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RUGBY LEAGUEHOW DOES YOUR TEAM SHAPE UP FOR 2012

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ONE GAME AT A TIME

ISSUE #7 JANUARY 2012

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ACTEWAGL ROYAL CANBERRA

LADIES CLASSIC YOUR GUIDE TO THE TOURNAMENT

WE’RE ALL ABOUT SPORTCANBERRA.COM.AUII Issue #7 January 2012

WE’RE ALL ABOUT SPORTCANBERRA.COM.AU 1Issue #7 January 2012

02 CricketMichael Clarke

04 BaseballCanberra Cavalry

06 BasketballWNBL | NBL | NBA

08 Rugby LeagueHow does your team shape up in 2012

09 Top 5Sports Villans

10 Aussie RulesNEAFL Eastern Conference major sponsor | Sydney Hills Eagles new signing

12 Rugby UnionPlayer focus: Scott Sio | Six Nations schedule slammed

14 Your Shout Letters to the editor

16 FootballEPL | A-League | W-League | Local Football

23 TennisAustralian Open

24 Social Pictures

26 Women in SportEllyse Perry | Ice Skating

28 CyclingRoad Racing | Mountain Bikes

30 Japan Sports Stars Help Out

31 Left of CentreCurling

32 Australian Deaf GamesDeafACT Gears up for games

32 Motor SportFormula 1 | Dakar Rally | Indy Car

34 Combat SportsBoxing | MMA

36 FitnessWith Original Bootcamp

37 Sports Crossword Nutrition and Health

19

ACTEWAGL ROYAL CANBERRA LADIES CLASSICYOUR GUIDE TO THE TOURNAMENT

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CONTENTS

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CONTRIBUTORS Writers: Chris Cairns, Antony Perry, Peter McGrath AAP, AFP. Photographs: Andrew Finch - Edge Light PhotographyJoseph Purdam - JP Photographic

WE’RE ALL ABOUT SPORT

FEATURE

WE’RE ALL ABOUT SPORTCANBERRA.COM.AU2 Issue #7 January 2012

◊ BY JUSTIN CHADWICK

Cricket Australia’s rotation policy will strengthen the Test side rather than compromise performances, according to high performance manager Pat Howard.

As Australia’s injury toll continues to mount, Howard believes it’s more important than ever to carefully manage the workload of players on an individual basis.

All-rounder Shane Watson and pace trio Pat Cummins, James Pattinson and Mitchell Johnson are all nursing injuries at present, while speedster Ryan Harris and batsman Shaun Marsh have only recently returned from their own ailments.

Howard is a big supporter of having some form of rotation policy in place, but has promised fans the plan will be flexible enough to ensure Australia never sends out a ‘B’ side.

“It’s a series-by-series decision. It’s not rotating every Test, that’s not what we’re trying to do,” Howard told AAP on Sunday.

“To coin a phrase by (selector) John Inverarity: stable but not staggered.

“We make sure that we give a nice base and foundation to the team and the squad while looking for opportunities to introduce players at different times.

“That’s definitely not putting out a ‘B’ team at any stage, that’s for sure.”

Howard said the focus on player management needed to be individual-based in order to protect at-risk players.

The former Wallaby, who was appointed as CA’s manager of team performance in October, said a player’s injury history, age, form, previous workload and expected future workload all would be taken into account when determining whether they needed a rest.

“Some players can last a full year and you can roll them out all year round and their bodies cope with it,” Howard said.

“Other players you know they might have a lot of injuries behind them and you do need to individually monitor them.

“We know bowlers are less injured these

days than they were 10 years ago per 1000 balls they bowl.

“But we want to get that even better.”

Australia, under new coach Mickey Arthur, lead India 2-0 heading into the third Test in Perth, starting Friday.

But Howard said there was plenty of work to do if the side was to reclaim the No.1 Test ranking.

“We don’t have short memories. We’ve had some real highs and some real lows over the past six months,” Howard said, pointing to the recent Test loss to New Zealand in Hobart as the perfect example.

“The Argus review talks about the stated aim is to be number one in the rankings, but that’s going to take a few years.”

Meanwhile, Howard gave his full backing to skipper Michael Clarke retaining his role as selector, saying the dual responsibility had worked well so far.

“My thoughts are it got reviewed in the Argus review and it will be staying as is,” Howard said.

“I’m particularly happy with how that team of five selectors are integrating and I’m really happy with how they’re working.” - AAP

ROTATION POLICY GOOD FOR TEST TEAM

Ryan Harris receives treatment during a training session at the MCG. Image: Julian Smith - AAP

Asha “Smasha” Smith from the ACT Meteors is a hard hitting opening batter in the mould of an Adam Gilchrist – hitting cleanly and frequently to the boundary. Last year Asha was the Player of the Tournament in the Cricket Australia Womens Cup - a peak national tournament. Asha has established herself as the number one opener for the Meteors, along with Laura Wright. PLAY caught up with her before a Premier League match at Phillip Oval where Asha plays for Power Education.

PLAY: So how did you get the nickname Smasha?It is kind of natural, I think. Smith and Asha go together and I had it when I was growing up. Last year the Meteors caught on to it too. It also describes my batting style, I try to get out there and make the most of the power play when the field is in. The first 10 overs are a great opportunity to get a score on the board by hitting over the circle. We try to get about 40 runs each 5 overs in a power play.

PLAY: It makes it quite a different game for the openers to what you get in test cricket?Yeah, it does. I try to go out there and make the most of it and Wrightie’s down the other end trying to get a single to give me the strike and put the bad ball away.

Play: You came to Canberra to play with the Meteors. Why did you come here?I played a lot of local cricket in Sydney and the Breakers second XI and never quite made it to the NSW team and then the Meteors started with an opportunity to play at the highest level and every young cricketer wants to do that. Hopefully this year we can make the final

Play: What would be your best experience so far?Definitely the WNCL century against Queensland last year at a personal level. Beating NSW in a t20 with the Meteors last year is a team highlight. You always want to do well against the benchmark of women’s cricket and to do that in the last game of the season was a fantastic way to end up. Before the game I spoke to Britty and Marty (Kris Britt, captain of the Meteors and Martin Garoni, Head Coach) and they just told me to play my natural game in the 50 over matches and the runs will just come and that is what I did. Everything just went so fast and they were all clapping me!

Play: How were you inspired to play cricket?I had an older brother who played and I was a bit of a bully to him. I was always the one batting and he never got to bat – It was all about me hitting as many fours as I could. He was good about it and still comes along to watch me when he can and he is very supportive. It’s great.

Play: What is next for Asha Smith?Hopefully, as long as my shoulder holds up, I am off to play County Cricket in England next year. I’m going to play for Redding, Berkshire. Then, hopefully, I can crack the Aussie squad.

Play: Are the pitches a bit different In England?Quite slow … it takes a bit to adapt. Some of the pitches are really good. I was fortunate to play at the Nursery which is the Lords second field. That pitch was fantastic and the boundaries were square at about 30 metres so I’ll try and make the most of it. Drives through cover were the way to get the shorter boundaries.

Play: If things go your way and you get a chance at the Australian Team what is the objective?Continue to play my natural game. If it is good enough to get me there then it should be good enough at that level. We play against plenty of international level players in the WNCL and in England. If I get out there and go after the bowlers early on that puts pressure on them and … hopefully.

Play: Any message for young players just starting out?Just get out there and give it a go. I suppose I am very lucky. I have met people I would never have otherwise met. It is amazing to have Brian Lara come up at Lords and give me a few batting tips. Just get out there and make the most of it!

METEORS ASHA “SMASHA” SMITH

Asha Smith in action for the Meteors. Image: Dimage


ARTHUR LAUDS CLARKE THE LEADER

◊ BY ED JACKSON

They’re just a couple of months into their working relationship but already Australian coach Mickey Arthur can see a great leader in his captain Michael Clarke.

The pair had never worked together before Arthur’s appointment as Australia’s first foreign-born coach in November, with many speculating Clarke would be upset his recommendation - former Test wicketkeeper Steve Rixon - hadn’t been given the nod.

But just four Tests into their partnership and Arthur says Clarke has impressed him with his performance as captain.

“He’s got an aura inside the dressing room and I think all good leaders have that aura,” Arthur said.

“Michael Clarke certainly has that. He’s structured, he’s organised. I think he’s dynamic in his captaincy.”

Arthur says Clarke’s man-of-the-match performance in Australia’s resounding innings and 68-run victory over India at the SCG to take a 2-0 lead in the four-Test series was the best evidence yet of the 30-year-old’s leadership qualities.

Clarke came in with his team reeling at 3-37 on the first day before piling on an SCG record 329 not out as mammoth partnerships with Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey lifted Australia from the mire to a position of dominance.

The Australian skipper then stunned everyone by declaring with further records in his grasp, unselfishly giving his team every chance of the win.

“That was sensational,” Arthur said of Clarke’s knock.

“We were 3-30, we were under pressure on day one. For him to walk out there I

think he showed a lot of decisiveness. I thought he was aggressive, I thought he was very positive.

“He ran well between wickets. He made all the right decisions and he looked in great touch.

“That innings under that sort of pressure ranks right up there as one of the best innings I’ve seen.”

Clarke then completed his dream Test by snaring the vital wicket of Indian great Sachin Tendulkar to open the door for his bowlers to push through to claim victory.

The win was Clarke’s fifth in 10 Tests as Australia’s skipper, a period in which he’s piled on 947 runs at 59.18 with four centuries.

That’s well above his career average of 48.65 and a world away from the 10 Tests before he captained Australia for the first time in the final Ashes Test last summer, where he scored 581 runs at 32.27 with just one century.

“He looks the complete package,” Arthur said.

“He’s a complete captaincy package as well. Truly inspirational within the dressing room.”- AAP

Clarke to sign $1m bat deal◊ BY JUSTIN CHADWICK

Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke is reportedly set to sign a new contract with a bat sponsor worth more than $1 million.

Fairfax newspapers reported the 30-year-old, has made a handshake agreement with bat manufacturer Spartan Sports.

“The last I heard, there was a handshake agreement and a contract for a three-year deal with Spartan worth seven figures,” a source reportedly told Fairfax.

“If you said the deal was worth well over a million dollars, you wouldn’t be wrong.”

Clarke played without any logos on his bat during the Sydney Test after ending his 18-year association with Slazenger because it reportedly could not come to agreement over his commercial demands.

The decision by Slazenger’s parent company, Pacific Brands, proved to be poorly timed as Clarke went on to register the highest Test score made at the ground, becoming one of just six Australians to score a triple century.

Fairfax reported Clarke’s bat, and potentially other merchandise, would be emblazoned with his initials. - AAP

Clarke played his recording breaking innings at the SCG without any logos on his bat during the Sydney Test after ending his 18-year association with Slazenger. Image: AAP


◊ THOM CARTER

The Canberra “UberGlobal” Cavalry are lit up the Australian Baseball League with a rise unpredictable to many pre-season speculators. Ending the inaugural ABL season at the bottom of the pack, many expected much of the same from the capital city. However, strong starts from local talent and import players silenced the critics and the Cavalry found themselves poised to contend for the Claxton Shield in the league’s sophomore season. As the holidays approached, the Cavalry saw the pendulum swing and their fate suddenly turned. In the remaining half, fans, players, and staff hope to see momentum once again shift in favour of the Cavalry.

The Cavalry established early that they intended to change perceptions and vie for the top spot in the 2011-2012 season. With Steve Schrenk leading the coaching staff for his second season, particular attention was given to enlisting a team capable of challenging last year’s league leaders. “We were able to put together a team with top prospects from the [Tampa Bay] Rays and [Toronto] Blue Jays organization.” Cavalry coach Steve Schrenk said. “We found some great guys playing indie ball, like [Mike] McGuire, who were willing to come over and play, and [Steven] Kent

and [Hayden] Beard are two local guys you can always count on.”

“The Fort” at Narrabundah Ballpark has played host to some of the best starting pitching that the league has seen this season. Kent has also been notable in the role of closer, beginning the season with near shut-out precision. Both McGuire and Beard have received “ABL Pitcher of the Week” appointments in the first part of the season. Takumi Akiyama, from the Hanshin Tigers, has also contributed to the strong starting rotation. Akiyama and McGuire maintain the league’s lowest ERA percentages at 1.23 and 1.24, respectively. McGuire also leads in strikeouts, with 44 on the season. Beard makes his mark on the leader board with three wins this season, ranking third among all ABL pitchers in this category.

Bolstering the pitching performances of McGuire and Beard in the first-half were the Cavalry’s blazing bats. Tempered in the final two series before the Christmas break, the Cavalry were seemingly unstoppable in their offensive production throughout November. The Cavalry benefitted from consistently dominating plate appearances from outfielders Todd Glaesmann, Ty Morrison, and Kenny Wilson. Cavalry second baseman John Tolisano and shortstop Masashi Nohara, who have since returned to their parent

organizations, received “ABL Player of the Week” recognition for their offensive output. More recently, Kody Hightower and Brian Burgamy have led the team offensively. Hightower has maintained a .555 average over the last two series. Burgamy is fifth in batting average across the ABL and second in on-base percentage with .445.

“It has been great to watch these guys hit,” Assistant General Manager Thom Carter said. “When they are clicking it seems like we can put runs on the board in bunches. We have a talented group of young hitters and they have the potential to do great things for

us in the second half.”

To the delight of fans, the Cavalry have twice displayed a baseball rarity this season. Both John Tolisano and Kenny Wilson accomplished walk-off home runs in the first two home series of the season. These ninth-inning feats are uncommon and to see two early in the season set a precedent for the clutch performances of which the Cavalry were capable.

