Rugby League

Itas usually at the Quarter Final stage of the Challenge Cup when the excitement kicks in (or it did in the Wembley era) as the prospect of that glorious day in the sun, with seemingly all the Rugby League world present, appears on the horizon. Itas not been quite the same in the years since, which could be simply down to the regularity with which we get through to the Final these days, or maybe itas the loss of the Twin Towers and Wembley Way, even if the old place was a bit of a dump. One thing is for sure, when Rugby League returns to Wembley next year we will see. At least we can have a welcome return to the aQue sera seraa song, so sorely missed. However this is no ordinary Quarter Final, this is Saints v Wigan, the fiercest derby in the business, and especially given the Ian Millward factor, the atmosphere created by a near capacity crowd, should be as good as any heard on the old ground for years. After the 1987as heartbreaking Wembley defeat against Halifax, everyone was confident that the 1988 team one was the team to go one better, and even with a full house at The Willows, no-one believed a poor Salford side could topple us that day. Alas the thirteen match winning run was to end as Salford turned on their best performance for a long day. Three times the home side went ten points up. Three times we pulled it back within four, but all to no avail, and we had lost 22-18, and no-one could quite believe it. Here we are seventeen years on, and amazingly only Wigan and Leeds have beaten us since in the competition. The first experience of a home Quarter Final was to come the following year as we hosted Featherstone Rovers, who were roughly around the same position in us at the table at the time. After trailing 3-0 for a good half hour, it was Saints who took control with quick tries to Tanner and Veivers, and once Quirky, Holding, Cooper and Dwyer had added tries after the break it was all over. It was all over too for the aScaffa as a group of a dozen or so wide necked Featherstone nutters decided to implant themselves amongst the home hardcore. Whilst the young sprinters in the crowd such as Babis Yed, Chair Maker, and myself innocently carried on singing, the more experienced campaigners such as Weaver, the twins, Maccer and co were off into the distance, with a smell of excrement trailing behind them. Luckliy the old bill had a presence in that era, and before any of us had taken a good hiding, they were escorted away, and we were free to watch the rest of a comprehensive 32-3 win. In 1990 the draw was kind, as we were paired with Second Division Whitehaven at Knowsley Road, with, once again, the highlight being a wild set of nutters following the opposition, although it was those in the Dunriding Lane End who copped for it this time, as the police had a torrid time keeping the 1,500 or so inbreds in check

RLFANS: If You Know Your History - A Wakefield

Wakefield away, has been one of Saints more difficult fixtures in modern times, given the supposed level of the opposition. In fact no club from outside of the big five has given us many problems as they have over the years. There have been no cup meetings between the two at Belle Vue over the last twenty years, but there have certainly been enough dramatic league games thatas for sure, and no small amount of shockers too. First up was a meaningless clash at the back end of 1988-89, when Murphy and co were resting their limbs for Wembley, and just imagine how bad Wembley could have been if we hadnat!. Our understrength outfit sailed into a 14-2 half time lead, but it wasnat to last and Trinity were to run out 21-14 winners. In one of those events statisticians cream themselves about, the meeting early in the next campaign saw Trinity lead by that exact same scoreline with a little over five minutes to go. Alas, for them, it all went horribly wrong for them as first, Lockers scored underneath the sticks, then with just three minutes to go, Alan Hunte took a superb ball from the same man, and ran in a spectacular scored down the left to give us a 24-21 win. aShadowa was to prove a regular thorn in the side that didnat believe him good enough to keep on the books once he had made a couple of guest appearances for them. In 1990-91 we again travelled to Belle Vue on an end of season charabang trip, with Wembley a couple of weeks away. However this time we were to prevail with a 22-8 win on a day that looked glorious on the video, but in truth was blowing a hurricane, and a freezing cold one at that. In fact Paul Bishop managed to attempt a conversion that not only missed, but sailed back into his own half of the field! In November later that year, Saints travelled to Belle Vue in top spot, on what was an absolutely horrendous day weather wise

RLFANS: Seven. .. tie. .. th Heaven!

Unstoppable There have been many miserable nights against Wigan over the years. We've been on the end of disappointment and humiliation at the hands of the side that dominated the 1990's Rugby League world, and it has hurt. Victory of any kind against the Warriors is therefore sweet, but a big score, and a nilling is pure heaven. Wigan supporters will be telling themselves that this was another of those 'freak' results. . . but with the Rhinos rattling in seventy points for the second week in a row, how much of a 'freak' can it be?70RhinosvWarriors00Superleague X18th June 2005Seven. . . tie. . . th Heaven It was a scorcher of a night in more ways than one. The temperature on the pitch was puching thirty degrees as the sides took to the field in bright sunshine. A near capacity crowd packed the terraces to see a Rhinos side unchanged for an unprecedented third week, take on a wounded but still strong looking Wigan side. Whilst some of the Wigan star players were missing, they still had the likes of Carney, Moran, Guisset, Newton. Sculthorpe, Tickle and ex-Rhino Liam Botham in the starting thirteen

RLFANS: Leeds Win Dropathon to Scramble into the Semis

Two Try McGuire The threatened weather moved into Headingley just as the teams took the field for tonights Challenge Cup quarter final. It was to have a big effect on the night. It wasn't driving rain but that drizzly stuff that wets you through! It caused the ball, pitch and players to become very slippy and beckoned the onset of a dropathon of the worst type. 32RhinosvBroncos12Challenge Cup Quarter Final24th June 2005Leeds Win Dropathon to Scramble into the Semis Smith was forced into one change in personnel with Nick Scruton getting a recall due to injury to Danny Ward. Cummins was 18th man, edging ever closer to his first team return. Smith did tinker with the line-up, staring with McGuire and Burrow as half-backs with Sinfield at loose. The visitors didn't risk McLinden but still had a decent enough looking side, the majority of which were fresh from a sensational drawn game at Knowsley Road last week. Leeds kicked off the game attacking the scoreboard end but all the early exchanges saw defences on top. Both sides had their chances, but both defences were up to the challenge. Honours were even until the twelfth minute when the Rhinos stole a try, many would argue against the play. As London moved the ball out of defence a two man tackle by McGuire and Bai saw the ball pop free. McGuire reacted quickly and picked it up on the half way line, stepping left to avoid a lunging tackle and fifty yards down the left wing to score in the corner. Sinfield goaled brilliantly from the touchline and Leeds had a lucky lead. It was an advantage that lasted eleven minutes, until London had their own slice of luck. Bradley-Qalilawa found himself in posession just five metres out and went for the corner, to those of us nearby it looked like BQ grounded the ball on the touchline, and the touch judge stood his ground

RLFANS: Rhinos Edge a Bruiser

Top Drawer In the preview for tonights game I warned that it would be a close one. What I wasn't prepared for was the bruising battle that these two side fought out on the famous Headingley turf. No quarter was asked. . . or given by either side, as a priviledged full house witnessed an absolute humdinger of a match. This was the kind of game that makes our sport the best in the world. 36RhinosvBulls26Superleague X1st July 2005Rhinos Edge a Bruiser With Danny Ward back from injury, Smithy reverted to the line-up that demolished Wigan a fortnight ago. Sinfield reverted to stand-off with McGuire slipping to the bench. We meant business and were ready for a hard battle. A Bradford side stripped of Vainikolo (injury) and Leon Pryce (suspension) still had enough stars to force fallen hero Iestyn Harris to start the game on the bench. It must have been embarrassing for the lad, but shows his fall from grace. The Rhinos received the kick-off, attacking the scoreboard end packed with Bulls fans, and immediately went on the offensive. Leeds handed over possession to the Bulls seep in their twenty and as Paul looked to put in a relieving kick he fumbled the ball. The Rhinos took the ball from the scrum and used five tackles to probe the defence before Sinfield put Senior through a gap for a walk in. As Sinfield converted well from the touchline the clock showed just two minutes and six-nil to Leeds. It couldn't be this easy

RLFANS: Day of the Match - H Wigan (CCQF)

POWERGEN CHALLENGE CUP QUARTER FINAL ST. HELENS 75 WIGAN WARRIORS 0 When you are old and grey there will be many moments you look back at, as a St. Helens RLFC supporter and treasure the fact that you were there to witness it. One of the first moments any Saints fan out of the 17,500 capacity Knowsley Road crowd will remember is the 2005 Challenge Cup Quarter Final (Div will obviously not be one of those people!). After Wiganas 70-0 record defeat against Leeds last week itas true to say most pundits thought we would win easily. Most Saints fans however were acutely aware of the Indian sign the old Pie-Eaters have had over us in recent times and were refusing to be drawn; the enemy couldnat be as feeble as last week, and a win would suffice. How incredible was it then that not only should we finally beat them but with it smash that eight day record to pieces with, what will become, a legendary 75-0 drubbing. Itas a moment we could never, ever have imagined in our wildest dreams, and it was a day none of us will ever forget

RLFANS: Rhinos Return to Form with 13 Try Haul

Tri Try Bai This was one of those games which worried a few supporters before kick-off. London have been blowing hot and cold all season, and after two lacklustre performances from the Rhinos, there was a chance that on a hot day they could overturn us. We needed a decent win to restore confidence ahead of next weeks trip to the JJB Stadium, and to re-open the two point gap at the top of Superleague. We were without the influential Ellis and the inspirational McKenna, but the good news was that Ali Lauiti'iti returned. 64RhinosvBroncos06Superleague X9th April 2005Rhinos Return to Form with 13 Try Haul It took just four minutes for big Ali to make his mark, and show us what we had been missing in recent weeks. A good break from Mathers, as the Rhinos attacked the scoreboard end, saw him progress from his own line to over half way. Nice interplay from Dunemann and Senior on the blind took the Rhinos deep into the danger zone, before Lauiti'iti bulldozed over to score the opener. Sinfield hit the post with the conversion attempt, but it was the start that we needed. London had already proved in the opening minutes that they were here to defend hard, and attack when the opportunity arose. They made a good job of shutting the Rhinos down, and it was almost twenty minutes before we got another score on the board. On twenty-three minutes a kick from Sinfield spun viciously in the evening air and caused havoc in the Broncos defence. The ball went to ground and was picked up by Willie Poching who stepped inside and crossed. Sinfield goaled this time for a 10-0 lead. It looked like it would be a tough night for the Rhinos as the Broncos put up a very effective defence. Welcome Return Three minutes later though, and the Rhinos were over again

