Coleman double leads Brumbies home

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A PENALTY try on full-time sealed a valuable win for the Brumbies over the game Stormers in Canberra, although the damage was done earlier by Robbie Coleman.

The diminutive winger bagged a double including a sensational last-gasp diving effort in the 61st minute as the Brumbies notched their fourth win in succession.

Full scores, stats and video highlights in Match Centre

Leading 18-15 as the clock wound down, the Brumbies were awarded a penalty try for repeated scrum infringements that gave them a fifth-straight win over South African opposition.

"It's really tough to play the Stormers, we went to Cape Town last year and got our arses handed to us so it was a really pleasing result," Brumbies skipper Ben Mowen said after the 25-15 win.

In a key play in the final quarter, Coleman chased down a Mowen grubber and managed to pick up and plant just before he was bundled over the touchline, punishing Stormers winger Kobus van Wyk who was shadowing the ball over the sideline.

"That's what we talk about, chase everything and never give up, I was just lucky enough to get a good bounce," Coleman said.

Matt Toomua runs the ball for the Brumbies. Source: Getty Images

Stormers centre Juan de Jongh fended off rival Andrew Smith and charged over with four minutes remaining to make the score 18-15, but the visitors could not muster a match-winning play.

Missing a third of their automatic starters in Scott Sio, David Pocock, Christian Lealiifano, Tevita Kuridrani and Henry Speight, the Brumbies held firm in the grinding match and take momentum into next Friday's clash against the Rebels in Melbourne.

Coleman crossed for the first try after just nine minutes after Matt Toomua sliced through the defence and fed the speedster.

The Stormers regained the lead 10-7 in the 22nd minute when backrower Duane Vermeulen barged over from close range.

The pre-game loss of breakdown goliath Schalk Burger was a major blow for the Stormers.

BRUMBIES 25 (1 penalty try) (Robbie Coleman 2 tries Nic White 2 cons 2 pens) bt STORMERS 15 (Juan De Jongh, Duane Vermeulen tries Peter Grant con pen) at GIO Stadium. Referee: Glen Jackson.

Relive all the action in our match blog below.

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Saints, Dees show off new styles

Luke Dunstan looked good on debut. Source: Wayne Ludbey / News Corp Australia

IT was a night of new beginnings and fresh starts; a moment of change in the history of two foundation football clubs.

For that reason, you can almost forgive the mistakes and the fumbles.

And let's be brutally honest, there were plenty of both from a game that won't have fans of either side rushing out to purchase a copy of the DVD.

MATCH REPORT: SAINTS PATCH-UP JOB TRUMPS DEES

LIVE HQ: EVERY SUPERCOACH SCORE AND STAT

To be fair to both sides, though, St Kilda and Melbourne each had more than their fair share of players out for various reasons.

The Saints' midfield was all but decimated, yet still had a heartbeat; the Demons' attack was barely worthy of that word for most of the night.

Bernie Vince in the face of Tom Curren. Source: News Corp Australia

But the match was more about who was out there; not those who weren't — except for the two coaches sitting in their respective boxes trying to impact on the game for their new sides.

Paul Roos coached his first official game — and 203rd overall — since the Swans bowed out to the Western Bulldogs in a 2010 semi-final.

We learnt that he is not the Messiah, but the Demons did play with more system, if a little too haphazard on too many occasions. They will be better for the experience.

Alan Richardson was coaching his second game after a lifetime of experience, but effectively the first as his own man.

Nathan Jones has never won a first-round match. Source: News Corp Australia

Richardson's one game in the Port Adelaide chair came when Ken Hinkley was ill last season, yet this one would have felt very, very different. This time he wasn't just warming the seat.

Melbourne had six new players; St Kilda had five; and the style differences from last year were on show.

The Demons possessed the ball at will, sometimes too often. The high handball-to-kick ratio was evident from the outset.

The Saints were more efficient with their use and had a familiar face in attack — Nick Riewoldt — who is still such a massive competitor. He willed his team as much as anyone else out there.

St Kilda would have been delighted with Luke Dunstan on debut, gathering possessions at will; Eli Templeton did more than just win the nomination of bizarre hairstyle of the week with a fine goal in the second term.

Dom Tyson tackled by Clinton Jones and Josh Saunders. Source: News Corp Australia

Jack Billings had to wait three and a bit quarters to get rid of the green vest. He looked set to join the first-kick-first-goal club before hitting the post. Well, perhaps now he is in the first-kick-first-poster club.

Melbourne got plenty of work out of former Crow Bernie Vince, and his big goal early in the final term kept the Demons in the hunt as the Saints held control.

Dom Tyson also got a goal in the final term, getting his hands on the ball when the Demons needed it most.

In all, the fresh faces will take time to find their feet with each club, and so will the coaches. But at least both sides are away — and the Saints have those vital first four premiership points.

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Blink in time for fighting Nathan

Jockey Nathan Berry and his wife Whitney on their wedding day last month. Source: Simon Bullard / Supplied

NATHAN Berry tried to blink for the first time yesterday since being admitted to intensive care in a Singapore hospital.

Everyone involved in Sydney racing would have had Berry on their minds when they rocked up to Rosehill yesterday.

The popular jockey was struck down with viral encephalitis on Tuesday. The virus can cause inflammation of the brain.

He suffered several seizures, and was shifted into intensive care as family, including his twin brother Tommy, rushed to his bedside.

Jockey Glyn Schofield, whose daughter Whitney married Nathan just last month, told At The Track from Singapore: "He hasn't taken a backward step since yesterday, and all his numbers are getting better.''

Nathan tried to blink early yesterday, said his father Kevin, who remained home in Sydney, and added "there's not a minute that passes by I don't think about him''.

There were also plans to lower Nathan's dose of medication.

"I spoke to (wife) Julie who told me Nathan is trying to blink his eyes, which is a sign he's coming right,'' Kevin said. "He hasn't had a seizure for a while, and he's getting colour in his face.

"The doctors don't like people in his room for a long time. They actually had to tell Tommy to go home at 1am this morning.''

Tommy was originally scheduled to head to Singapore tomorrow. He did a marvellous job keeping it together at Newcastle on Wednesday, then again at Warwick Farm on Thursday.

The only time he came close to losing it was while being interviewed after bagging a winner at both meetings.

He told At The Track late on Thursday he planned to help fellow jockey Christian Reith move some pavers on Friday. But late in the day he had a change of heart, and made the rushed trip to the airport. It was so sudden he called the likes of trainer Gai Waterhouse to let him know of his movements while en route to the airport.

Nathan is in Singapore for four months. He wed Whitney last month, and had just started to seriously turn some heads after booting home a series of winners, including Unencumbered in the Magic Millions Classic.

HANS'S REGRETTAL

STILL on Berry, that gibberer "Hans from Hong Kong'' — who runs what he says is "the most read racing website in the world'' — had everybody on edge when he reported via Twitter that Nathan was on life support.

It was quickly denied by Berry's manager. But the tweet, posted on Friday morning, had already circulated and caused his family and friends to panic.

It's that sort of garbage that gives the rest of the press a bad name. He should stick to bagging racing in NSW. Yes, that's right, the powerhouse state that has provided Honkers with an endless supply of jockeys, horses as well as officials.

The Joe Pride-trained Steps In Time holds off Sweet Idea in the Coolmore Classic. Picture: Simon Bullard Source: Supplied

RED AND GREEN PRIDE

TRAINER Joe Pride hates it when South Sydney get pumped in the NRL. Normally, when the Rabbits get rolled, like they were on Friday night by the almighty Wests Tigers, Pride's horses run accordingly.

Not yesterday. Steps In Time won the feature Coolmore as well as Earnest Ernest in the APN Outdoor Handicap (1200m).

Kiaarn Holland (middle) with Laura Crilley and Rebecca Hammersley. Source: News Limited

KIAARN COMES WITH THE BOOM

IF there was one thing more impressive than Spirit Of Boom's breakthrough Group 1 win in the William Reid Stakes on Friday night, it was seeing the horse's strapper afterwards.

Kiaarn Holland (below), a former jockey, turned plenty of heads as Spirit Of Boom returned to scale at Moonee Valley.

Trainer Tony Gollan said Holland started travelling with Spirit Of Boom last spring, and has done a great job with the horse.

As for Spirit Of Boom, Gollan said the TJ Smith Stakes would slot in perfectly for his horse next month.

With a little luck, and a dry track, Spirit Of Boom will farewell racing in the Stradbroke before standing at stud.

NOW AND YEN

SPOTTED: the Japanese film crew in town filming The Championships plonking $200 straight out on Hana's Goal to win the Coolmore. It was gone soon after they jumped when the galloper missed the start by seven lengths.

30/05/2012 Queensland Oaks promo. Kiaarn Holland with racehorse Quintessential. Source: News Limited

VICS OUT OF TIME... AGAIN

IF YOU want further proof Victoria marches to the beat of its own drum, why on earth was Sandown's opener run at 1.45pm and the last at 6.10pm? It was the Melbourne Racing Club's call. Rosehill's bumper program started at 12.20pm and finished at 5.20pm. Let's get it together, people.

LLOYD'S SYDNEY RETURN

JEFF Lloyd is in the process of re-applying for his jockey's licence, and indicated he will return to the saddle in SYDNEY, not Queensland.

TRUCK OF TROUBLE

SEE what happens when you forget to pay the rego?

Our central coast spies sent us some hilarious footage of the giant Sky Channel outside broadcast truck being towed away from the Wyong race meeting on Tuesday.

