been drawn in the same pool as the top-seeded Penguins and last year’s Plate winners, Hill & Associates Trox AITCS Hong Kong Barbarians. Archibald has fond memories of the Tens having played for British Bangkok in 1993 and then coached Coffs Cavaliers to the Cup semi-finals in 2001.
“The tournament is an excellent opportunity to continue the development of young German players through exposure to a higher level of competition,” he says. “Competing against teams from all over the world also gives German rugby and the Wild Rugby Academy valuable experience in the international arena. I’m confident the Wild Titans will be very competitive and make people aware that rugby is gaining momentum in Germany.”
“I’ve played and coached at the Tens before and it’s a wonderful event,” says the WRA’s Australian head coach, Murray Archibald. The quality of the rugby is super. Teams from the UK, Asia and New Zealand are regular visitors and the competition is regarded as the best ten-a-side tournament in the world.”
The 2009 GFI HKFC Tens will be held at Hong Kong Football Club in Happy Valley from March 25-26. Sixteen club and invitational teams from around the world will compete for four trophies – the Cup, Plate, Bowl and Shield.
The WRA was founded by multimillionaire German businessman Dr Hans Peter Wild, owner of the WILD group of companies and a rugby fanatic. After years of sponsoring rugby in Germany, he decided something radically different was needed to get German rugby up to world standard. The idea of an academy was conceived in May 2007 after it became obvious that foreign help should be imported from the more developed rugby nations. The WRA was officially founded in October 2007 and commenced operations in February last year. It has 35 players in the U19 and U21 age groups from the Heidelberg and Frankfurt region with expansion plans to include the best young talent from all over the country.
The WRA utilises the facilities of all clubs in Heidelberg – the major rugby centre in Germany – and has sponsorship from a local gym. It has also formed strong links with the Sharks Academy in Durban, South Africa thanks to an initiative by Springboks legend Naas Botha, who is patron of the WRA.
Three of the Titans team at the Tens – Anjo Buckman, Steffan Liebig and Jacob Scheurich – are currently at the Sharks Academy on an exchange programme and more players will follow.
“The Sharks Academy is probably the leading institution of its type in the world so our guys are receiving the most up to date coaching and guidance available in a fully professional environment,” explains Archibald.
The Titans squad will comprise national senior and U21 players plus a mix of Australian, South African and Venezuelan players competing in the Bundesliga and two representatives from the Sharks Academy in Durban. Players to watch include Germany’s 15s and sevens captain Musti Gungor and former South African Leopards representative Pieter Jordaan.
Titans captain Sean Armstrong is a former Queensland Reds A representative while lock Julio Rodriguez has been capped 15 times for Venezuela. By coming to Hong Kong, Archibald is aiming to give his team exposure to elite competition and he has got his wish – the Titans have been drawn in the same pool as the top-seeded Penguins and last year’s Plate winners, Hill & Associates Trox AITCS Hong Kong Barbarians. Archibald has fond memories of the Tens having played for British Bangkok in 1993 and then coached Coffs Cavaliers to the Cup semi-finals in 2001.
“The tournament is an excellent opportunity to continue the development of young German players through exposure to a higher level of competition,” he says. “Competing against teams from all over the world also gives German rugby and the Wild Rugby Academy valuable experience in the international arena. I’m confident the Wild Titans will be very competitive and make people aware that rugby is gaining momentum in Germany.”
Toyota At The 2009 Goodwood Festival Of Speed
Toyota will provide crowd-thrilling speed, sound and spectacle at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, led by its 2008 Formula 1 contender, the Toyota TF108.
Toyota has brought one of its grand prix racers to Goodwood every year since 2002 and this year will maintain its tradition of demonstrating high-speed action on the hill course and giving spectators the chance of seeing the car close-up in the paddock.
As in previous years, Toyota will also be bringing more famous machinery from its historic collection to the festival, representing its world-class heritage in all areas of race and rally competition from around the world.
Further details of the cars that will be in action and the sporting heroes that will be driving them will be announced soon.
Toyota has brought one of its grand prix racers to Goodwood every year since 2002 and this year will maintain its tradition of demonstrating high-speed action on the hill course and giving spectators the chance of seeing the car close-up in the paddock.
As in previous years, Toyota will also be bringing more famous machinery from its historic collection to the festival, representing its world-class heritage in all areas of race and rally competition from around the world.
Further details of the cars that will be in action and the sporting heroes that will be driving them will be announced soon.
Parkes In The Points...
Kawasaki World Superbike Team rider Broc Parkes enjoyed a better weekend when round two of the Hannspree World Superbike Championship took place at the Losail circuit in Doha, Qatar earlier Saturday.
Riding for Paul Bird's team, the Australian not only managed a battling eleventh place start on the grid in the new Superpole format, but scored the team's first points of the campaign when he brought the Kawasaki ZX-10R into fourteenth place in the opening leg having run inside the top ten for much of the race until he lost traction towards the end of the race.
In race two, once again Parkes made a great start but was unable to sustain the pace and frustratingly, ended up just outside the points in sixteenth place but was happy to have made progress following on from the disappointment of Phillip Island two weeks ago.
Sadly for Japanese team-mate Makoto Tamada, once again he struggled in qualifying, securing 22nd place on the grid, but worse was to follow when he crashed in morning warm up which necessitated a hospital check up whereby he was diagnosed as having sustained heavy bruising to his hip and pelvic area with a suspected dislocation, broken thumb and left big toe and was declared not fit to race. He is hoping to be ready for the Valencia test in two weeks time.
Broc Parkes: "The weekend has been quite successful for the team as we qualified well and on quite a few occasions we were in the top ten. In race one I had a good start and I was in a couple of battles with a few guys until I ran out of grip towards the end of the race. I was really trying to keep the bikes in thirteenth and fourteenth to get some points on the board after Phillip Island. Although I missed out on points in race two we were seven or eight seconds faster than in race one. I'm getting more confident on the bike and feel that we are getting closer to running in the top fifteen more consistently. This weekend we've taken a lot of information away with us so we can regroup in Europe and look forward to the race in Valencia."
Makoto Tamada: "I had some rear grip issues from the beginning of the weekend and also some problems with my race set-up but it was a big surprise to me to crash in the morning practice. I am not sure exactly how it happened but I had a big highside at turn five and suffered quite a few injuries which made it impossible for me to race. I am obviously very disappointed for myself and for the team to not have races but I should be ok for the Valencia race."
Paul Risbridger, Team Manager: "It's been an encouraging weekend where we have shown good pace during qualifying and managed to use qualifying tyres in the new Superpole to good effect. Our race pace has improved a lot since Phillip Island and although the results, fourteenth and sixteenth here in Qatar, are not ideal they show that we have made some very good progress with our race set-up and we can only get stronger from here."
Race One - Results
1, B Spies (Yamaha) 36m06.304s, 2, N Haga (Ducati) +1.893s, 3, M Biaggi (Aprilia) +2.168s, 4, S Nakano (Aprilia) +12.061s, 5, C Checa (Honda) +12.597s, 6, S Byrne (Ducati) +12.971s, 7, T Sykes (Yamaha) +13.570s, 8, R Kiyonari (Honda) +19.306s, 9, T Corser (BMW) +19.388s, 10, R Laconi (Ducati) +20.981. 14, B Parkes (Kawasaki) +27.218s.
Race Two - Results
1, B Spies (Yamaha) 36m02.126s, 2, N Haga (Ducati) +1.274s, 3, M Biaggi (Aprilia) +1.622s, 4, R Kiyonari (Honda) +1.845s, 5, T Sykes (Yamaha) +5.117s, 6, M Neukirchner (Suzuki) +9.512s, 7, S Nakano (Aprilia) +9.514s, 8, J Rea (Honda) +12.621s, 9, T Corser (BMW) +13.842s, 10, R Xaus (BMW) +13.884s. 16, B Parkes (Kawasaki) +21.759s.
World Superbike Championship Standings after Round 2
1, Noriyuki Haga (JPN) 85pts
2, Ben Spies (USA) 75pts
3, Max Neukirchner (GER) 40pts
4, Max Biaggi (ITA) 38pts
5, Leon Haslam (GBR) 36pts
6, Tom Sykes (GBR) 32pts
7, Regis Laconi (FRA) 30pts
8, Jonathan Rea (GBR) 30pts
9, Shinya Nakano (JPN) 27pts
10, Yukio Kagayama (JPN) 25pts
20, Broc Parkes (AUS) 2pts
Details and profiles of the riders, team and bikes as well as championship information, pictures and calendar etc can be found at www.kawasaki-racingteam.eu/road-race
Riding for Paul Bird's team, the Australian not only managed a battling eleventh place start on the grid in the new Superpole format, but scored the team's first points of the campaign when he brought the Kawasaki ZX-10R into fourteenth place in the opening leg having run inside the top ten for much of the race until he lost traction towards the end of the race.
In race two, once again Parkes made a great start but was unable to sustain the pace and frustratingly, ended up just outside the points in sixteenth place but was happy to have made progress following on from the disappointment of Phillip Island two weeks ago.
Sadly for Japanese team-mate Makoto Tamada, once again he struggled in qualifying, securing 22nd place on the grid, but worse was to follow when he crashed in morning warm up which necessitated a hospital check up whereby he was diagnosed as having sustained heavy bruising to his hip and pelvic area with a suspected dislocation, broken thumb and left big toe and was declared not fit to race. He is hoping to be ready for the Valencia test in two weeks time.
Broc Parkes: "The weekend has been quite successful for the team as we qualified well and on quite a few occasions we were in the top ten. In race one I had a good start and I was in a couple of battles with a few guys until I ran out of grip towards the end of the race. I was really trying to keep the bikes in thirteenth and fourteenth to get some points on the board after Phillip Island. Although I missed out on points in race two we were seven or eight seconds faster than in race one. I'm getting more confident on the bike and feel that we are getting closer to running in the top fifteen more consistently. This weekend we've taken a lot of information away with us so we can regroup in Europe and look forward to the race in Valencia."
Makoto Tamada: "I had some rear grip issues from the beginning of the weekend and also some problems with my race set-up but it was a big surprise to me to crash in the morning practice. I am not sure exactly how it happened but I had a big highside at turn five and suffered quite a few injuries which made it impossible for me to race. I am obviously very disappointed for myself and for the team to not have races but I should be ok for the Valencia race."