League News: Plymouth cop it from Copsey

Plymouth cop it from CopseyScrum half Paul Copsey raced over for a hat trick in his first outing as Gloucestershire Warriors overcame Plymouth 34-10 in the TotalRL Conference South West Division. TOTALRUGBY LEAGUE CONFERENCE Results for Saturday 25 June 2005 PREMIER DIVISION: Bolton Le Moors 42 v 10 Nottingham Outlaws; Greenwich Admirals v Luton Vipers nr; Hull Phoenix 56 v 12 Telford Raiders; Ipswich Rhinos 16 v 24 South London Storm; Jarrow Vikings 22 v 26 West Cumbria Crusaders; London Skolars A 14 v 64 West London Sharks; Dewsbury Celtic 8 v 20 Leeds Akkies; Peterlee Pumas 16 v 12 Penrith Pumas; Sunderland City v Copeland Athletic nr. WELSH PREMIER: Bridgend Blue Bulls 48 v 34 Aberavon Fighting; Newport Titans 14 v 24 Torfaen Tigers; Swansea Valley Miners p v p Valley Cougars. REGIONAL RESULTS: Durham Tigers 68 v 0 Winlaton Vulcans; Newcastle Knights 24 v 36 Catterick; Whitley Bay Barbarians 0 v 96 Scarborough Pirates; Birmingham Bulldogs 16 v 28 Wolverhampton Wizards; Coventry Bears 30 v 22 Redditch Ravens; Bristol Sonics 24 v 0 Oxford Cavaliers; Plymouth 10 v 34 Gloucestershire Warriors; St Albans Centurions p v p Luton Vipers; South Norfolk Saints 48 v 10 Cambridge Eagles; St Ives Roosters 28 v 38 Bedford Tigers; Gosport & Fareham Vikings v South London -nr; Haringey Hornets v Hemel Stags -nr; Middlesex Lions v Kingston Warriors -nr; Wigan & Leigh Cavaliers 60 v 16 North Wales Coasters; Crewe Wolves 66 v 48 Ormskirk Heelers; Rochdale Spotland Rangers 30 v 12 Widnes Saints; North Liverpool Buccaneers 18 v 20 Blackpool Sea Eagles; Warrington Wizards 52 v 12 Runcorn Vikings; Bradford Dudley Hill v Leeds Akkies -nr; Yorkshire Bridlington Bulls v South Wakefield Sharks -nr; Huddersfield U Rangers v Bramley Buffaloes -nr; Wetherby Bulldogs v Hull Phoenix -nr; Derby City 45 v 24 Sheffield Hillsborough; Lincoln City Knights v Rotherham Giants nr; Worksop Sharks 4 v 26 Thorne Moor Marauders. South West review With Chris Wilson Gloucestershire Warriors went to the top of the South West division with a 36-10 win over Plymouth at Stonehouse Creek thanks to a hat-trick from debutant scrum half James Copsey. The Warriors defence was again in fine form, denying the home side a try until the final quarter when Paul Cioffi and Corbin Turner gave Plymouth some consolation from an excellent game. Ashley Parsons converted one of the tries. The Warriors led 18-0 at the break thanks to tries from Sam Wilkes, Ollie Bloom and Copseys first but had to survive eighteen tackles on their own line to keep Plymouth out just before the interval. They extended their lead in the second period to 36-0 through Steve Penfold and the remainder of Copseys trio and also had two tries disallowed. Tim Stevenson, also on debut, kicked all six conversions in a fine individual performance. Somerset Vikings conceded their game with Leicester Phoenix as, owing to injury and prior commitments, they were unable to raise a team for the game. Oxford Cavaliers found themselves in a similar situation for their game at Bristol Sonics and were forced to call off the game. Lewis Hat-Trick helps Bulls to Victory The Bridgend Blue Bulls and Aberavon Fighting Irish served up a 14 try thriller with Bulls wing Geraint Lewis claiming a second half hat-trick including a 60 metre run along the touchline writes Simon Green. Paul Morgan opened the scoring with a terrific chip and chase before his fellow centre Neil Dixon dived over under the posts, Jon Williams converting to give the home team an early 10-0 lead. The visitors hit back thanks to a Gareth Lewis try before Bridgend hooker Lloyd OConnor restored the ten point lead after a great pass from Dixon. The brilliant Gareth Lewis then got his second for Aberavon which he goaled himself but Bridgends Ginger Talisman Kevin Ellis turned back the years with a superb solo try. But Aberavon showed their Fighting spirit and hit back with a late try from Robert Kim, Lewis converted to put the Irish to within 6 points at half time. The second half belonged to Geraint Lewis, after a sluggish first half the wing grabbed two tries in the opening three minutes, but again Aberavon hit back with a try from prop Andy Llewellyn. More tries soon followed, Lloyd OConnor grabbed his second after a break from Jon Williams before a superb long pass from Gareth David put Grant Epton over for his seventh try of the season. Andy Llewellyn then got his second of the match for OCallaghans men before Geraint Lewis sprinted over for his hat-trick. But the final say went to Fighting Irish scrum half Michael Healy which Gareth Lewis again kicked to make the final score 50-34 to the Bulls. In the days other match Torfaen Tigers won 24-14 at Newport Titans with Matthew Entwhistle starring with a try and five goals. Further tries came from Jeff Farthing, Jason Hill and Gareth John-Jenkins while Scott Heirene and Chris Vitaline claimed tries for the home team. . The match between Swansea Valley Miners and Valley Cougars was postponed. Ipswich Rhinos 16, South London Storm 24 By Kevin Cooke Ipswich Rhinos buried the ghost of their opening games heavy defeat against the South London Storm with a confident hard working display against the Divisions run away leaders. Until Saturday Storm had only conceded 20 points all season but the Rhinos made them fight all the way for this slender victory. South London received the ball from the Ipswich kick off but were contained in their own half and the kick on last tackle went straight into touch giving Rhinos a scrum just into Storms half

The Times: Troubled Wigan look to halt startling decline

ONE empire falls, another rises. It was not hard to see the one in the ascendant as Leeds Rhinos gathered at the multi-columned Leeds Town Hall this week for a civic celebration of the team’s Super League and World Club Challenge successes. Carl Davis, the composer, is to write a triumphal fanfare, March of the Rhinos, and an artist-in-residence will shortly start work at the club. The sleeping Leeds giant that occupied Wigan’s shadow for so long is not only fully awake, it is flexing its substantial muscles. Headingley will again be packed to its 21,000 capacity for tonight’s derby against Bradford Bulls as Leeds attempt to open a five-point gap at the top of the table — 20 points and eight places above Wigan, who, after their two heaviest defeats in the space of eight days, must avoid further embarrassment away to Leigh Centurions. After Wigan’s 70-0 and 75-0 losses against Leeds and St Helens, Leigh’s legions walking over the Warriors and sucking them into the relegation mire would prove even more damaging for a club apparently in freefall. Wigan, once a byword for sporting excellence, resemble a sinking ship

St.Helens Star: Queen Blanche\'s crowning glory

All the local news, sport and Saints stats from the St Helens Starby Alan WhalleyOWD Fitton, as his pupils knew him, was a gangly individual, lean as a bean and well over six-foot tall. A headmaster of the old school, he assumed a modest, quietly-spoken nature. This was totally at odds with the devilish swish of his long arm as it brought his punishment cane into contact with numbing little fingers. And Peter Harvey, who in his pro rugby prime used to whiz over the Knowsley Road pitch, has shadowy memories of him. As a newspaper delivery boy, from the ages of 12 to 15, one of his calls was to Mr John Fitton's house, set quite high above the white road opposite to Carr Mill Dam. "I was quite frightened of him", says Peter, "although, since I left his paper soon after six in the morning, I rarely saw him. "Peter's dad always referred to the towering headmaster as 'Mr Fitton', as he served as an officer in the Home Guard during the Second World War. But there are a host of other old-timers still living in Peter's mind since his childhood. Folk like the irrepressible Blanche Finney, owner of the corner shop in Carr Mill Road during the 1940s. She ran the place while hubby, Josh, was serving with the Royal Service Corps during the war. "When I met her again, recently, she was in her lovely house in Laffak and was everything you would wish of a near 90-year-old", says Peter. She had dug a hole in the garden, ready for her grandson, Geoff Pimblett, another old Saints hero, to plant a shrub. "I'd do it myself", she responded chirpily to Geoff, "but I knew that you were coming!"Much shop talk revolved around her old shop, which had previously been run by the Greens, Fergusons and Tittertons. It was while the latter was in charge that Peter got his newspaper delivery job