After a little digging, Sky Channel supremo Brendan Parnell told us a "bureaucratic bungle'' meant the truck wasn't registered, and therefore had to be towed to a few meetings during the week.

"The truck is fine, we just couldn't drive it until the registration was sorted,'' he said.

The OB truck was back on the road to Kembla today.

Sky has a giant fleet of OB trucks in Queensland, which beam high-definition images of the races. Our poor truck in Sydney is getting on in age, and was supposed to be replaced two years ago. Drawn-out negotiations over media rights has forced the new set of wheels to be put on the backburner.

The Sky Racing truck... On the back of another truck. Source: Supplied

NSW BACK IN THE GAME

COMMON sense has prevailed with NSW re-entering the National Apprentices Series.

For the first time, NSW didn't bother to take part in the rookie rider series this year. The first three legs run in Victoria, Tasmania and Queensland didn't feature Team NSW.

Organisers told us on Wednesday the reason given by NSW was lack of sponsorship. We put in a call to Druitt Street on Thursday, and were told "we haven't decided not to send anybody''.

Then on Friday, organisers received word from Racing NSW it would now send a rider to the next heat in Perth on April 16.

PERRY FAMILY WOES

IT was a rough morning for the famous Perry family on Friday.

Paul Perry, Newcastle's third-favourite son after Andrew Johns and Allan "Robbo'' Robinson, rocked up to trackwork at 5am, but couldn't get out of his car. He had done his back, and needed to be lifted out of his vehicle and rushed to hospital. Son Nathan was already due for an operation that day to remove a floating bone in his back. Paul's other son Shannon held the family fort yesterday.

WEB OF QUESTIONS FOR WATT

STEWARDS have asked syndicator Dean Watt to appear at an inquiry on a date to be fixed. While it's understood there are no issues with Watt registering domain names, which is referred to as "cyber-squatting'', the stipes are interested to know why he allegedly operated a website in the name of one of his rivals.

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Magical Morris has Dragons flying

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CRONULLA captain Wade Graham believes St George sensation Brett Morris could be the best winger in the world after his spectacular try against the Sharks at Remondis Stadium on Saturday night.

While disappointed to have copped a 14-12 loss, Graham said he has enormous respect for Morris, who scored his 100th NRL try to propel the Dragons to their third straight victory.

Fox Sports screen shot of Brett Morris' magical try. Source: FoxSports

"He's definitely in the conversation," Graham admitted.

"He's hard to handle, he's fast, he gets them on a real roll on and a couple of times there our kicks were probably a metre too deep and he caught them in goal and the next minute he's up the field.

"He's definitely in the conversation."

Dejected Sharks players Jonathan Wright and Blake Ayshford. Source: Getty Images

A double from Morris has landed him just one try behind his father Steve, who scored 102 tries for the Dragons in the 1970s and 80s - it also extended their mortgage on the top of the NRL ladder, leaving the Sharks without a win this season.

Morris, who's 101st try was a spectacular mid-air number, was humble in the sheds after the win.

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"I don't know how I did it, I just caught it and hoped for the best," he said.

"You practice those things at training but that doesn't really happen too often."

Leading by just two points with four minutes on the clock, the Dragons remained scoreless in the second half but held onto stop a fast-finishing Sharks outfit desperate for their first win of the season.

Sharks were given every opportunity to snatch the win, but mistakes and dropped balled dashed their chances to end their three game drought.

Dragons Brett Morris flys through the air to score a try at the end of the first half. Source: News Corp Australia

Todd Carney had other plans for his celebrations though, directing the Sharks up the field with his token precision kicking game.

His influence kept the Dragons busy while hooker John Morris cleverly dummied and dove over the line to score in the 12th minute to snatch the lead 6-4.

Dragons halfback Sam Williams was a revelation with the boot, backing up a 40-20 midway through the first half with a pin-point bomb from 10 metres out to put winger Jason Nightingale over in the 28th minute.

With the Dragons leading 8-6, the Sharks upped the intensity too much as they gave away a penalty for stripping the ball in an aggressive tackle.

Ball in hands, the Dragons looked set to extend their lead before fullback Adam Quinlan dropped the pass while staring at a clear run to the line.

Sharks Todd Carney with the ball in the first half. Source: News Corp Australia

Morris's stunning try put the Dragons in the lead 14-6 at the break as Widdop nailed his first conversion for the night.

It was 30 minutes before the scoreboard was put to use in the second half, when John Morris scored his double with ten minutes to go and narrowed the deficit to two points.

But as time ticked away, the Dragons appeared too strong to let the Sharks steal the win. Any inspiration Carney could provide melted away in the second half, with Dragons forwards Leeson Ah Mau, Trent Merrin and Joel Thompson coming up with huge defensive plays that had the Sharks rattled within try-scoring territory.

Sharks Todd Carney contests a try with a ref. Source: News Corp Australia

The Dragons weren't without their errors though, with neither team looking to score until the final ten minutes.

Despite the Sharks brief comeback, the Dragons were too strong in defence and held on to win three tries to two.

"I thought we were better tonight but we need to be a lot better again," said Sharks coach Peter Sharpe.

"We need to work hard and improve."

Is Morris' try the 'try of the year'?

ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA 14 (B Morris 2 J Nightingale tries G Widdop goal) bt CRONULLA 12 (J Morris 2 tries M Gordon 2 goals) at Remondis Stadium. Referee: Adam Devcich, Henry Perenara. Crowd: 14,821.

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Reds won’t get loose against Lions

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THE Reds are under strict instructions not to be conned into a helter-skelter junk ball contest by a Lions outfit intent on another upset in Johannesburg.

Reds coach Richard Graham has harped on ball control and discipline as the big themes for picking up a valuable win early Sunday morning (Qld time).

The high scoring yet messy 43-33 win over the Cheetahs recently gifted so many chances to the South Africans they were just a try behind with eight minutes to play.

"That night turned into quite a jumbled contest with a lot of broken play and we definitely don't want to loosen up this game against the Lions," Graham warned.

The Lions scored two tries from charged down kicks against the Bulls in round three and have also turned turnovers into gold.

The rank 250-1 outsiders have upset the Cheetahs, Stormers and Blues with a "point to prove" since returning from relegation, warned Reds halfback Will Genia.

Clinical finishing, so lacking last weekend in Durban when three tries were fumbled away, can put the Lions away by 20 points if the Reds are sensible. Winger Rod Davies has made four clean breaks in two games so expect flyhalf Quade Cooper to again use him as a go-to weapon.

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The Reds scored one try against the Cheetahs and should have had another against the Sharks from Davies splitting the line off lineout moves.

Reds centre Mike Harris knows chances have to be better taken because he blew a certain try by dropping the ball with the tryline open last weekend.

"I couldn't have been more off myself for dropping it. We know we are better than that and have to take the chances we are creating," Harris said.

Reducing a competition-high 14.5 penalties per game is imperative or Lions superboot Marnitz Boshoff will keep feasting at 19 points per game.

Genia spent part of his midweek day-off at a coaching clinic for underprivileged black kids from the Orlando township in Soweto.

Marnitz Boshoff has been a pointscoring machine for the Lions. Source: Getty Images

"People come to Africa to go see lions, rhinos and elephants," Genia said."To get out and do something with those schoolkids and see the joy on their faces is something I'll remember for the rest of my life."

South African referee Stuart Berry will control the game despite SANZAR referees' boss Lyndon Bray saying he blundered when not ruling a knock-on in the Lions' decisive try against the Blues last weekend.

Pocket-sized Lions halfback Faf de Klerk is a nippy rival for Genia to be wary of sniping from behind rucks or big rolling mauls.

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Hawks snuff Kings’ playoff hopes

The Sydney Kings are out of the NBL playoff race. Source: Adam Ward / News Corp Australia

THE Sydney Kings' playoffs aspirations disappeared in quicksand on Friday night after conceding a 100-87 loss against the Wollongong Hawks at the Sandpit.

Rotnei Clarke was the man the Kings wanted to stop pre-game and he struggled in the first half, scoring four points at one from eight from the field.

But he got going in the second half, as Clarke and captain Oscar Forman had a fun night beyond the arc to so book a spot in the playoffs.

The result means that tonight's game at the Kingdome against the Townsville Crocodiles will be a dead-rubber and Sam Young's final appearance in an entertaining stint with the Kings.

A three-point basket from Clarke gave the Hawks an 11-point lead with less than seven minutes remaining in the contest, but the Kings put on a quick run to get them within five points midway through the final quarter.

But three-point baskets from Forman and Rotnei sealed the deal, pushing the margin back to double digits with three minutes to go.

Forman finished with 26 points after scoring 20 points in the opening half, while Clarke ended up with 24 points at 44 per cent after a red-hot second half.

Shooting from beyond the arc was a factor in the Hawks 13-pint win, nailing 19 out of their 35 three-point attempts.

Sam Young led the Kings scoring with 27 points, and Ben Madgen (17 points) and Tom Garlepp (16) were strong contributors.

It was a shoot-out between the captains as Wollongong's Forman and Sydney's Madgen scored 14 and 10 points respectively. With the scores tight throughout the quarter, Forman gave his Hawks valuable breathing space going in to quarter-time with consecutive three-point baskets to give the Hawks a 28-22 lead at the first change.

After only scoring two points in the first quarter, Young scored 11 points in the second quarter to help the Kings cut an eight-point margin to three, but a late basket from beyond the arc from Forman kept the margin at six points going in to half time.