Paul Risbridger, Team Manager: "It's been an encouraging weekend where we have shown good pace during qualifying and managed to use qualifying tyres in the new Superpole to good effect. Our race pace has improved a lot since Phillip Island and although the results, fourteenth and sixteenth here in Qatar, are not ideal they show that we have made some very good progress with our race set-up and we can only get stronger from here."
Race One - Results
1, B Spies (Yamaha) 36m06.304s, 2, N Haga (Ducati) +1.893s, 3, M Biaggi (Aprilia) +2.168s, 4, S Nakano (Aprilia) +12.061s, 5, C Checa (Honda) +12.597s, 6, S Byrne (Ducati) +12.971s, 7, T Sykes (Yamaha) +13.570s, 8, R Kiyonari (Honda) +19.306s, 9, T Corser (BMW) +19.388s, 10, R Laconi (Ducati) +20.981. 14, B Parkes (Kawasaki) +27.218s.
Race Two - Results
1, B Spies (Yamaha) 36m02.126s, 2, N Haga (Ducati) +1.274s, 3, M Biaggi (Aprilia) +1.622s, 4, R Kiyonari (Honda) +1.845s, 5, T Sykes (Yamaha) +5.117s, 6, M Neukirchner (Suzuki) +9.512s, 7, S Nakano (Aprilia) +9.514s, 8, J Rea (Honda) +12.621s, 9, T Corser (BMW) +13.842s, 10, R Xaus (BMW) +13.884s. 16, B Parkes (Kawasaki) +21.759s.
World Superbike Championship Standings after Round 2
1, Noriyuki Haga (JPN) 85pts
2, Ben Spies (USA) 75pts
3, Max Neukirchner (GER) 40pts
4, Max Biaggi (ITA) 38pts
5, Leon Haslam (GBR) 36pts
6, Tom Sykes (GBR) 32pts
7, Regis Laconi (FRA) 30pts
8, Jonathan Rea (GBR) 30pts
9, Shinya Nakano (JPN) 27pts
10, Yukio Kagayama (JPN) 25pts
20, Broc Parkes (AUS) 2pts
Details and profiles of the riders, team and bikes as well as championship information, pictures and calendar etc can be found at www.kawasaki-racingteam.eu/road-race
Another Fifth Place For Andis Neiksans Moves Him Up To 3rd In P-WRC
It was another strong showing from the LMT Rally Team crew of Andis Neiksans and Peteris Dzirkals yesterday. The Latvian crew finished fifth in the FIA Production car World Rally Championship category of the FxPro Rally Cyprus and as a result, moved to third place overall in the 2009 P-WRC rankings.
The Latvian crew started the rally with only one P-WRC event under their belt – they finished fifth on their debut in Norway a month ago, so this weekend was another trip into the unknown. They have never competed in the type of conditions that this rally is famous for and they have never competed on asphalt, the surface for the first day of FxPro Rally Cyprus.
Nevertheless, the Latvians did well on the first day. They were ranked fifth in P-WRC before the last stage, when they suffered a gearbox problem which left them with only fourth and fifth gear for the last ten kilometers of SS6, costing a huge amount of time. The appalling weather conditions (the rain in the service park was so bad that even tools floated away) meant that there was simply not enough time to change the gearbox, as well as swap from tarmac to gravel dampers in the end of day service. The team subsequently picked up 2 minutes and 20 seconds penalty for leaving service late, dropping them to tenth in class.
Leg Two was a much better day for the Latvian team. During the second leg, Neiksans/Dzirkals were sixth fastest amongst all PWRC participants. This performance boosted them to seventh in P-WRC at the end of Day Two, only 14.5 seconds adrift of fifth place.
The third and final day was even better for the Latvians, despite adopting a conservative approach. Neiksans and Dzirkals chose not to push hard but to stay on the road and not risk their AMP Motorsport-prepared Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX. This turned out to be the right approach and eventually led the Latvian team to fifth position at the finish of a hard and grueling FxPro Cyprus Rally.
“That was tough,” admitted Andis Neiksans at the finish. “At first we thought the tarmac stages would be the greatest challenge because of our limited experience on that surface. But in the end, the gravel tests turned out to be the toughest – I have never before competed in such hard conditions! Rocks, holes, first-gear bends – that was a new experience for us. At the end of Leg Two we watched Cyprus TV and noticed that our driving style was very different to that of the leaders. We changed our style and that paid dividends right away – we were a lot faster.
“It’s surprising to see that now we are third overall in P-WRC – we did not expect that in our debut season! Our sponsors – mobile network LMT, Latvijas Valsts Mezi and construction company LEC – also did not expect such good results for us. We are very happy for ourselves and for our fans. There are tens of thousands of rally fans in Latvia who are interested how we do in P-WRC and we are glad that we can deliver the results which exceed all expectations.”
Finishing 15th overall in a round of the FIA World Rally Championship is a record position for a Latvian crew in world rallying. The previous best was 17th overall, also achieved by Andis Neiksans and Peteris Dzirkals, on Rally Norway 2009.
The next P-WRC round for the LMT Rally Team crew will be Vodafone Rally de Portugal, taking place from 2 – 5 April in the Algarve region of Portugal. After that, the LMT Rally Team will compete in Italy, Greece and Great Britain.
The Latvian crew started the rally with only one P-WRC event under their belt – they finished fifth on their debut in Norway a month ago, so this weekend was another trip into the unknown. They have never competed in the type of conditions that this rally is famous for and they have never competed on asphalt, the surface for the first day of FxPro Rally Cyprus.
Nevertheless, the Latvians did well on the first day. They were ranked fifth in P-WRC before the last stage, when they suffered a gearbox problem which left them with only fourth and fifth gear for the last ten kilometers of SS6, costing a huge amount of time. The appalling weather conditions (the rain in the service park was so bad that even tools floated away) meant that there was simply not enough time to change the gearbox, as well as swap from tarmac to gravel dampers in the end of day service. The team subsequently picked up 2 minutes and 20 seconds penalty for leaving service late, dropping them to tenth in class.
Leg Two was a much better day for the Latvian team. During the second leg, Neiksans/Dzirkals were sixth fastest amongst all PWRC participants. This performance boosted them to seventh in P-WRC at the end of Day Two, only 14.5 seconds adrift of fifth place.
The third and final day was even better for the Latvians, despite adopting a conservative approach. Neiksans and Dzirkals chose not to push hard but to stay on the road and not risk their AMP Motorsport-prepared Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX. This turned out to be the right approach and eventually led the Latvian team to fifth position at the finish of a hard and grueling FxPro Cyprus Rally.
“That was tough,” admitted Andis Neiksans at the finish. “At first we thought the tarmac stages would be the greatest challenge because of our limited experience on that surface. But in the end, the gravel tests turned out to be the toughest – I have never before competed in such hard conditions! Rocks, holes, first-gear bends – that was a new experience for us. At the end of Leg Two we watched Cyprus TV and noticed that our driving style was very different to that of the leaders. We changed our style and that paid dividends right away – we were a lot faster.
“It’s surprising to see that now we are third overall in P-WRC – we did not expect that in our debut season! Our sponsors – mobile network LMT, Latvijas Valsts Mezi and construction company LEC – also did not expect such good results for us. We are very happy for ourselves and for our fans. There are tens of thousands of rally fans in Latvia who are interested how we do in P-WRC and we are glad that we can deliver the results which exceed all expectations.”
Finishing 15th overall in a round of the FIA World Rally Championship is a record position for a Latvian crew in world rallying. The previous best was 17th overall, also achieved by Andis Neiksans and Peteris Dzirkals, on Rally Norway 2009.
The next P-WRC round for the LMT Rally Team crew will be Vodafone Rally de Portugal, taking place from 2 – 5 April in the Algarve region of Portugal. After that, the LMT Rally Team will compete in Italy, Greece and Great Britain.
Plenty Of Challenges For Kiwis At Final ASB Pro Circuit Event
New Zealand players will have to contend with their opponents and some potentially inclement weather at week three of the Futures international tennis events which starts at Wellington’s Renouf Tennis Centre tomorrow (Tuesday).
With the final week of the ASB Pro Circuit having prizemoney of US$15,000 for the men’s draw and US$10,000 for the women there’s plenty riding on the tournaments, including local players aiming for a title and ATP and WTA world ranking points.
In the men’s tournament Kiwi No2 Dan King-Turner plays a qualifier in the first round with a likely second round clash against eighth seed Rameez Junaid(Australia) who he beat in the quarters at Hamilton and was earlier a title winner at North Harbour
One Kiwi is guaranteed to make the second round of the singles as New Zealand No1 Rubin Statham takes on fellow Davis Cup team member Adam Thompson while another Davis Cup player,
GD Jones faces Hamilton runner up Tatsuma Ito of Japan who defeated four Kiwis in a row last week.
Nineteen-year-old Marcus Daniell, from the Wairarapa has a tough draw as he will be up against top seed, Hamilton winner and world No193 Carsten Ball of Australia in the first round.
The other locals in the men’s singles are wildcards, Oliver Statham against American Kaes Van’t Hof and Australian based Cantab, Logan MacKenzie, 18 has his chance for his first ATP ranking point when he comes up against a qualifier in the first round.
In the women’s draw Canterbury 15-year-old Leela Beattie plays a qualifier in her first round match while New Zealand national champion Di Hollands who this week has regained a WTA ranking - 802 has the tough task of playing fifth seed Kyung-Yee Chae of Korea who is ranked at 369.
Powerful Kairangi Vano who was a finalist in Wellington two years ago will be looking for form when she plays Australian Alenka Hubacek while Kiwi-born, but overseas-based Katherine Westbury, 16 plays eighth seed Nudnida Luangnam in her first round encounter.
In final round qualifying singles matches Kiwi Chelsea Te Tai was beaten by Japan’s Saikiko Shimizu ranked inside the top-800 in the world 6-1 6-2 with Canterbury’s Barrett Franks defeated in the men’s final round by big-hitting Joel Lindner of Australia 6-3 6-2.
Day one matches commence at 10am
With the final week of the ASB Pro Circuit having prizemoney of US$15,000 for the men’s draw and US$10,000 for the women there’s plenty riding on the tournaments, including local players aiming for a title and ATP and WTA world ranking points.
In the men’s tournament Kiwi No2 Dan King-Turner plays a qualifier in the first round with a likely second round clash against eighth seed Rameez Junaid(Australia) who he beat in the quarters at Hamilton and was earlier a title winner at North Harbour
One Kiwi is guaranteed to make the second round of the singles as New Zealand No1 Rubin Statham takes on fellow Davis Cup team member Adam Thompson while another Davis Cup player,
GD Jones faces Hamilton runner up Tatsuma Ito of Japan who defeated four Kiwis in a row last week.