St.Helens Star: Cricket round-up

All the local news, sport and Saints stats from the St Helens Starby Mike CritchleyALL-rounder Pravin Tambe hit a stunning 140 and took four wickets as P&O secure a 54 run victory at Prestatyn Skipper Handley won the toss and had no hesitation in batting under cloudless blue skies on a track that had both pace and bounce. It was this extra pace and bounce, that the P&O batsmen are not used to, that left them 11 for 2 off 7 overs with openers Edwards and Ratcliffe back in the pavilion. However, Pravin Tambe was relishing the challenges sent down by young South African quick bowler Hilroy Paulse and also the challenges of the passing comments made by the Prestatyn fielders!Together Tambe and Andy Greenwood took the score to 58 before the latter tried to be a bit over ambitious and was caught for 4 trying to play against the spin of Harris. This brought Peter West out of the shadows. The confidence shown by Pravin gave West the confidence to play his natural game as the pair put on 89 for the 4th wicket before West was out caught at the wicket for 25. Wilkinson and Danson both came and went quickly so it was left to Paul Dagnall to support Pravin in the search for a competitive total. Pravin continued accumulating runs and was out for a magnificent 140 and declaration was sounded. Dagnall finished on 21 not out as P&O declared on 219/7 off 48 overs. After the interval Iain Handley opened the bowling with himself and Tambe. After Handley's wayward first over Tambe took the prize wicket of Taylor first ball. Expecting a leg spinner he padded up to a top spinner and was out plumb in front LBW. Boughey took the attack to P&O, forcing Handley to take himself off after 4 overs and introduce Dagnall. With the score on 70 Dagnall took the prized wicket of Boughey, caught by keeper John Jinks standing up to the stumps for 43. The next seven Prestatyn wickets fell for 38 runs as Tambe, Dagnall and the whole P&O fielding team kept the batsmen well behind the run rate and the pressure told. Highlights were a magnificent leg side stumping by keeper Jinks off Dagnall, a direct hit run out from mid on by Steve Danson which left the batsman four yards short and a catch at silly point by Jason Ratcliffe - again a decision the batsmen did not agree with. P&O scented victory and maybe the pressure was staring to tell on them as batsmen 10 and 11 tried to hit themselves out of trouble. Dagnall went for 35 off 3 overs, Tambe 20 off 3 overs and Cartmel did well to get hands on a sharp chance at silly point but could not hold on as the last pair put on 57. However Tambe had the last word as Steve Edwards held on to a steepling catch, despite comments from the Prestatyn team and spectators ensuring P&O wrapped up victory by 54 runs. Dagnall finished with 5 for 76, Tambe 4 for 54 and John Jinks 5 dismissals behind the stumps all standing up to the wicket. Matchball Sponsor NatWest. RainfordRAINFORD came off second best, for the second time this season, after posting yet another massive total, this time 265 for 7 at Parkfield. The home side smashed their way home by 5 wickets courtesy of 114 from Aussie Matt Burr. It looked so good for Rainford in the first half with Steve Meredith (57) and Ian Gaskell (65) sharing a century opening stand before Milind Tamhane stroked another majestic 70 enabling an early declaration

Sydney Morning Herald: Tigers go on a points spree to avenge flogging

Dragons 24 Tigers 32Undaunted by a horror start - down 6-0 after only two minutes - Wests Tigers scored the next 32 points to humble the Dragons for an hour at at Jubilee Stadium yesterday. The Dragons scored the next 18 points and a rainbow appeared with three minutes left but the home team squandered any chances of finding a late pot of gold. The game began with the Dragons' kick-off sailing between two Tigers, then bouncing over the dead ball line, giving St George Illawarra possession from the line drop out and opportunity for replacement Ashton Sims to race 20 metres unchallenged to score. It appeared as if Tim Sheens's men were about to have a day as black as the skies above. Maybe the Dragons began thinking about last year when they humiliated Wests Tigers 50-0 on the same ground. Or perhaps they cast their minds forward to next week when they will enjoy the bye and a weekend skiing, or enjoying the Queensland sun. Whatever their thinking, Wests Tigers suddenly found themselves staring at more gaps than the average orthodontist would see in a career. Fullback Brett Hodgson probed most of them, drilling through in the fifth minute to set up a 70-metre try for lock Ben Galea. When he sliced through to force an in-goal kick by half Scott Prince three minutes later, the crowd of 10,612 predominantly Dragons supporters squirmed like a patient on the edge of a dentist's seat. Midway through the first half, when stand-in half and captain Ben Hornby went off with a knee injury as Wests Tigers scored yet again, the crowd appeared as if it had had root canal surgery. The Dragons treat their supporters the way Lucy used to handle the ball for Charlie Brown's place kicking

St.Helens Star: Cricket round-up

All the local news, sport and Saints stats from the St Helens Starby Mike CritchleyST HELENS Recs opened up a gap at the top of the table after chalking up a 12 run win over Maghull on Saturday. Latham got Recs off to a brisk start being dismissed for 37 when the score had only reached 41. Chee Quee took up the reins, but wickets fell at regular intervals at the other end. When Chee Quee was dismissed for 60 Recs were in trouble at 118 for 7. The tail could not wag and Recs were eventually dismissed for a disappointing 128 from 38. 3 overs. With Garvey unable to bowl, Recs opened with Jenkins and Chee Quee. Maghull got off to a steady start and with the score on 51 for 3 they looked to be in the driving seat. Freeman was brought into the attack and together with Chee Quee produced a devastating spell which tore the heart out of the Maghull side. Six wickets went down for the addition of only six runs as Recs closed in on victory. Maghull's last pair at the wicket, however, had other ideas. They inched the score up towards the target as Recs could not take the final wicket. In an exciting finish it took a superb catch by the substitute fielder Gartland to win the match for Recs as Maghull fell 12 runs short reaching 116 all out from 50. 4 overs. The best of the bowlers were Jenkins (3 for 32 from 12), Freeman (2 for 18 from 13) and a superb spell from Chee Quee (5 for 55 from 25. 4 overs) which enabled Recs to open up a gap at the top of the table. The 2nd XI travelled to runaway leaders Newton and winning the toss put the home side in to bat. Newton openers Birchall and Fearnley got off to an excellent start before they were pegged back by Atherton and Hughes. Fearnley survived a few chances before he was dismissed for 42 with the score on 106. Birchall batted superbly going on to make his century. Newton eventually declared on 207 for 2 from 45 overs (Birchall 113). Recs lost the first two wickets with only 3 on the board. Morris and Tunstall steadied the ship and when Tunstall was dismissed for 44 the score had reached a more respectable 87 for 3

League News: Lewis lashes Miners

Lewis lashes MinersAberavon Fighting Irish star Gareth Lewis led the way with four tries and 10 goals in the 68-14 verdict over Swansea Valley Miners in the Welsh Premier League. Lewis's 36-point tally highlighted a hugely impressive display by a very young side. TOTALRL. COM RUGBY LEAGUE CONFERENCE Results for Saturday 18 June 2005 East: Cambridge Eagles 26 - 48 St Albans Centurions; Bedford Tigers 16 - 64 South Norfolk Saints; St Ives Roosters 24 - 0 Luton Vipers. London & South: Kingston Warriors 50 - 24 Hemel Stags; Gosport & Fareham Vikings P - P Haringey Hornets; South London 24 - 0 Middlesex Lions. North East: Newcastle Knights 54 - 6 Whitley Bay Barbarians; Catterick 30 - 30 Durham Tigers; Scarborough Pirates 36 - 12 Winlaton Vulcans. North Midlands: Worksop Sharks 24 - 16 Sheffield Hillsborough; Thorne Moor Marauders 38 - 11 Lincoln City Knights; Mansfield Storm 28 - 34 Derby City. North West: Liverpool Buccaneers P - P Runcorn Vikings; Warrington Wizards 78 - 8 North Wales Coasters; Blackpool Sea Eagles 10 - 46 Rochdale Spotland; Widnes Saints 60 - 10 Ormskirk Heelers; Wigan & Leigh 46 - 24 Crewe Wolves. South West: Oxford Cavaliers 42 - 52 Plymouth; Bristol Sonics 70 - 20 Redditch Ravens; Gloucestershire Warriors 22 - 12 Somerset Vikings. Wales: Cynon Valley Cougars 44 - 30 Newport Titans; Cardiff Demons 20 - 32 Bridgend Blue Bulls; Aberavon Fighting Irish 68 - 14 Swansea Valley. West Midlands: Birmingham Bulldogs 44 - 38 Coventry Bears; Wolverhampton Wizards 26 - 12 Leicester Phoenix. Yorkshire Leeds Akademiks 14 - 44 Huddersfield Underbank; Hull Phoenix 30 - 14 Bridlington Bulls; Bradford Dudley Hill 36 - 44 Bramley Buffaloes; Wetherby Bulldogs 66 - 1 South Wakefield Sharks. Wales Round-up By Simon Green Gareth Lewis of the Aberavon Fighting Irish was the days top scorer in the Total R. L Welsh Premier with a superb 36 points from four tries and 10 conversions against the Swansea Valley Miners. The Irish ran in 12 tries altogether with the Gadd brothers Liam and Neil each getting a brace. John O'Callaghan included seven players under the age of 18 in his side in a resounding victory over the Miners with Gareth More, Lee Williams, Richard Vendedaniel, Tom Precly and Sean Kelly all starring. Swansea hit back with tries for Dai Hawkins, Ashley Jones and Scott Cole but they were no match for a rampant Aberavon. At Taff's Well the Cardiff Demons and Bridgend Blue Bulls were both missing their star players through Student World Cup duties, injuries and work commitments but produced an entertaining match that was locked at 14 all at half time. The Bulls took an early lead thanks to a Dean Fitzgerald try with further first half scores from Lenny Woodard and Lloyd Paget while the Demons tries came courtesy of Darren White, Gareth Holtam and John Darcy. But the Bulls firmly took control in the second half and scored three early tries, Woodard got a second before Lloyd O'Connor and Jon Williams made it 32-14 to the Bulls. The Demons then upped a gear and played far better than in last weeks defeat to the Miners and were rewarded with the final try of the game when Demons MOTM Darren White went over for his second. Standing out for the Blue Bulls was 2nd row Carle Ellis who was superb in both attack and defence and played a part in all of Bridgend's scores. The shock of the day came at Sardis Road where Mark Rowley's Cougars side beat the Newport Titans 44-30 with Robert Jones starring with a try and 4 goals, there were excellent tries came from Martin Lewis and Mark Jones while Neil McKim and Ritchie Davies scored two each for a disjointed Titans side. Fixtures for Saturday 25 June 2005: Bridgend Blue Bulls v Aberavon Fighting Irish (at The Brewery Field, Bridgend); Newport Titans v Torfaen Tigers (at Pil Harriers RFC); Swansea Valley Miners v Valley Cougars (at Ystralyfera RFC). Thorne Moor Marauders 38 - 11 Lincoln City Knights By Jim Welbourn Thorne Moor Marauders took another step towards securing a top three spot in the North Midlands division, the Marauders opened the scoring as early as the third minute when the RLC Player of 2003 Shaun Carver crashed over and Ryan Rafferty added the two extra points 6 - 0. The Knights took only 4 minutes to reply when Steve Hughes stepped the home defence to go in next to the posts, Hughes added the conversion 6 - 6, with the game evenly balanced and both sets of forwards testing each other out there was no room for anyone to be passive or faint hearted, after a period of sustained pressure Thorne Moor forced a goal line drop out which the Knights put dead and Ryan Rafferty on 24 minutes took the two points on offer from the penalty 8 - 4. With Lincoln being guided around the park by Ryan Miemzyck, Karl Beardshaw and Gareth Evans they started to get the upper hand but two great tackles from the Marauders centre Dave Knott saved the day and then from a scrum Shaun Southgate went from the base to out sprint the visitors defence to go in at the corner for a unconverted try 12 - 4, the visitors had the last say when with nowhere to go stand off Gareth Evans landed a 40 metre drop goal on 37 minutes. After absorbing Lincolns opening 10 of the second half Thorne Moor Marauders upped a gear in the with the introduction of Chris Allen & Nathan Hazlewood, the next score came after some good forward work by Staveley, Barnes and Blanchard who set up the platform for Chris Allen to side step the Knights defence to make a 30 metre break before passing to the supporting Carver who in turn gave the final pass to Hopkinson to score in the corner 16 - 5, Lincoln again refused to lie down and hit back with a try from Meehal Grwt who crashed over taking three defenders with him Gareth Evans added the extras 16 - 11, The Marauders then started to dominate with Carver breacking the line and off loaded to Ryan Rafferty who raced 20 metres to score under the post he also added the extra points 22 - 11, with the forwards building the platform and Ryan Rafferty and Chris Allen linking wide the Marauders started to get some success out wide with Ricky Tipper going in on 65 & 68 minutes and Rafferty converted the second try to bring the score to 32 - 11, on 73 minutes Neil Speight rewarded coach Howard Roberts for bringing him into the side with a try next to the posts Rafferty again added the extra two points 38 -11 Man of the Match for Thorne Moor Marauders was Chris Allen