Clarke finally snapped out of his cold spell with two three-point baskets and another three from Forman helping the Hawks break out to an 11-point lead midway through the third quarter. A strong recovery led by Sanders and a three-point basket from Cody Ellis got the Kings within five and James Harvey almost cut the margin to two points just before the buzzer to end the third quarter.

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Inglis KO’d in Tigers ambush

Greg Inglis is helped from the field after copping a high shot from Tim Simona. Source: Gregg Porteous / News Corp Australia

AFTER just five minutes Rabbitohs talisman Greg Inglis lay motionless on the turf as medicos checked his vital signs. It was a vital sign of the carnage to come.

Five players on report, three more off with concussion, two sin-binnings, a knee to the head, a sneaky leg twist and a forward battle with personal undertones.

This was the type of street fight synonymous with South Sydney's monsters, yet it was the NRL's most under-rated pack that landed all the telling blows.

Greg Inglis is looked at by the trainers after copping a head shot. Source: News Corp Australia

Routinely written-off for being too small and too soft, Wests Tigers forwards stood up and trounced their more vaunted rivals in a wickedly spiteful contest that saw Tim Simona, George Burgess, Bryson Goodwin, Robbie Farah and James Gavet all placed on report.

Simona also joined teammate Pat Richards and Inglis in the concussion ward, with South Sydney failing to register a point for 72 minutes after losing their superstar fullback. Inglis could not recover his senses after Simona crunched him high while he was juggling a bomb.

And neither could Souths. For the remaining 75 minutes they stumbled and bumbled in a collective concussion, failing to find touch with penalty kicks and spilling routine passes. To make matters worse, hooker Issac Luke departed the field just before full time with a serious shoulder injury.

The relentless aggression from their opponents deserves credit for inflicting such a rare malfunction upon Michael Maguire's machine. It translated to ill-discipline as the match wore on, with Tigers fullback James Tedesco repeatedly struck in the head.

Furious Wests players refused to accept the treatment, with Gavet kneeing Burgess in the head and twisting the leg of Luke. In the end the referees lost patience, marching Luke Burgess and Luke Brooks to the sin-bin in the final 10 minutes.

Tim Simona celebrates a try with David Nofoaluma. Source: News Corp Australia

Despite their youth, the Tigers did a remarkably better job of keeping their heads. Brooks and Tedesco were once again inspirational, combining for the match-winner in the 53rd minute, while Simona and Richards grabbed doubles.

After conceding a third minute try to Ben Lowe, the Tigers purred to life when Inglis left. By halftime they were roaring ahead 14-6, with the interval arriving as an unwanted circuit breaker to their momentum.

Three ties was a fair first half dividend for the home side. Two contentious video referee decisions went either way, while Keith Galloway will forever admonish himself after blowing a rare chance to open his team's account when he lost control of the ball over the line.

The Tigers didn't have to wait long to strike. In the 14th minute Bodene Thompson crossed from a Brooks short ball thrown amid traffic that Souths defenders claimed was obstruction.

They were ignored. So too, were any calls for the Rabbitohs to revert to the structured style of football that's transformed them into a premiership force since Maguire's arrival two years ago.

Adam Reynolds couldn't find his range with the boot, kicking too long, too regularly. Minus the thrust of Inglis on kick returns at the other end of the park, Souths were playing limited yardage and Wests enjoyed all the territory.

It told in the frantic period before halftime. Simona scored his first try in the 30th minute after a fortunate review, which found that Brooks had not knocked a Braith Anasta bomb forward in the lead-up. Four minutes later Tigers appeared to have a strong case for a penalty try when Lowe knocked Richards out as the Tigers winger crouched to score in the corner. Their pleas were ignored, but Simona could not be as he went back-to-back from a blindside rush three tackles after the resultant penalty.

Richards returned after halftime and scored within a minute. Tedesco's try from Brooks grubber sealed the upset, before Joel Reddy grabbed a consolation double against his old club in the final three minutes.

After giving up a try in the Rabbitohs' first set of six of the night, the Tigers upped the ante and blew their better credentialled opponents away for a convincing 25-16 victory.

James Tedesco makes a break in a sensational game for the fullback. Source: News Corp Australia

The Inglis hit was the turning point, and the man who ended the fullback's night finished the game among the most influential players on the field.

In just the fifth minute, Tim Simona chased an unusually high torpedo kick-off from the Tigers and as Inglis went to ground to field the kick, Simona came bombing through over the top, making head high contact with Inglis as he did.

Early in the second half, Simona got a taste of his own medicine and was forced to leave the field with a concussion of his own after copping an errant boot to the head from Sam Burgess.

But by that stage the lightning centre, who returned from injury for the first time this season, had already set his side well on its way with two tries and some crunching defence.

WESTS TIGERS 25 (T Simona 2 P Richards J Tedesco B Thompson tries P Richards 2 goals B Anasta field goal) bt SOUTH SYDNEY 16 (J Reddy 2 B Lowe tries A Reynolds 2 goals) at ANZ Stadium. Referee: Matt Cecchin, Alan Shortall. Crowd: 20,061.

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Carrusca genius gives Reds the edge

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MARCELO Carrusca's touch of genius delivered two crucial assists in a tense 3-1 win over Sydney FC at Coopers Stadium on Friday night.

Fabio Ferreira scored the opening goal in the 13th minute after a classical Carrusca through ball allowed the Portuguese to gather a full head of steam.

Sergio Cirio made it 2-0 nine minutes after the break with an opportunistic finish after a rebound from a Carrusca shot fell his way before slotting his eighth goal of the season.

But Carrusca did all the hard work when he latched onto a pass from Cam Watson after Alessandro Del Piero appeared to be fouled near Adelaide's penalty box.

Sydney's Matt Thompson, however, jangled Adelaide's nerve 16 minutes from time with a brilliant 15m finish to leave Reds skipper Eugene Galekovic stranded.

But when Sydney's five-star midfielder Terry Antonis started finding room in Adelaide's tiring midfield, a streaker in the 77th minute added some satire to seriousness of what was at stake for the clash before Bruce Djite sealed the tie with his signature move.

Antonis found an equaliser with a brilliant effort which sailed over the bar in the 81st minute before Adelaide's third goal on the counter attack.

Adelaide United's Marcelo Carrusca, left, celebrates a goal with Bruce Djite, Sergio Cirio and Fabio Ferreira in the match against Sydney FC. Picture: Daniel Kalisz.

But the entertaining clash started off with a Ferreira peach from Carrusca's inch-perfect pass.

Ferreira still had much to do after he outpaced Matt Jurman outside the box to jag his eighth goal of the season.

He rounded Sasa Ognenovski's outstretched leg before slotting the ball past Sydney gloveman Vedran Janjetovic.

But Adelaide had Sydney pegged in its own half save for the brilliance of Del Piero in the opening 45 minutes.

The Juve legend threatened to sway the game Sydney's way with neat swivels of the hips and step overs and visionary through balls but his teammates weren't reading the Italian legend.

Sydney, however, bounced back into contention after youngster Alex Urosevski, 20, picked up a yellow card for an overzealous challenge on Carrusca.

Sydney FC's Alessandro Del Piero, right, takes on Adelaide's Isaias. Picture: Sarah Reed.

With the Argentine writhing in pain on the ground the clash threatened to turn ugly when Ognenovski and Tarek Elrich were seemingly about to trade more than pleasantries.

The pair feuding sparked a mini melee before referee Kris Griffiths-Jones was allowed to gain control of the clash.

The passion of the two sides was likened to the early Adelaide and Sydney spiteful clashes in the first year of the A-League in 2005 where former boss John Kosmina relished beating the Sky Blues before claiming the maiden premier's plate.

Nine years on it was clear Adelaide had become rattled by the push and shove incident but Sydney couldn't force Galekovic into one making a save from a shot on target in the first half.

But Jon McKain leaving the pitch a minute before the break with a hip flexor problem made the tie even more interesting given Osama Malik was sidelined after picking up what club officials described as a "sore pubic area'' during Adelaide's training session at Coopers Stadium on Thursday.

Michael Marrone came off the bench to take the stopper's role as Adelaide opened up the second half chasing a second goal by earning a corner a minute after the break.

Del Piero's shift ended to a standing ovation in the 66th minute as Sydney coach Frank Farina looked for the fresher legs of Thompson in an effort to salvage a result as Ognenovski took the captain's armband from the Italian.

A-LEAGUE ROUND 23

Adelaide United 3 (Fabio Ferreira 13m, Sergio Cirio 54m, Bruce Djite 88m) Sydney FC 1 (Matt Thompson 75m) at Coopers Stadium.

Referee: Kris Griffiths-Jones. Crowd: 14,212.

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Mental demons Pocock’s biggest challenge

Pocock won't play Super Rugby again this season. Source: Daniel Wilkins / News Corp Australia

INJURED Wallabies star David Pocock faces the greatest mental challenge of his career as he contemplates a second rehabilitation from knee surgery, Springboks great Schalk Burger says.

Pocock underwent a second knee surgery earlier this month after the same ligament he had reconstructed last year snapped in what looked to be an innocuous incident against Western Force in round three.

The Brumbies recruit missed the entirety of last season and faces a similar scenario for 2014 as he begins the long road back to top level yet again.

Having spent much of the last two seasons on the sidelines himself Burger is better placed than most to comment on Pocock's troubles and while he has little doubt his breakdown rival can return to Test rugby, the Springboks star says it's the mental demons that represent the greatest challenge.