Canberra was the team to watch after notching three wins against the formerly undefeated ‘Alcohol Think Again’ Perth Heat in the beginning of December. However, after the Perth upsets, the Cavalry have had trouble finding momentum in recent series. Early this month, the Cavalry securely held the number two spot in overall ABL standings. The Cavalry have been compromised after two losing series and now find themselves fighting for their playoff lives. The Cavalry still maintain a chance for post-season success and, in the new year, the Cavalry will be focused on regaining from recent struggles.

The most glaring issues currently facing the Cavalry are dwindling offence and late-inning upsets. The once dominating run support produced by Cavalry batters has dissipated. In their most recent series against the Sydney Blue Sox, the

Cavalry were only able to post two runs over four games. This has contributed to the Cavalry dropping nine of the last ten games.

While starting pitching remains strong, the Cavalry have felt many games slip away in the final innings of play. In the last nine losses, the Cavalry have relinquished 52 runs, with 32 of those coming after the seventh inning. “We have some serious holes to fill in the bullpen, “Schrenk said. “We need our relief pitchers to make good pitches and get guys out so that our offense can be in a position to win it for us late.”

The Cavalry’s current standings have also been affected by injuries that have beleaguered the team this season. The Cavalry were left with a hole in the infield after John Tolisano was injured during play in Adelaide. Shortly thereafter, catcher Adam Jacobs experienced a season-ending injury to his collarbone in a play at the plate and starting pitcher Tristen Crawford was also forced to cut his season short. After a late activation, Michael Wells provided an immediate contribution to the Cavalry line-up, only to see a dislocated shoulder in Sydney end his season. The Cavalry has been able to rely on a flexible group of players to adjust in this all-too-common circumstance. Along with the departure of several key players, the Cavalry will see a renewed and refreshed squad in the new year.

“This break is just what the team needs to recuperate from their recent troubles,” said General Manager Peter Bishell. “This pause from action is well-timed and will allow the players to rest and regroup after a string of tough-luck losses. There is still a lot of baseball to play and I am optimistic about our chances.”

Pivotal contests against key rivals will prime the Cavalry for a comeback in the second-half of the season. In the final home series of the season, the Cavalry will host the ‘Alcohol Think Again’ Perth Heat from the 15th through 18th of January and seek another series win against the reigning league leader.

The final twenty games of the season will decide the fate of the Canberra “UberGlobal” Cavalry. There is confidence in the capital city that the players have learned from the first half and will come out charging in the second.

Michael Collins hits a home run in the nineth to tie the game. Image: SMP Images.

CAVALRY LOOK FOR SECOND HALF SUCCESSLessons From First Half Lead To Playoff Push

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In a significant and exciting development for basketball in the region, Basketball ACT Chief Executive Officer Tony Jackson has officially launched the Basketball ACT Centre of Excellence, a state-of-the-art training facility to be developed on the site of the existing headquarters in Belconnen.

The Board and Management of Basketball ACT was delighted to see the

project launched, following many years of planning, along with collaboration and funding from major partner, the ACT Government.

The facility will provide critical infrastructure improvements and services for the regions elite and community basketballing stakeholders, including the Canberra TransACT Capitals, the Elders Belconnen Canberra

Gunners, the newly launched Canberra Capitals Academy, along with the ACT Under 20, 18 and 16 representative teams.

The Basketball ACT Centre of Excellence will utilise the best in sports science through the ACT Academy of Sport (ACTAS) and will assist coaching staff including Capitals and Australian Opals Coach Carrie Graf in the development

and retention of local talent, along with enhancing Canberra’s offering to national and international basketballers.

The Basketball ACT Centre of Excellence will be part of a larger development, which is planned to be built on the recently acquired neighbouring block of land to Basketball ACT’s current headquarters in Oatley Court Belconnen. The vacant land was purchased by Basketball ACT through the generous support of the ACT Government.

Basketball ACT will continue to collaborate with the ACT Government and the corporate sector to realise additional funding to complete the development, which will integrate with the existing four (4) court facility. Ultimately, this will join a new three (3) court sports hall, providing new community courts, along with the option of a convertible show-court, seating more than 1,500.

The Basketball ACT Centre of Excellence will not only address a major strategic goal in enabling a sustainable future for Basketball in the Territory, it will establish a major piece of sporting infrastructure, much needed to meet the needs of basketball and other sports’ demands.

The Basketball ACT Centre of Excellence will also serve to address issues presented by the Territory’s ageing population, declining levels of sport and recreation participation and health issues such as obesity and inactivity.

The Canberra TransACT Capitals kept a flame burning for the 2011/12 WNBL finals with a come from behind win over the Sydney Uni Flames, leaving vocal supporters eagerly awaiting next week’s on court action.

Following a 26 to 4 point run through the third and fourth quarters, the Caps, led by a gutsy string of possessions from Michelle Cosier, stole the lead and powerful momentum swing to secure another home court win.

Cosier finished with 11 points and 14 rebounds, with great support from Carly Wilson (17 points, 4 rebounds) and Marianna Tolo (15 points, 4 rebounds).

The Flames were led by Alicia Poto (16 points, 3 rebounds), Amy Denson (11 points, 7 rebounds) and Belinda Snell (10 points, 2 rebounds), but were literally

shut out of the match late in the third quarter as the Caps forged a winning lead.

Caps fans were vocal in their support and endorsement of the win and will return to continue their support of the Caps finals charge next Sunday against Bendigo.

The Caps Basketball Exchange will be on offer at next Sunday’s match – kids who bring their old basketballs will be able to exchange them for a new TransACT Capitals basketball with all balls collected to be donated to charity.

Action from Round 11 of the WNBL 2011/12 season. Image: Ben Southall.

Michelle Cosier in action from Round 11 of the WNBL 2011/12 season. Image: Ben Southall.

BASKETBALL ACT LAUNCHES CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE

FLAMING CAPS GRAB HOT WIN

Canberra TransACT Capitals v Bendigo SpiritSunday 15 January, AIS ArenaTip off - 1pm


Milwaukee Bucks center Andrew Bogut will return to the NBA team as soon as he sorts out some family issues. His Australian-based manager Bruce Kaider told said that he hopes that will be soon. He stated Bogut is completely fit, but the Aussie is in his hometown

of Melbourne and dealing “with those things we all have to go through in life, certain personal issues that he is experiencing at the moment.” Kaider did not elaborate.

On Saturday, the Bucks lost 92-86 to the Los Angeles Clippers, Milwaukee’s third game in a row without Bogut.

Bogut, who has 63,500 Twitter followers and has posted nearly 14,500 tweets, has been silent on the social networking site since Jan. 3.

David Bauman, the Australian Olympian’s U.S.-based agent, said last week the Bucks gave Bogut permission to take some time to “address a personal matter,” adding his health was not at issue.

“Andrew appreciates the support of the Bucks, his teammates and his fans, and he expects to be back after a few more games’ absence fully prepared to play,” the statement said.

Bogut, the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA draft in 2005, is averaging 14.3 points and 10 rebounds for the Bucks after elbow surgery late last season.

Meanwhile, NBA All-Star voting tips offGlobal fan voting for the starting line-ups in next month’s 61st NBA All-Star Game began recently with all ballots to be filed digitally for the match-up of elite players in Orlando, Florida.

The Eastern Conference and Western Conference elites will meet on February 26 despite the contract dispute that shortened the regular season to 66 games per team.

Voting will conclude on January 31. Teams will be announced on February 2.

A total of 120 players were listed on the official ballot, which will be available for voting on the league’s website as well as through a mobile telephone application, SMS text messages and wireless carriers.

East guards on the ballot include Miami’s Dwyane Wade, Chicago’s Derrick Rose and Boston’s Rajon Rondo, while West backcourt candidates include Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers, injured Argentine playmaker

Manu Ginobili of San Antonio and his French team-mate Tony Parker, Canadian Steve Nash of Phoenix and Jason Kidd of reigning NBA champion Dallas.

East centers on the ballot feature Australian Andrew Bogut of Milwaukee, Frenchmen Boris Diaw of Charlotte and Joakim Noah of Chicago and Orlando star Dwight Howard, while West big men include the Lakers’ Andrew Bynum and Spaniard Marc Gasol of Memphis.

East forwards on the ballot include New York’s Carmelo Anthony, Miami’s LeBron James and Chris Bosh, Chicago’s Luol Deng of Great Britain and Boston’s Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce.

West forward candidates include San Antonio’s Tim Duncan, Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant, Spaniard Pau Gasol and Metta World Peace of the Lakers, Blake Griffin of the Los Angeles Clippers and the Dallas trio of Lamar Odom, Shawn Marion and German playmaker Dirk Nowitzki. - AFP

◊ BY JOE BARTON

Patty Mills recently slammed reports he was faking a hamstring injury, as his Chinese club terminated the Australian basketball star’s lucrative contract.

Mills was released by Xinjiang Flying Tigers, with the club accusing the dynamic point guard of faking the hamstring injury which has troubled him since December 23.

The 23-year-old signed with Xinjiang in November, leaving NBL team Melbourne Tigers, on a deal reportedly worth upwards of $1 million - but his relationship with the club has deteriorated as they debated the seriousness of the injury.

Mills took to Twitter to fire back at a club release from team general manager Hou Wei which said “due to a fake injury, the Xinjiang team has cut the foreign player Mills”.

“Firstly, hammy is doing well and is on track to be back in full swing by next Saturday,” Mills said.

“That will be 3 (weeks since suffering the injury).

“I had both MRIs sent to my doctor in Aus.

“It was made clear from the start to EVERYONE that it was a torn hamstring and would take 3-6 weeks (to recover).

“So why the team and doctors over here are saying its not torn, only swelling and should be playing totally defeats me.

“So basically everything in the Chinese media is totally inaccurate and false. I’ve been honest and professional throughout.”

During his 12 matches with Xinjiang, Mills averaged 26.5 points a game, but his relationship began to sour after the club sacked coach Bob Donewald late in December.

It is believed the Boomers guard’s long-term ambition is to return to the NBA, preferably with his former team the Portland Trail Blazers. - AAP

Breakers Tame TigersIn other Basketball news, the New Zealand Breakers moved to equal first on the NBL ladder after a 90-79 win over the Melbourne Tigers on Sunday 8 December.

A brilliant 19-3 run in the third quarter saw the Breakers turn a nine-point deficit into a seven-point lead at the last break, and they maintained the momentum to win for the eleventh time from 16.

The Tigers were in control until midway through the third period when Thomas Abercrombie turned the game in New Zealand’s favour.

Abercrombie exploded for 14 points in the period after having just one in the first half.

New Zealand continued to pour it on in the final quarter, leading by as many as 23 points before coasting to the 11-point win.

The Breakers closed the game out by out-scoring Melbourne 45-25 after the Tigers had led 54-45.

New Zealand had six players register double figures, with Abercrombie leading the way with 18, while former Tigers star Darryl Corletto added 15. -

Andrew Bogut of Australia scores over Miami Heat forward Juwan Howard. Image: Tannen Maury- AAP

MILLS BEMUSED BY CHINESE SACKING

BOGUT BACK IN AUSTRALIA FOR PERSONAL REASONS

Patty Mills in action for the boomers.


Here’s how the clubs are shaping up heading into 2012:-

BRISBANEHave lost the great Darren Lockyer to retirement but with veteran prop Petero Civoniceva back for a Broncos swansong, Brisbane at least boast the best pack in the game. He joins the likes of new skipper Sam Thaiday, Corey Parker, Ben Hannant, Ben Te’o, Josh McGuire, Alex Glenn and Matt Gillett in a pack bristling with representative talent. A young team on the rise but can they replace Lockyer’s game management skills?

CANTERBURYThe arrival of two-time premiership coach Des Hasler and English Test prop James Graham brings a touch of class to Belmore. Hasler resumes his mentoring of former Sea Eagles halfback Trent Hodkinson but the loss of Jamal Idris leaves the outside backs looking decidedly light on try-scoring potential, leaving fullback Ben Barba with plenty to do.

CANBERRAWith key playmaker Terry Campese playing just 19 minutes, Canberra’s 2011 campaign was a write-off. The former Test pivot is due back on deck for round one, and he’ll need to wind back the clock to his 2010 form if he is to carry the Raiders back to the finals. His return

is sure to have a flow-on effect on the likes of Josh Dugan, Josh McCrone and Jarrod Croker.

CRONULLANo club is taking a bigger punt in 2012 than the Sharks, who picked up problem child Todd Carney. Carney no doubt has the talent to propel Cronulla to the finals - as his 2010 Dally M-winning season suggests - but his 2011 efforts on and off the field also show how unsettling he can be when off track. Lost both their starting props, but in Bryce Gibbs, Andrew Fifita and Ben Ross they have more than handy replacements.

GOLD COASTIf there’s one consolation for the Titans, it can’t get worse than their wooden spoon-clinching effort of 2011. They were one of the biggest players in the free agent market, snaring Jamal Idris, Beau Champion, Luke Douglas and Nate Myles. If that doesn’t make the Titans a finals contender in 2012, it could be the coaching market that the club visits next.

MANLYIf there is one positive for new Sea Eagles coach Geoff Toovey, he will at least have largely the same squad that won this year’s premiership at his disposal. That will make judging Toovey’s performance an easier assignment and he should at least have a united board

supporting him, something the sacked Des Hasler did not enjoy.

MELBOURNEAs usual the Storm’s fortunes depend largely on the form and fitness of their big three - Billy Slater, Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith. The loss of Adam Blair takes some strike out of their pack but coach Craig Bellamy has developed a knack of getting results from journeymen forwards - with Jason Ryles set to be his latest project.

NEWCASTLEWayne Bennett has done his best to hose down expectations, but with new owner Nathan Tinkler opening up his bulging wallet to deliver the likes of Darius Boyd, Kade Snowden, Timana Tahu and Knights favourite Danny Buderus, the supercoach has the player talent to make a tilt at the premiership. In Boyd, Kurt Gidley, Jarrod Mullen and Buderus, the Knights boast a spine second only to Melbourne’s all-star selection.