Huddersfield Daily Examiner: Huddersfield Giants V Wakefield

Jun 20 2005PATCHED-UP Huddersfield Giants put their Super League play-off bid back on track by completing an excellent double over county rivals Wakefield. Despite losing captain Ben Roarty with a neck injury picked up in training on the eve of the game and with fellow frontline players Michael De Vere, Stanley Gene and Hefin O'Hare also ruled out, the Giants still had more than enough firepower to see off their struggling opponents. And even the 15th-minute departure of tackle-machine Stuart Jones with a heavy bang to the body failed to halt the Giants' march towards an eighth win of the top-flight campaign. The victory means Huddersfield are now back ahead of Wigan and into seventh place, which in itself is a cause for celebration. But even though the Giants ended emphatic winners against the Wildcats for a second time this year - they won 42-20 at Belle Vue on Good Friday - they didn't have everything their own way. After opening up a spectacular 28-0 lead after 30 minutes, the home side appeared to take their foot off the gas, and at one stage looked as if they might pay the price. By the 54th minute, their lead had been cut to 30-22 and the Wildcats had the sniff of an incredible fightback. Fortunately, however, the Giants still had enough juice left in the tank to step up a gear in the final stages and run in two late tries to kill the contest off

Sydney Morning Herald: Bennett bemused as Warriors go back to their roots and rekindle glory days

Warriors 30 Broncos 18Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett and his players had at least four genuine gripes after their first loss in 85 days - but that wasn't what yesterday at Ericsson Stadium was about. Warriors prop Richard Villasanti, who needed three needles in a rib injury to play, summed up a 30-18 triumph better when he said: "It reminded me of 2002, 2003 when we were throwing the ball around and not giving a rat's arse about it". Wearing replicas of their 1995 strip, emerging from the same disused drainpipe that spat them forth into the premiership that year, with Polynesian drums pounding in the heads of the visitors, the Aucklanders recaptured the spirit of their finest moments to end the Broncos' 10-match winning run. "Running out the tunnel brought a tingle to my neck," said two-try second-rower Wairangi Koopu. "I love the drums!"Referee Sean Hampstead correctly dubbed Lance Hohaia's 13th-minute try after the ball was handled by seemingly every one of his teammates as "one of the tries of the season" while five-eighth Nathan Fien commented: "That's just Warriors, isn't it?". Playing without the self-doubt that has so often seemed to stymie their play this season, Tony Kemp's men led 18-12 at half-time in a game intended to commemorate the club's debut against Brisbane 10 years ago. When the competition leaders drew level with 19 minutes left, centre Simon Mannering - the Warriors' first debutant of the year - laid on a try for winger Manu Vatuvei. And with the nonchalance of seasons past, the Aucklanders coasted home with two more tries. The Broncos lost their chance to equal a club-record run of victories and, while Bennett wasn't whingeing, four refereeing decisions undoubtedly hurt them:â– Skipper Darren Lockyer being denied a try for a shepherd - without video official Chris Ward being consulted - in the 15th minute

Sydney Morning Herald: Cowboys elbow into the top four

An undermanned North Queensland has climbed back into the NRL top four after grinding out a 24-16 victory over the New Zealand Warriors in Townsville tonight. Playing with a makeshift backline and against a Warriors team high on confidence after beating frontrunners Brisbane last weekend, the Cowboys rushed in three tries in the final 25 minutes to overturn a 16-10 deficit and end a two-game losing slide. Rod Jensen, usually used off the bench as a backrower but given a starting role in the backline tonight, scored two tries and starred for the hosts, with winger Neil Sweeney also bagged a double. Coach Graham Murray branded the victory as one of the club's toughest. "I'm more than happy with that, it's one of our toughest we've come through," Murray said. "It's good to win every NRL game but that was pretty special tonight (considering) the number of players out, the number of players in different positions, the way they just handled the whole thing. "The whole week was good and their commitment to what we asked them to do was great

Hull Daily Mail: \'SOLID\' GOLD

09:30 - 27 June 2005 It Might have been Hull KR's biggest league win of the season but when James Webster called the victory "solid rather than outstanding" he wasn't wrong. The Robins only made the game safe in the last 20 minutes but after last week's Northern Rail Cup drama, you could forgive such a flat display. Bottom-club Barrow will need a sporting miracle if they are to avoid the drop on the evidence of yesterday. And it was just as well for an under-par Rovers. Despite pulling away to lead 16-0 in the first half, the visitors kept the Robins in sight until fitness and class eventually paid off. Five second half tries put the game beyond doubt to clinch 12 straight home wins but Craven Park's lowest league crowd of the year were rarely gripped by the action. It was James Webster's third straight victory as stand-in coach but not one he will savour. "We never had to really get going but it was a physical game that gave us a few things to work on," he admitted. "Barrow tried very hard but things didn't go their way so we weren't pushed to the limit. "We struggled at times and it comes back to us having five or six guys who have been without a game in over a month. "But then I thought we defended very well and went out there with an aggressive attitude and got the two points, which was what mattered

Sydney Morning Herald: Smith\'s drop shot puts the boot into Cowboys

Raiders 23 Cowboys 22After five straight losses the Raiders showed last night they can be a premiership force on one condition - if Jason Smith is fit. Back from a three-game absence, Smith, ably supported by Lincoln Withers, led his side superbly round the park and calmly slotted the matchwinning field goal in the 74th minute. The Raiders are far from a one-man band, but with Smith back so was the impetus that had been missing in the past month. The 33-year-old returned from a three-year stint in England this season and has consistently been one of the NRL's best players. Last night, in one of the games of the year, it was no different. Smith was weighing up his future during the week and both he and Raiders boss Don Furner indicated a deal would be struck to keep him in Canberra for another year, something coach Matt Elliott will no doubt celebrate with a beer or two. "If he leaves the club he will have to run with me hanging off one leg," Elliott said. "He was the difference between the two teams. He set up a try, scored one and kicked the winning field goal

Widnes Vikings: Vikings cause an upset at Odsal

Sun Jun 19 2005, 23:29 PM By Linsey CullenA last-gasp Paul Deacon drop goal broke Widnes heats and left the men from Halton Stadium with one point from a game they so nearly won. The Vikings went to Bradford on the back of a demoralizing defeat against London, and certainly proved a point, making this the first Super League season they have been unbeaten against the Bulls. The Bulls had a point to prove themselves, still reeling after their dreadful display two weeks ago against Saints, and were desperate not to be beaten at home for the third consecutive time. But it was the away side, sitting 11th in the table, who stamped their authority on the game, scoring 13 un-answered points in the first half. Although Bradford started brighter, with Karl Pryce intercepting and racing down the field in search of the Vikings line, the defence was determined to keep him out

RLFANS: Match Report: Leeds 70 Wigan 0CommentsPost CommentRatings

Leeds Rhinos v Wigan Warriors Engage Super League X Round 18. Saturday 18th June 2005. Kick Off 6:05pm at Headingley. Match Report by Rebecca Smith The previous worst result in the cherry and whitesa illustrious history was a 58-3 loss in 1972, also to Leeds. Leeds raced to a 24-0 lead by half-time and Wigan capitulated in the second half allowing the league leaders in for another nine tries and hit the 70-point barrier for the second game in a row. Whilst few Wigan supporters expected to beat the in form Rhinos the weight and nature of the loss came as a bitter blow. Wigan kept the Rhinos out for 15-minutes before Rob Burrows got the scoring underway after Kevin Sinfield off-loaded to Jamie Jones-Buchanan who put the diminutive half-back clear. Four minutes later Chev Walker scored the home-sideas second and on 25 minutes Andrew Dunnemann had Keith Senior and Ali Lauititi to thanks for setting him on a sprint for his first try of the season

Hull Daily Mail: STAND-IN WEBSTER KEEPING ROVERS ON TRACK

09:30 - 02 July 2005 The Hull KR form bandwagon continues to roll on, but perhaps the most important incident of the past week surrounds a man we all know nothing about. Whoever the mystery coach is and wherever he's from, we may never know. But the bottom line remains - he won't be coming to Craven Park. The whole drawn-out incident is difficult to comment on - given that everyone remains in the dark - but it's relevance can't be brushed over. It was the one individual who Neil Hudgell had earmarked from the off and one he firmly believed was the right man for the job