"It's the biggest challenge I think. Obviously there's a big physical element but mentally it's taxing," Burger told Rugby HQ on Thursday night.

"Obviously it takes a while to get back to the level you were and I think the danger I've got and he's got is that we've got to be compared to what we were before, before our injuries.

"For me coming back the toughest part is just being (ready) mentally one and secondly, physically, just getting back to the level you were at.

"The game's not waiting, the game's moving on. And for me to miss out on two years of rugby was a massive step. So it's taking me a long time to get back to the level where I'm at now and even now people are still 50-50 as to whether I'm back or not."

Burger has been in outstanding form since his return to the Stormers line-up. Source: AFP

Burger was at the peak of his powers when a knee injury ended his 2012 season. He then picked up a calf strain early in 2013 which was later found to be connected to a cyst near his spine.

He then contracted bacterial meningitis which resulted in him being treated in isolation and had some people fearing the worst.

Burger said his first goal was to return to full health, and then a return to action followed.

"There was a certain stage where I was seriously ill," Burger says. But for me it was just to get quality of life back – just for me to be normal Schalk, as a social person, as a father, as a family man.

"And then after that obviously I got better and better, and then I thought I'm young enough let's give rugby a go and here I am trying to get back into some form."

Burger believes Pocock has the work ethic to handle the physical side of his rehab and that he could come back a better player than ever before.

"It's a long road, you wish it on no rugby player," he said.

"It's something part and parcel of the game but you hope the luck is on your side and you don't go through it. So for me, you know it was touch and go going either way and it's a long road back.

"But I've been fortunate to play a few games now and I'm sure David's young enough and has got a great work ethic to come back and be a better player than he was before.

"But look it's not going to be easy."

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Same old Jimmy thrives in new role

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NEW role, same old Jimmy Bartel.

The 2007 Brownlow Medal winner has always been damaging as a part-time forward, but last night his years of midfield magic bore critical fruit in attack in Geeelong's 38-point win over Adelaide.

LIVE HQ: EVERY SUPERCOACH SCORE FROM THE MATCH

Bartel, celebrating his 250th AFL match, seemingly brought his own ball for 15 destructive minutes in the second quarter, powering Geelong from his new forward post.

While the Cats were forced to respond to a concerted Adelaide challenge early in the final term, it will be Bartel's genius that the majority of those who witnessed the match will cherish most.

Hamish McIntosh (R) and Jimmy Bartel of the Cats celebrate a goal. Source: Getty Images

That he kicked his career-best fourth late in the final-term was just the icing on an already sweet cake as Cats fans chanted "Jimmy" to honour their homegrown hero.

MATCH REPORT: SELWOOD, BARTEL IGNITE THE CATS

Bartel's second-term salvo featured three goals — one a mile in the clear after slipping Luke Brown with pure football nous, one after a rock-solid pack mark and one a dribbling, angled left-foot snap — to show all his tricks.

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And among a joyous night for the Cats and their fans, the only celebration to rival the love for Bartel was when almost forgotten big man Hamish McIntosh strolled into an open goal in the first term to boot a major in his first game for the club after missing all of 2013 injured.

ULTIMATE SUPERCOACH FORMGUIDE

Every player ran to McIntosh to spur on the former Roo who was obviously ecstatic to have contributed.

Crows forward Lewis Johnston was reported for rough conduct against Steve Johnson just into time-on in the second quarter.

Jimmy Bartel of the Cats marks the ball. Source: Getty Images

The Cat wasn't fazed by the high contact as he bent over to pick up a loose ball, even seeming to shake his head in disagreement when the umpire told him his opponent had been booked.

Josh Caddy suffered a severe cut when a stray boot from captain Joel Selwood clipped him across the face in the second term.

Caddy had seven stitches above his right eye during the long break and returned to notch 20 touches and a goal in an impressive showing.

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Bartel, Selwood steer Cats home

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THIS year the list of doubters got so big even a favourite son declared this might be the year Geelong fades from relevance.

In the stands at Simonds Stadium on Thursday night premiership captain Cameron Ling confessed his concern over a ballooning injury list and said the Cats could finally miss the eight.

Two hours of breathtaking football later - after a Geelong side full of new faces was lead to an emphatic Round 1 win by several old ones - the naysayers had again been silenced.

In an unrelenting contest of the highest quality, the Cats slammed on the last six goals of the game to bury a dogged Adelaide, 18.11 (119) to 12.9 (81).

LIVE HQ: ALL THE SUPERCOACH POINTS AND STATS

With Steven Motlop, Allen Christensen and Nathan Vardy among the absentees, and Paul Chapman and James Podsiadly gone, this was supposed to be the moment Geelong's soft underbelly was finally exposed.

But the fountain of youth runs strong in these parts, and combined with a core of senior players among the cream of the competition, this is far from a group in decline.

First, the core.

Jimmy Bartel celebrated game 250 with four goals, 21 disposals and a ton of class. In another role for one of the AFL's most versatile and clever players, Bartel turned in a forward masterclass, kicking three goals in nine minutes. The pick of them was a groundball gather on the lead before he faked left, turned to his right, and snapped through a left foot dribbler.

ROUND 1 TEAMS

A chant of "Jimmy", "Jimmy" echoed around the stadium in the closing minutes.

Joel Selwood was supposed to be underdone. Instead, the skipper was immense, churning out a best on ground performance with that rare blend of toughness and skill. The skipper was everywhere, finishing with 34 touches - 20 contested - nine clearances and six tackles.

SAM EDMUND'S VOTES

3 Joel Selwood

2 Jimmy Bartel

1 James Kelly

James Kelly made the right decision every time, Steve Johnson and Mathew Stokes were prolific and Andrew Mackie gave drive.

Now, the youth.

Mitch Brown kicked the first goal of the game and presented well. While he then faded, his two crucial last quarter goals were proof this is a kid who never stopped contesting.

Cameron Guthrie deserves praise for keeping Patrick Dangerfield to 21 disposals and two goals. The Crows livewire didn't touch the pill for the first 15 minutes and while he showed flases of brilliance, wasn't allowed to catch fire.

CATS IN IT TO WIN IT

Lincoln McCarthy contributed. So too, Jordan Murdoch. The pair were bright offensively and had 10 tackles between them.

Then there's Hamish McIntosh and Dawson Simpson, whose tap work was excellent. McIntosh, playing his first game in nearly two years, drilled a first quarter goal on the run from 50m like he was an 18-year-old. For a first-up performance, 12 possessions and 19 hitouts will do.

Podsiadly had a night to forget against his old side, but Adelaide was excellent for three quarters given their own injury problems and Sam Jacobs looks to have put a poor 2013 behind him.

Dangerfield had put Adelaide in front five minutes into the last quarter before they were blown off the field in the next 20 minutes.

It was a Cats surge that brought that warm feeling of deja vu to the Simonds Stadium outer. That's 44 wins from 45 home and away matches played on home soil since the start of 2008.

Geelong won the contested ball, tackle count, clearances and had 15 more inside 50s.

Perhaps now it's time the football world accepted that this is a club immune to rebuilding. At the very least, it appears immune to bottoming out.

MATCH IN A MINUTE BY MARK HAYES:

First Quarter

INCREDIBLE to think that quarter was the first in anger for both clubs, who went at breakneck speed up and down the ground with impressive skills you'd expect later in the season.

Geelong opened up what looked a threatening 21-point lead with all the big men – including Cats first-gamer Hamish McIntosh – taking advantage of strangely central space inside the 50m arc.

But with Sam Kerridge prolific and Eddie Betts looking dangerous, the Crows clawed back within three points in a frenetic 11-goal opening term.

Second Quarter

Welcome to the Jimmy Bartel show. He might be celebrating his 250th game, but the Brownlow medallist is running around like a spritely youngster, torching Adelaide with his forward magic.

Bartel boots three goals – one a mile in the clear after using his nous, one after a rock-solid pack mark and one a dribbling, angled left-foot snap – to show all his tricks.

Geelong scooted clear again early on Bartel's heroics, but the Crows hit back again late to again trail by just 10 at the long break with lesser lights Jaensch, Kerridge and Wright all prominent and Lewis Johnston a target, despite the big forward being booked for rough conduct against Steve Johnson.

Third Quarter

The game was far from slow, but the frenetic nature of the first half waned a little as the backlines finally held sway with just three goals for the term compared to 20 in the first two.

Matthew Jaensch continued his impressive match with another six touches and a long bomb to move the Crows to within five points at the final change.

Ominously for Geelong, the lack of pace in their transitional play proved a blanket on Bartel, whose impact was limited for the first time.

Fourth Quarter

Adelaide looked set for a major boilover when it fronted the Cats early in the last term.

But someone forgot to tell the Cats, themselves.

Joel Selwood lit up, Mitch Brown kicked a pair including the sealer and Bartel booted his career-best fourth major as Geelong ran out a 38-point winner after booting the closing six goals.

Adelaide simply ran out of puff and couldn't match the Cats through the midfield as the heat went on.

LATE CHANGES:

Geelong: Dawson Simpson in, replacing George Horlin-Smith

Adelaide: Nil

SUBSTITUTES:

Geelong: Mark Blicavs

Adelaide: Jarryd Lyons

Relive the match in the chat below and head to LIVE HQ for live SuperCoach scores.

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Rebels centre has NFL origins

Ellison has added plenty to the Rebels backline. Source: Tony Gough / News Corp Australia

FITTINGLY, in a week in which the SCG precinct has become the 51st state of America, the Rebels will boast their own stars-and-stripes connection when they take on the Waratahs tonight at Allianz Stadium.