NORTH QUEENSLANDIt was perhaps the quietest of all the off-season purchases, but the move of former Wests Tigers halfback Robert Lui to the Cowboys could be the most significant, with skipper Johnathan Thurston finally having someone to share the playmaking load. Also, in backrowers Tariq Sims and Jason Taumalolo, the Cowboys have two of the most devastating young forwards in the game.

PARRAMATTAIt has been the best part of 25 years but the Eels may have finally found their first bona fide halfback since Peter Sterling in ex-South Sydney No.7 Chris Sandow. Sandow should give the Eels some direction, and it could free fullback Jarryd Hayne to return to the power running game which made him such a force a few years ago.

PENRITHNew coach Ivan Cleary has pleaded for patience as he sets about turning the Panthers around, and even general manager Phil Gould admits it could take three years for the results of Cleary’s influence to be fully shown. They haven’t really replaced departed forwards Petero Civoniceva and Trent Waterhouse, so the likes of Lachlan Coote, Michael Jennings and Michael Gordon could struggle to make an impact.

ST GEORGE ILLAWARRAIf Geoff Toovey is under pressure following in the footsteps of Des Hasler, imagine how Steve Price feels succeeding Wayne Bennett. Price denies the Dragons are in rebuilding mode, but he faces a tough task getting an ageing squad minus Darius Boyd and Mark Gasnier up for another tilt at the title.

SOUTH SYDNEYA halfback, a halfback, my kingdom for a halfback. New Rabbitohs coach Michael Maguire could well find himself paraphrasing Shakespeare as he looks to meet some high expectations. In the likes of Greg Inglis, David Taylor and Sam Burgess there is plenty of talent throughout the squad, but the untried Adam Reynolds looms as the only option in the key No.7 role.

SYDNEY ROOSTERSIt’s hard to know whether it is a good or bad thing that the Roosters are heading into the 2012 season without Todd Carney. This time last year there was so much promise out Bondi way with the prospect of Carney building on his 2010 form, but it all turned ugly quickly. With Braith Anasta back in the No.6, it’s a case of back to the future next season for the Roosters who have Warriors star James Maloney lined up for 2013.

WARRIORSThe Warriors appear on the brink of NRL domination with a hugely talented young squad buoyed by last year’s grand final appearance. The under 20s side has won back-to-back titles and with the likes of Shaun Johnson and Kevin Locke now established NRL stars, the sky is the limit. But how much will the change in coach from Ivan Cleary to Brian McClennan, unproven in the NRL, affect their development and momentum?

WESTS TIGERSWith back-to-back preliminary final appearances, the Tigers appear as well placed as anyone to take out the 2012 grand final, particularly with Kiwi forward Adam Blair coming on board. Now that he’s staying, Tim Moltzen will likely take over as halfback following Robert Lui’s exit, and he enjoys a good combination with Benji Marshall. The Tigers’ biggest problem could lie within, with rumours persisting throughout the off-season of disharmony within the ranks.

NRL SEASON 2012

Australian captain Darren Lockyer waves farewell to Australian fans in the Trans - Tasman Rugby League Test at Ausgrid Stadium, Newcastle. Image: Dean Lewins -AAP


Eric Cantona - FootballerFA chief executive Graham Kelly accused Eric Cantona of putting a “stain” on the game of football with his infamous kung-fu kick on Crystal Palace supporter Matthew Simmons in January 1995. Vilified by the press, handed an eight-month ban from the game and sentenced to 120 hours of community service, King Eric returned to help Manchester United to an FA Cup double in 1996.

He probably has the NBA record for most punches thrown at him because he dished out flagrant fouls that even the NBA refs couldn’t miss.

He also was criticized by the Beastie Boys in the song “Tough Guy”, and everyone knows that if the Beastie Boys call you out in a song, you truly are a villain.

Bill Laimbeer - Basketballer

It is more than 70 years since the infamous “Bodyline” Ashes series, but to many Australians the England captain, Douglas Jardine, is still cricket’s most reviled villain.

He made his intentions clear that Australian summer by infamously stating, “I’ve not travelled 6,000 miles to make friends. I’m here to win the Ashes.”

Douglas Jardine - Cricketer

Tonya Harding - Figure SkaterTonya Harding had her husband and a gang of third-rate thugs crack an opponent’s knee in 1994.

Harding skated in the Olympics and did poorly, while Nancy Kerrigan, her victim, took home a silver. Since then, Harding has divorced, served jail time, feuded with her fan club, and been booed at public appearances.

Michael “The Count” BispingUFC fighter Bisping let loose a torrent of pent-up negative emotions against the fans in Las Vegas. Tired of being booed mercilessly he let the fans have it. “I don’t give a (expletive) about getting (expletive) love. All I care about is smashing this (expletive)’s head in. (Expletive) you all,” he said before flipping off the fans and exiting the stage.

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Where would sport be without the bad guys.

The villain is the person who transforms a game from an exciting contest to an emotional war. Instead of just a game, it becomes a battle of attrition and pure emotion.

We put together our favourite villains we love to hate.

SPORTS VILLANS


MAJOR SPONSORSHIP ANNOUNCEMENT

AFL Canberra Chair, Gerard Rees has announced a one year partnership with The Tradies Group making them the first major sponsor of the NEAFL Eastern Conference.

Speaking at The Dickson Tradies club, Mr Rees described the new sponsorship as the formalisation of a longstanding positive relationship with The Tradies.

The inaugural season of the NEAFL was played in 2011 as part of the AFL’s expansion program designed to offer additional talent pathways for players in non-traditional football states. The Eastern Conference combines teams

from NSW and the ACT including the reserves teams from AFL clubs the Sydney Swans and the GWS Giants.

“Today marks a significant day for the NEAFL and AFL Canberra. This partnership with the Tradies Group enables us to continue to invest in our senior, junior and female programs as well as continuing to provide a quality AFL product across the region. This fantastic support will also give us the opportunity to invest in some new and exciting initiatives heading into the new year. The Tradies are a strategic, innovative and importantly,

a local organisation that has a strong community focus, and we are delighted to be entering into what we believe will be a very successful partnership.”

“In particular I would like to acknowledge the support of Dean Hall and Rob Docker from the Tradies Group and we look forward to working closely with them and the rest of the Tradies team in 2012.”

Chair of The Tradies Group, Dean Hall said he was really looking forward to an association with AFL Canberra which celebrated the centenary of AFL football in the region this year.

“The Tradies has a long, proud history of supporting our community and sport plays a big part in that” Mr Hall said. “We’re involved in all kinds of sports from the elite level down to grass-roots competitions, but this is the first time we’ve had a significant role in AFL so we’re really looking forward to it.”

“This new NEAFL concept is really exciting because it will expose more Canberra kids to a higher level of competition and will hopefully open some doors to the AFL” Mr Hall said. “The Tradies would be thrilled to play a part in discovering the next James Hird.”

From Left to right Marcus Crook, John Love, Chris Rourke (Rep Coach), Gerard Rees (AFL Canberra Chairman), Rob Docker (Tradies), David Smith, Steve Jollife and Aaron Bruce. Image: Ben Southall Photography.

PROUD MAJOR SPONSOR OF THE NEAFL EASTERN CONFERENCE

thetradies.com.auF O R T H E I N F O R M A T I O N O F M E M B E R S & T H E I R I N V I T E D G U E S T S


In a massive boost for the club and the NEAFL, NEAFL newcomers the Sydney Hills Eagles have signed 200 game Carlton champion Ryan Houlihan to a 2-year deal as a player and senior assistant coach.

The Sydney Hills Eagles Football Club has completed one of the most significant signings in recent Sydney football history welcoming Ryan Houlihan to the Club as a player and Senior Assistant Coach.

Houlihan retired from the AFL at the end of the 2011 season following a stellar 12-year career with Carlton, playing over 200 games and kicking 127 goals. At 29, Houlihan is set to have a major impact on the Eagles’ first season in the NEAFL Eastern Conference in 2012.

Throughout his career, Houlihan was rated as one of the most skilful players of his era with an uncanny ability to kick goals. He played in 2 pre-season Premierships with the Blues and finished in the top ten of the Club’s best and fairest on three occasions. He was rated in the Club’s top ten for average disposals every year from 2003 – 2010.

In making the announcement, Sydney

Hills Eagles Club Manager, Tony Moran, said signing Houlihan was a significant step in the Club’s preparation for the NEAFL. “To have a player of Ryan’s ability and experience commit to the Eagles and the NEAFL for at least the next two years is a huge boost for our Club.” “There’s no doubt all our players and coaches will learn from Ryan and he’s sure to continue to boost our profile in the Sydney Hills Community which is great for Members, Sponsors and all our supporters.”

In addition to his playing and coaching duties, Houlihan will also work on various community engagement programs for the Eagles as well as fulfilling a coaching role with the GWS GIANTS Academy and the NSW U/16 and U/18 state teams.

“I can’t wait to move to Sydney and help the Eagles prepare for their first season in the NEAFL” added Houlihan. “It’s an exciting time for AFL in Western Sydney and I’m really looking forward to helping the development of the Club and the game.”

www.sydneyhillseagles.com.au

SYDNEY HILLS EAGLES SIGN RYAN HOULIHAN

Ryan Houlihan under pressure from Andrew Mackie. Image: Martin Philbey - AAP

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◊ BY ANTONY PERRY

At just 20 years of age, Scott Sio has achieved more than most others of his age in the rugby world.

And with the experience he has gained, his selection in the Brumbies’ 2012 Extended Playing Squad (EPS) comes as no surprise.

Sio, who is a Samoan-born front row forward, has hailed his signing with the ACT Super Rugby franchise as a “blessing”.

“It’s quite an honour to represent yourself and your family...and the opportunity is one thing a lot of players around Australia are aiming for,” Sio said of his selection.

Sio humbly identifies hard work as the

catalyst for his arrival in the Capital, but there is no denying that the wealth of experience he has gained in his short career is a reason for the interest Brumbies coach Jake White showed in the youngster.

With his father wanting him to play tackle rugby from the beginning, Sio skipped the first few years of junior touch rugby and began playing at age eight. With a desire to play as much rugby as he could, regardless of the code, he played rugby union on Saturday and rugby league on Sunday during his early teenage years.

His arrival at Sydney’s Trinity Grammar School as a 15-year-old, though, prompted his decision to cut rugby league out and focus solely on the 15-a-side form of the game.

“Rugby [union] was always my game and I enjoyed it a lot more than anything else,” he said.

His decision has certainly proved fruitful.

During 2009, while playing first XV schoolboy rugby for Trinity in Sydney’s Combined Associated Schools competition, he was selected to represent New South Wales and subsequently claimed a spot in the Australian schoolboy side which toured the United Kingdom.

Upon finishing his formal education in 2009, he joined the New South Wales Waratahs Academy program as an 18-year old. In 2010 and 2011 he played for West Harbour and Northern Suburbs respectively in Sydney’s elite Shute Shield competition.

Sio toured Argentina in 2010 and Italy in 2011 with the Australian under-20s side, competing in the Junior World Championship. He helped the team claim second and third place respectively.

Sio is thankful for the representative honours he has to his name and is optimistic they will be a platform from which to build on.

“Those are the things that you aspire to play in and to be at, and you hope it puts you out there in the eye of the franchises so that they’ll give you the opportunity and I was lucky enough to get an opportunity this year,” he said.

With a strong desire to forge a successful rugby career in Australia, Sio has turned down offers to follow in the footsteps of his father and uncle in

representing Samoa on the international stage. His ultimate goal in rugby, he says, is to represent Australia on the world stage.

“Coming up as a youngster and playing in the Australian representative sides meant the Wallabies was always going to be a number one goal.” the no.6 jersey should the opportunity arise in 2012.

New system to achieve greater spread of playing talent 2012 will see an Extended Playing Squad (EPS) system introduced for the first time in Super Rugby.

Each Australian Super Rugby team’s EPS will consist of five players who will train full time with the team’s 30-man Core Playing Squad (CPS). Members of the EPS will only be available for selection in the match-day 22 in the event that the CPS is depleted by injury.

Making up the final pieces of the Brumbies’ 2012 Super Rugby playing squad, in the form of the EPS, are; Dylan Sigg (lock/No 8), Jesse Mogg (wing/fullback), Scott Sio (prop/hooker), Scott Fardy (flanker) and Ruaidhri Murphy (prop).

Each issue, PLAY will profile a member of the Brumbies’ 2012 EPS.

PLAYER FOCUS – SCOTT SIO BRINGS YOUTH AND EXPERIENCE TO THE BRUMBIES IN 2012

ONE GAME AT A TIME

www.playcanberra.com.auFacebook: PLAY Canberra Twitter: @PLAYcanberra


Eight times a year, the big names in Canberra get together to do business.Join them.For years, Canberra’s business leaders have enjoyed Brumbies hospitality.To exchange names. And exchange ideas.As a place to meet, to entertain clients and reward staff.All while watching Canberra’s other big names put on eight spectacular matches a year. And you don’t have to pay for a whole season. Prices start from as little as $125 per game.Welcome to where Canberra does business.

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9

◊ BY MIKE MCGRATH

Saracens owner Nigel Wray has said the “southern hemisphere must be laughing their heads off” at the timing of the Six Nations.

The latest edition of European international rugby’s premier tournament starts next month and,

once again, it will conflict with ongoing domestic leagues.

Under International Rugby Board regulations, clubs must release players for Test duty and Premiership champions Saracens are set to lose several stars right in the middle of the league season when acting England

coach Stuart Lancaster names his Six Nations squad.

But with tournament chiefs unwilling to move the competition from its longstanding February-March slot, it’s an issue that seems set to linger for some time yet, particularly in countries such as England where players are

contracted to teams rather than the national union.

