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Blues hold slim lead against Vics

Written By Unknown on Kamis, 07 Maret 2013 | 23.34

Nic Maddinson ... continues his impressive form against Victoria. Source: Gregg Porteous / News Limited

A brilliant debut by 19-year-old seamer Gurinder Sandhu gave New South Wales the upper hand on Thursday in their important Sheffield Shield clash with Victoria at the MCG.

The former Australian U19 fast bowler took 5-31 from 11 overs as the Victorians, top of the Shield table and looking to secure a spot in the final, were steamrolled for just 128 in their first innings.

New South Wales were 6-201 in reply by stumps on a remarkable opening day, leading by 73 runs with Trent Copeland (20no) and Steve O'Keefe (11no).

Sixteen wickets fell despite the appearance of a relatively-friendly MCG strip.

Sandhu, born in Blacktown as the son of an Indian immigrant father, became the first Blue since Copeland three years ago to take a five-wicket haul on his Shield debut. At one point, he had 4-7.

He had previously played four limited-overs games for New South Wales and shapes as a future international.

Fast bowler Clint McKay top-scored for the Victorians with a belligerent 41 that included two huge sixes -- one over long-on from Sandhu's bowling and another of more than 100 metres to the deep mid-wicket boundary off Josh Hazlewood.

But McKay's innings and a final-wicket partnership of 49 with No.11 batsman Fawad Ahmed only served to show the folly of Victoria's top order, who failed on a pitch that was not conspicuously difficult, slumping to 8-55.

Nic Maddinson's feisty 76 from just 67 balls was the highlight of the New South Wales reply.


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Harris disgusted with Shield return

Tough marker ... Harris was livid with his display despite on day one at the Gabba. Source: News Limited

National selectors will be impressed by Ryan Harris's first-class return at the Gabba on Thursday - until they hear the ex-Test quick's brutally honest self-assessment.

SHEF - Gabba

7 March 2013 - Day 1, Session 3

Tasmania 1st Innings

L. Butterwort... 14 42 2 0 33.33
E. Gulbis 2 11 0 0 18.18

Harris (3-77) was on a hat-trick as Tasmania lost 3-2 to be reeling at 5-90 before Jon Wells (82) helped steer the visitors to 8-236 at stumps on day one of their Sheffield Shield clash.

Queensland rued dropping Wells on seven - but Harris saved his biggest complaints for his display.

On paper, there didn't seem to be much to be upset about.

A gutsy Harris toiled away for 25 overs in his first taste of first-class action since Australia's tour of West Indies last April.

It capped a big week for the 33-year-old who took a match-winning 4-26 to help the Bulls seal a dramatic two-run win over Victoria in the final of the Ryobi Cup at the MCG.

But asked how he went on Thursday, Harris said: "Sh*thouse, to be honest.

"I got through 25 overs which is good but I am a long way away from where I want to be.

"Maybe five overs in my second spell I was happy with.

"I am just disappointed I didn't get enough balls in the right areas."

Harris is still keeping his fingers crossed to be in the frame for an Ashes call-up this year after recovering from shoulder surgery he underwent last August.

Wells also capped a comeback of sorts on Thursday.

Delisted by Tasmania almost 12 months ago, he forced his way back through sheer weight of runs.

Still, he arrived at the Gabba on Thursday with a less-than-impressive 16.74 first-class average.

However, Wells finally began to deliver on his undoubted potential with his third half-century, chiming in for an invaluable 97-run, sixth-wicket stand with Tim Paine (42) that stopped the Harris-inspired mini-collapse.

He was caught behind off James Hopes (2-57 off 22 overs) with just nine balls left for the day.

Harris celebrated his first Shield game of the season as Tasmania stumbled after emerging from lunch at 1-48.

He trapped Alex Doolan (21) in front and, next ball, had Australia Twenty20 captain George Bailey fending a ball to third slip.

And the Bulls were roaring when former national skipper Ricky Ponting - averaging more than 111 in Shield this season - inexplicably pulled Hopes straight to Joe Burns on 14.

After cruising at 0-47 before lunch, Tasmania were suddenly 5-90.


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I'll clarify the rules: Anderson

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Daniel Anderson ... vows to fix the refereeing grey areas. Source: Phil Hillyard / News Limited

NRL referee's boss Daniel Anderson has vowed to fix the refereeing grey areas plaguing the game by offering clarity to rules and interpretations.

After a confusing and chaotic refereeing display in 2012, Anderson and Peter Sterling dissected several key areas to be rectified on Fox Sports' newest rugby League analysis show, Sterlo.