But adding a new twist, it's not an Australian connection.

Melbourne's Kiwi star Tamati Ellison – who will play centre against NSW – comes from a stellar sporting dynasty in New Zealand that not only includes numerous All Black links but cousins who took the Ellison name into the NFL as well.

Ellison's relative Riki Ellison was the first New Zealander and Maori to play in the NFL, forging a career in the mid-1980s in one of the all-time great sides.

As a tight end for the San Francisco 49ers, Ellison both protected and took passes from Hall Of Fame quarterback Joe Montana.

"He managed to go to the 49ers, played under Bill Walsh and played with some real superstars of the game. He won a couple of Super Bowls," Ellison explains.

"That was a while ago obviously, but we have games on VHS back home. I remember watching them at my grandfather's."

As young Kiwi kids obsessed with rugby, Ellison and his brothers would watch patiently before bolting back out to the yard for real footy.

Minnesota Vikings tight end Rhett Ellison is Tamati's cousin. Source: Supplied

"We didn't really understand the game, so we just looked for no.50. He didn't really seem to do much because compared to rugby it was just blocking and holding guys," Ellison said.

Appreciation grew with time, of course, and now Ellison is very proud his cousin Rhett Ellison – Riki's son – has followed in his father's footsteps.

"Rhett has done really well and now plays for the Minnesota Vikings. It will be his third year this year," Ellison says.

With bloodlines dating back to the first All Blacks, however, Ellison was always destined to be a rugby player.

The 30-year-old's great-great uncle Thomas Rangiwahia Ellison was the very first captain of the New Zealand rugby team in 1893; an honour that brought pride to the family but no expectation of success.

"We were always proud of it, but we were humble that we had that history," Ellison said.

"I was only ever playing the game for enjoyment but I guess as I got older and there was a chance I could play professionally, I worked really hard after high school and managed to make a go of it."

Given Ellison's maternal grandfather Vince Bevan was also an All Black (1947-50), the backyard swiftly turned into professional arenas for Ellison and his brother Jacob, who would also go on to play Super Rugby for the Hurricanes.

Ellison debuted for the Blues in 2005 and won a sevens gold medal in the 2006 Commonwealth Games. After returning to his hometown Wellington to play for the Hurricanes, he emulated his forebears by winning four All Black caps in 2009.

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Ellison shocked many by signing a three-year contract to play in Japan in 2010 – which blocked further Test selection – but he returned to play for the Highlanders in 2012 and 2013. Returning to Ricoh in Japan in 2014 and 2015 meant Ellison had to find an overseas club, however, due to NZRU regulations.

"Initially I was looking to head back to the Highlanders, but at the end of negotiations New Zealand Rugby weren't going to allow that option because I had to be back in Japan for the Top League in August," Ellison said.

"I didn't want to be running hills for six months. I wanted to play rugby, and 14 games a year up there wasn't enough for me. It just worked out there was a chance for me to come to Melbourne, and I have really enjoyed it."

Ellison has enjoyed the chance to play alongside Australians, and says he's looking forward to going head-to-head with the "powerful" Waratahs on Friday night.

It will be a short stay with the Rebels, however, with Ellison looking to return to New Zealand next year to win a World Cup spot.

"If you are a Kiwi playing the game and playing Super Rugby, you have to have that goal," Ellison said.

"It keeps you driving. If you have been there before and you don't have that goal your game will probably suffer and you'll start heading down the retirement path."

Or perhaps a late-career stint in the NFL? Family tradition and all that?

"Not me … maybe my son," Ellison laughs.

"The amount of screws and broken bones I have, I think I'd rather swing a golf club."

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Crows download J-Pod’s memory

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JAMES Podsiadly looms as Adelaide's secret weapon in its bid to upset Geelong at Simonds Stadium on Thursday night.

Crows coach Brenton Sanderson says his club has picked the brains of its ace key forward recruit for two weeks leading into its premiership season opener and has significant inside knowledge on how the Cats play.

TEAMS: CROWS LEAVE OUT BOOM RECRUIT MATT CROUCH

Throw in the intelligence Sanderson and his assistant coach Darren Milburn have on their former club and Sanderson says only Essendon could match the Crows for "intel'' on Geelong.

"We've certainly leaned on 'Podsy' a fair bit in the last couple of weeks just to make sure there's nothing we haven't missed," Sanderson said.

"He's been great. There's probably a little bit of pressure on him too, playing against his former club in round one.

"But he's been really good and we feel like we do know Geelong pretty well.

Adelaide Crows forward James Podsiadly plays against former side Geelong in the opening match of the 2014 season. Picture: Sarah Reed.

"I haven't been there for a few years and neither has Darren Milburn, but we sort of feel like we know how Geelong play, we know a lot about their players, we know a lot about the ground.

"We'll certainly go over there well prepared.

"We're probably one of the sides in the competition, with Essendon with (coach) Mark Thompson and Paul Chapman there now, that (knows Geelong).

"We certainly feel like we've got enough information. It's just whether we can execute it now.''

Podsiadly, 32, kicked 169 goals in 83 games for the Cats and played in their 2011 premiership side before crossing to Adelaide in the off-season.

Sanderson said the powerfully-built left-footer had provided Adelaide with "probably a few things that we weren't entirely across''.

James Podsiadly, centre, at training on Wednesday with Matt Crouch, left, and co-captain Patrick Dangerfield. Picture: Daniel Kalisz.

"But they would have made some changes over the summer period too, so I'm sure there's going to be a couple of little things which might surprise us with their setups and structures,'' he said.

Sanderson said he wasn't expecting miracles from Podsiadly in his Crows debut, asking him just to "compete''.

"The fairytale story would be that he would go over there and kick a bag of goals for us and then we'd win, but ultimately he's there to provide a contest for us," Sanderson said.

"This is an extremely good Geelong defence with Harry Taylor, (Tom) Lonergan, (Corey) Enright, (Andrew) Mackie — those guys have been playing footy together for seven or eight years, so they have got good chemistry there.

"It'll be an emotional game for James, I'm sure.

"He won a premiership there and he played there for four or five seasons.

"But from our point of view we're just hoping that he competes at every contest. If he can jag a couple of goals to go along with that, then that'd be fantastic."

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Hogg reveals his fruity secret

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BRAD Hogg may be the first spinner in cricket history to admit he bowls "fruit.''

Literally.

Apples, oranges, melons and any other round fruit he can get his hands on.

The quirky private practice method was passed on from legendary Pakistani legspinner Abdul Qadir.

"I once had a session with Abdul Qadir in Sri Lanka and we were sitting in his hotel room,'' Hogg told The Courier-Mail.

"He said that to go through all your spin variations you don't need to go to the nets. You just get your play lunch and get an orange or an apple and go through the range of deliveries that a legspinner can bowl.

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"That's how I get my wrist to work. I throw some fruit around in my hotel room and practice my leggies, toppies, flippers and wrong-uns.''

And Hogg adds with a cheeky smile: "Then when I get out in the middle, I continue to bowl fruit."

Watch Australia's first match of the ICC World Twenty20 against Pakistan, LIVE from 8pm (AEDT) Sunday on Fox Sports.

Hogg's frank and fruity admissions about how he practices his left-arm spin are yet another colourful chapter of his cricket journey.

He is one of the few current-day professional sportsmen who have had a 'real' job, starting his working life as a postie being chased around the streets of Perth by angry dogs.

"I used to store the mail in a carrier bag on the back of my motorbike and there was one particular dog who used to chase me everywhere," Hogg recalls with a smile.

Hogg has relished the chance to be coached by his contemporary, Shane Warne. Source: Getty Images

"I couldn't get rid of him. So then I just used to let him hang on and he dragged along on the back of my bike.

"I'm happy to say that no dog ever bit me."

At age 43, long after most cricketers have given the game away, Hogg looms as a key man for Australia's Twenty20 World Cup campaign in Bangladesh which opens with a clash against Pakistan on Sunday.

What is sometimes lost in Hogg's story is just how skilful he is as a left-arm chinaman spinner.

In the history of Test cricket, only six frontline "Chinamen" — Chuck Fleetwood-Smith, David Sincock, Johnny Martin, Lindsay Kline, George Tribe and Hogg — have played for Australia, and none has lasted more than 13 Tests.

That says everything about the trade's high degree of difficulty.

Yet Hogg is still adding to his resume of international appearances and is set to become the oldest man to play a T20 international.

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And he has done it his own way, with his trademark tongue sticking out of the corner of his mouth.

He says he has no control over his tongue when he bowls, although has at times consciously tried to keep it in his mouth. With no success.

"I'm unaware of my tongue sticking out, I really am," Hogg smiles.

"There have been times when I try to keep my tongue in my mouth while I am bowling in the nets, but then I just can't land it a single delivery."

Like the postman he once was, Hogg hopes he will keep delivering. He feels he could play on for several more years but insists he will know when it is time to pull down the shutters on his long career.

"I'd like to play on for as long as I can, but once I start not being able to deliver for the team that is when I will have to give up," he says.

"If I am still delivering, I will keep playing. If I start to become a passenger I will quit."

* Return tomorrow to find out how Brad Hogg developed one of the most devilish deliveries in world cricket, his deadly wrong-un

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Wanderers make it two in a row in Asia

Labinot Haliti's early goal was the difference as the Wanderers won again in Asia. Source: WILLIAM WEST / AFP

SO much for not taking Asia seriously. The Wanderers sit in second place in their Champions League group after a second consecutive win, defeating Kawasaki Frontale 1-0 last night at Parramatta Stadium.