Nineteen-year-old Marcus Daniell, from the Wairarapa has a tough draw as he will be up against top seed, Hamilton winner and world No193 Carsten Ball of Australia in the first round.
The other locals in the men’s singles are wildcards, Oliver Statham against American Kaes Van’t Hof and Australian based Cantab, Logan MacKenzie, 18 has his chance for his first ATP ranking point when he comes up against a qualifier in the first round.
In the women’s draw Canterbury 15-year-old Leela Beattie plays a qualifier in her first round match while New Zealand national champion Di Hollands who this week has regained a WTA ranking - 802 has the tough task of playing fifth seed Kyung-Yee Chae of Korea who is ranked at 369.
Powerful Kairangi Vano who was a finalist in Wellington two years ago will be looking for form when she plays Australian Alenka Hubacek while Kiwi-born, but overseas-based Katherine Westbury, 16 plays eighth seed Nudnida Luangnam in her first round encounter.
In final round qualifying singles matches Kiwi Chelsea Te Tai was beaten by Japan’s Saikiko Shimizu ranked inside the top-800 in the world 6-1 6-2 with Canterbury’s Barrett Franks defeated in the men’s final round by big-hitting Joel Lindner of Australia 6-3 6-2.
Day one matches commence at 10am
Blackcaps 12 for second Test
BLACKCAPS take similar 12 into second Test
New Zealand Cricket has announced a largely unchanged BLACKCAPS squad for the second Test against India, beginning in Napier on Thursday 26 March.
The Test squad of 12 is:
Daniel Vettori (captain)
Daniel Flynn
James Franklin
Martin Guptill
Tim McIntosh
Brendon McCullum
Chris Martin
Kyle Mills
Iain O’Brien
Jeetan Patel
Jesse Ryder
Ross Taylor
The only change from the first Test squad is the omission of bowler Brent Arnel, who was not considered after suffering a side strain in his State Championship match last week.
Iain O’Brien and Daniel Flynn, who picked up minor injuries in the Hamilton Test, would be monitored over the next two or three days, said Glenn Turner, head of the selection panel. There were currently no plans to bring in additional players as cover.
Turner added that Jacob Oram's progress was being followed closely but he is not yet at full match fitness. “He’s only had a couple of days in the domestic competition, and after talking with him we agree he’d benefit from more game time to get up to the fitness level needed for the Test side.”
The second Test in the National Bank Series between New Zealand and India will be played from Thursday 26 to Monday 30 March, at McLean Park, Napier.
New Zealand Cricket has announced a largely unchanged BLACKCAPS squad for the second Test against India, beginning in Napier on Thursday 26 March.
The Test squad of 12 is:
Daniel Vettori (captain)
Daniel Flynn
James Franklin
Martin Guptill
Tim McIntosh
Brendon McCullum
Chris Martin
Kyle Mills
Iain O’Brien
Jeetan Patel
Jesse Ryder
Ross Taylor
The only change from the first Test squad is the omission of bowler Brent Arnel, who was not considered after suffering a side strain in his State Championship match last week.
Iain O’Brien and Daniel Flynn, who picked up minor injuries in the Hamilton Test, would be monitored over the next two or three days, said Glenn Turner, head of the selection panel. There were currently no plans to bring in additional players as cover.
Turner added that Jacob Oram's progress was being followed closely but he is not yet at full match fitness. “He’s only had a couple of days in the domestic competition, and after talking with him we agree he’d benefit from more game time to get up to the fitness level needed for the Test side.”
The second Test in the National Bank Series between New Zealand and India will be played from Thursday 26 to Monday 30 March, at McLean Park, Napier.
Monday, March 23, 2009
PREMIERS STOPPED – VODAFONE WARRIORS 26, MANLY 24
Stacey Jones wound back the clock to recreate a slice of history as the Vodafone Warriors produced a stunning recovery in the last 10 minutes to beat defending premier Manly 26-24 in today’s second-round NRL clash at Brookvale Oval.
It was at the same ground that Jones played his 238th and last game for the Vodafone Warriors three and half years ago before heading to France to play for Les Catalans Dragons in the English Super League.
On that night – August 27, 2005 – the then 29-year-old halfback scored with the last touch of the game and then kicked the conversion to give his side a 22-20 win.
Now 32, he was back at the same ground against the same opponent more than three and a half years later for his 239th appearance, coming into the game off the bench in the 30th minute.
He went into halfback with Nathan Fien moving to hooker and in the final stanza produced some critical plays to propel the Vodafone Warriors to a momentous victory as they entered the final stages trailing 16-24.
It was Jones’ dab close to the line in the 64th minute that caught Manly unaware and all but laid on a try, Fien juggling Jones’ pass, losing the ball and claiming a try in the belief he regained contact with the ball just before it hit the ground and forcing it. The video referee didn’t agree.
But Jones produced some more magic. He chipped on the last tackle, re-gathered and then went on a mesmerising run through the Manly defence. In the clear he had only Manly centre Steve Matai shadowing him with the goal line just ahead. He might have scored himself but shifted the ball right for centre Brent Tate to score his second try of the day. Denan Kemp missed the conversion leaving the score 20-24 with 10 to play.
Then with a minute left Jones hoisted a pinpoint bomb to the Vodafone Warriors’ left side, Manu Vatuvei soared to contest the ball, it went loose, Jerome Ropati swooped for the try (the 37th of his career) and the game was locked up at 24-24.
Kemp faced a far more testing conversion attempt from wide out with a difficult wind to contend with. Clearly kicking coach Frano Botica’s work has been paying off because Kemp coolly nailed the kick and seconds later he and his team-mates were able to celebrate a famous success, one that gave the premiers their second straight loss of the season.
While the Vodafone Warriors could boast a reasonable record at Brookvale Oval before today – winning four of the last seven matches there – they had savoured little joy against Manly in the last few years. In fact, Manly beat them four times last year.
For this encounter the Vodafone Warriors were also hindered by injuries that had eliminated three key players – Lance Hohaia, Ben Matulino and Micheal Luck – from the match.
Early on they were under the pump as they had been at Manly’s home on a forgettable night in round three last year.
In a blink the Sea Eagles had raced to a 10-0 lead through tries, both down the Vodafone Warriors’ left side, to winger Michael Bani and centre Jamie Lyon.
But the match took a turn in a dramatic five-minute spell as the Vodafone Warriors came right back at
the Sea Eagles.
Fien teased Manly’s defensive line, throwing a nice short ball for second rower Jacob Lillyman to hit a big hole. He surged through and found Tate on his right for the first of three hit-back tries.
From the restart, the Vodafone Warriors won a penalty and Joel Moon’s massive touch-finder had them aiming at Manly from close to their line. From the tap, a superbly executed set piece resulted in Price floating a brilliant wide pass on the short side to an unmarked Manu Vatuvei for another try.
Another restart, another penalty and a couple of plays later Price provided the try assist yet again, this time popping up a lovely off-load for former Newcastle prop Jesse Royal to score on his debut for the club. More remarkable was the fact he had literally just run on the field, loping downfield and steaming onto Price’s ball, swerving around Manly fullback Michael Robertson and scoring not much more than 20 seconds after entering the game.
That had the Vodafone Warriors leading 16-10, a margin they might have improved but for want of executing their plays increasingly sapping conditions.
They went to halftime with the six-point advantage but soon conceded it in the early stages of the second spell. In the space of 12 minutes winger Andrew Suniula, interchange forward Adam Cuthbertson and Lyon all crossed to fire Manly into what might have become a match-winning 24-16 lead.
But the Vodafone Warriors, battling through this period of the match, ground it out and stayed with the Sea Eagles, denying them on their line on a few occasions and shutting down threats at others.
Gradually they found some rhythm and began to complete some sets – and then Jones and others made it all happen in the final 10 minutes.
The quality of the overall performance didn’t satisfy the coaching staff but the effort and courage couldn’t be questioned as the Vodafone Warriors again fought the odds with several players battered and bruised.
None was braver than prop Sam Rapira who wore a heavy shot in the second half but stayed and showed yet again what a quality player he has become.
In a brutal confrontation up front, Rapira stood up time and again as did most of the forwards, especially captain Steve Price who had 58 minutes straight on the field before having a rest. His touches produced two tries, he made more than 130 metres from 17 runs and he also racked up 20 tackles.
It was a match that had grand final-like intensity about it producing a result that couldn’t have been more important for the Vodafone Warriors even though the season is just two weeks old.
It means they return home with two wins from two starts, only the second time in the club’s history that the two first matches of the year have provided victories.
Now they eye Brisbane at Mount Smart Stadium next Saturday night. Both teams are unbeaten and the Vodafone Warriors will have the chance of an unprecedented run of three wins to begin a season.
Match details:
At Brookvale Oval, Manly
Manly Sea Eagles 24 (Jamie Lyon 2, Michael Bani, Andrew Suniula, Adam Cuthbertson, tries; Matt Orford 2 conversions).
Vodafone Warriors 26 (Brent Tate 2, Manu Vatuvei, Jesse Royal, Jerome Ropati tries; Denan Kemp 3 conversions).
Halftime: 16-10 Vodafone Warriors.
Referees: Shayne Hayne and Steve Lyons.
Crowd: 16,307.
It was at the same ground that Jones played his 238th and last game for the Vodafone Warriors three and half years ago before heading to France to play for Les Catalans Dragons in the English Super League.
On that night – August 27, 2005 – the then 29-year-old halfback scored with the last touch of the game and then kicked the conversion to give his side a 22-20 win.
Now 32, he was back at the same ground against the same opponent more than three and a half years later for his 239th appearance, coming into the game off the bench in the 30th minute.
He went into halfback with Nathan Fien moving to hooker and in the final stanza produced some critical plays to propel the Vodafone Warriors to a momentous victory as they entered the final stages trailing 16-24.
It was Jones’ dab close to the line in the 64th minute that caught Manly unaware and all but laid on a try, Fien juggling Jones’ pass, losing the ball and claiming a try in the belief he regained contact with the ball just before it hit the ground and forcing it. The video referee didn’t agree.
But Jones produced some more magic. He chipped on the last tackle, re-gathered and then went on a mesmerising run through the Manly defence. In the clear he had only Manly centre Steve Matai shadowing him with the goal line just ahead. He might have scored himself but shifted the ball right for centre Brent Tate to score his second try of the day. Denan Kemp missed the conversion leaving the score 20-24 with 10 to play.