In the course of one of the most shambolic pre-season's in recent history, Anderson's bold prediction of "refereeing clarity" has taken a back seat among contract backflips, doping investigations and the Dally M Medallist being stood down.

A question on every New South Welshmens' lips: will there be any more bungles like the infamous Greg Inglis Origin try when it comes to grounding the ball?

"Separation is not an indicator for tries; if you lose possession … you must regain possession before you put the ball down," Anderson said.

"Super slow-mo cameras show things that are not really indicative of what's happening, in those instances we'll take normal vision and make our decisions from that."

Anderson has acted swiftly; sneaking under the radar and rallying the Australian Rugby League Commission to remove the "benefit of the doubt" call and ban the shoulder charge, the most contentious of all rule changes.

"The onus is on player safety.

Anderson said Ben Te'o's sickening shoulder charge on young Wests Tigers prop Matt Groat, "will be minimum penalty, minimum on report, but likely that play will be a send-off offence in 2013.

"The shoulder charge is a hip turn; the shoulder rotation where you put your arm up, you put your wing in so to speak."

Justin Hodges was herding sheep in the same notorious Origin series in 2012. The shepherd, sorry obstruction, will change?

"It's about who initiates contact, the onus is on the attacking team to just not run into the defending players and cause them any disadvantage."


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O'Connor: I want Test No.10 jersey

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Rivals ... O'Connor (L) and Cooper will put their friendship to one side on Friday night. Source:News Limited

Melbourne Rebels star James O'Connor has signalled his intentions to secure the Wallabies No.10 jersey as he prepares to face good mate Quade Cooper on Friday night.

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The rival No.10s will put their friendship to one side when Queensland Reds arrive at AAMI Park for O'Connor's first start in the playmaking role in 2013.

Speaking on Fox Sports' Rugby HQ on Thursday night, O'Connor stated his desire to once again don the Wallabies No.10 jersey as he did at the tail end of 2011.

"I haven't made it a secret that I want to be in the director's seat," O'Connor said while seated alongside Cooper in Fox Sports' Melbourne studios.

"But I just want to play with the best team when it comes to Wallabies selections – you want to be playing with the best guys.

"So for me, personally, I've got a bit to do to earn my way back into the team; obviously I didn't play much last year and I know Quade's got a few battles he wants to sort out."


Watch the Rebels v Reds Live on Fox Sports! Tune into Fox Sports 1HD from 7.20pm (EDT) Friday to catch all the action from AAMI Park!


Cooper's form has been patchy following his boxing debut in February with the controversial fly half struggling to produce his renowned attacking flair.

Still, the man who last year famously described the Wallabies environment as "toxic" said the added competition at No.10 would only benefit the Test side.

"The best thing about it is pushing yourself against the best players," Cooper said.

"James is one of the best players in Australia and to go head-to-head and to have that opportunity to play against one of my best mates and one of the best players in the world, it's a great opportunity for both of us."

One man who won't be out on AAMI Park Friday night is the incumbent Wallabies No.10, Kurtley Beale.

Beale underwent surgery on a hand injury on Tuesday, ruling him out of Super Rugby for up to four weeks.
 


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Bunnies give SBW tough welcome back

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V for victory ... Issac Luke celebrates the win over Sydney Roosters. Source: Brett Costello / News Limited

South Sydney underlined their NRL premiership credentials in the opening round of the season with an impressive 28-10 win over the Sydney Roosters on Thursday night.

2

Tries

5

James Maloney 3' Nathan Merritt 10'
Sonny Bill Williams 75' Nathan Merritt 28'
Chris McQueen 40'
George Burgess 46'
Nathan Merritt 61'

1

Conversions

4

James Maloney 77' Adam Reynolds 12'
Adam Reynolds 30'
Adam Reynolds 47'
Adam Reynolds 63'

The return of Sonny Bill Williams and the Roosters' recruitment of big-name stars Michael Jennings and James Maloney dominated the build-up but Souths' superstars took the plaudits in front of a crowd of 35,942 at Allianz Stadium.

A hat-trick of tries from Nathan Merritt laid the foundations for the victory along with Greg Inglis, who had hand in four of his side's five tries.

Williams marked his debut with a try late in the game - his first since July 7 2008, but it was nothing more than a consolation.

Young halfback Adam Reynolds outshone his opposite number Mitchell Pearce with an assured performance and Sam Burgess and Ben Te'o dominated the Roosters much-vaunted pack.

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Souths coach Maguire was delighted with his side's display and heaped praise on his forwards and Reynolds.