Liverpool Echo: Super Saints run rampant

Jun 27 2005A FANTASTIC performance by Saints put once mighty Wigan Warriors to the sword at Knowsley Road in an awesome display of rugby league to earn a place in the Powergen Challenge Cup semi-finals. Ian Millward endured the worst possible return to his former club as the Warriors suffered the ultimate humiliation at the hands of their fierce rivals. The record 70-point mauling Wigan endured at Leeds lasted just eight days in the history books as Daniel Anderson's men blitzed their hapless opponents with a 13-try onslaught

RLFANS: Salford Preview - 19/06/05

Warrington Wolves v Salford City Reds Engage Super League X, Round 18 at The HJ Stadium. Sunday 19th June 2005 K. O 15:00 PM

The Times: Millward faces return with Wigan in disarray

THOSE at Leeds with memories of a 74-6 crushing by Wigan in the 1992 Premiership semi-finals and Martin Offiah romping in for ten tries, watched with particular relish as the Rhinos crossed the Warriors’ line 13 times in a 70-0 drubbing, the worst defeat in Wigan’s 110 years. Two supporters flung their replica shirts on the pitch in disgust at the most shambolic display served up in the famous cherry-and-white colours since relegation to the old second division in 1979. Thoughts of revenge must take a back seat to regaining a semblance of respectability when Ian Millward takes his bedraggled charges to his former St Helens employers in the Powergen Challenge Cup quarter-finals on Sunday. If Saturday night’s massacre at Headingley was not bad enough, Terry Newton’s fitness is in doubt after he hobbled off, Liam Botham is cup-tied and Jerry Seuseu faces possible disciplinary action for taking out Ryan Bailey, the Leeds prop

Leeds Rhinos: RHINOS 24 BULLS 10 AFTER 59 MINUTES

A capacity crowd at Headingley provided a fantastic atmosphere for the most eagerly awaited game in the engage Super League. Keith Senior, the leading try scorer in Super League, gave the Rhinos the best possible start within two minutes. The Rhinos gained possession in the Bulls 20 metre area after Robbie Paul knocked on. Chev Walker went close on the right hand side before play was switched to the South Stand side and Senior powered his way over in the corner. Sinfield added an excellent touchline conversion to give the Rhinos a 6-0 lead. The Rhinos then had a try ruled out for Jamie Jones-Buchanan for a forward pass by Kevin Sinfield

RLFANS: Saints 75 Wigan 0

Courtesy of Sportinglife. com: Ian Millward endured the worst possible return to Knowsley Road as once-mighty Wigan suffered the ultimate humiliation at fierce rivals St Helens. The record 70-point mauling Wigan endured at Leeds lasted just eight days in the history books as Saints blitzed their hapless opponents with a 13-try onslaught to earn a place in the Powergen Challenge Cup semi-finals. To the glee of a 17,000-capacity crowd, Saints finally put their name by the darkest day their old foes have suffered since they were relegated from the old First Division in 1979, substitute James Graham charging over for the final - and record-busting - try two minutes from time. The win came at a cost for the hosts, who lost stand-off Jason Hooper with what looked like a dislocated shoulder in the first half

NSW RL: Tigers Match Reports

JERSEY FLEGG The Go Sport Balmain Tigers were completely outclassed in atrocious conditions, losing to the Canberra Raiders 24-0 at Canberra Stadium on Saturday. The Tigers made a promising start in conditions that could only be described as miserable, putting pressure on the Raiders' tryline from the outset and enjoying a huge percentage of possession in the opening 10 minutes. Unfortunately as often happens these days the Raiders were able to cross for a converted try on their first possession, making huge metres on each ruck to get themselves within striking distance of the line

Sporting Life: RHINOS TOO HOT FOR BATTLING BULLS

Danny McGuire and Keith Senior scored two tries apiece as Leeds maintained their stranglehold over arch rivals Bradford. The Bulls battled hard for an hour at Headingley but the engage Super League champions ultimately proved too strong as they powered away for a fifth successive regular season win against their neighbours 36-26. The Rhinos, who also beat Bradford in last year's Grand Final, scored six tries in all with Jamie Jones-Buchanan and Ali Lauitiiti also touching down

Sydney Morning Herald: Dogs boss keeps the dream alive

Close but no cigar: Bulldogs hooker Adam Brideson spills the ball over the Storm try line last night. Photo: Getty ImagesStorm 33 Bulldogs 6Bulldogs coach Steve Folkes is adamant his side can still mount a successful premiership defence despite a crushing, morale-sapping loss to Melbourne last night. A victory would have built on the NRL premiers' momentum and confidence leading into the finals. Instead a defeat means they will be chasing their tails in the lead-up to September. The game was meant to be confirmation of the Dogs' back-to-back premiership aspirations but the result served to show that the inconsistent Melbourne can win an arm wrestle against the top sides. The Storm led 14-6 at half-time after two tries to rookie winger Greg Inglis and three goals to halfback Matt Orford were matched only by a converted try to Bulldogs centre Cameron Phelps. With the game in the balance in the 70th minute and their second-rower David Kidwell in the sin bin, it was Melbourne who took control of proceedings to score 19 points in final 10 minutes and run away 27-point winners. Dumped Maroons fullback Billy Slater starred for the Storm, crossing for two tries, in the 72nd and 78th minutes, and saving another in the 68th minute when he ran down his opposite Luke Patten after the Bulldog snatched an intercept and looked certain to score

Sydney Morning Herald: Better late than never as Knights\' daze ends

Happy days: Newcastle skipper Andrew Johns congratulates Clint Newton, right, after his game-breaking try last night. Photo: Jon ReidKnights 28 Panthers 24Blow the trumpets, sound the horns. The Knights have had a win. Andrews Johns was riding a delirious high after his State of Origin resurrection, but throwing his arms in the air in despair and giving his teammates a mouthful at various times in the first half last night, the Newcastle captain was a frustrated soul as his gallant but thus-far-outclassed team headed towards its 14th straight loss of the season. Then, somehow, as if Johns's sheer willpower can make a difference, the Knights stormed back. And won. That was not a misprint. Having lost 13 straight games this season, and 23 of their previous 27 matches, the Knights got up. "See that monkey?" Johns said

Sydney Morning Herald: Bulldogs run ended by Storm

Bulldogs 6 Storm 33The Bulldogs mini mid-season resurgence came to a shuddering halt tonight as the Melbourne Storm came home strongly to beat the reigning premiers in their NRL clash at the Sydney Showground. Centre Greg Inglis and Queensland reject Billy Slater each scored doubles as the Storm made sure they remained in the top eight, while the Bulldogs continue to sit on the fringe of the playoffs with their first loss in four weeks. Benefiting from a dropped ball from Bulldogs second rower Nate Myles on the first play after a penalty, the Storm took the ball 70 metres downfield to take an unexpected 6-0 lead after two minutes. On the back of several strong surges down the ground from his fellow forwards, back rower Glen Turner did well to get the ball to a flying Inglis despite the attention of two defenders. Inglis, who started in the centres in place of NSW representative Matt King, did the rest on a simple run to the line, with Matt Orford adding the extras from out wide

RLFANS: Leeds Go For The Semi\'s

When all the signs for the Rhinos are as positive as they are for tonights match, I start to get a little worried. The last time we played the Broncos was back in early April when we hammered them by 64-6. The last time we played them in the Challenge Cup was that glorious sunny afternoon at Wembley in 1999 when a 52-16 win saw us lift our first silverware in twenty years. So why do I have a nagging doubt that tonight isn't going to be a walk in the park? Tony Smith has added Nick Scruton and Francis Cummins to the seventeen that have scored him seventy points a match on each of their last two outings. I think that Nick is probably making up the numbers, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Franny get a run out, possibly in the place of the out-of-favour Calderwood

The Times: Every family has its black sheep

THE final whistle blows and we shuffle through rusty iron gates. It’s the early 1980s and we are making our way from a lower-league football ground after another defeat. Actually, we aren’t making our way. We are being marched along the pavement, all 20 of us visiting fans, by about the same number of police officers who bark at us randomly as if we are slacking en route to the next pile of rocks we have to break. As we veer away slightly from the main group, a copper puts his hand roughly on my Dad’s shoulder. “Where do you think you’re going?” I’ve never heard him spoken to like this before, even by my Mum when she’s in one of her worst moods. How will he react? He’s a proud man. “I’m going to my bloody car, get off me. ” The hand is removed, the copper backs off. Back then, the nation didn’t indulge in laboured socio- cultural deliberations on hoodies. Stereotyping ruled

Yorkshire Post: Rhinos aware of Bulls threat

When the whistle sounds to signal the start of the biggest Engage Super League derby of the season so far, only one thought will occupy the minds of every Bradford Bulls player a victory. Having played the underdog card for all it is worth in the last few days, Bradford will travel to Headingley with the attitude and the personnel, if not the form, to pull the rug from beneath their biggest rivals, Leeds Rhinos. The champions are smart enough not to under-estimate the danger posed by the wounded Bulls and will have to be at their authoritative best to complete a psychologically telling league double over the team they beat in last season's grand final. The nature of the modern game means that should Bradford allow the Rhinos to seize the early initiative, the visitors could find themselves on the end of a punishing hiding. That is an outcome which would throw into disarray Bradford's hopes of clawing back some of the ground they have lost during a miserable opening two-thirds of the season. Bradford, clearly, are not the team they were but the capture of Australian hooker Ian Henderson presents them with an opportunity to harness the collective talent of a side which can still have a significant say in the title race. Henderson has been with the Bulls for just a week following his arrival from Parramatta and will have a limited, although potentially telling influence this evening when his presence can begin to dispel the self-doubt that has plagued a club which has suffered from the absence of a recognised hooker for over 18 months