Labinot Haliti scored after just three minutes, and for the next 87 Western Sydney threw heart and muscle in the way of their J-League visitors. By the end the pitch seemed almost as saturated as after Saturday's storms, but this time from sweat alone.

Tony Popovic's tactics seemed to involve squeezing Kawasaki to death, especially having gone in front so early. Continually the Wanderers coach urged his men to compact their shape, presenting a mass that the visitors found impenetrable.

"It's what you expect in the Asian Champions League — a hard game against a difficult opponent," said Popovic. "We rode our luck towards the end but look at the side we had — Anthony Golec hasn't played all year, Daniel Mullen since November 1, Tomi Juric has been out for weeks.

"It was a fantastic achievement and a fantastic result."

The Wanderers had to withstand constant pressure from Kawasaki. Source: AFP

It was an unashamed triumph of attrition, and hugely effective in its way. Only once in the first half was their serious alarm for the Western Sydney defence, when Jun Kanabuko picked up a loose ball and let fly with a shot that Ante Covic could only parry. Following up, Yu Kobayashi guided the loose ball wide.

As the Wanderers had already shown, key moments like that had to be seized. The game was only in its third minute when Kwabena Appiah turned his man in midfield and drove towards the Kawasaki box, before angling a perceptive ball into the path of Tomi Juric. Shaping to shoot, the striker almost lost control before guiding the ball to the far post where Haliti lurked and scored with ease.

After such an encouraging start it was frustrating to see Western Sydney unable to control the game, undermined by careless use of possession. Recent excellent results for the A-League sides in the ACL have had that common and troubling caveat where ownership of the ball is discarded far too cheaply.

Tomi Juric was an impressive attacking presence for Western Sydney. Source: Getty Images

Kawasaki had engineered a series of chances after the break — two to Kentaro Moriya, one stabbed wide in the box and the other a long range shot saved by Covic, while Kobayashi miscued right in front of goal.

The pressure from the visitors was beginning to tell, with Western Sydney's defence dropping ever deeper and the tension obvious. Both Anthony Golec and Mooy gave away corners with miskicks, Kobayashi had an air swing at the near post, then Yusuke Tanaka curled a shot a fraction wide of Covic's goal.

Further back retreated the lines of red and black, almost into their own goal. Yoshito Okubo waltzed his way through but somehow scuffed his shot wide, then in the dying seconds lifted a shot just too high.

But still not as high as the Wanderers aspirations in Asia now.

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Rowe’s eye for Commonwealth Games

Alex Rowe has set his sights on breaking Ralph Doubell's 45-year-old 800 meter record. Source: Valeriu Campan / News Limited

ALEX Rowe is an intelligent young man with an eye for history and as such has nothing but respect for Ralph Doubell's 45-year-old 800 meter record.

Now 69, Doubell ran a then world record of 1:44.40 sec to take gold at the 1968 Mexico City Olympic Games by defeating overwhelming favourite Wilson Kiprugut of Kenya.

It remains our oldest athletic record and testament to Doubell's ability, yet for 21-year-old Rowe it also needs to be broken.

Ralph Doubell wins the 800-metre final at the 1968 Mexico Olympics. Source: Supplied

"Hopefully runners such as Jeff Risely, Josh Ralph and me can break that record. That is in my sights," said Rowe, 21, who studies biomedicine at Melbourne University.

"Before that I have to get an A qualifier (1:46.20) to be selected for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow."

Rowe ran 1:46.22 last weekend in Sydney and will back up at Lakeside Stadium for the IAAF Melbourne World Challenge this Saturday night.

He knows he has the time in him after a 1:45.44 in Europe last season and he has a 1:42.82 runner to chase in Duane Solomon of the US.

Doubell at home with his Olympic gold medal. Source: News Limited

Rowe is also following a proud tradition of 800m runners from St Kevin's, with athletes such as Peter Bourke (1:44.7) John Higham (1:45.6) Simon Lewin, Timas Harik and exciting junior Luke Matthews having been through "Skevs".

"For some reason St Kevin's has produced some very good 800m runners over the past 35 years.

"I believe I'm in good enough shape to get an A Qualifier and will be looking to go through the first 400m in just over 51 seconds.

"I have been working on my speed and style with Steve Hooker in an aim to improve my 400m time of 48.10."

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Day The Don, Babe Ruth faced up

Don Bradman meeting Babe Ruth at a baseball game in New York in 1932. Source: News Corp Australia

DON Bradman and Babe Ruth would roll over in their graves. Or would they secretly enjoy it?

Having the opening of the iconic US Major League Baseball season at the Sydney Cricket Ground between the LA Dodgers and the Arizona Diamondbacks this weekend has taken sports fans back in time to the day when the greatest stars of the two sports shared the same galaxy.

The year was 1932 and Bradman and Ruth, icons of their sports, created headlines simply by sitting with each other at a baseball match in New York.

Caricature of Sir Don Bradman and Babe Ruth by artist Bill Leak. Source: News Corp Australia

"I'll try this cricket business,'' said Ruth, the legendary home run hitter who dominated his sport in the 1920s and 30s. "Maybe it's my game.

"Now why don't you put on a Yankee uniform and see what you can do against our style of pitching?'' he quipped to Bradman. "Maybe baseball is your game.''

Ruth was surprised by Bradman's small stature.

"From what they were telling me, I thought you were a husky guy. But us little fellows can hit them harder than the big ones.''

Three years later Ruth kept his promise to try cricket and faced a series of first class bowlers in a special session beside the Thames River in London, enjoying it so much he was late for a lunch appointment with his wife.

Bradman batting in the fourth Test between Australia andIndia at Adelaide Oval in 1948. Source: Supplied

Australian Test all-rounder Alan Fairfax was his coach that day and said it would take him only a fortnight to make Babe "one of the world's greatest batsmen''.

Not that he was interested. "They tell me $40 a week is top pay in cricket. I will stick with baseball,'' he said.

Ruth initially tried to stand like a cricketer at the crease but after feeling awkward went back to batting like a baseballer and clubbed the ball so hard the bat handle broke.

Even though he had never heard the terms deep mid-wicket or "cow corner'' that was where many deliveries he faced disappeared to.

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Tahs to flex breakdown muscle

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THE Waratahs hope a combination of muscle and memory will shut down any plans by Melbourne to copy the Brumbies' slowdown tactics at the breakdown.

The Brumbies effectively dampened the attacking momentum of NSW by flooding the ruck at the weekend, and pushed the strategy so far they had two players yellow-carded in the second half.

Halfback Nick Phipps, who struggled to get clean ball with players at his feet, said the Rebels will use similar niggly tactics but hopes the events of Canberra will be fresh in referee Jaco Peyper's memory clamp down quicker.

The South African will referee the Tahs-Rebels game on Friday night at Allianz Stadium as well.

Phipps was given more freedom against the Reds than what the Brumbies allowed. Source: Getty Images

"The Brumbies use those tactics and hold you, but that's rugby. Gone are the days — I wish they were still around — where you could use your feet a bit," Phipps said.

"Hopefully with the same ref he will be a bit aware to it, they do use those tactics to get through and hold players and get around the ball.

"If they have the blueprint to beat the Waratahs, then they will be using those tactics."

Though NSW rallied late and almost won after Peyper's yellow cards, Phipps added it was unwise to rely on refereeing intervention and the main priority was shifting the Rebels' bodies before they became a problem.

"It's mainly down to the big boys upfront to make no opportunity there," Phipps said.

"If they're going to sit there we have to take them out we will be working on that a lot of that this week. Our breakdown got battered a bit in that trial (win over NSW by Melbourne in January)."

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Coach Michael Cheika said he endorsed the latter view of Phipps as the only solution.

"I just feel we should knock blokes out of the way when they're in the way. It has nothing to do with the referee. The referee has a million things to do, and it's not always that obvious," Cheika said.

"In any of the teams I coach I want them to be responsible for their own actions."

Interestingly, Cheika elected to start arguably his most effective cleaner in Wycliff Palu on the bench, with Jacques Potgieter moving to No.6 and Dave Dennis to No.8. Will Skelton will start at lock.

"We have to make sure Cliff is used correctly. We are getting good value out of him and I think that we have the ability to keep the same type of intensity on the ball by changing the shape of the team a bit and letting him come off the bench and finish the game," Cheika said.

Sekope Kepu replaced Benn Robinson at loosehead prop, despite having played mainly tight head in recent years.

Will Skelton has come back into the Waratahs team at lock with Wycliff Palu shuffled to the bench. Source: Getty Images

After admitting to frustrations with Peyper's scrum rulings post-match in Canberra, Cheika said he'd had a constructive meeting with him this week on the set-piece and went on an understandable charm offensive.

"We have come to really good agreement about that (scrum issues)," Cheika said.

"I think he is a top class referee and there's no problems is he does us every week."

Kepu said the Waratahs were looking at the Brumbies defeat as a positive.

"We spoke about it during the week and Daryl's (Gibson) words were "it's a bit of a gift for us". It is how you look at it. You can dwell on it or take the positives and learn from the negatives, as we have done the past couple of days already," Kepu said.

"They had tactics they pulled off and they worked well. It's up to us to keep on top of that and be … a little bit smarter.

"We have a pack that under performed at the weekend and we need to lift that performance."

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Reds prowling in Lions’ high country

Reds coach Richard Graham is wary of the threat posed by the Lions on the high veldt of South Africa. Source: Gallo Images / Getty Images

REDS coach Richard Graham has sized up the Lions ahead of their high altitude showdown and it's not their hulking frames that bothers him.