“As I have said before, the southern hemisphere must be laughing their heads off,” Wray, who has sunk millions of pounds of his own money into Saracens said.

“They wouldn’t dream of playing the Tri Nations during their Super 15, wouldn’t dream of coming here to play winter internationals during their domestic season,” he added after Saracens’ 26-19 win over Bath.

“And they wouldn’t dream of receiving our international sides in the summer if it in any way clashed with, once again, their own domestic season.

“We, of course, do the opposite.”

Meanwhile, Saracens coach Mark McCall championed the return to Test duty of ex-England captain Steve Borthwick, who eventually fell out of favour under former national boss Martin Johnson even though Lancaster has said he wants to put the accent on youth in his squad.

“Steve has never given up on England and making a comeback,” McCall said of the lock. “He is playing so well, yet is someone rarely mentioned in terms of the squad.”- AFP

Ireland’s Jamie Heaslip (C) vies for the ball with England’s Simon Shaw (L) during the Six Nations International rugby union match between Ireland and England. Image: Peter Muhly - AFP

SIX NATIONS RUGBY SCHEDULING SLAMMED


SEPARATED

www.playcanberra.com.au

RAFAEL NADAL - TENNIS CHAMP

JOSH HARTNETT - ACTOR

AT BIRTH

Clarke Bashers??Why are people still on Clarkes back? For starters, he hasn’t lost a series as captain, he shows good fielding positions for his bowlers to take wickets. We were blessed with Border, Taylor and Waugh as Captains but Clarke has already shown he is going to be a great. Ponting, inherited a great team, where as Clarke has a young team that is rebuilding and seem to be responding to his style of leadership. Everyone needs to accept he is here to stay!! and by the way as captain he has averaged 58 with the bat. What more do you want?

Cricket lover.

Kingston.

Good points CL, I guess all Clarke can do is keep responding with actions, talk doesn’t mean much to Australian sporting fans.

Editor

Sonny Bill Williams back in the NRL

Say what you like about the guy, but SBW is promotional gold. The name, his physical playing style, his looks and notoriety is like a golden ticket. I see him as a fine athlete but view what he did in walking away mid season at the Bulldogs as inexcusable. Hopefully with age brings maturity and he climbs the heights he can. The fact that The Allblacks found a spot for him should tell you that he still has something to offer.

Marty.

Curtin.

Just between you and me Marty, I wouldn’t mind seeing him in a lime green jumper. He would still be one of, if not the most, marketable players in the NRL and I bet we’d get some free to air games with SBW on board.

Editor

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

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FOOTBALL

A-LEAGUE

◊ BY GUY HAND

New Melbourne Victory coach Jim Magilton admits he spent much of his professional career in England trying to avoid confronting Kevin Muscat.

Now he looks forward to working alongside the former hard man after assuming the reins of the side for the remainder of the A-League season.

While the pair played against each other many times in England, where Magilton spent time at Southampton, Oxford, Ipswich Town and Sheffield Wednesday, the pair had not met until the Northern Irishman’s appointment as Victory coach on Saturday.

Muscat will remain an assistant under Magilton, as will his offsider Steve Mautone.

Muscat, who guided a win over the Jets as Magilton watched from the stand, is convinced the Victory have the cattle to turn around what has been an underwhelming season.

Previous coach Mehmet Durakovic’s sacking followed three successive losses and just three wins from their previous 14 matches.

“(Magilton) seems to be very professional. As soon as he got off the plane, he wanted certain things ready for him - he’s hit the ground running,” Muscat said.

“He’ll see there is a good football squad here. It’s just a matter of getting that consistency from week to week and winning actual games.”

Muscat said he had spoken to Durakovic since his sacking, but wouldn’t divulge what was said or

how his former South Melbourne and Socceroos team-mate felt about what had transpired.

“My last thoughts before the game were with Mehm and so were my thoughts at the final whistle,” Muscat said.

“It’s been a difficult time ... but the football club’s got to move on.”

Striker Danny Allsopp said the quick turnaround from the loss to Central Coast to their next game had forced the players to quickly turn their attention to on-field performance rather than brood about Durakovic’s sacking.

“Obviously, everybody’s disappointed with how things have gone and it’s not a good thing when anyone loses their job.

“We knew we had to put out a good performance and try to get a good result for the club.” - AAP

◊ BY MIKE MCGRATH

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp admitted Giovani dos Santos is likely to leave the club this month despite the Mexico international’s performance in the FA Cup win over Cheltenham.

Giovani set up the first goal in the 3-0 win at White Hart Lane, had a hand in the second and scored the third himself as Spurs booked as place in the fourth round.

But it was a rare start from the 22-year-old, who turned down a move to Udinese during the last transfer window and has had his attitude questioned by Redknapp.

“He’s got talent but has to work harder in training and get fitter,” said the Spurs manager.

“When he does that he has a chance. He has had a real opportunity to play here if he’s at it, but there are lots of good players here.

“He’s looking to move to be honest. We had a move last summer, but he didn’t want to go to Italy, he wanted to go to Spain.

“We’ll see what happens in this window. I think he’ll probably move if we get the right offer, but we have to get the right offer.

“He’s an international player and it was a real big offer last year. I’m sure the chairman would not want to let him go cheaply.”

While Redknapp is prepared to let Giovani leave, other fringe players such as Niko Kranjcar and Steven Pienaar are needed as the club look to maintain pressure on Manchester City and Manchester United in the Premier League title race.

They were given their chance against Cheltenham, while Michael Dawson and Aaron Lennon returned from injury.

Instead of selling his unsettled players, Redknapp wants to add numbers to his squad and has revealed his interest in Blackburn defender Chris Samba.

“I like Samba, he is a good player. I wouldn’t want to say it’s an impossibility,” he said.

Redknapp, however, ruled out a move for prolific Huddersfield striker Jordan Rhodes, despite sending two of his backroom staff to watch the Scotland international this week.

“I’m sure he could play in the Premier League one day, there is no doubt about that, but he is not a player we are looking to bring here,” Redknapp said.

Spurs were put on their way to victory against Cheltenham when Giovani lofted the ball over the goalkeeper and Jermain Defoe tapped home from a yard out.

“Jermain said it was going wide, but I don’t think it was,” Redknapp joked. “He

is a goalscorer and wants to score all the time.”

Giovani then played Defoe through before the interval, with the move ending up with Roman Pavlyuchenko slotting home the second.

The scoring was wrapped up two minutes from full-time when Giovani’s shot deflected off Steve Elliott and looped in.

“It was important for people like Steven Pienaar and Niko Kranjcar to get a game, and people coming back like Aaron Lennon and Michael Dawson,” added Redknapp.

Cheltenham boss Mark Yates insisted he had no regrets over Darryl Duffy, his top scorer this season, starting on the bench.

He said: “I felt if I played him, I would have to play someone slightly out of position against international players.

“I didn’t want to do that. In our own league we get more time on the ball and Darryl understood that. He knew he would get around 35 minutes to impose himself on the game.”

Yates was pleased with the performance, adding: “We tried to keep it tight and showed we have decent players. They can be really proud but we are disappointed because we had a few chances and didn’t put them away.

“Some have aspirations of going higher and the only way they are going to do that is days like this.” - AFP

Jim Magilton attends a press conference with the Melbourne Victory Football Club at AAMI park in Melbourne. Image: Joe Castro - AAP

Giovani dos Santos in action for the Tottenham Hot Spurs - AFP

MAGILTON OFFICIALLY TAKES VICTORY REINS

GIOVANI HEADING FOR

SPURS EXIT


UNITED ROMP TO PREMIERSHIP TITLE

◊ BY RUSS GIBBS CANBERRAUNITED.COM.AU

Canberra United claimed the Westfield W-League premiership in some style with a 5-0 win over Adelaide United at McKellar Park with Michelle Heyman and Taryn Hemmings scoring a double apiece.

The result means that United end the season unbeaten, becoming the first team in the history of the competition to do so, and in the process racked up their biggest ever victory with Ashleigh Sykes stoppage time goal confirming their place in history.

A combination of injures and unavailability meant that United was forced into three changes from the team that drew in Melbourne with Grace Gill replacing Caitlin Munoz in central midfield, Snez Veljanovska drafted in at right back in place of Ellyse Perry and youngster Hayley Raso given a chance to prove herself up front with Taryn Hemmings reverting to the bench.

With Canberra needing only a point to be sure of claiming the league championship, the match started surprisingly in lethargic fashion with the opening quarter of an hour barely

producing a shot worthy of note as a scrappy midfield battle ensured. With the temperatures soaring it was hardly surprising that the prosaic pace with which the game commenced carried on for much of the first half. Indeed, but for a wayward shot from leading scorer Heyman and a flicked header from the same player off a Grace Gill free-kick, neither goalkeeper was troubled in the opening twenty minutes.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 28th minute. A delightful ball over the back of the Adelaide defence by Gill allowed Heyman to challenge Lady Reds ‘keeper Sian McLaren for the ball and the Westfield W-League leading scorer got there first to nod it over the advancing Adelaide custodian and into the net for her eleventh goal of the season.

Eleven became twelve barely six minutes later when the lethal Heyman struck again. A surging run from Raso took her deep into Adelaide territory and her slide-rule pass allowed Heyman to round McLaren and slot into the empty net for another fine finish. Raso had a fine forty-five minutes showcasing her pace and tenacity as Canberra came to grips with the match and led 2-0 heading into interval.

Coach Jitka Klimkova made two changes at the break with Taryn Hemmings replacing the tireless Raso and substitute ‘keeper Aroon Clansey given the chance to make her first appearance for the club when she came on for Lydia Williams. United should have increased their lead seventeen seconds into the second half when Hemmings pounced on a mistake in the Adelaide rearguard but shot wide of the post.

The Lady Reds responded well and Rachael Quigley was unlucky to see her far post header bounce back off the base of the post and into the grateful hands of the New Zealand international Clansey. But that appeared to be a minor respite for the visitors who were coming under increasing pressure as the half continued.

As the afternoon wore on the pace of the game reduced somewhat as Canberra, comfortable in the knowledge that their two-goal cushion had them as league champions, took their collective foot off the pedal. So much so that Adelaide began to look dangerous on their sporadic breakaways into the United half. On one such occasion Marijana Rajcic spun and shot at goal only to

be denied by a superb diving save by Clansey.

At the other end the Adelaide defence, marshalled well by Abby Erceg, restricted Canberra to shots from distance with Heyman and Gill attempting ambitious drives that flashed harmlessly past McLaren’s right-hand post. Heyman then almost lobbed McLaren after Veljanovska, who enjoyed a composed game at full-back, headed on a deep cross into the danger area.

Adelaide’s resistance crumbled in the final ten minutes as Canberra racked up another three goals with Hemmings to the forefront. The US import capitalised on a defensive error to advance on goal and slot past McLaren in the 83rd minute before scoring the goal of the game two minutes later. Collecting a pass out on the touchline, Hemmings cut infield and unleashed a venomous shot from outside the penalty area and into the top corner of the net.

The scoring was completed in stoppage time as a gallant Adelaide ran out of legs and Ashleigh Sykes took full advantage to run into the area and clip a composed finish over McLaren to send the home crowd into delirium and secure a first major title for Canberra United.

W-LEAGUE


FOOTBALL

◊ CAPITAL FOOTBALL

Central Coast Mariners can today confirm the capture of 19-year-old attacking ace Tomas Rogic on a five-month contract.

Rogic, who shot to prominence following Nike’s The Chance competition held

in 2011, will commence training with the Mariners on Thursday and will be available for selection for Sunday’s NSW Derby against Sydney FC at the Sydney Football Stadium.

An attacking midfielder, Rogic spent time honing his craft and building his

fitness under the guidance of Mariners staff in the lead up to his week long trial against 100 finalists in London last year. Having wowed the scouts during the trial, Rogic was one of only eight players awarded a place in the Nike Academy in front of a massive media contingent from around the world at Arsenal’s former training base.

Having offered Rogic a contract before he left for his Nike Academy trial, Mariners boss Graham Arnold had no hesitation in re-offering the precocious young talent a deal after his opportunity to sign with English Championship club Reading FC was scuppered due to work permit issues.

“We actually offered him a contract before he went to the Nike Academy,” Arnold said. “We’ve been monitoring him since he went and he’s another youngster we’ve got with a huge amount of potential.”

“He’s in no way a replacement for Matt Simon, it’s just another good story of the Mariners giving an Australian kid an opportunity.”

“Tom is a creative player, you give him the key and tell him to go and unlock

the door. He’s naturally gifted, has a strong physique and can score goals as well. We have signed potentially and hopefully one of Australia’s future brightest stars,” he said.

An ecstatic Rogic this morning spoke of his delight to be joining the Mariners – a Club he believes he will settle into with ease.

“Obviously I’m very excited and hopefully it’s going to be a great opportunity,” Rogic said. “I feel pretty comfortable slotting in, I know most of the boys, ‘Arnie’ (Graham Arnold) and people at the Club, so I’m just excited to get straight into it.”

Rogic said the chance to train with the Mariners before he left undeniably aided his selection in the Nike Academy.

“My aim was to get into a good Club environment and train at a good level before I went over and I think that the Mariners provided me with that,” he said.

“The standard that I came to before was something that I wasn’t used to, so it was obviously a great standard. Now coming back, I know what to expect and I understand the level a bit better.”

MARINERS CONFIRM ROGIC CAPTURE

Tom Rogic playing for the Blue Devils Image: www.capitalfootball.com.au

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Issue #7 January 2012

The countdown is on for Canberrans and golf enthusiasts alike, with the 2012 ActewAGL Royal Canberra Ladies Classic set to take place at the renowned Royal Canberra Golf Club from 20 to 22 January.