Then with a minute left Jones hoisted a pinpoint bomb to the Vodafone Warriors’ left side, Manu Vatuvei soared to contest the ball, it went loose, Jerome Ropati swooped for the try (the 37th of his career) and the game was locked up at 24-24.
Kemp faced a far more testing conversion attempt from wide out with a difficult wind to contend with. Clearly kicking coach Frano Botica’s work has been paying off because Kemp coolly nailed the kick and seconds later he and his team-mates were able to celebrate a famous success, one that gave the premiers their second straight loss of the season.
While the Vodafone Warriors could boast a reasonable record at Brookvale Oval before today – winning four of the last seven matches there – they had savoured little joy against Manly in the last few years. In fact, Manly beat them four times last year.
For this encounter the Vodafone Warriors were also hindered by injuries that had eliminated three key players – Lance Hohaia, Ben Matulino and Micheal Luck – from the match.
Early on they were under the pump as they had been at Manly’s home on a forgettable night in round three last year.
In a blink the Sea Eagles had raced to a 10-0 lead through tries, both down the Vodafone Warriors’ left side, to winger Michael Bani and centre Jamie Lyon.
But the match took a turn in a dramatic five-minute spell as the Vodafone Warriors came right back at
the Sea Eagles.
Fien teased Manly’s defensive line, throwing a nice short ball for second rower Jacob Lillyman to hit a big hole. He surged through and found Tate on his right for the first of three hit-back tries.
From the restart, the Vodafone Warriors won a penalty and Joel Moon’s massive touch-finder had them aiming at Manly from close to their line. From the tap, a superbly executed set piece resulted in Price floating a brilliant wide pass on the short side to an unmarked Manu Vatuvei for another try.
Another restart, another penalty and a couple of plays later Price provided the try assist yet again, this time popping up a lovely off-load for former Newcastle prop Jesse Royal to score on his debut for the club. More remarkable was the fact he had literally just run on the field, loping downfield and steaming onto Price’s ball, swerving around Manly fullback Michael Robertson and scoring not much more than 20 seconds after entering the game.
That had the Vodafone Warriors leading 16-10, a margin they might have improved but for want of executing their plays increasingly sapping conditions.
They went to halftime with the six-point advantage but soon conceded it in the early stages of the second spell. In the space of 12 minutes winger Andrew Suniula, interchange forward Adam Cuthbertson and Lyon all crossed to fire Manly into what might have become a match-winning 24-16 lead.
But the Vodafone Warriors, battling through this period of the match, ground it out and stayed with the Sea Eagles, denying them on their line on a few occasions and shutting down threats at others.
Gradually they found some rhythm and began to complete some sets – and then Jones and others made it all happen in the final 10 minutes.
The quality of the overall performance didn’t satisfy the coaching staff but the effort and courage couldn’t be questioned as the Vodafone Warriors again fought the odds with several players battered and bruised.
None was braver than prop Sam Rapira who wore a heavy shot in the second half but stayed and showed yet again what a quality player he has become.
In a brutal confrontation up front, Rapira stood up time and again as did most of the forwards, especially captain Steve Price who had 58 minutes straight on the field before having a rest. His touches produced two tries, he made more than 130 metres from 17 runs and he also racked up 20 tackles.
It was a match that had grand final-like intensity about it producing a result that couldn’t have been more important for the Vodafone Warriors even though the season is just two weeks old.
It means they return home with two wins from two starts, only the second time in the club’s history that the two first matches of the year have provided victories.
Now they eye Brisbane at Mount Smart Stadium next Saturday night. Both teams are unbeaten and the Vodafone Warriors will have the chance of an unprecedented run of three wins to begin a season.
Match details:
At Brookvale Oval, Manly
Manly Sea Eagles 24 (Jamie Lyon 2, Michael Bani, Andrew Suniula, Adam Cuthbertson, tries; Matt Orford 2 conversions).
Vodafone Warriors 26 (Brent Tate 2, Manu Vatuvei, Jesse Royal, Jerome Ropati tries; Denan Kemp 3 conversions).
Halftime: 16-10 Vodafone Warriors.
Referees: Shayne Hayne and Steve Lyons.
Crowd: 16,307.
WHITE FERN LUCY DOOLAN BLAZES AND RESCUES INNINGS BUT ENGLAND WIN 2009 WORLD CUP BY FOUR WICKETS 23 BALLS TO SPARE
The White Ferns won the toss and elected to bat in the ICC WOMEN'S WORLD CUP FINAL played at The North Sydney Oval.
Haidee Tiffen and Kate Pulford put on 26 before Pulford [8] was well caught in the gully off Isa Guha's bowling in the 8th over.
Suzie Bates followed when she had scored 2 caught at short mid wicket and Amy Satterthwaite followed next ball caught wicketkeeper Taylor of Nicky Shaw's first over, White Ferns 49/3 in the 13th over.
Haidee Tiffen [30] was next to go also caught by wicketkeeper off Shaw's third over, 62/4 in the 16th became 74/5 when Sara McGlashan's [21] very good knock was stopped, caught off the bowling of the left arm spin of Holly Colvin.
Aimee Mason became the 6th Kiwi wicket to fall in the 24th over...bowled by Laura Marsh for 13...92/6.
7th out was Sarah Tsukigawa caught again behind the wicket by the keeper for 2 , 101/7 in the 29th.
The best partnership of the day was then produced between Nicola Browne and 21 year old Lucy Doolan who has played in only a handful of ODI's put 62 runs on the board, Doolan thrilling all with her gutsy fightback, an innings of 48 off 56 balls eight fours, including a cheeky reverse back of the bat boundary..
Sophie Devine was given, leg without scoring. White Ferns 166/9
Nicola Browne was last out, LBW for 25 The White Ferns all out in the 48th over for 166.
England's disciplined approach and error free catching and fielding restricting the White Ferns.
Nicky Shaw the late inclusion into the English playing eleven after Jenny Gunn failed a fitness test on her injured calf was the best of The English bowlers taking 4/34.
England began their chase in an aggressive manner putting on 50 in 60 balls and it wasn't until the 18th over before Lucy Doolan continued her outstanding performance for the White Ferns having Sarah Taylor caught for 39 and The England total 74/1.
Aimee Mason clean bowled Claire Taylor and Lucy Doolan claimed both Caroline Atkins and England Skipper Charlotte Edwards to have England 121/4 in the 31st over.
Two new batsman, Lydia Greenway and Beth Morgan chipped away at the small target and in the 39th over Aimee Mason had Lydia Greenway well caught by Amy Satterthwaite for 8, England 139/5.
Beth Morgan was run out for 9 England 149/6, 42nd over..
England brought up their win in the 47th over.
...
ICC PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT ... .ENGLAND'S CLAIRE TAYLOR
ICC PLAYER OF THE FINAL MATCH .............ENGLAND'S NICKY SHAW
ENDS
Haidee Tiffen and Kate Pulford put on 26 before Pulford [8] was well caught in the gully off Isa Guha's bowling in the 8th over.
Suzie Bates followed when she had scored 2 caught at short mid wicket and Amy Satterthwaite followed next ball caught wicketkeeper Taylor of Nicky Shaw's first over, White Ferns 49/3 in the 13th over.
Haidee Tiffen [30] was next to go also caught by wicketkeeper off Shaw's third over, 62/4 in the 16th became 74/5 when Sara McGlashan's [21] very good knock was stopped, caught off the bowling of the left arm spin of Holly Colvin.
Aimee Mason became the 6th Kiwi wicket to fall in the 24th over...bowled by Laura Marsh for 13...92/6.
7th out was Sarah Tsukigawa caught again behind the wicket by the keeper for 2 , 101/7 in the 29th.
The best partnership of the day was then produced between Nicola Browne and 21 year old Lucy Doolan who has played in only a handful of ODI's put 62 runs on the board, Doolan thrilling all with her gutsy fightback, an innings of 48 off 56 balls eight fours, including a cheeky reverse back of the bat boundary..
Sophie Devine was given, leg without scoring. White Ferns 166/9
Nicola Browne was last out, LBW for 25 The White Ferns all out in the 48th over for 166.
England's disciplined approach and error free catching and fielding restricting the White Ferns.
Nicky Shaw the late inclusion into the English playing eleven after Jenny Gunn failed a fitness test on her injured calf was the best of The English bowlers taking 4/34.
England began their chase in an aggressive manner putting on 50 in 60 balls and it wasn't until the 18th over before Lucy Doolan continued her outstanding performance for the White Ferns having Sarah Taylor caught for 39 and The England total 74/1.
Aimee Mason clean bowled Claire Taylor and Lucy Doolan claimed both Caroline Atkins and England Skipper Charlotte Edwards to have England 121/4 in the 31st over.
Two new batsman, Lydia Greenway and Beth Morgan chipped away at the small target and in the 39th over Aimee Mason had Lydia Greenway well caught by Amy Satterthwaite for 8, England 139/5.
Beth Morgan was run out for 9 England 149/6, 42nd over..
England brought up their win in the 47th over.
...
ICC PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT ... .ENGLAND'S CLAIRE TAYLOR
ICC PLAYER OF THE FINAL MATCH .............ENGLAND'S NICKY SHAW
ENDS
Top Seed Ball Wins ASB Pro Circuit Title
Australian top seed Carsten Ball proved that by being ranked inside the world’s top-200 players he was just a step ahead of the rest at the Futures tennis event in Hamilton.
Ball ranked at 193 won the US$15,000 ASB Pro Circuit final against second seed Tatsuma Ito of Japan 7-6(2) 6-2. Despite having had recent success at Davis Cup level for Australia it was just the fourth Futures singles title for Ball, 21 who was a former top-10 ranked junior player and had a father who also played Davis Cup for Australia in the 1980’s
“I think it’s my fourth title. I came here to get some match practice as it’s been a slow start to the year for me. It’s been a good tournament for me and I’m pleased to have taken the title,” said Ball who says he has an average first serve speed of around 200 kilometres.
Standing at 1’90” metres tall, but looming larger on the court Ball was able to unleash aces seemingly at will, including four late in one game late in the final set. Although the 333rd ranked Ito has shown good form leading into the final defeating four Kiwis along the way with his best win of the tournament being against Kiwi No2 Dan King-Turner in straight sets. In the final the Japanese player struggled to contend with the big shots of Ball who served an ace which Ito was forced to dodge rather than return on the final point.
The US$10,000 women’s final was won by unseeded Indonesian Ayu-Fani Damayanti, 19 who gained her fourth ITF singles title by defeating fourth seed and world No1 junior Noppawan Lertcheewakarn of Thailand 6-4 4-6 6-3.