The Queenslanders are as wary of the South Africans' big hearts as they are of any rogue forwards galloping towards them at Ellis Park early on Sunday (AEST).

"I see them as a less experienced model of the Cheetahs," Graham said of the fearless Lions.

"They don't carry any of the scars from their relegation. They're unrecognisable from that 2012 side.

"They'll innovate and try things and that makes them a challenge mentally."

Lock Franco van der Merwe is a 115kg pile driver who will sneak one or two passes wide of the ruck to expose any indecision in the Reds' defence.

Franco van der Merwe wins a lineout in the Lions' match against the Sharks at Kings Park. Source: Getty Images

Like the Reds, the connection between their No.8, halfback and flyhalf is crucial to their success.

Their No.8 Warren Whitely is their captain and a hardworking, team-first servant of the club.

Halfback Francois de Klerk is a combative, attacking general, much like Reds vice captain Will Genia.

But it is flyhalf Marnitz Boshoff who best captures the spirit of the young Lions.

"He can kick goals, and drop goals, from anywhere," Graham said of the Lions flyhalf.

"But he's not just a kicker. He has a good understanding of the game.

"As he develops confidence he's starting to try things, chip kicks, dummies, everything."

Lions flyhalf Marnitz Boshoff is highly rated by Reds coach Richard Graham for his all-round abilities. Source: Getty Images

The Lions have won three of their five matches, including a high-scoring thriller against the Blues, to be sitting second in the South African conference and fourth overall.

Queensland is in good shape after replenishing the energy reserves sapped by last weekend's loss to the Sharks in Durban.

Fullback Aidan Toua is the only member of the squad unfamiliar with the demands of playing at Ellis Park, Johannesburg, almost 2000m above sea level.

"The altitude's probably the main thing training-wise that you have to adapt to, and it's just a different place," said backrower Ed Quirk.

But Graham wants the players to acknowledge the altitude and quickly move on.

"They need to be prepared for it, but if you talk about it can become a massive issue.

"If you start making excuses you can defeat yourself before you even play."

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Rising Mariner Trifiro making his mark

Glen Trifiro of is hoping to earn a long-term A-League deal with Central Coast. Source: Robert Prezioso / Getty Images

EVEN he admits it has been a whirlwind introduction to professional football, but Mariners midfielder Glen Trifiro is hopeful he can stake a further claim to a long-term deal with the Mariners against Beijing Guoan.

With the A-League cham­pions keen to build on last week's defeat of Sanfrecce Hiroshima and garner more points in the Chinese capital, Trifiro has a more personal goal as well, having signed initially on a short-term contract on loan from state league side Sydney United.

The Fox Football Podcast is back to discuss another big week of football. Adam Peacock and Brenton Speed hold the fort in the studio, and are joined by Adelaide United's Bruce Djite to review the weekend action, while Miron Bleiberg joins us for the first time to preview the round ahead. Daniel Garb is on deck as usual, with Manchester United, relegation and El Clasico top of the agenda.

The brother of Wanderers midfielder Jason, Glen is aware that A-League chances are at a premium for a 24-year-old — hence his determination to grab this one.

"I owe a lot to (Mariners) boss Phil Moss, he's the only person who's given me an opportunity in the A-League," Trifiro said. "To score at the weekend (against Newcastle) was a bit of a reward for working hard, I felt.

"Really I just want to make the most of every minute I get.

"Now I've come from a part-time environment to playing two games a week plus all the travel, and it's a lot easier to come into a team with such a good structure and such a good environment."

Slightly flattered by the 3-1 scoreline against Newcastle, the Central Coast know they have to replicate against Beijing the discipline and ruthlessness that earned the win against Sanfrecce.

"Watching that game from the bench, I maybe expected a little more discipline and energy from a Japanese team — I guess it's possible they took it a bit too easy," Trifiro said.

"Now we've caused that upset, maybe people will pay us a bit more attention.

"At the weekend it wasn't the best performance, and we know that any mistakes will be more harshly punished at this level."

Fox Football Podcast Live: Thursday night April 17, 6.30pm at Paragon Hotel at Circular Quay. First week of the finals.

Click here for tickets, jump on the website foxsports.com.au/football for more details and stay in touch with the Fox Football Twitter account for more info.

All the regulars will be there plus a guest or two depending on the finals draw.

If it's a hit, who knows which city we'll come to next …

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Berry floats big Designs in HK

Tommy Berry has urged Hong Kong trainer John Moore to bring Designs On Rome to Melbourne for the Cox Plate after he rode him to victory in the Group 1 Hong Kong Derby. Source: Simon Bullard / News Corp Australia

STAR Sydney jockey Tommy Berry produced a tactically masterful ride to guide Designs On Rome to an exciting win in the Group 1 Hong Kong Derby at Sha Tin on Sunday night.

The exuberant Berry was still coming to terms with winning one of the world's greatest races when he implored trainer John Moore to consider a Cox Plate campaign in the spring.

"This is one of my greatest thrills in racing,'' Berry said.

"It is a dream to ride a horse this good. I hope John Moore thinks about bringing this horse to Melbourne in the spring (for) the Cox Plate.''

Moore has brought horses to Melbourne in recent years without success but with Designs On Rome and Derby runner-up Able Friend, he has two gallopers capable of being competitive in the Cox Plate cauldron.

Berry, 22, rode at Royal Randwick on Saturday where he won the Group 2 Skyline Stakes on Valentia before jetting to Hong Kong overnight.

His Derby triumph on Designs On Rome was his third Group 1 win for Moore, Hong Kong's leading trainer and the son of legendary Australian jockey, the late George Moore.

It was John Moore who lured Berry to Hong Kong in April last year and at his first day of riding at Sha Tin, the young jockey won the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup on Military Attack for the trainer.

Berry has been on Designs On Rome right through the horse's Derby preparation, finishing second to Able Friend in the Hong Kong Classic Mile before reversing the placings in the Group 1 Hong Kong Classic Cup last month.

This set up a third clash between the Moore-trained duo for the Derby, Hong Kong's most prestigious race — and it didn't disappoint.

Able Friend and Designs On Rome settled in the back three when Berry noticed his main rival, ridden by Joao Moreira, became held up behind runners 700m out.

Berry asked Designs On Rome to stride forward and they moved around the field effortlessly to be within striking distance of the lead at the top of the straight.

But Moreira weaved his magic and found a path through on Able Friend and suddenly the two-horse war everyone had hoped for was about to eventuate.

Able Friend appeared to gain a slight advantage inside the final 200m as Berry had to momentarily stop riding to straighten Designs On Rome but once balanced the latter regained the lead to score a famous win.

It was Moore's fourth Hong Kong Derby and his first since combining with champion Australian jockey Darren Beadman to win with Collection in 2009.

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Ruling might put Ricciardo in reverse

In every phase — practice, qualifying and the race itself, and in all the weather variables for which Melbourne is so famous — Daniel Ricciardo never put a foot or a wheel wrong. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Wayne Ludbey / News Corp Australia

DANIEL Ricciardo delivered Australia's best result that Albert Park fans have ever witnessed, but now must wait on the outcome of an investigation for breaking Formula One laws.

He could still be stripped of his second place at Sunday's grand prix in Melbourne.

The manner in which the young star held his nerve under intense pressure over the riveting second half of the race confirmed he has what it takes to be major force in Formula One now he is in a good car.

He's the real deal, in other words — just as Mark Webber has kept telling anybody who asked. And plenty did.

"I have to continue this now, but the team has to be pleased with what they're seeing now," Ricciardo said after getting his Red Bull home in second place, 24sec behind Nico Rosberg in a Mercedes and 2.2sec ahead of rookie Kevin Magnussen in a McLaren.

Ricciardo and his Red Bull Racing team have been referred to race stewards, who were meeting to determine the Australian's fate.

Ricciardo's car exceeded maximum fuel flows during the race, FIA Formula One technical delegate Jo Bauer said.

The statement Formula One technical delegates passed on to race stewards regarding the Red Bull racer. Source: Supplied

Rosberg would be entitled to wonder if he really did win the Australian Grand Prix given the hero's reception the big crowd gave Ricciardo while watching him become the first Australian to step on the podium at Albert Park.

The tension had been palpable as Magnussen, a 21-year-old Dane making his F1 debut, hunted the Australian down over the second half of the 57-lap race, sweating on a mistake or a motor malfunction in front.

Daniel Ricciardo celebrates on the podium. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images

Neither happened as the Red Bull management, desperate for a happy ending after losing four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel to an engine issue almost immediately after the start, kept encouraging him with calls of "good job" over the radio.

They could have been talking about the entire weekend, with Ricciardo out-performing his celebrated teammate from start to finish, much to the delight of the local fans, who are all too aware of the hostility that existed between the German and Webber.

In every phase — practice, qualifying and the race itself, and in all the weather variables for which Melbourne is so famous — Ricciardo never put a foot or a wheel wrong.

He did it while simultaneously shouldering the enormous promotional workload that comes with being the only Australian at the Australian Grand Prix, always with that beaming smile fixed to his face.

Even 20 minutes before the "go" light flashed green, he was still being bailed up by TV crews for a chat, and obliging.

Australian Daniel Ricciardo drives his way in second place at the Australian Formula One Grand Prix. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images

Asked if he was nervous, he said: "No, just excited." All around him, tens of thousands of fans were, on his behalf, both.