The tournament The 2012 Royal Ladies Classic will mark the third year that this highly successful event has transformed Royal Canberra Golf Club into a hive of anticipation and excitement.

The 54-hole tournament is the second of six major tournaments on the Australian Ladies Professional Golf (ALPG) Schedule and will be an Official Order of Merit event on the tour. The other major events include the Bing Lee Samsung NSW Women’s Open, Gold Coast RACV Ladies Masters, ISPS Handa

Women’s Australian Open and the New Zealand Women’s Open.

ALPG Chief Executive Warren Sevil says, “The event really does present like a million dollar tournament and is quickly becoming a favourite for the tour and our players. A great venue attracts a world-class field and I can assure Canberra’s golf fans that they will again be treated to women’s golf at its best come 20 January.”

Royal Canberra Golf Club President Ray Young agrees saying, “The ActewAGL Royal Canberra Ladies Classic has grown in stature and we are indeed fortunate to have attracted some of the finest women golfers

locally, nationally and internationally.”

The atmosphere at the club right throughout the three-day tournament is fantastic. Royal Canberra members enthusiastically hand over the course, embracing the event as their own with many volunteering their time to ensure the course presents at its best.

Players to look out forSome of the world’s best female golfers, including inaugural winner Kristie Smith along with fellow Australians Sarah-Jane Smith, Lindsey Wright and Tamie Durdin will battle it out for their share in the $130,000 Ladies Classic prize pool.

Other players to keep an eye out for include golfing legend and former world number one Laura Davies, along with local Canberra golfer Nikki Campbell

who made a solid impression at the event in 2010 and 2011, and who is certainly keen to win at her home event.

Nikki says, “I feel very lucky to be able to play in front of my family and friends, as a professional golfer you normally don’t get the chance. This year I’m hoping to be right in contention Sunday afternoon.”

Last year’s Ladies Classic Champion Ashely Ona is also a welcome addition to the line-up of star golfers attending this year’s tournament. While there has been some speculation about Ona’s attendance, due to an unfortunate scheduling clash with the Australian Amateur Championship, tournament directors are pleased to announce that she has confirmed her participation.

Ashley says, “I’m very excited to defend my title, I love playing Royal Canberra, it suits my style of game so I’m more than happy to be coming back to play.”

In and around Royal CanberraFor those keen to improve their style and stroke, being in the gallery will provide plenty of tips, but world-class golf on a great course is not all that’s on offer for fans at the Ladies Classic.

For young golfers there’s a Junior Development Demonstration Clinic on Saturday afternoon and for those keen on seeing the power of former world long-drive Champion Phillis Meti in action, the ALPG Long Drive Competition on Saturday evening is a must see.

For those who don’t necessarily consider themselves a golf fan, there’s plenty to do in and around the Royal Canberra golf course. On Saturday players from the Super Rugby ACT-based team, the Brumbies, will be on site to meet and greet with fans along with representatives from local liquor retailers The Glass, for those who don’t

mind a drop of wine.

For many the major draw card is the heritage-listed Westbourne Woods, home to over 100 kangaroos and a host of native wildlife and exotic tree species. Occupying over 120 hectors, Westbourne Woods is a great place for a scenic walk or picnic by Lake Burley Griffin.

Rub shoulders with the prosIf playing a round with an ALPG Tour professional and rubbing shoulders with some of the world’s best female golfers sounds like something you’d like to do, the Ladies Classic pro-am is an unbeatable way to impress and a day to remember.

Participants in the Ladies Classic pro-am – taking place from 7.30am on Thursday 19 January – will be grouped in teams of four, including one ALPG Tour player.

Bringing world-class women’s golf to CanberraCanberra is a beautiful place to live and a wonderful place to visit with its defined seasons and range of cultural attractions. However, when it comes to sporting events, Canberrans often have to travel interstate to see world-class teams and events. For ActewAGL CEO Michael Costello, “Sponsoring the Ladies Classic is a great way to support the local community because it benefits Canberra in more ways than one. For locals, the Ladies Classic is a real opportunity to see an international field of top golfers playing at a professional level in their own backyard. The event also attracts a large contingent of interstate visitors, boosting local businesses, while showcasing the national capital as we move toward hosting the Australian Ladies Open in 2013.

“ActewAGL has a strong commitment to women’s sporting events and teams and we’re very pleased to be the major sponsor of the ActewAGL Royal Ladies Classic for the third consecutive year.”

What’s next for the national capital?Canberrans have a lot to look forward to with the Ladies Australian Open moving to Royal Canberra in 2013. The Ladies Australian Open takes place over four days and has a history of attracting some of the world’s best golfers.

This four day championship is a great way to celebrate Canberra’s 100th birthday year and will certainly help to develop Canberra’s reputation as an international sporting destination.

Ashley Ona 2011 Champion. Image Courtesy of ACTEWAGL

ACTEWAGL ROYAL CANBERRA LADIES CLASSIC

Tournament scheduleDate Time Details CostTues 17 Jan 10.30pm practice day free entryWed 18 Jan 1.00pm practice day free entryThur 19 Jan 7.30am Pro-am including local celebrities free entryFri 20 Jan 8.30am Round 1 $10 per person, under 16 freeSat 21 Jan 8.30am Round 2 $10 per person, under 16 freeSun 22 Jan 9.00am Final Round $10 per person, under 16 free

The history of Royal Canberra Golf Club, or its predecessors, is almost as long as the history of the national capital itself.

The foundation stone for the city was laid in 1913 and in that same year, a few golfing enthusiasts established a nine hole course on a site near to, what is now the city centre. Subsequently, in 1922, those stalwarts established themselves on a new nine hole, sand green layout at Acton, sharing space with the Acton racecourse and leading to problem lies through omni-present hoof marks on the fairways.

Things took a turn for the better, however, when in 1926, the Federal Capital Commission constructed a new golf course on an adjacent site at Acton, where the Canberra Golf Club had its first real home. That Acton course was built on the banks of the Molonglo River and, with the river as a constant threat to wayward shots, soon earned a reputation as a superb and challenging test of golf. With minor changes only to the layout, but major changes to the clubhouse, it remained the home of Royal Canberra Golf Club until 1962, the “Royal” status having been granted by King George V in 1933.

The Walter Burley Griffin plan for Canberra called for the damming of the Molonglo River to form a lake and so it was that, in 1962, with its Acton site due to be submerged in that plan, the Club moved to its present site at Westbourne Woods. In the 40 years since that move the Royal Canberra Golf Club has developed into Australia’s pre-eminent inland golf course. Venue for a number of major tournaments, both amateur

and professional, over the years the Royal Canberra course regularly features in Australia’s top 50, relying on its natural beauty, its marvelous variety of trees and challenging design to occupy a rating well above many newer, resort-style courses.

We recently caught up the Royal Canberra Golf Club’s Golf Operations Manager Mark Brooker to discuss the Ladies Classic event and some of the courses memorable moments.

Mark explained that the Royal Canberra Golf Club (RCGC) has a proud history of staging international professional golf events, the highlights being Greg Norman’s course record 62 in the 1988 ESP Open and Kristie Smith’s final round course record 64 in the inaugural ActewAGL Royal Canberra Ladies Classic.

When asked about high profile players that have graced the course Mark continued, “The Westbourne course (Holes 1-18) at RCGC has produced worthy champions the likes of Gary Player, Kel Nagle, Greg Norman, Kristie Smith and Ashley Ona. This year’s ActewAGL Royal Canberra Ladies Classic is sure to continue that trend.”

Local golfer Nikki Campbell is keen to start her 2012 season strongly and will start the week as one the favourites.

And, what does the RCGC have planned for the Centenary of Canberra next year? Mark was very happy to announce that Golf Australia has bestowed Royal Canberra Golf Club the honor of hosting the Australian Women’s Open in 2013, the centenary year of Canberra.

THE COURSE

Four Key Holes.◊ BY RCGC PROFESSIONAL: CRAIG CARMICHAEL.

Hole 1 Par 5 470MA medium length par 5 giving players an opportunity to get off to a quick start, the ideal line off the tee is to the centre right of the fairway to open up the green which is heavily bunkered on the front left. Players choosing to lay up will want to get the ball within 80 metres of the green to avoid a severe downhill lie. The green has a tier running back left to middle right requiring a pinpoint short iron to a back left hole location.

Hole 13 Par3 141MA deceptive downhill par 3. A mid to short iron to a two tiered green. The upper shelf is quite shallow making it difficult to get to a back hole location. Bunkers short right and left protect the front hole locations. The wind coming off Lake Burley Griffin and swirling through the pines makes getting the right club in your hand a task in itself.

Kristie Smith after winning the ActewAGL Royal Canberra Ladies Classic in 2010. Smith, 21, tore around the Royal Canberra course in a nine-under par final round of 64 to overhaul LPGA Tour star Katherine Hull and secure her first professional victory by two shots. Image: ALPG - AAP

3920

75100125

150175200225

32

75100125150175200

225

Hole 6 Par 4 410MThe longest par 4 on the course played as a par 5 for the lady members. A gently sweeping right to left dogleg with a slightly off camber fairway requires the longer hitters to shape the ball right to left to hold the fairway. A long downhill second shot towards Lake Burley Griffin to a flat putting surface heavily protected by a swale and bunkers both short and right. Par is a good score.

Hole 18 Par 5 415MA tournament changing hole, players can make eagle or double bogey. A short uphill par 5 to a three level green. Longer hitters will be going in with a long to mid iron for their 2nd shot. The front hole locations are more generous with players able to utilize the large tier in the green as a backboard. Players forced to lay up will have to avoid a fairway bunker on the right hand side at about 85 metres from the green and control both distance and spin to get to the back hole locations.

PLAYER PROFILES

25

17

34

22

5075

100

125

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200

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Nikki CampbellNikki learnt her golf here in Canberra and has been a member of RCGC since 1995. She turned professional at the end of 2002 and plays on the Japanese LPGA Tour. Nikki finishing the 2011 Japanese LPGA Tour season in 44th position on the money list and currently ranks as the third highest Australian player on the Rolex World Ranking – 74. Nikki finished the 2011 ALPG Tour season in 3rd position, she played 3 events and didn’t finish outside the top 10. She tied for second at ANZ RACV Ladies Masters and tied 10th at both the ActewAGL

Royal Canberra Ladies Classic and the Handa Women’s Australian Open.

Ashley OnaAshley is Queensland’s highest ranked amateur golfer, who began playing golf at age seven with her first competitive game at age nine. She was named the Australian Girls Amateur champion in 2009, and then backed it up in 2010 as the Female Amateur golfer of the Year. The highlight of her stellar year was winning the NSW Amateur tournament.Ashley was a member of the 2010 State team which won the Women’s interstate Series, and represented the AIS in Great Britain. Ashley was named a member of the National Squad and part of the 2010 Junior Tran Tasman Team. She finished the year

ranked fourth in the Golf Australia rankings list and was selected to represent Australia in the Queen Sirikit Cup. In 2011, Ashley began the year by winning the ActewAGL Royal Canberra Ladies classic. Ashley backed up this performance when she represented Australia in the St Rule Trophy in May at the home of golf, St Andrews in Scotland. Despite appalling conditions, Ashley gritted out a fantastic win in the international amateur event. Her contribution also allowed the Australian team to win the event for the second year in a row.As the defending champion of the ActewAGL Royal Canberra Ladies Classic, it is expected that Ashley will bring her A-game back to this year’s event.

Laura DaviesAs an international player from Great Britain, Laura Davies accumulated a notable record during her amateur career. She won the 1983 English Intermediate Championship, 1984 Welsh Stroke Play Championship, and the South Eastern Championship in both 1983-84. Laura was also a member of the Great Britain and Ireland Curtis Cup Team in 1984.In 1994 Laura became the first professional golfer (male or female) to win on 5 different tours in a calendar year.In 1996 Laura was named Rolex’s Player of the Year

for the first time, a feat she repeated in 1999.In 2011 she competed in her 12th European Solheim Cup team with a 1-1-1 record, and became the all-time point’s leader in Solheim Cup history with 25 points in total. Throughout her career, Laura has amassed an amazing 44 Ladies European Tour and 20 LPGA Tour wins, including 4 majors. She has topped the LET Order of Merit 7 times and won the LPGA Tour money list in 1994.

Laura was awarded an MBE in 1988 and a CBE in 2000 for her services to golf.

Kristie SmithPrior to turning professional, Kristie was a member of the Golf Australia National Squad. Growing up in West Australia, Kristie was part of the game from a young age as the daughter of former Australian professional golfer Wayne Smith.Kristie was the 2008 Australian Amateur Champion and was the low amateur in the 2008 MFS Women’s Australian Open at Kingston Heath Golf Club, finishing at 1 under par in equal 5th place.Kristie turned pro at the end of 2009 earning playing privileges on the Futures Tour. In December 2009 she also qualified for the Ladies European Tour.

She won her first tournament as a professional in January 2010 at the ActewAGL Royal Canberra Ladies Classic on the ALPG Tour.In 2011, Kristie recorded her third professional victory and first on the Ladies European Tour at the Pegasus New Zealand Women’s open. She played 8 events posting 4 other Top-10’s.

actewagl.com.au

Classic energy.At ActewAGL, we know you enjoy world-class sport on your doorstep. That’s why we’re proud to be the major sponsor of the 2012 ActewAGL Royal Canberra Ladies Classic for the third consecutive year.

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I NEED MORE POWER: TOMICTENNIS

◊ BY JIM MORTON AND JOE BARTON

Andy Murray has no doubts Bernard Tomic will one day be a force on the ATP tour but the ever-rising teenager knows he needs far more power to mix it with the world’s best this year.

A straight sets domination by Murray delivered a harsh reality check to Tomic who started 2012 with his first-ever semi-final finish.