All players now travel to Wellington to compete in the third of the circuit tournaments which starts on Tuesday.
Results:
ASB Pro Circuit US$10,000 women’s singles final:
Ayu-Fani Damayanti(Indonesia) bt (4)Noppawan Lertcheewakarn(Thailand) 6-4 4-6 6-3
ASB Pro Circuit US$15,000 men’s singles final:
(1)Carsten Ball(Australia) bt (2)Tatsuma Ito(Japan) 7-6(2) 6-2.
US$10,000 ASB Pro Circuit first round qualifying, Wellington:
Misa Kinoshita(Japan) bt Nancy Ferguson(Australia) 6-3 6-2, Jun-Yi Zheng(China) bt Dana Gray(New Zealand) 6-1 6-3, Chelsea Te Tai(New Zealand) bt Deeon Mladin(Australia) 6-3 6-1, (4)Nungnadda Wannasuk(Thailand) bt Brittant Teei 6-2 6-3, Mitsumi Kawasaki(Japan) bt (13)Renee Binnie(Australia) 7-6(5) 7-5, (5)Sabrina Capannolo(United States) bt Sun-Mi Soo(Korea) 6-3 6-3, Yoshimi Kawasaki(Japan) bt Teegan Edwards(South Africa) 6-2 6-1, (6)Sophia Mulsap(Thailand) bt Subbadharmi Sundaram(United States) 6-4 6-7(2) 6-4, (10)Jung-Yoon Shin(Korea) bt Brie Whitehead(United States) 6-2 6-2, (7)Daniela Scivetti(Australia) bt Alison Shemon(Australia) 6-3 6-1, (11)Etsuko Kitazaki(Japan) bt Stephanie Nguyen(Australia) 6-1 6-1, (8)So-Jung Kim(Korea) bt Hayley Erickson(Australia) 6-1 6-0, Christian Thompson(United States) bt (9)Julia Moriarty(Australia) 6-2 6-0.
Ball ranked at 193 won the US$15,000 ASB Pro Circuit final against second seed Tatsuma Ito of Japan 7-6(2) 6-2. Despite having had recent success at Davis Cup level for Australia it was just the fourth Futures singles title for Ball, 21 who was a former top-10 ranked junior player and had a father who also played Davis Cup for Australia in the 1980’s
“I think it’s my fourth title. I came here to get some match practice as it’s been a slow start to the year for me. It’s been a good tournament for me and I’m pleased to have taken the title,” said Ball who says he has an average first serve speed of around 200 kilometres.
Standing at 1’90” metres tall, but looming larger on the court Ball was able to unleash aces seemingly at will, including four late in one game late in the final set. Although the 333rd ranked Ito has shown good form leading into the final defeating four Kiwis along the way with his best win of the tournament being against Kiwi No2 Dan King-Turner in straight sets. In the final the Japanese player struggled to contend with the big shots of Ball who served an ace which Ito was forced to dodge rather than return on the final point.
The US$10,000 women’s final was won by unseeded Indonesian Ayu-Fani Damayanti, 19 who gained her fourth ITF singles title by defeating fourth seed and world No1 junior Noppawan Lertcheewakarn of Thailand 6-4 4-6 6-3.
All players now travel to Wellington to compete in the third of the circuit tournaments which starts on Tuesday.
Results:
ASB Pro Circuit US$10,000 women’s singles final:
Ayu-Fani Damayanti(Indonesia) bt (4)Noppawan Lertcheewakarn(Thailand) 6-4 4-6 6-3
ASB Pro Circuit US$15,000 men’s singles final:
(1)Carsten Ball(Australia) bt (2)Tatsuma Ito(Japan) 7-6(2) 6-2.
US$10,000 ASB Pro Circuit first round qualifying, Wellington:
Misa Kinoshita(Japan) bt Nancy Ferguson(Australia) 6-3 6-2, Jun-Yi Zheng(China) bt Dana Gray(New Zealand) 6-1 6-3, Chelsea Te Tai(New Zealand) bt Deeon Mladin(Australia) 6-3 6-1, (4)Nungnadda Wannasuk(Thailand) bt Brittant Teei 6-2 6-3, Mitsumi Kawasaki(Japan) bt (13)Renee Binnie(Australia) 7-6(5) 7-5, (5)Sabrina Capannolo(United States) bt Sun-Mi Soo(Korea) 6-3 6-3, Yoshimi Kawasaki(Japan) bt Teegan Edwards(South Africa) 6-2 6-1, (6)Sophia Mulsap(Thailand) bt Subbadharmi Sundaram(United States) 6-4 6-7(2) 6-4, (10)Jung-Yoon Shin(Korea) bt Brie Whitehead(United States) 6-2 6-2, (7)Daniela Scivetti(Australia) bt Alison Shemon(Australia) 6-3 6-1, (11)Etsuko Kitazaki(Japan) bt Stephanie Nguyen(Australia) 6-1 6-1, (8)So-Jung Kim(Korea) bt Hayley Erickson(Australia) 6-1 6-0, Christian Thompson(United States) bt (9)Julia Moriarty(Australia) 6-2 6-0.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Injuries following Crusaders 17-13 victory over the Waratahs in Sydney last night.
George Whitelock - laceration on thigh.
Leon MacDonald - bruised ribs.
Kieran Read - bruised hip.
George Whitelock's injury will be assessed during week. MacDonald and Read should be available to face the Stormers at AMI Stadium on Saturday night.
Wings Sean Maitland (hamstring) and Kade Poki (ankle) and centre Casey Laulala (shoulder) should train fully this week.
Leon MacDonald - bruised ribs.
Kieran Read - bruised hip.
George Whitelock's injury will be assessed during week. MacDonald and Read should be available to face the Stormers at AMI Stadium on Saturday night.
Wings Sean Maitland (hamstring) and Kade Poki (ankle) and centre Casey Laulala (shoulder) should train fully this week.
RAPIRA NAMED IN STARTING BACK ROW FOR MANLY CLASH
Kiwi prop Sam Rapira has been named to start in the back row in the Vodafone Warriors’ second-round NRL clash against Manly at Brookvale Oval today.
Originally named in the front row, Rapira (21) has been named in the second row with Jacob Lillyman listed to fill the unavailable Micheal Luck’s position at loose forward.
While the majority of his 64 NRL appearances have been at prop in either the starting line-up or off the bench, Rapira has filled in as a back rower on occasions in the past.
His shift sees Russell Packer (19) against starting in the front row, as he did last week against the Eels.
The confirmed interchange bench comprises Stacey Jones, set to play his first game for the club since his 238th in the 2005 season-ending clash against Manly, plus former Newcastle prop Jesse Royal, fellow front rower Leeson Ah Mau (a first-time NRL player last week) and today’s debutant second rower Ukuma Ta’ai.
Royal becomes Vodafone Warrior No 148 and Ta’ai No 149.
The Vodafone Warriors lost 6-52 – the third heaviest loss in the club’s history – in the corresponding fixture against Manly at Brookvale Oval early last season. The Sea Eagles also won three other clashes last year – the regular season game at Mount Smart Stadium, the preliminary final at the Sydney Football Stadium and a preseason trial on the Sunshine Coast.
While Ta’ai and Royal will play for the Vodafone Warriors for the first time today, halfback Nathan Fien will edge closer to becoming the 13th player to appear in 100 NRL matches for the club. This will be his 98th outing and, with the injured Evarn Tuimavave locked on 99, Fien is likely to reach three figures first; he’s also nearing his 200-game career milestone with what will be his 189th game.
VODAFONE WARRIORS
1 WADE McKINNON
2 DENAN KEMP
3 BRENT TATE
4 JEROME ROPATI
5 MANU VATUVEI
6 JOEL MOON
7 NATHAN FIEN
15 RUSSELL PACKER
9 IAN HENDERSON
10 STEVE PRICE (c)
8 SAM RAPIRA
11 SIMON MANNERING
12 JACOB LILLYMAN
Interchange:
14 STACEY JONES
16 JESSE ROYAL
17 UKUMA TA’AI
20 LEESON AH MAU
18TH MAN: AARON HEREMAIA
Originally named in the front row, Rapira (21) has been named in the second row with Jacob Lillyman listed to fill the unavailable Micheal Luck’s position at loose forward.
While the majority of his 64 NRL appearances have been at prop in either the starting line-up or off the bench, Rapira has filled in as a back rower on occasions in the past.
His shift sees Russell Packer (19) against starting in the front row, as he did last week against the Eels.
The confirmed interchange bench comprises Stacey Jones, set to play his first game for the club since his 238th in the 2005 season-ending clash against Manly, plus former Newcastle prop Jesse Royal, fellow front rower Leeson Ah Mau (a first-time NRL player last week) and today’s debutant second rower Ukuma Ta’ai.
Royal becomes Vodafone Warrior No 148 and Ta’ai No 149.
The Vodafone Warriors lost 6-52 – the third heaviest loss in the club’s history – in the corresponding fixture against Manly at Brookvale Oval early last season. The Sea Eagles also won three other clashes last year – the regular season game at Mount Smart Stadium, the preliminary final at the Sydney Football Stadium and a preseason trial on the Sunshine Coast.
While Ta’ai and Royal will play for the Vodafone Warriors for the first time today, halfback Nathan Fien will edge closer to becoming the 13th player to appear in 100 NRL matches for the club. This will be his 98th outing and, with the injured Evarn Tuimavave locked on 99, Fien is likely to reach three figures first; he’s also nearing his 200-game career milestone with what will be his 189th game.
VODAFONE WARRIORS
1 WADE McKINNON
2 DENAN KEMP
3 BRENT TATE
4 JEROME ROPATI
5 MANU VATUVEI
6 JOEL MOON
7 NATHAN FIEN
15 RUSSELL PACKER
9 IAN HENDERSON
10 STEVE PRICE (c)
8 SAM RAPIRA
11 SIMON MANNERING
12 JACOB LILLYMAN
Interchange:
14 STACEY JONES
16 JESSE ROYAL
17 UKUMA TA’AI
20 LEESON AH MAU
18TH MAN: AARON HEREMAIA
new era in Formula One as slick tyres return
Bridgestone starts a new era in Formula One as slick tyres return to Grand Prix racing for the first time in over eleven years when round one of the 2009 FIA Formula One World Championship gets under way with the ING Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park on March 29.
Bridgestone Potenza slick tyres are just one of the new aspects on the radically overhauled Formula One cars which will line up for the first race of the season, as the latest aerodynamic regulations - designed to reduce downforce - mean that the cars look very different from their counterparts of twelve months ago.
