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| Mason rejects chance to join Crusaders • Forward agrees deal with NRL champions Melbourne Storm• Brian Noble targets several other signings for CrusadersWillie Mason, the fiery second row who is still best known in this country for flooring Stuart Fielden and Sean Long during Great Britain's last win against Australia in 2006, has rejected the chance to play in Wrexham with the Crusaders next season.Mason is instead expected to join Melbourne Storm on a two-year contract, which could mean making his debut for the National Rugby League champions in the World Club Challenge against Leeds at Elland Road in February.The renamed and relocated Crusaders have completed deals for two considerably lower-profile overseas players – Tony Martin, a goalkicking centre who has given good service to London Broncos and more recently Wakefield, and his former New Zealand Warriors team-mate Michael Witt.The Welsh club's new coach, Brian Noble, is hoping to make several further signings before they launch the Engage Super League season with their first game at Wrexham's Racecourse Ground against Leeds on 29 January.The CrusadersSuper LeagueRugby leagueAndy Wilsonguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Asif takes six as Australia all out for 127 • Australia 127; Pakistan 14-0• Mohammad Asif claims career-best six-wicket haulPakistan have taken a firm grip on the second Test after bowling out Australia for only 127 on an extraordinary opening day at the Sydney Cricket Ground.The home side were dismissed shortly before stumps after winning the toss and electing to bat on a seaming, green pitch. The fast bowler Mohammad Asif was Pakistan's star performer with career-best figures of six for 41 – the second-best return by a Pakistani at the SCG. It was Asif's sixth five-wicket haul in only his 16th Test.Bad light stopped play for the day 10 minutes before stumps. The visitors will resume at 14 for no loss, with Imran Farhat on nine and Salman Butt three.Australia were floundering at 62 for seven prior to tea before a 44-run eighth wicket partnership between Nathan Hauritz (21) and Mitchell Johnson (38) eased them past 100.Rain delayed the start until 2pm, and Ricky Ponting was left regretting his decision to bat soon after play got under way. He and the recalled Phillip Hughes fell for ducks in successive balls, with Shane Watson (six), Michael Clarke (three), Michael Hussey (28), Marcus North (10) and Brad Haddin (six) making hasty exits as the pace attack made the most of the perfect bowling conditionsMohammad Sami, with three for 20, took the first three before the impressive Asif stepped up to remove the next six.The previously innocuous Sami, who took a Test bowling average of 51 into the match, was almost unplayable as he ripped through the top order. He removed Hughes, an 11th-hour replacement for the injured Simon Katich, and Ponting before adding Watson to his list of victims.Having waited 167 days for another chance at Test level, Hughes charged to the crease well ahead of his partner Watson and nervously made his way to the non-striker's end.Having patiently waited as Watson faced the first over, the 21-year-old should have been back in the pavilion immediately after he flashed a cut shot straight to Umar Akmal at gully, who dropped the regulation chance.The fidgety left-hander somehow survived the remainder of Sami's first over but did little to settle the nerves of the crowd when he swiped wildly at the seventh ball he faced and was lucky not to offer an edge. Sami got his man three balls later, when Hughes offered a thick edge to Faisal Iqbal at second slip, ending his unconvincing 14-minute stay without managing a run.Hughes' Twenty20 approach seemed to infect Ponting, who launched into an ambitious pull shot to the first ball he faced and top-edged a catch to Umar Gul at backward square for a golden duck.Further drama was just a ball away as Watson was struck on a toe by Sami but the umpire Billy Doctrove gave Watson not out, which was upheld following a referral.After cracking Australia's first boundary in the eighth over, the opener pushed forward to a Sami outswinger and nicked a simple catch to Kamran Akmal behind the stumps to leave the hosts at 10 for three.Clarke survived a referred lbw appeal but soon went, driving hard at Asif and being bowled between bat and pad as the ball nipped back off the seam.The drama kept on coming. With the score on 42, North was given out lbw to Asif for two. The Western Australian referred a decision to the video umpire and the decision was reversed.Hussey was next to go, attempting to pull Asif but only sending a top edge high above the slip cordon. Misbah-ul-Haq turned from first slip and held his nerve to take the catch and leave Australia 51 for five.Without adding to the total, North flirted at the next ball and was out caught behind to put Asif on a hat-trick.Haddin negotiated the ball but was out just before tea, driving ambitiously at Asif and spiralling a catch to Mohammad Yousuf at mid-off.Hauritz added a breezy 21 before being caught behind off Asif and Johnson smashed five fours and a six off 57 balls to top-score with 38 before holing out to cover to give Asif his sixth victim. Doug Bollinger was the last man out, leaving the tourists 14 overs to survive until stumps.Australia are 1-0 up in the three-Test series.Australia Cricket TeamPakistan cricket teamCricketguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
West Ham face FA sanctions over crowd violence West Ham United have been found guilty of breaching FA rules after crowd violence at the Carling Cup tie with Millwall at Upton Park in August, but Millwall have been cleared on all charges. feeds.timesonline.co.uk |
Bears DE Gaines Adams, former Bucs No. 1 pick, dies at 26 Bears DE Gaines Adams died on Sunday morning in Greenwood, S.C. at 26. rssfeeds.usatoday.com |
Wright's 27 lead Hoyas past Pitt 74-66 PITTSBURGH (AP) -- The score was tied late, and the Pitt students were stomping their floor-level sets so passionately it caused the grandstands to ripple like a wave. Pitt's home-court advantage is one of the best in college basketball, and Georgetown knew this would be difficult.... hosted.ap.org |