No longer a spindly junior, the lanky Gold Coaster has bulked up to 92kg and used his muscle to overpower the likes of Denis Istomin, Julien Benneteau and Tatsuma Ito at the Brisbane International.

The victories will see his ranking improve to a career-best No.37 ahead of the Australian Open - a good reward for his greater maturity and strength.

But Murray showed Tomic, who immediately hit the weights in a one-hour gym session after his 6-3 6-2 defeat, he still needs to power-up further to deliver his 2012 intentions of breaking into the top-10.

“If you hit the ball hard to him, he can hit it hard back,” the 19-year-old said. “Some other players when you hit hard to them they can pop a short ball, but not the best like him.

“And he moves really good - it’s very hard to hit a winner.

“I need more power, I need more power.”

The last of the big four - Murray, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal - to play Tomic, the Scot knows he’s “going to be good, you just never know how good”.

“He’s already an excellent player,” the world No.4 said. “You know he had [Novak] Djokovic on the ropes in the Wimbledon quarters.

“Had he physically been maybe a little bit stronger he could have maybe won that match.

“He’s got a big frame and he’s a big guy and so once he fills out and gets stronger he’s going to be even tougher so he’s got a good future for sure.”

The similarly towering Juan Martin del Potro believes Tomic might achieve something special as soon as this year.

Argentina’s US Open winner nominated Tomic and Canadian 21-year-old Milos Raonic as the two players to watch in 2012.

“I like the way Raonic plays and Tomic also,” he said.

“There could be a surprise for this year.

“(Tomic) is very intelligent on the court. He has the weapons to be a good player.

“He’s still young but he’s working for it ... he’s very young, (when) I was young, I was doing my steps very slow like him.

“Maybe this year or next year, he’ll be winning many tournaments.”

Del Potro, who stands at an imposing 198cm and nudges the scales past 90kg, appreciates how tough it can be for the bigger players on tour and has had to endure his share of injuries after his breakthrough US Open win in 2009.

But as far as movement is concerned del Potro believes his fellow tall timber has got it nailed.

“He’s tall, but he moves very, very well for his size,” del Potro said. - AAP

Kvitova will be No.1, says Berdych◊ BY JUSTIN CHADWICK

World No.2 Petra Kvitova may be trying her best to sneak under the radar, but Tomas Berdych predicts it’s just a matter of time before his fellow Czech overtakes Caroline Wozniacki as the world’s best women’s tennis player.

Kvitova, who teamed with Berdych to win this summer’s Hopman Cup in Perth, is just 115 WTA ranking points behind Wozniacki.

The 21-year-old continually plays down the prospect of taking Wozniacki’s crown, saying grand slams and not ranking points are her priority.

But Berdych, who teamed with Kvitova to defeat France in the Hopman Cup final, believes the 2011 Wimbledon Champion has all the right assets to assume the top ranking.

“I think she’s going to be soon number one,” Berdych said.

“I think her standard is pretty high ... and it’s just a small, small step to come up as the number one.”

Kvitova said she couldn’t afford to get caught up in the rankings.

“It’s really close to be number one but still it’s really far away,” Kvitova said.

“So I have to be focused only on my game and not about the points.”

Kvitova carried a slight niggle into the Hopman Cup but still managed to win all four of her singles matches, including a tight three-set win over Wozniacki.

The hard-hitting left-hander said she was in good shape heading into the Australian Open, and felt she had improved since her Wimbledon success last year.

“I mean after Wimbledon it was really big boom and it really changed my life and I was a different person for the people,” Kvitova said.

“Six months - it’s a long, long time and I’ve improved a lot in the game and everything.

“But I still have a lot of space to improve in every part of my game.” - AAP

Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic celebrates. Image: Tony Ashby - AFP

Bernard Tomic of Australia plays a backhand return. Image: Dave Hunt - AAP


CANBERRA UNITED V ADELAIDE UNITED

@ McKellar Park Saturday 7 January

Sonja and Alasdair Grocock

Steph Koch and Kate Daly

Freya Brent, Christine Moffitt with Alexia and Gina Forner

Darren Carden with Abby and Rachael Ebbs Tristan Daly and Daniel O’Keeffe

SUPER 8 T20 CRICKET FAMILY FUN & SPORTS DAY

@ Nicholls Oval, Nicholls Sunday 11 December 2011


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Specialising in:

New Homes Extensions Renovations Decks and Pergolas All your carpentry needs

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ROLLER SKATE IN THE CITY - ROLLER DISCO@ Garema Place, Civic Friday 6 January

To view session times or make bookings head to www.inthecitycanberra.com.au/skate/

Liss Swanson and Shane Maynard Rachel Muscarella, Shelby Foye and Juessica Muscarella

Thomas Masters and Peter Lynch

Will Tran, KG and Toby SpeckMegan Haines with Erin and Elizabeth Zatschler


ELLYSE PERRY

on for team-mate Lyndsay Glohe. She then went on to play another 2 games, also off the bench.

Ellyse left the Central Coast Mariners and began playing for Canberra United at the start of the 2009 W-League season.

At the annual Westfield W-League awards dinner in 2009, Ellyse was jointly awarded the Young Player of the Year Award with Brisbane Roar’s Elise Kellond-Knight and won three club awards for the season - the Player’s, Supporter’s and overall Club player of the year.

Ellyse was selected in the Matildas squad for the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Germany. In the Norway vs Australia group game, Ellyse came on as a late substitute, and thus became the first Australia woman to represent Australia at a senior World Cup in two different sports, namely cricket and association football.Ellyse was in the starting line-up for the quarter final against Sweden in which match, with Australia down 0-2, Ellyse scored Australia’s opening goal.

Also in June 2010, Ellyse began her media career by hosting the soccer-related show Football Stars of Tomorrow, screened on the digital sports channel One HD.

Want to see Ellyse in action?

Check out Canberra United Football Club and cheer our girls along!

WOMEN IN

SPORT

FOOTBALLER AND CRICKETER

Date of birth 3 November 1990

Place of birth Sydney, Australia

Playing position Defender

Batting style Right-handed

Bowling style Right-arm Fast medium

Role All-rounder

Playing position Defender

Club Canberra United

Ellyse Perry made her debut for both the Australian cricket and soccer teams at the age of 16. She played her first cricket international in July 2007 before earning her first football cap for Australia a month later. Ellyse is the youngest person, male or female, to represent Australia in cricket and the first Australian woman to have appeared in both cricket and association football World Cups.

Ellyse was fast-tracked to make her One Day International debut for Australia against New Zealand before playing a single match for her state New South Wales in the Women’s National Cricket League (WNCL). In 2007–08, she made her debut for NSW and won the WNCL with them, and at the end of the season, she made her Test debut in Bowral against England. During the season, she was the player of the match in her Twenty20 international debut against England, and made her maiden One Day International half-century against New Zealand.

Ellyse took 4/23 in the final of the 2008–09 WNCL to help NSW defend their title. She then took nine wickets as Australia came fourth in the 2009 World Cup held in Australia.

In 2009–10, Ellyse took 22 wickets and scored 148 runs as NSW won the WNCL again. She then took 18 wickets in 10 One Day Internationals against New Zealand at the end of the season.

Ellyse played in each of Australia’s matches at the 2010 World Twenty20 in the West Indies, taking 3/18 and being named player of the match in the final as Australia defeated New Zealand by three runs to claim the title.

In football (soccer), Ellyse plays as a defender. She played her first match for the Australian national team, an Olympic qualifying match against Hong Kong at the Hong Kong Football Club, on 4 August 2007. She played this match at the age of 16 years and 9 months, and less than two weeks after her international cricket debut, Ellyse scored a goal in the second minute of the match as Australia won 8-1.

As of July 2008, she has played eleven matches for the national team, including five in the 2008 AFC Women’s Asian Cup, where she scored a goal against South Korea. She has also played three matches for the Young Matildas, the Australian youth team.

Her domestic team was the Central Coast Mariners in the Australian W-League during the 2008–09 season.

Ellyse made her debut against Queensland Roar on Saturday, 15 November 2008 after being substituted


THORNTON BRINGS HOME ICE SKATING GOLD

With a commanding lead, after producing a personal best with her short program, Justine Thornton still remained first in the Intermediate Division after placing second with her freeskate program. She collected a gold medal for her fine performance while representing the ACT at the 2011 Australian National Figure Skating Championships.

A very excited Justine told her coach; “Oh I just can’t believe it … I’m so happy … all my hard work has finally come together!”

It was an especially poignant moment for Justine’s coach, six times Australian Ladies Figure Skating Champion, Miriam Manzano; “I’m really proud of Justine, she has worked incredibly hard all year. Justine won the short program with a personal best performance and was several points ahead of her competition; it was great to see her self-belief and hard work rewarded with a National title win.”

“It’s personally ironic as this was Justine’s first national title win and mine too as a coach. My first national

[figure skating] title win was also in the Intermediate Division and Justine was wearing that same dress which I won in.”

Another fine performance came from Karuna Henderson competing in the Senior Division. Karuna placed third after the short program with a personal best score and just missed out on a bronze medal after competing in the freeskate, placing fourth overall.

The Kenyon sisters, Eiland and Dilli both had top placings in each of their Divisions of Junior and Novice, with Eiland finishing sixth place overall and Dilli placing fifth overall. Dilli also received a special acknowledgment from the Morgan Innes Foundation for her achievements in 2011.

An additional bonus prior to the Championships for Karuna, Eiland and Dilli was been offered international competition nominations by Ice Skating Australia to represent Australia in 2012.

For first time skaters to the Nationals, Intermediate skater Brianna Steggall and Primary skater Mia Connell-Whitty,

placing 12th in each of their Divisions, stated they where both very happy with their overall placing and looking forward to the challenges ahead in 2012. Charlotte (Charli) Kesteven did not make the cut to the freeskating after completing her short program.

Overall placings for ACT figure skating team:

Senior Division Karuna Henderson 4th

Junior Division Eiland Kenyon 6th

Novice Division Endillion (Dilli) Kenyon 5th

Intermediate Division Justine Thornton 1st

Brianna Steggall 12th

Charlotte Kesteven 22nd

Primary Division Mia Connell-Whitty 12th

ACTISA President, Angelique Clyde-Smith while acknowledging the ACT

team said; “This is a great result for our small team of skaters. We are very proud of all their achievements at the National Championships and throughout 2011. We hope they keep improving with their PBs [personal bests] in 2012”

Officials representing the ACT at the Nationals were International judge Angelique Clyde-Smith, Senior National judge Meg Monteleone and Novice National judges Rebecca Wells and Samantha Quimby.

The Australian National Figure Skating Championships was held over eight days, from 3-10 December 2011, at the Iceworld Boondall rink in Brisbane, with skaters from across Australia competing in Singles, Pair, Dance, Synchronized and Adult Divisions.

Justine Thornton - Family FotographicsJustine Thornton - Family Fotographics

For further information: www.actisa.asn.au www.isa.org.auMorgan Innes Foundation - www.morganinnes.com/ www.isa.org.au/scholarships.htm


MICHAEL MILTON TO PAIR UP FOR THE 50KM DUO CLASSIC

Canberra’s 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games Cycling Team member and Australia’s first Winter Olympic Gold Medalist, Michael Milton is set to pair up for the Duo Classic mountain bike

race to be held at East Kowen Forest, Canberra on Saturday 14 January 2012.The 50km Duo Classic is a joint initiative of Bec Henderson and Canberra Off Road Cyclists (CORC).

The Cross Country Mountain Bike race is a fundraising event for Bec Henderson – 2011 Under 23 Australian Champion, eight times Australian Mountain Bike Age Champion and 2011 Cycling Australia Elite

Female Mountain Biker of the Year who is striving to gain selection for the 2012 London Olympics.

Riders enter in teams of two and each pair must start and finish the race together. The Duo Classic is about teamwork; where you and your teammate work together, have a good time and ride some of the best single tracks that Canberra has to offer. The course will be one 12.5km loop of single track and fire road in which each pair will have to complete four times. There is also a 25 kilometre race option for families and children.

Michael Milton - Skier, cyclist, trekker, triathlete, world and Australian record holder, Paralympian, Olympian... Michael is one of Australia’s best-known athletes. His four-gold-medal haul at the Salt Lake Winter Paralympic Games endeared him to a sport-loving nation and earned him the title of Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability. Michael’s career highlights include racing in the Mark Webber Challenge, a five-day adventure race in Tasmania and the 293km long Coast to Coast Kokoda Challenge. He has climbed Mt Kilimanjaro and walked Kokoda twice.

In 2008 Michael was named as one of 18 athletes in the Paralympic Cycling Team to compete in Beijing. His sixth Paralympic Games and his first as a summer athlete, he arrived in Beijing less than 12 months since chemotherapy radiotherapy and major surgery.

Michael Milton is part of the local road cycling scene and has partnered up with local CORC club member and friend Darryl Cram for the event in a show of support for Bec.

2008 Beijing Olympian Dan McConnell will partner Canberra’s Olympic hopeful Ben Henderson to fight it out with 2011 Enduro Champion Dylan Cooper and rising star Brendan Johnston in this inaugural race.