"They (the forwards) were clinical for us. I thought all out front-rowers stood up," he said.

"The Reyno understands the game and the balance he has between pushing a pass or putting a kick in goal, it's a big thing for the team.

"Adam's up there with (the best) with the ability with his kicking. He's one of the best kickers in the game."

Roosters coach Trent Robinson bemoaned his side's ill-discipline but said he was pleased with Williams' contribution after he played the final 50 minutes.

"It was great to see him back," Robinson said.

"We saw some stuff where he needs to get used to the game again and then we saw him trying to really push hard to try and get us back into the game as well so I was really pleased."

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"I saw some really good stuff with the ball and some good push and he was looking to create some stuff so I think that's the Sonny that we know.

"It's going to take a couple of weeks but it was nice to have him out there."

The crowd were on their feet after three minutes when Maloney marked his Roosters debut with a try.

However, the response from the Rabbitohs was swift, as man of the match Inglis blazed his way deep into Roosters territory before releasing Merritt with a bullet of a pass.

The prolific winger raced to the line for the 130th try in Souths colours.


Re-live the game as it happened with our NRL Match Centre, featuring text commentary and all the key stats!


That kick-started the Souths forwards into action and they were rewarded when Merritt doubled his tally on the half-hour mark.

A teasing bomb from Reynolds was flicked into the path of Inglis, who found Dylan Farrell in space and the young centre offloaded for Merritt to score.

The setback prompted Roosters coach Trent Robinson to throw Williams into the fray for the first time since his controversial exit from Canterbury in 2008.

The Kiwi was greeted with a some heated words from Burgess, who then ran straight over the Rugby World Cup winner, much to the delight of the Rabbitohs supporters.

Souths continued from where they left off at the break, dominating in attack as the Roosters ill-discipline continued to let them down in addition to a number of basic errors.

The arrival of giant George Burgess from the bench added some extra beef to the Souths go-forward and the younger brother of Sam showed his potential with some powerful runs with the ball.

Six minutes after the break the Englishman scored his first NRL try when he bulldozed his way under the posts to end the game as a contest.

Merritt scored his third on the hour with Inglis once again the instigator to add some extra gloss, before Williams, who was quietly effective in his 50 minutes on the pitch, hauled in a Frank-Paul Nuuausala pass to race under the posts.

Reynolds kicked four goals, with Maloney kicking one for the Roosters.

Jennings was put on report just before the interval for a high shot on Beau Champion as was Sam Burgess for a high shot on Pearce.


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I don't have a drug problem: Swan

Dane Swan ... defends himself against drug rumours. Source: George Salpigtidis / News Limited

Collingwood star Dane Swan admits he's no angel and his attitude to football has been less than perfect in the past.

But the 2011 Brownlow Medallist and three-time Magpies best and fairest says he doesn't have a drug problem and has never posted a strike under the AFL's illicit drugs policy.

Swan said he had been confronted by Collingwood chief executive Gary Pert and other Magpies officials several times over his off-field behaviour.

But rumours that had swirled about him during the off-season regarding issues such as drug use and wild behaviour were ridiculous.

And he said his approach to football had improved greatly since he was suspended by his club over an alcohol-related incident late last season.

"I'm clearly not an angel,'' Swan told the Nine Network's AFL Footy Show.

"I suppose I probably go out a little bit more socially than the normal footballer.

"Maybe I am a little bit of what they call a lad and I have a laidback attitude and like just to relax and have a bit of fun, I'm not footy, footy, footy all the time.

"So maybe I'm not doing everything I possibly could to get myself 100 per cent for game day.

"But I'd like to think since I got suspended last year I certainly have.


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"And I'm hoping if you ask the coaches at the footy club and all the players that I certainly am a lot better this year than I ever have been.''

Swan also said he did not use performance-enhancing drugs but was tested six or seven times for them last season in what he believed was targeted testing.

"If you see what I look like and the way I run I clearly do not use performance-enhancing drugs,'' Swan joked.

He said he had no problem with Pert or other Magpies officials confronting him at times over his behaviour.

"We've had a couple of frank conversations and I realise where I'm at and I'd like to think that they know how I'm going and where I'm at too,'' he said.

Swan said while he was an easygoing character who wasn't too bothered by rumours about him, it did bother him that his parents and partner were sometimes upset by them.

The interview was pre-recorded and Swan was fined by the Magpies on Thursday for conducting it without first gaining the club's approval.

But while the fine is understood to be at most $5000, Swan was reportedly paid $20,000 for the interview.


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