Slick tyres require a new method of marking to designate between compounds, as the previous method of painting one of the grooves with a white line no longer applies. Bridgestone has used the opportunity of launching a new system to show its continued support for the FIA’s Make Cars Green campaign, by marking the softer of the two dry compounds available for each race with green sidewall markings. The now renamed ‘wet’ tyre (formerly ‘extreme’ tyre) will also feature a green line in a central groove.
As before, two compounds of tyre will be available for every grand prix, with the requirement that both are used in the race. In a change from the previous allocation philosophy employed for the past two seasons, Bridgestone will now bring non-consecutive allocations to most events. For this grand prix the medium and super soft tyres have been selected from the range of hard, medium, soft and super soft.
Albert Park is traditionally a challenging venue. In addition to the notoriously variable Melbourne weather, the track surface changes significantly over the course of the race meeting as it is only used for motorsport once a year. The track features 16 turns over its 5.30 km and is a compromise circuit in its layout with low downforce desired down the straights, but higher downforce requirements through the turns. High lateral forces mean high levels of energy and heat are dispersed through the tyres.
Hirohide Hamashima - Bridgestone Director of Motorsport Tyre Development, said:
What are the significant changes for 2009 from Bridgestone’s perspective?
“The move to slick tyres is significant, although Bridgestone have a lot of experience with these tyres from many different race series so we are confident that we can produce good racing slicks. We are making these tyres to the same sizes as we had with grooved tyres, but this means there is a new front/rear grip balance. The teams will therefore have to work hard to get a good set-up, particularly with the varying surface of Albert Park, and we will be working closely with everyone to achieve this.”
How big a challenge will it be for competitors having a non-consecutive allocation?
“I think it has the potential to be a big challenge. We received many requests last season to make the difference between the two compounds greater, so we have attempted to do this by not only having a different compound stiffness, but also varying the temperature working range of the tyres. We have sought to allocate one tyre which has a lower working range and one which has a higher working range.
This means that, even more than before, competitors will have to think long and hard about how they use their tyres, and there will be good rewards for those who make the best choices.”
Stats & Facts
Number & Spec of tyres brought to Australia 1800 (intermediate & wet, medium & super soft dry)
Pole position time 2008: 1min 26.714secs (Hamilton)
Fastest race lap 2008: 1min 27.418secs (Kovalainen)
Top three 2008: Hamilton, Heidfeld, Rosberg
Bridgestone Potenza slick tyres are just one of the new aspects on the radically overhauled Formula One cars which will line up for the first race of the season, as the latest aerodynamic regulations - designed to reduce downforce - mean that the cars look very different from their counterparts of twelve months ago.
Slick tyres require a new method of marking to designate between compounds, as the previous method of painting one of the grooves with a white line no longer applies. Bridgestone has used the opportunity of launching a new system to show its continued support for the FIA’s Make Cars Green campaign, by marking the softer of the two dry compounds available for each race with green sidewall markings. The now renamed ‘wet’ tyre (formerly ‘extreme’ tyre) will also feature a green line in a central groove.
As before, two compounds of tyre will be available for every grand prix, with the requirement that both are used in the race. In a change from the previous allocation philosophy employed for the past two seasons, Bridgestone will now bring non-consecutive allocations to most events. For this grand prix the medium and super soft tyres have been selected from the range of hard, medium, soft and super soft.
Albert Park is traditionally a challenging venue. In addition to the notoriously variable Melbourne weather, the track surface changes significantly over the course of the race meeting as it is only used for motorsport once a year. The track features 16 turns over its 5.30 km and is a compromise circuit in its layout with low downforce desired down the straights, but higher downforce requirements through the turns. High lateral forces mean high levels of energy and heat are dispersed through the tyres.
Hirohide Hamashima - Bridgestone Director of Motorsport Tyre Development, said:
What are the significant changes for 2009 from Bridgestone’s perspective?
“The move to slick tyres is significant, although Bridgestone have a lot of experience with these tyres from many different race series so we are confident that we can produce good racing slicks. We are making these tyres to the same sizes as we had with grooved tyres, but this means there is a new front/rear grip balance. The teams will therefore have to work hard to get a good set-up, particularly with the varying surface of Albert Park, and we will be working closely with everyone to achieve this.”
How big a challenge will it be for competitors having a non-consecutive allocation?
“I think it has the potential to be a big challenge. We received many requests last season to make the difference between the two compounds greater, so we have attempted to do this by not only having a different compound stiffness, but also varying the temperature working range of the tyres. We have sought to allocate one tyre which has a lower working range and one which has a higher working range.
This means that, even more than before, competitors will have to think long and hard about how they use their tyres, and there will be good rewards for those who make the best choices.”
Stats & Facts
Number & Spec of tyres brought to Australia 1800 (intermediate & wet, medium & super soft dry)
Pole position time 2008: 1min 26.714secs (Hamilton)
Fastest race lap 2008: 1min 27.418secs (Kovalainen)
Top three 2008: Hamilton, Heidfeld, Rosberg
Australian Grand Prix Preview
Lewis Hamilton
“There is no better place to begin the FIA Formula 1 World Championship than in Australia. The weather is fantastic, the facilities are excellent and the people of Melbourne make us all feel extremely welcome. Most importantly, everyone arrives with an air of enthusiasm and expectation. Despite weeks of winter testing, it’s still difficult to know exactly who has the best package, and finding out over the weekend in Albert Park is always fascinating. Perhaps Vodafone McLaren Mercedes doesn’t come to Melbourne with the same prospects to challenge at the front that we experienced in both 2007 and ’08, but the whole team will be working tirelessly to help us move back to the front.”
Heikki Kovalainen
“I had a great race in Melbourne last year on my debut for Vodafone McLaren Mercedes. It’s a track I love – a circuit that you really have to attack with a lot of enthusiasm if you are to get the best from the car. The fast esses at the back of the circuit are probably the most demanding corners – getting it just right is a hugely satisfying feeling. Elsewhere, I enjoy the ‘back to school’ feeling of the new season – you meet up with everybody, share your stories from the winter and look forward to another good season. Everybody in our team is really motivated and, while we probably won’t start the season as favourites, we will work around the clock to get back there.”
Martin Whitmarsh, team principal, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes
“We go into the start of the 2009 season fully aware that we do not yet have the technical package that will allow our drivers to fight at the front. In Formula 1, there is nowhere to hide: that’s what makes our sport so demanding and yet so endlessly fascinating. And as a team that goes grand prix racing with the expectation of winning races and challenging for world championships, we therefore go to Melbourne with realistic expectations. Nonetheless, we begin our season with huge determination to re-assert ourselves at the front and we will not rest for a moment until we have done that. Most importantly, we haven’t forgotten how to win.”
Norbert Haug, Vice-president, Mercedes-Benz Motorsport
"Melbourne is the city where – 12 years ago – McLaren-Mercedes achieved their first of 58 grand prix wins since then. After a total of four victories at Albert Park, this time it may not be possible to repeat Lewis’s success of last year. Considering our test results we will not be as competitive at the season opener as we intend to be, and so I do not expect a qualifying result at the front of the grid. However, we will all work hard to return to the front as soon as possible and in Melbourne everybody in the team is fully motivated to do everything to achieve the best possible result."
“There is no better place to begin the FIA Formula 1 World Championship than in Australia. The weather is fantastic, the facilities are excellent and the people of Melbourne make us all feel extremely welcome. Most importantly, everyone arrives with an air of enthusiasm and expectation. Despite weeks of winter testing, it’s still difficult to know exactly who has the best package, and finding out over the weekend in Albert Park is always fascinating. Perhaps Vodafone McLaren Mercedes doesn’t come to Melbourne with the same prospects to challenge at the front that we experienced in both 2007 and ’08, but the whole team will be working tirelessly to help us move back to the front.”
Heikki Kovalainen
“I had a great race in Melbourne last year on my debut for Vodafone McLaren Mercedes. It’s a track I love – a circuit that you really have to attack with a lot of enthusiasm if you are to get the best from the car. The fast esses at the back of the circuit are probably the most demanding corners – getting it just right is a hugely satisfying feeling. Elsewhere, I enjoy the ‘back to school’ feeling of the new season – you meet up with everybody, share your stories from the winter and look forward to another good season. Everybody in our team is really motivated and, while we probably won’t start the season as favourites, we will work around the clock to get back there.”
Martin Whitmarsh, team principal, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes
“We go into the start of the 2009 season fully aware that we do not yet have the technical package that will allow our drivers to fight at the front. In Formula 1, there is nowhere to hide: that’s what makes our sport so demanding and yet so endlessly fascinating. And as a team that goes grand prix racing with the expectation of winning races and challenging for world championships, we therefore go to Melbourne with realistic expectations. Nonetheless, we begin our season with huge determination to re-assert ourselves at the front and we will not rest for a moment until we have done that. Most importantly, we haven’t forgotten how to win.”
Norbert Haug, Vice-president, Mercedes-Benz Motorsport
"Melbourne is the city where – 12 years ago – McLaren-Mercedes achieved their first of 58 grand prix wins since then. After a total of four victories at Albert Park, this time it may not be possible to repeat Lewis’s success of last year. Considering our test results we will not be as competitive at the season opener as we intend to be, and so I do not expect a qualifying result at the front of the grid. However, we will all work hard to return to the front as soon as possible and in Melbourne everybody in the team is fully motivated to do everything to achieve the best possible result."
McAlister, Bruno, Faure Back For Sharks
Sale Sharks have named their team to play Harlequins at the Stoop on Sunday afternoon. Director of Rugby Kingsley Jones said, “ It’s been a tough week for us as we lost several players injured in last weeks game at Northampton. Some have thankfully recovered and will play this weekend. I also have Sebastien Bruno and Luke McAlister back after injury, and Lionel Faure has flown back from France to rejoin us.”