Yorkshire Post: Rugby league in safe hands

John LedgerRICHARD LEWIS makes no secret of his love of a challenge. Having spent much of his junior and adult life as a player, coach and administrator within English tennis, he could not have been any other way. Yet for all his sterling efforts at the LTA, where he worked closely alongside a young Tim Henman, the former British No 3 was unable to prevent tennis in this country from becoming a one-man sport. But since joining the rough and tumble world of rugby league three years ago, Lewis has overseen a sea-change in the fortunes of a game which has come to represent a role model for other professional sports. The challenges he faced were legion yet, in the main, the executive chairman of the Rugby Football League has risen to them all. Where there was once political turmoil, Lewis has brought harmony. Where there was once division, he has brought unification. Where there was financial strife, there is now stability. And where there was disarray, there is now direction. Having eradicated the debt left by his predecessors, merged the RFL, BARLA and Super League Europe into a single governing body, implemented a coherent and progressive nationwide league structure and instilled the sport with a new sense of self confidence, Lewis is now facing the biggest challenge of all. History has shown his goal is unattainable, both in sporting and cultural contexts, but Lewis is adamant he can succeed where kings, queens, politicians and philanthropists have failed

St.Helens Star: Saints 75 Wigan 0 By Mike Critchley

All the local news, sport and Saints stats from the St Helens Starby Mike CritchleyIAN Millward was proved right on Sunday. Ahead of this Powergen Challenge Cup quarter-final he declared Saints were tougher opponents than the Leeds side that had just planted 70 points on Wigan without reply. Whether that was an attempt to transfer the pressure onto Saints, a bid to lower expectations and soften the ground for another crash landing or simply a frank assessment of his former side's strengths is open to debate. But Saints managed to vindicate Millward's judgement, surpassing Leeds' total by five points and inflicting the heaviest defeat in Wigan's 110-year history. It was too easy for Saints, who rattled in 13 tries against an utterly shambolic and dispirited Wigan outfit. Despite the talk of the Warriors' side being much depleted - it was remarkably similar to the team that managed to beat Millward's Saints on Good Friday. Sunday's main absentees from that day were full back Kris Radlinski and Sean O'Loughlin. Elsewhere, swap the injured Danny Orr and David Vaealiki for Dennis Moran and Brian Carney respectively and you come up with a side that was capable, on paper, of serving up a competitive cup clash for the packed to the rafters 17,467 crowd

Sydney Morning Herald: The real Dogs unleashed at last as Sea Eagles cop a mauling

That way, skipper: Braith Anasta points Andrew Ryan towards the tryline at Brookvale Oval yesterday - the Bulldogs captain scored after two brilliant kicks in the one movement by his lock. Photo: Tim ClaytonSea Eagles 12 Bulldogs 31Bulldogs players have identified the next two weeks as make-or-break for their hopes of winning back-to-back grand finals after yesterday ending Manly's 11-match unbeaten home record with a 31-12 victory at Brookvale Oval. While no one was prepared to declare after their second-half shut-out of the high-flying Sea Eagles that the Bulldogs were back as a premiership force, there is growing confidence among the team that they have turned the corner. After losing eight of their opening 12 games, the Bulldogs have enjoyed successive wins over Canberra and Manly and, if they overcome Melbourne and the Warriors, the club may finally find itself in the top eight just as their band of injured representative stars return. "The last two weeks have been a great sign and I'm pretty sure that if we can get through … Melbourne and the Warriors, we'll go close to getting back to full strength and then we will bring it home, hopefully," prop Mark O'Meley said. Making just his second appearance back from a broken leg and only his fourth of the year, O'Meley has had to watch his teammates struggle without him and Willie Mason, Sonny Bill Williams, Willie Tonga and Reni Maitua for most of the season. But Tonga is due back in three weeks, Mason the match after and Maitua and Williams should be not far behind them into a team NSW Origin five-eighth Braith Anasta predicted would be brimming with confidence if they can continue winning. Voted the game's most over-rated player by a poll of his peers published in the latest edition of Rugby League Week, Anasta was man-of-the-match yesterday in what he said was the Bulldogs' best performance this season. "It's all starting to happen for us," Anasta said

Sydney Morning Herald: Wests Tigers leave Dragons stunned

Wests Tigers' up and down season continued today with a strong 32-24 NRL win over fancied St George Illawarra at Oki Jubilee Stadium. The Tigers held off a fast-finishing Dragons side to continue their recent win-loss-win sequence, while the loss ended the Dragons' good run which had seen them string together three straight wins. The rampant visitors led by 32-6 ten minutes into the second half before the Dragons rallied with the last 18 points of the game to add some credibility to the scoreline. There was little indication of what was to follow when the Tigers let the kick-off dribble over the dead ball line to put the Dragons straight on the attack. Second rower Ashton Sims, a late inclusion in the starting line-up, barrelled over a minute later, and it appeared a repeat of the Dragons' 50-0 massacre of the Tigers last year was on the cards again

Sky Sports: CLARKE: D-DAY FOR WOUNDED WARRIORS

The weekend's results have left me speechless. Who'd have thought that Toulouse would comprehensively defeat Widnes Vikings and be just 80 minutes from the Powergen Challenge Cup Final! They thoroughly deserved their victory and I really hope that it acts as a further catalyst for rugby league development in southwest France. For some, the second game on Sunday was an even bigger shock but not for me. I was criticised by some people for saying the week before that the current Wigan team weren't good enough. Many thought that the 70-0 defeat at Leeds was a one-off, a bad day at the office. Not me. I actually asked Ian Millward on Boots 'n' All last week whether he thought that the team had hit 'rock bottom' yet. He skilfully avoided a direct answer, as like me, he suspected that things could get worse in the short term. St Helens were great, and I don't doubt that the Wigan players tried hard, but they were no match for their arch-rivals. I know one Wigan fan who said he felt clinically depressed after the game; such is the emotion and importance of their rivalry with St Helens. The result was a worrying one for the game. It's not good to see one team that much better than another. They'll be pulling on the life jackets at the JJB Stadium this week, as they enter an emergency situation. If they lose to Leigh, I'm not sure that they'll recover this year. Can you please confirm this with all the rugby league fans that moan about holding on/down. Is it, or is it not true, that the defending team have four seconds from when contact is made until the finish of the tackle? Time after time at the Huddersfield Giants and Bradford Bulls game I heard the Bulls fans moaning at the referee after two seconds. Is this correct? Most of the rugby league fans don't know most of the rules and need to learn them before they get on the backs of the referees. They do the best job possible job whilst under immense pressure. They deserve praise for this. Oliver Unsworth (Huddersfield Giants fan)PHIL SAYS: There has been a slight change in the interpretation of the tackle by the referees this year, but no, they are not allowed a specific time of four seconds

Sydney Morning Herald: Tigers keep home fires burning

All hands on deck . . . Wests Tigers lock Ben Galea, nearest, wins the race for the ball to claim the opening try at Leichhardt Oval last night. Photo: Tim ClaytonTigers 49 Sea Eagles 24 A vocal Leichhardt Oval crowd and a pair of off-contract stars helped Wests Tigers to a resounding win over Manly last night - and gave them a whiff of a finals berth. With 15,271 fans packing the atmospheric venue, the home side followed the animated half-time instructions of coach Tim Sheens and stopped playing "touch football" to gallop to a 49-24 win. It was Wests Tigers' fifth win in six games at Leichhardt and left them just one victory out of the top eight. The other talking point from the free-flowing game was Manly replacement Kane Cleal being booked for a high tackle on Liam Fulton, who scored a try less than 60 seconds later. Cleal was suspended for a hit on an opponent during his previous game against the Tigers. And the fact the incident was checked by video referee Chris Ward while Fulton was on the ground receiving attention will fuel debate over players trying to milk penalties in such situations - regardless of whether Fulton was genuinely injured. But among the tryscorers for the hosts were lock Ben Galea and centre Shane Elford, both of whom are unhappy with their current offers from the club and plan to speak to other teams as soon as today. "I love the club, I've been here seven years and I'd really love to have 10 years at the club," said Galea, who scored the first try of the game after five minutes

Sydney Morning Herald: Dogs set to snarl all the way to semis

If I sounded a mini-warning last week about the defending premiers being on their way back into contention for the 2005 NRL crown, then today I am offering you a full-scale alert. Here come the Bulldogs. Their emphatic victory over Manly yesterday looked full of intent to me. The Dogs appear to have recaptured their bite. Seven times this year teams have travelled to Fortress Brookvale to take on the Sea Eagles and on every occasion they have left with nothing to show for their efforts. The Dogs love this sort of challenge. Playing a team undefeated at home and seven points clear of them on the premiership table represents fun for the Bulldogs, rather than something to fear. Yesterday the Dogs strode where others had feared to tread, and in belting the home team they sounded a warning to the rugby league world that they are not about to relinquish their trophy just yet. The most impressive part of the win was that the Sea Eagles were definitely up for the contest and at times played as well as I have seen them play all season. It was a case of Manly, a team looking forward to playing in their first finals series for a long time, up against the Bulldogs, a team that has been there and done it so many times before. They were just too good. Manly began with tremendous energy and every player made it his personal goal to finish over the top of his opponent in every collision

RLFANS: Widnes Preview - 03/07/05

Widnes Vikings v Warrington Wolves Engage Super League X, Round 19 at The Halton Stadium. Sunday 3rd July 2005 K. O 15:00 PM. It certainly hasn't been an easy few days for the Vikings as following their humiliating defeat they were then stranded in France due to an airport fire fighter strike

Super League: Millward only thinking about wins

Wigan coach Ian Millward revealed he had never even contemplated defeat in the lead-up to Fridayas big local derby at Leigh - and now he has his sights set firmly on the engage Super League play-off picture after the 30-22 victory that ended his sideas mini crisis. Successive record defeats at Leeds and St Helens had piled the pressure on Millward and the Warriors. But a purple patch at the start of the second half - which saw Dennis Moran, Terry Newton and Danny Tickle cross for vital touchdowns - saw them overcome a half-time deficit to pick up a welcome win that lifts them five points above the drop zone and within touching distance of the top six. Millward said: aItas been a tough week, but weall learn from it and I have to say that the fans were fantastic for us tonight (Friday). aIt would have been tough for us to have lost here