Ricciardo has inherited not only Webber's seat at Red Bull but his status as the face of Australian motorsport, and he'll be every bit as popular as his charismatic predecessor, too.

His performance, or more to the point, his potential as his career moves to another level, is a welcome gift for the Melbourne race, which has only another year on its contract.

Ricciardo himself went out of his way to repeatedly emphasise how much he believed the race meant to Melbourne, and it wouldn't have been lost on Premier Denis Napthine, who was one of the first to congratulate him.

Being the young dude he is, Ricciardo's favourite phrase seems to be "it's cool".

That's what he said again when it was all over — and there was no shortage of seconders. It was a great moment in Australian sport.

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Gallagher wins second Paralympic bronze

Jessica Gallagher wins bronze on the final day of the Sochi Paralympics, Picture: Jeff Crow Source: Supplied

VICTORIAN skier Jess Gallagher and her guide Christian Geiger have delivered Australia a double-shot of joy with a bronze medal on the final day of the Sochi Paralympics.

The visually impaired skier won bronze in the women's giant slalom at Rosa Khutor which adds to her bronze medal in the slalom from Vancouver in 2010.

Gallagher, 28, remains Australia's only female winter Paralympic medallist and means Australia will finish the Sochi Games with two bronze medals after Toby Kane's result in the men's super-combined on Friday.

"It's really nice, obviously after the past week the Australian team has had it's easy to see how difficult this sport is," said Gallagher, who was born in Geelong.

"It really is one tiny mistake and it's all over so I'm really grateful to put down two good runs and win a medal."

Gallagher is legally blind and has eight per cent vision - most of which is peripheral - and she relies on Geiger skiing in front of her to call the turns and lead her down safely.

To win the medal, she had to overcome dizziness which plagued her earlier this week and which was believed to be linked to a minor concussion she suffered during training last month.

In a case of history repeating, Australian coach Steve Graham was selected from his international counterparts to set the course for the final run of the day.

He was also responsible for setting the course for Cameron Rahles-Rahbula to win bronze on the final day of the Vancouver Games four years ago.

Gallagher's finishing time of 3mins 2.11secs was behind gold medallist Henrieta Farkasova from Slovakia with 2:48.63 and silver medallist Aleksandra Frantceva from Russia in 2:54.91.

"It was a nice course and allowed us to gain a little more speed and get into rhythm," Gallagher said.

"After feeling so ill on the slalom day it was nice to be out here in the sun and enjoy getting down as fast as we could.

"After the slalom we were really upset and I was feeling very ill so it was just about coming out here and having fun, because the day of the slalom I felt like I was going to pass out with every turn I was so dizzy."

Gallagher also represented Australia in athletics at the 2012 London Paralympic Games.

Geiger was an elite alpine skier on the national team before he was seriously injured in a car accident and turned his attention to guiding Australia's visually impaired athletes.

He said he was "relieved" to be standing on the podium with Gallagher.

"I said to Jess 'who would have thought the medal would come in GS (giant slalom) but it's been a long campaign and it's been interesting," he said.

"It's amazing what they can do from the visually impaired to the standing and sit-skiers, they're brilliant and to be honest (guide) Andy (Bor) and I call ourselves facilitators more than athletes because they're the athlete and we're just doing everything we can to help them get down the hill quickly."

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‘Where’s the NRL’s common sense?’

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FOX Sports NRL commentator Brett Kimmorley reviews all the NRL round two action, questioning the common sense of a draw that forced the Titans and the Tigers to battle it out in extreme conditions.

SEA EAGLES 14 d RABBITOHS 12

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This was a very interesting game. The Rabbitohs were the best side in round one and Manly gave up a 20 point lead and lost the Stewart brothers. I thought it was going to be one way traffic but someone forgot to tell Manly that they were supposed to lose. They were too physical for South Sydney and played at a great tempo and with plenty of intensity and really quick line speed in defence. What the Sea Eagles do better than any team in the competition is play ad lib football. They're all footballers, not just athletes or robots. They continually ask you questions, and I thought Matai was brilliant, Foran was great and Daly Cherry-Evans was brilliant. Souths were probably their own worst enemy with errors and they couldn't get Greg Inglis any quality ball. It's back to the drawing board for Michael Maguire, but it's pretty early in the year so the Bunnies won't be too upset. We've been taught this before, but once again the lesson was write Manly off at your peril.

BRONCOS 16 d COWBOYS 12

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This was another one that went down to the wire and it was a game full of grit. The Cowboys haven't hit their straps yet. That's two weeks in a row they've been a little bit scratchy. It's not panic stations but they've got a lot still to do to reach their enormous potential. As for the Broncos, I've been really impressed with their willingness to work hard for each other in the first two rounds. They look a good defensive side and they scramble well. They're still not looking that threatening in attack but they're doing enough and Ben Barba puts a bit of fear into any opposition. Ben Hunt seems to be finding his feet, and Andrew McCullough has grown a leg since finding out that he wouldn't be out the door because of Cam Smith. The Brisbane faithful turned up for the derby and they were well rewarded with the Broncos getting a surprise victory.

DRAGONS 31 d WARRIORS 12

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It's crazy to think that the Dragons have put on more than 30 points in both of their first two games. They were the second worst attacking side last year, but they seem to have found some composure in attack and a lot of the credit for that must go to Gareth Widdop. The winning culture that Widdop's been reared on at the Storm is starting to rub off on his teammates. They don't panic and show plenty of patience when they've got the ball. That's the rap for the Dragons, but the Warriors need to get a bashing because the4y were ordinary. They need to be better than that. It would break your heart being a Warriors fan and it can't be an easy job coaching them. Shaun Johnson did some nice kicks but didn't challenge the defensive line. That needs to change. Some selection changes could well be on the cards, and I think Konrad Hurrell's got to come into the team. Matt Elliott is under the most pressure out of anyone in the NRL, and things have got to change quickly.

STORM 18 d PANTHERS 17

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What a wonderful game of football, iced at the end with three field-goals. Conditions were terrible but it was still a wonderful game of football. The Storm jumped out to a great start and looked capable of an onslaught but the Panthers hung on superbly. They were great. Kevin Naiqama got a double and was unlucky not to get a third. The whole side is tough and gritty. They don't do anything flash but they play simple football extremely well. I thought young Tyrone Peachey was superb. He plays a bit of ad lib football and gives them a point of difference. Josh Mansour and James Segeyaro were also good. Melbourne had to use all their class, and the Big Three did what you expect them to do when the heat is on - Smith with a clutch kick at the end and Cooper Cronk scoring the field-goal. It's amazing how they find a way to win when it looks like they shouldn't win and it was fitting they got there in milestone games for Smith and Billy Slater. Congratulations to them.

ROOSTERS 56 d EELS 4

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The Roosters were disappointing in round one but they were anything but on Saturday night. They sent a message that they're not underdone or off the boil, despite what people were saying after their loss to the Rabbitohs. The Eels showed some good signs at the start but then there was an avalanche. The Eels just had no answers when the Roosters got on top and they looked like the wooden spoon side from last year. It will be interesting to see how Brad Arthur reacts to such a big loss - will he go for the big stick or dish out some love? He's got a reputation as an excellent defensive coach so it was a bit of a surprise to see Parramatta slip back into old habits. I thought the Roosters' youngsters Kane Evans and Dylan Napa were fantastic, and it was great to see a window into the future with Roger Tuivasa-Sheck playing at fullback. Hard to imagine they could get scarier once Anthony Minichiello retires - but I think that might be what happens.

TIGERS 42 d TITANS 12

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This game to me was a massive blue from the NRL. It was extremely hot up at the Gold Coast and for the second straight year they scheduled a 2pm (Queensland time) game at the end of summer. You know it's going to be extremely hot and it's unfortunate that the players have to be put through that. It's not much good for the fans either, and I think the crowd figure of just over 12,000 probably reflects that. They didn't get the quality of football they deserved to watch either. The NRL's got to show some common sense. From now on there should not be a day game scheduled in Brisbane, the Gold Coast or Townsville for at least the first month of the season. Of course the NRL can't predict the weather, but they can put plans in place to ensure that the worst of the conditions are mitigated for.

The Titans were extremely poor. If any team should win in the heat, it's them, but they were awful. The Tigers took full advantage and I thought there were some really positive signs from their youngsters. Nofoaluma returned and was excellent. I thought Pat Richards showed why the Tigers brought him back from England. And Luke Brooks, the young halfback who copped a bit of criticism for the way he played last week, was very, very good. But I thought this game was more about how poor the Titans were. John Cartwright would be embarrassed by that performance. The heat's an excuse but it's not a reason and I think the Titans have got a lot of work to do to turn things around against the Raiders next week.

RAIDERS 26 d KNIGHTS 20

I thought this was an excellent performance from the Raiders, and it's great for Ricky Stuart to get that first win. I thought Canberra showed plenty of enthusiasm last week and would have beaten the Cowboys if not for some brilliance from Johnathan Thurston. It was good to see that enthusiasm repeated against the Knights and that set up a great game of football. Both teams had plenty of opportunities to win it, and it was going try for try for just about the whole 80 minutes. Newcastle were very gutsy considering there was no Darius Boyd and no Jarrod Mullen. I think Wayne Bennett will be upset because his style of coaching is all about high percentage plays, good completion rate and discipline and I thought the Knights went away from that. In a way that cost them victory, but there was also a special match winner for the Raiders in Anthony Milford. When you invite a player like Milford to attack you in good field position you're going to get hurt.

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