Team
Nick Macleod, Rory Lamont, Luke McAlister, Rudi Keil, David Doherty, Charlie Hodgson, Will Cliff, Rob O’Donnell, Sebastien Bruno, Eifion Roberts, Chris Jones,Brent Cockbain, Carl Fearns, Neil Briggs, Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe
Replacements:
Dave Ward, Lionel Faure, Sean Cox, James Gaskell, David Tait, Jonny Kennedy, Oriol Ripol
Extras
• James Gaskell is an England U20 International (Premiership debut as a sub v Worcester last November)
• Jonny Kennedy is son of owner Brian Kennedy (Yet to make his Premiership debut but was used in EDF Energy Cup games)
• Luke McAlister returns after missing 4 games with a knee injury
• Sebastien Bruno returns after missing 3 games with an ankle injury
• Rory Lamont plays on the wing for the first time since the win over Bristol last September
• Chris Jones plays at Lock for the first time since the win over ASM Clermont Auvergne in January
• Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe will leave Sale Sharks at the end of the current season. Club captain Juan joined the club in the summer of 2006. Director of Rugby Kingsley Jones said, “ Juan has decided to take up a new challenge in France, but he leaves with our good wishes and he desperately wants to win something with Sale Sharks before he leaves. We have done everything we possibly can to keep Juan at the club but we can’t compete with the market in France where there is no salary cap.”
Team
Nick Macleod, Rory Lamont, Luke McAlister, Rudi Keil, David Doherty, Charlie Hodgson, Will Cliff, Rob O’Donnell, Sebastien Bruno, Eifion Roberts, Chris Jones,Brent Cockbain, Carl Fearns, Neil Briggs, Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe
Replacements:
Dave Ward, Lionel Faure, Sean Cox, James Gaskell, David Tait, Jonny Kennedy, Oriol Ripol
Extras
• James Gaskell is an England U20 International (Premiership debut as a sub v Worcester last November)
• Jonny Kennedy is son of owner Brian Kennedy (Yet to make his Premiership debut but was used in EDF Energy Cup games)
• Luke McAlister returns after missing 4 games with a knee injury
• Sebastien Bruno returns after missing 3 games with an ankle injury
• Rory Lamont plays on the wing for the first time since the win over Bristol last September
• Chris Jones plays at Lock for the first time since the win over ASM Clermont Auvergne in January
• Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe will leave Sale Sharks at the end of the current season. Club captain Juan joined the club in the summer of 2006. Director of Rugby Kingsley Jones said, “ Juan has decided to take up a new challenge in France, but he leaves with our good wishes and he desperately wants to win something with Sale Sharks before he leaves. We have done everything we possibly can to keep Juan at the club but we can’t compete with the market in France where there is no salary cap.”
Blades Submit Stadium Development Plans Following Lengthy Consultation
Sheffield United has submitted exciting plans to redevelop its Bramall Lane stadium.
The submission to Sheffield City Council follows more than 18 months consultation with the local community, supporters and planners since originally unveiling the masterplan for the comprehensive redevelopment of the stadium in 2007.
Phase one includes the extension of the Frasers Property Kop to increase its capacity by more than 3,200 seats, which coupled with other additional seating plans could increase the ground capacity to almost 37,000.
The development proposals also include the removal of columns from the Kop, a new undercover concourse with modern kiosks and toilet facilities, new executive boxes and disabled facilities in the Evolution Corner Stand, a media/business centre between the Valad Stand and Kop and additional community amenities.
A student residential block will be developed on the corner of Shoreham Street and John Street.
A further planning application for phase two of the development is expected in the near future. It is understood these proposals will include the extension of the Valad Stand and development of the car park, ultimately taking the potential capacity to above 40,000.
The proposals are intended to provide the club with the flexibility to increase the capacity of the ground, given its ambition to return to the Premier League and will enhance the ability to generate additional revenues which can be ploughed back into the first team.
United chief executive, Jason Rockett, said: “We have been working on the masterplan for more than three years in order to provide a comprehensive medium to long term strategy for the expansion of the stadium and to continue to grow off field revenue streams.
“Given the complexity of any stadium development, it is important to be well prepared in order to be able to adapt to changing circumstances and not stagnate as a business. Any proposals obviously depend on success on the pitch which remains the club’s key focus.
“As we saw in the Premier League before, there was the demand for the additional capacity.”
Sheffield United was the 11th best supported team in the Premier League in 2006-07. The club’s ongoing commitment to provide affordable football and policy for fans for the future has enabled it to increase its supporter base over the last few years and this is intended to continue.
The submission to Sheffield City Council follows more than 18 months consultation with the local community, supporters and planners since originally unveiling the masterplan for the comprehensive redevelopment of the stadium in 2007.
Phase one includes the extension of the Frasers Property Kop to increase its capacity by more than 3,200 seats, which coupled with other additional seating plans could increase the ground capacity to almost 37,000.
The development proposals also include the removal of columns from the Kop, a new undercover concourse with modern kiosks and toilet facilities, new executive boxes and disabled facilities in the Evolution Corner Stand, a media/business centre between the Valad Stand and Kop and additional community amenities.
A student residential block will be developed on the corner of Shoreham Street and John Street.
A further planning application for phase two of the development is expected in the near future. It is understood these proposals will include the extension of the Valad Stand and development of the car park, ultimately taking the potential capacity to above 40,000.
The proposals are intended to provide the club with the flexibility to increase the capacity of the ground, given its ambition to return to the Premier League and will enhance the ability to generate additional revenues which can be ploughed back into the first team.
United chief executive, Jason Rockett, said: “We have been working on the masterplan for more than three years in order to provide a comprehensive medium to long term strategy for the expansion of the stadium and to continue to grow off field revenue streams.
“Given the complexity of any stadium development, it is important to be well prepared in order to be able to adapt to changing circumstances and not stagnate as a business. Any proposals obviously depend on success on the pitch which remains the club’s key focus.
“As we saw in the Premier League before, there was the demand for the additional capacity.”
Sheffield United was the 11th best supported team in the Premier League in 2006-07. The club’s ongoing commitment to provide affordable football and policy for fans for the future has enabled it to increase its supporter base over the last few years and this is intended to continue.
penalties for off field misbehaviour
The National Rugby League, Player Association delegates and club Chief Executives Stephen Noyce, Todd Greenberg, Shane Richardson and Bruno Cullen will form a committee to develop guidelines on recommended penalties for off field misbehaviour.
The NRL remains committed to the view that clubs should be the primary point for player discipline with the NRL further acting only in those cases where it believes the action was insufficient.
The NRL does not believe that a separate judicial body would be appropriate. Nor does it believe the concept would be practical in dealing with incidents likely to involve parties with no contractual or other association with the NRL and in circumstances where the ability to call those parties to give evidence would be in severe doubt.
There is a wish however to give clubs and players more clarity about the sort of penalties they should consider in the context of a player’s history within the club.
The NRL also hopes the process will assist clubs and players in understanding when the NRL is likely and unlikely to intervene.
The NRL remains committed to the view that clubs should be the primary point for player discipline with the NRL further acting only in those cases where it believes the action was insufficient.
The NRL does not believe that a separate judicial body would be appropriate. Nor does it believe the concept would be practical in dealing with incidents likely to involve parties with no contractual or other association with the NRL and in circumstances where the ability to call those parties to give evidence would be in severe doubt.
There is a wish however to give clubs and players more clarity about the sort of penalties they should consider in the context of a player’s history within the club.
The NRL also hopes the process will assist clubs and players in understanding when the NRL is likely and unlikely to intervene.
TOSS DETAILS IN ICC WOMEN'S WORLD CUP FINAL
The White Ferns have won the toss and will bat first in this ICC WOMEN'S WORLD CUP FINAL
WHITE FERNS TEAM TO PLAY ICC WOMEN'S WORLD CUP FINAL
THE WHITE FERNS TEAM TO PLAY ENGLAND IN THE FINAL OF THE ICC WOMEN'S WORLD CUP.
NORTH SYDNEY OVAL : Start time.. 10--00AM LOCAL TIME.
White Ferns line -up.
****************************************************************.
Haidee Tiffen. Captain.
Aimee Mason. Vice Captain.
Kate Pulford.
Amy Satterthwaite.
Sara McGlashan.
Suzie Bates.
Nicola Browne.
Sarah Tsukigawa.
Rachel Priest.
Sophie Devine.
Lucy Doolan.
Beth McNeill [12th]
Forecast for Sydney today is for hot and sunny conditions with temperatures reaching the high twenties.
NORTH SYDNEY OVAL : Start time.. 10--00AM LOCAL TIME.
White Ferns line -up.
****************************************************************.
Haidee Tiffen. Captain.
Aimee Mason. Vice Captain.
Kate Pulford.
Amy Satterthwaite.
Sara McGlashan.
Suzie Bates.
Nicola Browne.
Sarah Tsukigawa.
Rachel Priest.
Sophie Devine.
Lucy Doolan.
Beth McNeill [12th]
Forecast for Sydney today is for hot and sunny conditions with temperatures reaching the high twenties.
Vito joins New Zealand Sevens squad for Hong Kong and Adelaide Tournaments
The Hurricanes’ Victor Vito is the surprise inclusion in the New Zealand Sevens squad for the Hong Kong and Adelaide legs of the IRB Sevens World Series.
Coach Gordon Tietjens named Vito in his 12-man squad which will leave for Hong Kong this evening.
He will join Tim Mikkelson, who has been released from the Chiefs’ wider training group pending any injuries in the Chiefs’ squad after today’s Rebel Sport Super 14 clash against the Blues. If cleared, Mikkelson will travel to Hong Kong early next week.
The only new cap in the squad is Auckland’s Jordan Puletua who will make his New Zealand Sevens debut if he takes the field in either Tournament.
Tietjens said he was delighted that the Hurricanes had agreed to make Vito available given the importance of these two tournaments to New Zealand’s prospects in the World Series.
“It was disappointing for everyone that Victor wasn’t able to take part the way we all would have liked in Dubai because of his calf injury. But he has come through that and we expect he will be fully prepared and ready to go by next weekend.”
He also appreciated the Chiefs releasing Mikkelson after he had been earlier called up to the main Chiefs’ squad as injury cover.
“There is a lot riding on these next two weekends as there are extra points on offer in Hong Kong, and we are only one win away from challenging for the Series lead. We are very grateful to the Hurricanes for releasing Victor and the Chiefs for allowing Tim to join us, which is a huge help given all the injuries we have been hit with so far this year.”
The squad is: Tomasi Cama (Manawatu), DJ Forbes (Captain, Counties Manukau), Paul Grant (Otago), Nigel Hunt (Bay of Plenty), Zar Lawrence (Bay of Plenty), Tim Mikkelson (Waikato), Jordan Puletua (Auckland), Lote Raikabula (Manawatu), Julian Savea (Wellington), Ben Souness (Taranaki), Chad Tuoro (Counties Manukau), Victor Vito (Wellingon).
Four players were not considered due to injury. They were Edwin Cocker (broken leg), Willie Rickards (hamstring), Tu Umaga Marshall (back) and Viliame Waqaseduadua (concussion).