Paralympic cyclist Michael Milton. Image: Alan Porritt - AAP

GREENEDGE GET THE NATIONAL CHAMPION JERSEY

CYCLING

◊ BY ROGER VAUGHAN

Simon Gerrans and Australian cycling enjoyed one of their greatest days on Sunday 8 January at the national road championships.Gerrans outsprinted Matt Lloyd and Richie Porte at the end of the pulsating 163.2km men’s elite road race at Buninyong, near Ballarat for an outstanding win.It was the first win for the new GreenEDGE men’s professional team

after plenty of pre-race pressure about whether they would secure the prized national champion’s jersey.Respected long-time Australian coach Dave Sanders was among those declaring it the best national road title race they had seen.It attracted a crowd of about 20,000 and for the first time the last three hours were televised live.GreenEDGE set a cracking pace from the start of the 16 laps on the demanding circuit and only 21 riders out of 140

starters finished.Gerrans and Lloyd (Lampre) broke away on the last circuit and Porte (Sky) frantically gave chase.The trio came together with a kilometre left and Gerrans blasted clear on the home straight for the title.Lloyd was second and Porte third to complete a world-class podium.Gerrans is the only Australian to have won stages in cycling’s three Grand Tours - the Tour de France, Tour of Spain and Tour of Italy.He said his first senior national title rivalled those achievements.“This is such an honour,” he said.“This is far and above one of my proudest moments in cycling - to now be crowned Australian champion for the next 12 months and to be able to wear the green and gold through all the big races in Europe.“I just capped off some great team work from GreenEDGE today,“I am so proud of all of the guys.”Gerrans’ will ride at the Tour Down Under later this month and his first European goal will be a breakthrough win at one of the Ardennes Classics in April.

GreenEDGE rider Cameron Meyer made a daring 30km solo attack, but he was caught with three laps left and did not finish.Team officials are worried he might have a stomach bug ahead of his time trial championship defence on Tuesday.It came down to a star-studded group of 23 riders at the start of the final lap.Silver was also a great result for Lloyd, the 2008 Australian road champion, who is back after two bike crashes last year and his mystery April sacking from the Omega Pharma-Lotto team.Porte’s bronze medal was on the back of his great ride and faultless tactics from the Sky team, who had four riders in thh race compared to the 16-man GreenEDGE contingent.With two laps left, Sky and GreenEDGE had four riders apiece left in the race.Sky’s Mat Hayman and GreenEDGE riders Luke Durbride and Stuart O’Grady stood out with great rides.Will Clarke (Budget Forklifts), who was fifth, and 10th-placed Bernard Sulzberger (Raleigh) deservedly won selection to the composite UniSA national team for the Tour Down Under. - AAP

Simon Gerrans (front) and Richie Porte in action during the men’s leg of the 2012 National Road Championships in Buninyong. Image: Kathy Watt - AAP.

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◊ BY SHIGEMI SATO

Japanese sports stars who donated generously to help victims of March’s massive earthquake and tsunami say the giving was not all one way, with many drawing inspiration from the strength of those affected.Makoto Hasebe, a midfielder for leading German football side Wolfsburg, visited the Pacific coastal town of Minamisanriku over Christmas to see an area that was all but washed away by the monster waves.

He arrived with a donation of 95 million yen ($A1.2 million) to help rebuild a kindergarten.“I paid the visit believing I could be of some help,” said the 27-year-old, who captained Japan’s national side to a record fourth Asian Cup at the start of 2011.“But it worked the other way around. I drew strength from the smiles on children’s faces.”Golf icon Ryo Ishikawa said his game had changed after he vowed at the Masters in

April to donate all his prize money from the domestic tour and the four world majors this year to tsunami victims.“I have since felt a certain sense of responsibility,” he said.Ishikawa ended the season in December without a win, but recorded his best result in a major when he came 20th at the US Open.The 20-year-old, who holds a number of lucrative sponsorship contracts, also threw in Y100,000 for every birdie or better he made, taking his contribution to Y133.5 million ($A1.7 million).Under the slogan “Gambare (Hang on), Nippon!” Japan stood united during a year marked by tragedy that Emperor Akihito labelled “truly distressing”.Its people earned praise from around the globe for their uncomplaining attitude in the face of the calamity.Massive donations of cash, provisions or labour poured in from all walks of life to Japan’s northeast where a 9.0-magnitute quake and the resulting tsunami left 20,000 dead and sparked the worst nuclear crisis in a generation.Olympic gold medal hopefuls Kosuke Kitajima and Kohei Uchimura said they initially felt helpless in the face of the massive disaster but drew inspiration from victims in their build-up to the London Games.

Kitajima, who won gold medals for breaststroke in 2004 and in 2008, has visited the tsunami-ravaged Miyagi region twice and hosted a number of charity events.“I had a chance to swim with children who had lost their pools,” said the 29-year-old.“The time I spent with them became my treasure. It gave me power to move forward toward next year.”The unimaginable struggle of disaster victims may have inspired athletes to push themselves to the “physiological limit”, Nobuyuki Nakajima, a professor of sport psychology at Tokyo’s Juntento University, told AFP.“The impact has greatly motivated and encouraged athletes.”Nothing exemplifies that motivation more to the Japanese public than the performance of the Japanese women’s national football team, who lifted the Women’s World Cup in July.Coach Norio Sasaki showed his unfancied team images of the devastation before their shock 1-0 quarter-final win over hosts Germany, saying he wanted to bring “mental stability and courage” to his players.His squad beat Sweden in the semi-final before overcoming hot favourites the United States on penalties in a gripping final. - AAP

Japan’s captain Makoto Hasebe (C) lifts the Asian Cup trophy after the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2011. Image: Mohamed Farag - AAP

JAPAN SPORTS STARS DRIVEN BY TSUNAMI


Curling has been described as the “Roarin’ Game”, with the “roar” coming from the noise of a granite stone as it travels over the ice. The exact origins of the game, however, are unclear, but curling is widely believed to be one of the world’s oldest team sports.

Paintings by a 16th Century Flemish Artist, Pieter Bruegel (1530-1569)

portrayed an activity similar to curling being played on frozen ponds. The first written evidence appeared in Latin, when in 1540, John McQuhin, a notary in Paisley, Scotland, recorded in his protocol book a challenge between John Sclater, a monk in Paisley Abbey and Gavin Hamilton, a representative of the Abbot. The report indicated that Sclater threw a stone along the ice three times

LEFT OF CENTRE: CURLING

Tthe Norwegian team in action at the recent Ford World Men’s Curling Championships in Regina, Saskatchewan Canada. AFP

For more information on curling in Australia go to www.curling.org.auTo check the action out go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYd-NYg-LOQ

and asserted that he was ready for the agreed contest.

What is clear, however, is that what may have started as an enjoyable pastime of throwing stones over ice during a harsh Northern European winter, has evolved into a popular modern sport with its own World Championships attracting fans and large television audiences.

Curling in its early days was played on frozen lochs and ponds. A pastime still enjoyed in some countries when weather permits, but all National and International competitive curling competitions now take place in indoor rinks with the condition of the ice carefully temperature-controlled.

How to play curlingOK, so its kinda like lawn bowls on ice.

A curling team consists of 4 players. Each player holds designated positions - lead, second, third, and skip. Players on each team take turns sliding out of the hack and throwing rocks down the ice towards the house (the bulls eye thing). The skip stands in the house and calls the shots. One player throws a rock while two others on the team follow it down the ice using a broom to sweep in front of the rock, if it needs it. The sweeping can carry a rock further, and cause it to

curl more or less.

When a player is sliding out of the hack, he must release the rock before he reaches the hog line.

When all of the rocks have been thrown in one direction, an end has been played. The third of the scoring team marks her points on a large scoreboard for all to see. One complete game usually consists of eight or ten ends and lasts for 2-3 hours.

Points are scored at the conclusion of each end. When both teams have thrown their eight stones the team with the stone closest to the button (the centre of the house) wins that end, the winning team is then awarded one point for each of its own stones lying closer to the button than the opponent’s closest stone. The positions of all the other opponent’s stones other than the closest make no difference to the score.

Only stones that are in the house are considered in the scoring.

www.worldcurling.org

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RICCARDO SET TO RAMP UP F1 AGGRESSION

◊ BY ROBERT GRANT

Australia’s rising Formula One driver Daniel Ricciardo is set to take a new, aggressive approach into the 2012 season.Armed with 11 races for tail-enders Hispania this year, the 22-year-old

West Australian will move up when he partners former rival, Frenchman Jean-Eric Vergne, at mid-field Torro Rosso.Winning a permanent seat for Red Bull’s second team is the key which Ricciardo hopes to use to unlock the door to the elite section of the F1 grid.Torro Rosso sacked both their regular racers - Sebastien Buemi and Jaime Alguersuari - at the end of the 2011 season to make way for the talented Ricciardo and Vergne.One of the reasons Ricciardo was rewarded was the way he handled himself in the Hispania, failing to finish in just two races and consistently outpacing the more experienced Vitantonio Liuzzi.But he said recently that he needed to take a bolder approach into next season to remain competitive and improve overall.“I know I’ve got it but it’s probably not consistent enough and at Formula One now it has to be as good as it can be,” Ricciardo said.“I think my actual starts are okay, the initial reaction off the line is fine.

“But a few times this year I got a good start and jumped the car off the line but maybe didn’t go hard enough into the first corner or went for the safer inside line.“I probably need a little bit more aggression which I guess will come with experience at this level.”Ricciardo said Vergne, his teammate when he raced for Tech 1 in the Renault 3.5 series, could prompt him to ditch his conservatism when the two line up together.“He’s got potential and he’s quick,” Ricciardo said. “We drive quite similar but he has probably what I don’t have in the aggressive side.“So maybe I can learn from him, at least in the junior categories that’s been his style.”One key factor which Ricciardo is comfortable with - in contrast to his compatriot and Red Bull driver Mark Webber - is the Pirelli control tyre.“I think they suit my style,” he said. “There were more races this year I think where I had better pace than Tonio (Liuzzi).

“Definitely at (my first F1 race at) Silverstone I had very little idea and that was shown in the pace but from then on I learnt very quickly.“It can sometimes be frustrating when they fall off a cliff and you’re going four seconds a lap slower but most of the time I was making them last longer than my teammate,” he said.“I don’t tend to grip the steering wheel very hard and I’ve got a bit of a smooth approach as well.”Ricciardo said it had been “a bit stressful” waiting to hear whether or not he would have a permanent seat next year, but he’d remained confident.“I honestly believe I did a good enough job this year to be somewhere on the grid and that was the feeling I got from all the big guys at Red Bull.“There were definitely some positive moments which kept them happy.”Ricciardo will fly to the Torro Rosso base at Faenza in Italy in a fortnight for a car seat fitting before pre-season testing begins at Valencia, Spain in February. - AAP

Daniel Ricciardo of Australia HRT Formula 1 Team. Image: Sutton Motorsport Images - AAP

FORMULA 1

DEAFACT TEAM GEARS UP FOR AUSTRALIAN DEAF GAMES IN GEELONG

Imagine playing a sport where there is no sound, you cannot hear the calls of your team members, your coaches, and even the referee. Imagine that you have to watch the athlete next to you to know when to start a race because you cannot hear the starter’s gun. Imagine that when you score a point you are unable to hear the roar of the crowd. This is reality for athletes who have a hearing loss

every time they take to the field. Welcome to an insight into the world of a deaf athlete.

In July 2010, a group of deaf sports men and women met and formed Deaf Advocacy, Sport and Recreation ACT (DeafACT) establishing a sports organisation to bring together deaf and hearing impaired athletes to represent ACT in the Australian Deaf Games and National Deaf Championships, and to raise awareness of sports to ACT residents who are deaf

or hearing impaired. Another purpose of the organisation is to provide advice and information to ACT sports organisations and clubs on how best to include deaf persons of all ages into their sports.

DeafACT will be sending representative teams in the sports of Beach Volleyball, Netball, Golf, Futsal and Touch Football to the Australian Deaf Games to be

held in Geelong, Victoria from Saturday, 14 to Saturday, 21 January 2012. The Australian Deaf Games is one of the longest running national multi-sports events in Australia, commencing in 1964. It is held every four years and it is the pinnacle of the deaf sporting calendar.

It has been a long time since ACT has been represented at the games, with the last appearance in 1996. The ACT teams’ best medal chances could be found in the sports of Beach Volleyball, Touch Football and Table Tennis at the 2012 event. All of these teams have some international deaf representative players bringing needed experience for the mission to win their tournaments. In the Mixed and Women’s Netball, the coaches are confident of recording some upsets over the bigger states.

DeafACT President, Greg Ophel, himself an International Deaf Volleyball representative, praised the team’s efforts in getting to the games.

“To be able to get a number of ACT teams to the Deaf Games is amazing

when you consider it has only been a year since we started,” Ophel said.

“It is important to recognise that it is due to the major fundraising campaign, many barbeques and Zumba sessions organised by Chloe Nash, that made it possible for as many of us to attend the games.”

DeafACT also acknowledges the support from the following ACT sports organisations – Netball ACT, Touch Football ACT, Capital Football and Volleyball ACT.

The Australian Deaf Games is not all about winning medals however, with junior deaf sports development sessions at each sport and a social program that enables athletes, officials, and spectators to meet and share stories of their games experience.

To keep up-to-date with the DeafACT teams’ results from the 2012 Australian Deaf Games, please visit the following website – www.austdeafgames.org.au

DeafACT fundraiser. Image: Courtesy of DeafACT


◊ BY PATRICK FILLEUX

The death of Argentinian rider Jorge Martinez Boero overshadowed the first day of the Dakar Rally during which Russia’s Leonid Novitzkiy lead the cars section and Chilean Francisco Lopez the motorbikes.

The 38-year-old Boero, making his second appearance on the gruelling rally, suffered a heart attack after being seriously injured in a fall from his Beta bike two kilometres from the end of the stage between Mar del Plata and Santa Rosa de la Pampa in the west of Argentina.

Organisers said Boero received medical attention within five minutes of the crash but died while being helicoptered to hospital.

Boero, they said, “was the victim of a fall at kilometre 55 of the special of the first stage between Mar del Plata and Santa Rosa”.

“Despite their best efforts, the doctors were unable to resuscitate the pilot, who died while he was being taken to hospital.

“The organisers of the rally offer their heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones.”

Boero was the son of a former Argentinian racing champion of the same name who died in 2004. His only previous Dakar Rally appearance last year ended when he crashed into a ravine during stage six in Chile and had to wait eight hours before being rescued.