NineMSN: Cowboys whip Warriors

A depleted North Queensland Cowboys line-up, minus several backline stars, has managed to over-power the Warriors 24-16 at a near-capacity Dairy Farmers Stadium. After racing to an early 10-0 lead, the young Cowboys switched off for a period, allowing the Warriors to score 16 unanswered points. But the heat of Townsville and some poor ball control took its toll on the visitors as they watched the Cowboys storm home with the final three tries

Warrington Guardian: UEFA give seal of approval

by Chris FlanaganONE of the most powerful figures in world sport has paid a glowing tribute to Warrington. UEFA president Lennart Johansson believes the decision to bring Women's Euro 2005 to Warrington has been fully vindicated by attendance levels at The Halliwell Jones Stadium during the tournament - and there could be more football to come in the future. The home of Warrington Wolves played host to four games during the championship and produced the three highest crowds of the competition, with the exception of the three England matches and the final. A total of 3,263 people attended the clash between France and Norway in Group B, while 3,835 saw Germany take on France, and a massive 5,722 took in the semi final between Nordic rivals Sweden and Norway. And speaking to the Warrington Guardian at half time during Thursday's semi final, which Johansson attended only to see his native Sweden lose 3-2 after extra time, the 75-year-old was complimentary about the support the town had shown to the tournament. He said: "Our philosophy is that we leave it to the FA to decide where the games are played, because they know the situation in their country

League News: Buffaloes charge Stags

Buffaloes charge Stags Bramley Buffaloes coach Phil Hellewell was a happy man following yesterdays 32-6 victory at Hemel Stags but he's made an impassioned plea for Bramley fans to turn out in force and watch the second team next Saturday! "This was a big win for us and a massive performance by everyone concerned," said Phil after seeing his side post six tries against the tough tackling Hertfordshire side. Gavin Westwood opened the scoring on Bramley's second set with a darting run to the corner after 2 minutes. A stunning Marc Gibson break set up Gavin Buckley for a second score on 6 minutes converted by Paul Drake

News and Star: Weall ROAR back from maul game

HAVEN coach Steve McCormack is tipping his side to quickly bounce back from yesterday's comprehensive 42-14 defeat at Castleford Tigers in the Northern Rail Cup semi-final. NL1 leaders Castleford reached their first cup final since 1994 by completing a quickfire league and cup double over Haven, who had surrendered their perfect league record with a 42-24 defeat at The Jungle two weeks ago. In both games, Castleford built a commanding half-time lead after Haven had a player sin-binned in the first-half, with Howard Hill the offender this time. "It was a similar type of game to the last time we played them

Huddersfield Daily Examiner: Vocal support could make all difference

Jun 30 2005I WAS delighted to hear the club have thrown down the gauntlet to the fans to turn out in force at Salford on Saturday night. We've been really pleased with how vocal the fans have been at most of our games this season, and the lads certainly appreciate it

Huddersfield Daily Examiner: Victory vital in bid to strengthen big play-off challenge

Jul 1 2005GIANTS coach Jon Sharp is hoping the victory over Wakefield in his side's last Super League outing will signal the start of a successful run-in to the top six play-offs. The seventh-placed Giants have 10 games remaining to reach the play-offs for the first time. Sharp's side will re-claim a top-six spot if they win at Salford tomorrow night (6. 05) and London Broncos lose to Hull at Bridgend. That's a massive incentive to produce a five-star display at The Willows. And Sharp admits he would be bitterly disappointed if his side took a backward step after getting their play-off bid back on track with the 40-22 triumph over Wakefield at the Galpharm 12 days ago

Sporting Life: CUP OF PLENTY

Leigh coach Darren Abram last week reminded everyone that fairytales can happen in rugby league. He was absolutely right - but unfortunately for him his dreams of a shock Powergen Challenge Cup win over Hull came to nothing. The Centurions were well beaten at the KC Stadium and their hopes of securing a semi-final place to soften the blow of likely relegation from the engage Super League denied. But several hundred miles away in southern France, the unlikely did happen as part-timers Toulouse stunned Widnes. That result has heartened rugby league romantics and expansionists everywhere, the hope being - with a French side joining Super League next season - that the sport can now really increase its international profile

Summer Conference: Worksop Sharks 4 v 26 Thorne Moor Marauders

The Marauders eased past Worksop Sharks to maintain the second spot in the North Midlands Rugby League Conference and set up next weeks home game in the top of the table clash with Derby City writes Jim Welbourne. Cliffton Richardson received the man of the match accolades and was the Marauders chief assassin with his first hat trick for the club, going into the game with a young squad Paul O`Neill told is players that they will be in for a battle against a very big Sharks outfit who contained players from leading West Yorkshire winter sides

This is Bradford: Ganson is like a red rag to Bulls

It's the sort of question that keeps people awake at night. A bit like `how long is a piece of string?' or `what is the point of rhythmic gymnastics?', answering the question `just how good a referee is Steve Ganson?' is far from simple. According to the RFL's online magazine for referee types, The Whistle Blower, Ganson is about as good as they come. "Rewarded for his consistent performance throughout 2004, Steve Ganson had the distinction of taking the whistle for the 2004 Tetley's Super League Grand Final at Old Trafford," says the Whistle Blower. "Steve was also named as the Powergen Referee of the Year for 2004, which places him in the company of some of the best referees the British game has ever seen. " Couldn't agree less. Here's what I made of Ganson's Grand Final performance: "The Bulls weren't helped by another display of passive officiating by referee Steve Ganson, who denied them several clear penalties - and with them chances to tie up the match late on - but the Rhinos were the better side on the day and deservedly walked away with the spoils. "Ganson, a man who prides himself on making tough decisions after sending off Adrian Morley in the opening seconds of last year's Ashes series, could do with making a few more easy ones. "With the Rhinos leading 10-8 midway through the second half - courtesy of hooker Matt Diskin's try and Kevin Sinfield's three goals - Ganson allowed Sinfield to pull Lee Radford's ankle at the play-the-ball, causing the loose forward to fumble. Instead of awarding a penalty within easy kicking range for Paul Deacon, Ganson first gave a knock-on before penalising the Bulls for dissent. "Three minutes earlier the official had ignored Paul Johnson being shoved to the ground as he attempted to play the ball and two minutes later a high shot from Danny McGuire on Jamie Peacock was similarly ignored

Huddersfield Daily Examiner: Young Giants\' woe at one-point loss

Jun 21 2005HUDDERSFIELD Giants are still searching for a first Junior Academy Championship triumph of the season after suffering the heartache of a 19-18 defeat to Castleford Tigers at Dewsbury. The loss made it five defeats out of five for the Giants, although this was by far the closest they have come to picking up two points. With only a minute remaining, excellent play from Danny Garside and James Martin enabled Craig Williams to squeeze in at the corner to make it 19-18

Sporting Life: MILLWARD\'S POWER OF POSITIVE THINKING

Wigan coach Ian Millward revealed he had never even contemplated defeat in the lead-up to the big local derby at Leigh - and now he has his sights set firmly on the engage Super League play-off picture after the 30-22 victory that ended his side's mini crisis. Successive record defeats at Leeds and St Helens had piled the pressure on Millward and the injury-hit Warriors. But a purple patch at the start of the second half - which saw Dennis Moran, Terry Newton and Danny Tickle cross for vital touchdowns - saw them overcome a half-time deficit to pick up a welcome win that lifts them five points above the drop zone and within touching distance of the top six. Millward said: "It's been a tough week, but we'll learn from it and I have to say that the fans were fantastic for us tonight. "It would have been tough for us to have lost here, with them going down this year

Huddersfield Daily Examiner: Clayton predicts big challenge for Vikings

Jun 24 2005NEW Huddersfield centre Ryan Clayton believes French club Toulouse have the ability to take Widnes Vikings all the way in Sunday's Powergen Challenge Cup quarter-final tie. But the 22-year-old feels that when it comes to the crunch, the visitors will have too much class for their hosts. Clayton experienced defeat at the hands of Toulouse earlier in the season during his spell at French club Villefranche. And he knows that on their own patch, the French will be determined to give a good account of themselves, particularly as Toulouse aim to be the first team from France to reach the last four. "Toulouse have quite a big pack, but I expect Widnes to make their quality count out wide," said Clayton, who joined the Giants last month

RLeague.com: Leeds destroy the once mighty Wigan

Source: www. leedsrugby. comThere was a sense of deja vu for Ian Millward at Headingley as the Rhinos won 70-0 against his team for the second season running. There was a sense of deja vu for Ian Millward at Headingley as the Rhinos won 70-0 against his team for the second season running. The win was the Rhinos biggest ever over Wigan and was also Wigan's biggest ever defeat eclipsing the 58-3 beating also handed out at Headingley back in October 1972. Tony Smith named an unchanged side for the third week running and both sides clearly looked intent on putting on a show for a bumper crowd at Headingley of 18,177. The game is being played in blistering temperatures and the Rhinos best early chances came through Richard Mathers and Andrew Dunemann who were both tackled just short of the line. The Rhinos opened the scoring through Rob Burrow, with the scrum half having scored his 22nd try of the season, his 16th in Super League. Kevin Sinfield made the initial break before putting a pass round the corner to Jamie Jones-Buchanan, the second row drew the cover and sent Burrow away from 20 metres out. Sinfield added the conversion

League News: Student Capers

Student Capers Student international teams from the four nations are jetting across the world next week (June 27th and 28th) for the Student World Cup which is taking place in Queensland, Australia, writes Andrew Whitelam. The tournament - which features teams from Australia, New Zealand, France, the Pacific Islands as well as England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, - is being staged at Griffith University in Brisbane. However, the tournament's closing stages including the semi-finals and the play-off of the plate competition and final itself will be played at local clubs in the city. The final will be at Brisbane East's Langlands Park stadium on July 17th