Counties Manukau’s Tim Nanai Williams and North Harbour’s Nafi Tuitavake have been selected in the training squad for the New Zealand Under 20 team to be announced next week.
The Hong Kong and Adelaide tournaments will both be held over three days on March 27-29 and April 3-5 respectively.
Coach Gordon Tietjens named Vito in his 12-man squad which will leave for Hong Kong this evening.
He will join Tim Mikkelson, who has been released from the Chiefs’ wider training group pending any injuries in the Chiefs’ squad after today’s Rebel Sport Super 14 clash against the Blues. If cleared, Mikkelson will travel to Hong Kong early next week.
The only new cap in the squad is Auckland’s Jordan Puletua who will make his New Zealand Sevens debut if he takes the field in either Tournament.
Tietjens said he was delighted that the Hurricanes had agreed to make Vito available given the importance of these two tournaments to New Zealand’s prospects in the World Series.
“It was disappointing for everyone that Victor wasn’t able to take part the way we all would have liked in Dubai because of his calf injury. But he has come through that and we expect he will be fully prepared and ready to go by next weekend.”
He also appreciated the Chiefs releasing Mikkelson after he had been earlier called up to the main Chiefs’ squad as injury cover.
“There is a lot riding on these next two weekends as there are extra points on offer in Hong Kong, and we are only one win away from challenging for the Series lead. We are very grateful to the Hurricanes for releasing Victor and the Chiefs for allowing Tim to join us, which is a huge help given all the injuries we have been hit with so far this year.”
The squad is: Tomasi Cama (Manawatu), DJ Forbes (Captain, Counties Manukau), Paul Grant (Otago), Nigel Hunt (Bay of Plenty), Zar Lawrence (Bay of Plenty), Tim Mikkelson (Waikato), Jordan Puletua (Auckland), Lote Raikabula (Manawatu), Julian Savea (Wellington), Ben Souness (Taranaki), Chad Tuoro (Counties Manukau), Victor Vito (Wellingon).
Four players were not considered due to injury. They were Edwin Cocker (broken leg), Willie Rickards (hamstring), Tu Umaga Marshall (back) and Viliame Waqaseduadua (concussion).
Counties Manukau’s Tim Nanai Williams and North Harbour’s Nafi Tuitavake have been selected in the training squad for the New Zealand Under 20 team to be announced next week.
The Hong Kong and Adelaide tournaments will both be held over three days on March 27-29 and April 3-5 respectively.
Kiwi Slayer Continues As King-Turner Downed
The run of Dan King-Turner came to a sudden halt in the semifinals of the tennis Futures in Hamilton as Japan’s Tatsuma Ito became the Kiwi destroyer scoring his fourth consecutive victory over New Zealand players in a row.
Second seed Tatsuma ranked at 333 beat the 459th King-Turner 6-3 6-0 in just 49 minutes in the ASB Pro Circuit US$15,000 draw to make the final against top seed Carsten Ball of Australia.
Tatsuma’s run of wins against Kiwis includes a three set triumph over Oliver Statham, straight sets versus Marcus Daniell, then Rubin Statham followed by King-Turner who was strangely passive and off key in his game after being aggressive in his run to the semis.
King-Turner will now try for the title at the third week of the circuit starting in Wellington on Tuesday.
Tatsuma will have to continue his nagging length in the final against Ball who is ranked at 193, is an Australian Davis Cup team member and has a massive serve with plenty of talent to burn, but can lapse in concentration at times. In his semis Ball defeated Chinese Davis Cup player Ze Zhang 6-1 6-4.
The women’s US$10,000 final will be contested between world No1 junior and tournament fourth seed, Thai, Noppawan Lertcheewakan 17 accounted for eighth seed Ayaka Maekawa(Japan) 6-3 6-2 and unseeded Ayu-Fani Damayanti(Indonesia) who beat Hong Kong player and fifth seed Ling Zhang, the winner of last week’s event 7-6(6) 6-1.
Lertcheewakan will be the favourite for the title after having already excelled at Challenger level, including winning one title at that level.
Results:
ASB Pro Circuit US$10,000 women’s singles semifinals:
Ayu-Fani Damayanti(Indonesia) bt (5)Ling Zhang(Hong Kong) 7-6(6) 6-1, (4)Noppawan Lertcheewakarn(Thailand) bt (8)Ayaka Maekawa(Japan) 6-3 6-2.
ASB Pro Circuit US$15,000 men’s singles semifinals:
(1)Carsten Ball(Australia) bt (Q)Ze Zhang(China) 6-1 6-4, (2)Tatsuma Ito(Japan) bt Dan King-Turner(New Zealand) 6-3 6-0.
Second seed Tatsuma ranked at 333 beat the 459th King-Turner 6-3 6-0 in just 49 minutes in the ASB Pro Circuit US$15,000 draw to make the final against top seed Carsten Ball of Australia.
Tatsuma’s run of wins against Kiwis includes a three set triumph over Oliver Statham, straight sets versus Marcus Daniell, then Rubin Statham followed by King-Turner who was strangely passive and off key in his game after being aggressive in his run to the semis.
King-Turner will now try for the title at the third week of the circuit starting in Wellington on Tuesday.
Tatsuma will have to continue his nagging length in the final against Ball who is ranked at 193, is an Australian Davis Cup team member and has a massive serve with plenty of talent to burn, but can lapse in concentration at times. In his semis Ball defeated Chinese Davis Cup player Ze Zhang 6-1 6-4.
The women’s US$10,000 final will be contested between world No1 junior and tournament fourth seed, Thai, Noppawan Lertcheewakan 17 accounted for eighth seed Ayaka Maekawa(Japan) 6-3 6-2 and unseeded Ayu-Fani Damayanti(Indonesia) who beat Hong Kong player and fifth seed Ling Zhang, the winner of last week’s event 7-6(6) 6-1.
Lertcheewakan will be the favourite for the title after having already excelled at Challenger level, including winning one title at that level.
Results:
ASB Pro Circuit US$10,000 women’s singles semifinals:
Ayu-Fani Damayanti(Indonesia) bt (5)Ling Zhang(Hong Kong) 7-6(6) 6-1, (4)Noppawan Lertcheewakarn(Thailand) bt (8)Ayaka Maekawa(Japan) 6-3 6-2.
ASB Pro Circuit US$15,000 men’s singles semifinals:
(1)Carsten Ball(Australia) bt (Q)Ze Zhang(China) 6-1 6-4, (2)Tatsuma Ito(Japan) bt Dan King-Turner(New Zealand) 6-3 6-0.
SANZAR Judicial findings – Deon Stegmann and Jason Eaton
Bulls flanker Deon Stegmann and Hurricanes lock Jason Eaton have appeared before SANZAR Judicial Officer Peter Hobbs at the NZRU offices in Wellington today after being cited for separate incidents in last night’s Rebel Sport Super 14 match between the Hurricanes and the Bulls at Westpac Stadium, Wellington.
Deon Stegmann
Stegmann was cited by Citing Commissioner Steve Hinds for a dangerous tackle on Hurricanes midfielder Conrad Smith in the eighth minute of the second half. Smith was up-ended in the tackle, landing heavily on his head and had to leave the field to receive medical treatment.
At his hearing Stegmann was accompanied by legal representative Andrew Scott-Howman and supported by Bulls officials.
At the hearing Mr Hobbs viewed video footage of the incident and received reports from the referee Matt Goddard, the match assistant referees and the Hurricanes medical staff.
At the outset of the hearing, Stegmann accepted that he was guilty of making a dangerous tackle. After hearing submissions on the issue of penalty and taking all matters into account, he was suspended for three matches.
As a result, Stegmann will be unavailable for selection for the Bulls upcoming matches against the Highlanders, Crusaders and Waratahs.
Jason Eaton
Eaton was cited for allegedly stamping or trampling on Bulls lock Bakkies Botha in the 10th minute of the second half of the match. As a result of the incident, he was given a yellow card by referee Matt Goddard.
Eaton was accompanied at his hearing by legal representative Tim Castle and supported by Hurricanes Head Coach Colin Cooper and Hurricanes CEO Greg Peters.
Mr Hobbs said Eaton had accepted that he had made contact with Botha with his boots during a ruck but did not accept that it was stamping or trampling as described by the Citing Commissioner.
Mr Hobbs said that under the rules determining disciplinary matters such as this, a Judicial Officer is not entitled to depart from the decision of a referee if the referee has seen and dealt with an incident, unless the Judicial Officer is satisfied that the reasons given by the referee for dealing with the matter in that way were wrong.
Having heard evidence from the referee as to his reasons, and submissions from Mr Castle, Mr Hobbs decided that he was not entitled to interfere with the referee’s decision and impose any further sanction.
Deon Stegmann
Stegmann was cited by Citing Commissioner Steve Hinds for a dangerous tackle on Hurricanes midfielder Conrad Smith in the eighth minute of the second half. Smith was up-ended in the tackle, landing heavily on his head and had to leave the field to receive medical treatment.
At his hearing Stegmann was accompanied by legal representative Andrew Scott-Howman and supported by Bulls officials.
At the hearing Mr Hobbs viewed video footage of the incident and received reports from the referee Matt Goddard, the match assistant referees and the Hurricanes medical staff.
At the outset of the hearing, Stegmann accepted that he was guilty of making a dangerous tackle. After hearing submissions on the issue of penalty and taking all matters into account, he was suspended for three matches.
As a result, Stegmann will be unavailable for selection for the Bulls upcoming matches against the Highlanders, Crusaders and Waratahs.
Jason Eaton
Eaton was cited for allegedly stamping or trampling on Bulls lock Bakkies Botha in the 10th minute of the second half of the match. As a result of the incident, he was given a yellow card by referee Matt Goddard.
Eaton was accompanied at his hearing by legal representative Tim Castle and supported by Hurricanes Head Coach Colin Cooper and Hurricanes CEO Greg Peters.
Mr Hobbs said Eaton had accepted that he had made contact with Botha with his boots during a ruck but did not accept that it was stamping or trampling as described by the Citing Commissioner.
Mr Hobbs said that under the rules determining disciplinary matters such as this, a Judicial Officer is not entitled to depart from the decision of a referee if the referee has seen and dealt with an incident, unless the Judicial Officer is satisfied that the reasons given by the referee for dealing with the matter in that way were wrong.
Having heard evidence from the referee as to his reasons, and submissions from Mr Castle, Mr Hobbs decided that he was not entitled to interfere with the referee’s decision and impose any further sanction.
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