Boero’s death was the 21st of a competitor during a Dakar Rally, organised 29 times in Africa from 1979 before moving to South America in 2009.

In total, 59 people have died during the event, including more than 20 spectators.

“It’s a real tragedy. He’s a boy that we knew well,” said race director Etienne Lavigne. “There’s a lot of emotion at the camp tonight. It will be tough to start tomorrow. But it’s the biggest tribute we could give him. The competition continues.”

During the day’s racing Mini got off to a flying start with Novitzkiy clocking

32min 12sec over the 57km special to finish 5sec ahead of Poland’s Krzysztof Holowczyc with France’s former champion Stephane Peterhansel 9sec off the pace - both also in Minis.

Australia’s best placed driver, Geoff Olholm, recorded a solid 48th-fastest time in a car, while David Schwarz was 82nd fastest while on a motorbike.

Defending champion Nasser Al-Attiyah however struggled home 9min 50sec behind Novitzhiy after his Hummer ran into mechanical problems.

Aprilia rider Lopez timed 32min 37sec coming in 14sec ahead of defending motorbike champion Marc Coma of Spain on a KTM and 27sec in front of Argentinian Javier Pizzolito, riding a Honda.

Coma scored some early points against team-mate and principal rival Frenchman Cyril Despres, who finished 1min 48sec behind the stage winner in 13th place.

Uruguay’s Sergio La Fuente leads the quad standings and Dutch driver Marcel van Vliet the truck category. - AAP

DEATH OVERSHADOWS START OF DAKAR RALLYDAKAR RALLY

INDY CAR

◊ BY ED JACKSON

IndyCar star Will Power is ready to mount a new title challenge in 2012 despite still feeling the physical and mental affects of the season-ending crash which killed English driver Dan Wheldon in Las Vegas.

Power injured his back in the fiery wreck at the final Indy race of 2011 in October, the smash ending his championship dream as well as tragically claiming the life of Indy 500 winner Wheldon.

It meant for the second year the Australian had finished behind Scot Dario Franchitti in the championship but Power said Wheldon’s death had made his disappointment trivial.

“In many ways this was the best year of my career, yet it obviously turned out to be a very sad season as well, with the tragic ending to 2011,” Power wrote in an end-of-year blog for the IndyCar website.

“We earned a lot of poles, won a lot of races and captured the Mario Andretti Road Course championship for the second consecutive year.

“In the end we found out in the most painful way possible that chasing a championship means nothing when compared to losing part of our racing family.

“It’s hard to move on, but racing is what we do and I can’t wait to get to St. Pete (1st round, 2012) and begin a new era of IndyCar racing next spring.”

Power was one of the drivers who spoke of their fears surrounding the Las Vegas speedway circuit before the fatal race.

Las Vegas has since been dropped from the 2012 IndyCar schedule, which gets underway on March 25 in St Petersburg, Florida.

And Power believes the positive that can come from Wheldon’s death is an improvement to safety.

“I truly believe that our series will learn from Dan’s passing and I know that safety and finding the best possible formula for our cars are the most important things we can do this off-season,” he wrote. - AAP

Argentina’s Jorge Martinez Boero during the symbolic start of the 2012 Dakar Rally in Mar del Plata, 400 Km south of Buenos Aires. Image: Juan Mabromata - AAP

Will Power celebrates his victory in the IndyCar’s Sao Paulo Grand Prix at Anhembi racetrack in Sao Paulo, Brazil on May 2, 2011. Image: Evaristo SA - AFP

POWER SET FOR 2012 AFTER TRAGEDY


COMBAT SPORTS

KHAN “MYSTERY MAN” IDENTIFIED BY IBF

◊ BY PETER MITCHELL

Promoters for British boxing star Amir Khan have claimed that he has been offered a world title rematch with Lamont Peterson after the IBF revealed to them that the “mystery man” seen ringside at last month’s fight was one of their officials.

Khan lost both his WBA and IBF light-welterweight titles after home-town fighter Peterson was awarded a controversial split-decision victory following their bout in Washington on December 10.

The 25-year-old had questioned the performance of referee Joe Cooper and aired grievances over alleged inconsistencies with the judges’ scorecards, before turning his attention to the mystery individual at ringside.

Khan has already appealed against the defeat, but on Thursday he took to Twitter to draw attention to the unidentified man’s actions during the fight.

There was no immediate identification of the man, but Richard Schaefer, chief executive officer of Golden Boy Promotions now claims the IBF told him that he was one of their officials named Mustafa Ameen, who was given accreditation for the fight despite not being directly involved in it.

“His name is Mustafa Ameen and the IBF have confirmed to us his name, and they have confirmed to us that he’s involved in an official capacity with the IBF,” Schaefer

told Sky Sports News.

“However, he was not in Washington in an official IBF capacity, but the IBF asked the Washington commission to issue him a credential so that he could attend the fight.”

Schaefer also claimed that the WBA have offered Khan a rematch with the American, and urged the IBF to follow suit.

“We have been informed today by the WBA that they will order an immediate rematch,” he said. “We received a verbal confirmation today and we will get a written confirmation by next Tuesday.

“That means that no fighter can take an interim fight, that the next fight for Peterson would be a rematch.

“We hope that the IBF will follow because that’s the least they can do. The ruling of the WBA to order an immediate rematch should put additional pressures on the IBF.”

Schaefer said he was also hopeful that the outcome of the fight will be changed to “no contest”, allowing Khan to retain his belts, but said: “It’s difficult to guess the no-contest ruling. I certainly hope this could happen.” - AFP

◊ BY GREG BEACHAM

Brock Lesnar took one last kick to his stomach and crumpled at the side of the cage, unable to fight back when Alistair Overeem pounced.

Lesnar had been finished by a 6-foot-5 Dutch kick boxer in the first round at UFC 141. A few minutes later, the UFC’s former heavyweight champion finished his own meteoric mixed martial arts career.

Lesnar retired from the UFC after Overeem stopped him with one vicious kick to the body at 2:26 of the first round

in their heavyweight bout Friday night, leaving the UFC heading into 2012 without its biggest pay-per-view star.

“This is the last time you’ll see me in the octagon,” Lesnar said.

Largely thanks to his fame from a career in pro wrestling, the hulking Lesnar (5-3) played a significant role in expanding the UFC’s profile

and fan base over the past four years. He beat Randy Couture in 2008 to win the heavyweight title, defending it twice before losing the belt to Cain Velasquez last year.

But Lesnar has fought just three times in the past 2 1/2 years while dealing with bouts of a lower-intestinal ailment that nearly killed him. The accumulation of pain and rehabilitation finally undid Lesnar, whose famed strength and stubbornness couldn’t overcome diverticulitis.

“I’ve had a really difficult couple of years with my disease, and I’m going to officially say tonight is the last time,” Lesnar said.

Lesnar’s return from a 14-month injury absence was a short, one-sided beating. After taking damage from two knee blows early on, he couldn’t recover from a kick to the liver from Overeem (36-11), who made a stellar UFC debut despite getting cut near his right eye by a punch from Lesnar.

The 34-year-old Lesnar’s announcement stunned fans who already realized he faced a difficult matchup in the UFC’s traditional end-of-the-year event in its hometown. The matchup was a classic MMA clash of styles, with Lesnar’s brute wrestling contrasting sharply with Overeem’s vicious striking.

“I had no idea he would do that, (but) am I surprised? No,” UFC President Dana White said. “Brock Lesnar has made a lot of money in his career and has achieved a lot of things. ... He brought a lot of excitement to the heavyweight division. What he accomplished in a short amount of time is amazing, but I get it. It doesn’t shock me.”

Overeem is three years younger but much more experienced than Lesnar, hurting the former champion at least twice earlier in the round while Lesnar failed in his attempt at a one-legged takedown.

“I promised my wife and my kids if I won this fight, I would get a title shot, and that would be my last fight,” Lesnar said. “But if I lost tonight ... you’ve been great.”

Overeem will get the next shot at UFC heavyweight champion Junior Dos Santos, who watched from a seat near the octagon.

Overeem is a champion kick boxer who has fought in multiple promotions over the past decade, winning titles in Dream and Strikeforce with nearly unbeatable striking and size. He joined the UFC in September, finally presenting his formidable skills and intimidating physique to the sport’s largest audience.

“My experience in UFC was, it’s huge,” Overeem said. “I think it’s like 100 times bigger than Strikeforce. K-1 (kick boxing) is big, but this is a lot bigger. I was a little bit blown away, still am. I loved every second of it.” - AP

Amir Khan speaks to reporters at a press conference about his controversial loss. Image: Paul Ellis - AAP

OVEREEM ENDS LESNAR’S UFC CAREER

Brock Lesnar celebrates a victory at UFC 116. Image: Eric Jamison - AP

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SPORTS CROSSWORD

NUTRITION AND HEALTH

WHY IS NUTRITION IMPORTANT FOR OLDER ADULTS?

of the salt in the Australian diet comes from the salt added to foods by food manufacturers and caterers. A high salt diet increases the risk of developing high blood pressure, which is common in Australia. In fact, approximately half of the Australian population over the age of 60 suffers from high blood pressure. Herbs and spices can be used to flavour foods instead of adding salt.

Like all Australians, older people should restrict their use of highly salted foods such as corned beef, bacon and luncheon meats and snack foods such as potato chips. It is important to make the effort to buy reduced-salt and low-salt manufactured foods.

Drink more waterIt is essential to drink water in order to keep the body hydrated. However, as you age, you may not feel thirsty as often, even when your body is in need of fluid. Remember to take regular drinks, at least six times a day. You don’t need

◊ WWW.NUTRITIONAUSTRALIA.ORG

Healthy eating is just as important for seniors as it is for young adults, adolescents and children. While the emphasis is on “healthy” (being healthy and choosing healthy foods), it is also important to make eating an enjoyable and sociable activity that you can look forward to. Studies on the nutritional status of the Australian population indicate that a number of older people have poor diets, and do not eat enough fibre, or enough of some vitamins and minerals. When the diet does not provide the body with the nutrients it needs, health can suffer.

To have a healthy lifestyle, a good diet should be combined with regular, moderate exercise. This can include activities such as walking, swimming or dancing. Exercise helps you control your appetite and hence your weight, strengthens your heart, blood vessels, lungs and bones, and helps you sleep.

Ageing can be associated with changes

1 2 3 4 5

6 7

8

9 10

11

12

13

14 15 16

17

18 19

20

21 22

Across6 6 Golf shot that lands level with

the flag (3,4)

7 Famous rally (5)

9 Clay pigeon (5)

10 First on the calendar of the golf slams (7)

12 Suspension of a competitive game of chess until a later date (11)

14 Muhammad Ali, as he was (7,4)

18 Robbie Fowler or Steven Gerrard, for instance (7)

19 Winner of the 2002 Snooker World Championship, Peter ___ (5)

21 In poker, a same-suited hand (5)

22 See 1 Down

Down1 and 22 Across ‘Punter’ (5,7)

2 The Shute or the JJ Giltinan, for instance (6)

3 Nickname of former England soccer player Ugochuku Ehiogu (3)

4 Boxing weight class for chickens? (6)

5 Shell placed over the frame of a motorcycle (7)

8 West Ham, Man Utd and England soccer player, Michael ___ (7)

11 Win payments (7)

13 Stocky England fast bowler who had best figures of 9-57, Devon ___ (7)

15 Sport mastered by Heather Mackay and Geoff Hunt (6)

16 Tony ___, a real ironman of a politician (6)

17 Nickname of boxer Charles Liston, who died in 1970 (5)

20 English middle distance runner, now Lord Sebastian ___ (3)

Last issue’s solution

S E P O S H L U G E

T A M P A E E E

R E N O R W E G I A N

A A R O N E A R

U T I N N E R T U B E

S O E A E O

S U N D R Y I C E A X E

K I A A M A

T R A M L I N E S E S

A P D T A R O T

B I L L I A R D S I E

N E E O S C A R

N E T S S W A N A N

in lifestyle that affect the types of foods eaten. Loneliness, boredom, depression and worrying about the future can lead some to neglect their diets. Unfortunately this can result in skipping meals, and generally poor eating habits. It is important to address these factors and seek ways to improve diet, even if this means asking for help from friends, family or other community services. You can find out about the services availably in your community by asking your doctor, or by contacting your local community health centre, council, or hospital.

The following suggestions can also help you to maintain good health into older age.

Use less SaltTable salt is also known as sodium chloride. All individuals require a certain amount of sodium chloride, though we actually get enough from the salt that occurs naturally in foods such as meat, eggs, milk and vegetables. Most

to only drink plain water – tea, coffee, mineral water, soda water, fruit juice and milk can count towards your fluid intake during the day.

Limit your intake of high fat foodsPies, pastries, fried and battered foods, and snack foods such as chips and chocolate are all high in fat and should only be eaten occasionally. If you wish to eat dessert, why not try fruit, yoghurt, custard or ice cream (there are plenty of reduced-fat and low-fat varieties available. Rice, with some dried fruit added plus a little bit of sugar with milk always makes an easy and delicious dessert!

Be careful with alcoholAlcohol does not provide protective nutrients such as vitamins and minerals, but it does provide energy in the form of kilojoules or calories. This adds to your total energy intake for the day. Whilst consuming small amounts of alcohol with a meal may help you enjoy the meal, alcohol should not replace intake of actual foods that provide your body with essential nutrients.


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Corporate hospitality is

one of the most powerful tools for developing strong business relationships. Ensure your key business partners and clients don’t miss out on the most exciting sporting events in Canberra. Memberships

include access to the lounge for all scheduled Canberra Raiders and Brumbies home matches and are on sale now.

Phone (02) 6256 6706 today

play magazine issue #7

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