League News: Heading to Blackpool

Heading to BlackpoolA place in next months Northern Rail Cup Final at Blackpool is at stake when Castleford take on Whitehaven on Sunday and Hull KR host Doncaster. Stan Townsend kindly takes a look at the semi-finals and the rest of the National League action. CASTLEFORD TIGERS v WHITEHAVEN ITS more than a decade since Castleford last featured in a cup final, which makes Sundays Northern Rail Cup semi-final clash with challengers Whitehaven a little bit special. We beat Wigan quite convincingly in the Regal Trophy at Headingley which, on the day shocked everyone because we were the underdogs, said club spokesman Dave Smart. That being the case, the Tigers will be even more apprehensive since they must start as favourites on this occasion, having beaten Whitehaven in an LHF League game two weeks ago. Its a big game, but not as big as being in the final, prompted Tigers coach Dave Woods, who welcomes back Cook Islander Adam Watene, on-loan prop Andy Bailey and halfback Andy Kain after their injury spells. We hope to select from strength, apart from perhaps centre Damien Reed who has a groin strain, said Woods, who is expected to pack his bench with four forwards in an effort to stem the Whitehaven power up front. This could make Kain a doubtful starter. The Tigers could also spring a surprise at halfback where hooker Andrew Henderson and stand off Paul Handforth may swap places at the start in the hope of confusing the issue. We are fortunate because we have players who can play either in the pack or in the backs and that allows us to cover from the bench, said a cautious Woods. With wingers Waine Pryce and Michael Shenton in fine scoring form theyve notched 18 tries apiece so far this season - the Tigers have ample pace wide out to compliment their pack power. But so too do Whitehaven, even though their main problem lies with the lack of front row strength in depth. We are a bit depleted in the prop positions, reflected coach Steve McCormack, naming Neil Baynes, Craig Chambers, Marc Jackson, Chris McKinney and Tony Cunningham as non-starters. The ubiquitous Aaron Lester is also in some doubt, while question marks hang over the naming of fullback Gary Broadbent and winger Craig Calvert. It is a tough assignment, but we will give it our best shot, said McCormack, who is aiming to guide his side into their second final in less than 12 months, but sees Brad Davis as the main danger in achieving that goal. He has an excellent kicking game and that could cause us problems if we are not on our toes. The players will be up for it, simply because there is a final place at stake, although we know it will be a big challenge, confirmed McCormack, who could also switch his selection round in order to tip the Tigers off balance

RLFANS: St. Helens v Wigan - Powergen CC QF

The biggest game of the season has finally arrived as Saints take on Wigan at Knowsley Road in the Powergen Challenge Cup Quarter Final tie this Sunday. With less than a thousand tickets left as of Friday morning, there is an expected sell out 17,500 crowd, which will be the biggest Saints crowd since 1996 IIRC. That game was against Warrington and it attracted just over 18,000 as Saints lifted the Super League trophy for the 1st time. Crowds have disappointed a little at Knowsley Road at times for this derby, but not this Sunday, as Ian Millward takes the helm at Wigan and comes back to Knowsley Road for the 1st time. But, the talk isnat about Millward. Itas about 34 players, and more importantly the 17 that will don the Red Vee this Sunday. Many people are expecting a walkover after Wiganas embarrassing 70-0 defeat to Leeds last weekend, but this is a derby, and the formbook goes out of the window. If Saints are feeling slightly complacent, then just look back to Good Friday 2003, when we played a Wigan 17 mixed with Wiganas youngsters, Adrian Lam and Orrell Rugby Union players! We, of course lost that game

RLFANS: SouthStander. com Dreamteam - The Stand Off

Super Iest?by Andy Gilderdale Every year, the Tetleyas Dream Team is chosen to recognise the efforts of the best player in their respective positions across Super League. Itas usually met with either relaxed acknowledgement or mass derision, depending on whether you felt one of your clubas players was unjustly omitted, or one of your nearest rivals got a player in at their expense. Well now itas your turn to show that you know what it takes to pick a winning side, as we begin the search for the very first SouthStander. com Leeds Dream Team. Across the course of the next few weeks, weall be asking you to select the player you feel has been the best for the Leeds club in each position (including replacements), and pick a coach for the side. The thread to cast your votes will appear on the message board around the same time as an article on the front page giving you some suggestions for each position

Sydney Morning Herald: Teammates forgiving to a fault

SIDESWIPEA St George Illawarra official asked a reasonable question after the club's capitulation to Wests Tigers last Sunday. "Where else in life do you get a pat on the back for stuffing up?" he asked in reference to the Dragons' habit of rushing in to console a player who has made a horrendous error. Strippers get sacked, repairmen are reprimanded and coppers are cautioned if they make a mistake the equivalent of throwing a wild pass which forces their colleagues to desperately defend their own posts for six and more tackles. But at Kogarah last weekend, even the wingers wanted to pat second-rower Lance Thompson on the back when he flopped out a pass so late that if it were a letter, it would have incurred a postage surcharge. None of his teammates expected it and a Wests Tiger gleefully seized upon the ball and consequently scored to make the game unretrievable for the Dragons at 32-6. The crowd laughed at the comedy, rather than groan or even boo. Perhaps they should read William Saroyan, who said in 1956, coincidentally the first year of the Dragons' 11 successive premierships: "Booing can be therapeutic - sometimes to prod a child to sudden speedy growth at the age of 31. "But Thompson, 27, is one of those players who require encouragement. Ask Dragons coach Nathan Brown about the increasingly prevalent habit of teammates racing in to massage the troubled ego of a player who has erred and he offers the same response as all NRL coaches: there are players who can cop abuse and those who need support

NineMSN: Tigers terrific at home

The Wests Tigers have continued their surge towards the top eight with an impressive 49-24 win over Manly at Leichhardt Oval. With the Tigers' brilliant halves pairing of Scott Prince and Benji Marshall showing the way, the joint venture side scored eight tries on the way to a vital victory. The hosts led 31-18 at the break and produced a committed second-half performance to claim the competition points. The win pushes the Tigers to ninth spot on the table and leaves the Sea Eagles with their third loss in four starts. Manly has now conceded 130 points in the last four weeks

This is York: Wortington Town 44, York City Knights 28

by YORK City Knights knew they had to stop Lusi Sione if they were to end Workington's 13-month unbeaten home run. But that is easier said than done. The Kiwi full-back scored a hat-trick in a man of the match display as his side inflicted the second defeat of the Knights' LHF National League Two campaign. They probably deserved the 44-28 result too. Their huge forwards won the battle up front, despite the efforts of York substitute Yusuf Sozi, and displayed an attacking flair which, with Tane Manihera's ball skills and Sione's ability to drift into the line, was entertaining as well as productive, even if it did benefit from its fair share of good fortune. That said, they didn't really break the Knights down in a structured sense. The majority of tries came off-the-cuff from broken play, and 44 points against did not justly reflect York's defence. The real problem for York was in attack where too many sets ended prematurely as balls were dropped sloppily and bad passes forced, meaning any pressure they should have built was quickly turned over and the big home pack could recharge its batteries. Indeed, there were crucial times when Town appeared to be on the wane, only to regain possession cheaply, going on to score points every time it seemed they needed to. The Knights will now be hoping there is no deja vu. They could afford to lose this game - they still top the table at the half-way mark of the season - but defeat at Derwent Park last year signalled a three-game losing streak that effectively ruined their title chances, and with a tough month ahead, they will need to put this result aside and get back to business immediately. At least head coach Mick Cook is now back with them. He suffered a bout of mumps last week, which kept him away from the camp, but passed himself fit on the morning of the match so travelled to Cumbria to join up with the squad, who had gone up the day before

NSW RL: Tigers Match Reports

JERSEY FLEGG The Go Sport Balmain Tigers were outclassed by a strong St George-Illawarra Dragons team 32-0 at Oki Jubilee Stadium on Sunday. It was another day when the Tigers turned up eager & enthusiastic, but weren't able to complete the little things that could have kept them competitive throughout the match. The Dragons scored 2 tries in succession in the first 15 minutes to lead 8-0, but the Tigers were able to mount some pressure through possession & field position to hold the Dragons out until they rampaged a length of the field effort, completed by a clean bomb catch 11 minutes from the break to take the score to 12-0. The Tigers had opportunities of their own which they failed to capitalise on but were still in the match at half time, even allowing for another Dragons try right on the bell following a play the ball penalty which took the score to 16-0 at the main break

RLFANS: Confident? The Bulls Aren\'t!

Winker!By SouthStander. com and Matthew Horton I can't remember the last time I went to a Leeds v. Bradford game with high expectations of a victory for the Rhinos. Our biggest rival since the start of the Superleague era has an 18-8 advantage over us in regular season games, and have been the side who have broken our hearts on many occasions. The Rhinos are, however, unbeaten in two against the Bulls and will look to make it three on the bounce at Headingley tonight. With Danny Ward back in contention, and the eighteen, Nick Scruton drops into the U21's after a good run out last week

Sydney Morning Herald: Hindmarsh free to play in decider after not-guilty finding

Staying … Nathan Hindmarsh at the NSW team photo session at Coogee yesterday before the judiciary exonerated him last night. Photo: Tim ClaytonNathan Hindmarsh emerged from the NRL judiciary hearing that cleared him to play for NSW in State of Origin III and said the not-guilty decision had prevented "25 years of hard work going down the drain". The judiciary panel took just five minutes last night to throw out a grapple-tackle charge against the Parramatta second-rower, and he left to rejoin the rest of the Blues preparing for the series-deciding game against Queensland at Suncorp Stadium next Wednesday. A guilty verdict would have meant a one-match suspension, forcing him to miss one of the biggest games of his life. "It's awesome," Hindmarsh said of the result. "It means the world to me [to play in the game]. It isn't every day you get to play in a deciding Origin match, so I'm really looking forward to it now. "NSW coach Ricky Stuart, in camp with the Blues, was delighted with the result. "I'm thrilled to see Nathan cleared," Stuart said

The Times: St Helens twist knife as Millward\'s misery continues

HUMILIATION was piled on humiliation for Ian Millward, who in eight days has presided over the two heaviest defeats in Wigan’s 110-year history. His former St Helens team turned on him with a vengeance yesterday that beggared belief. The Challenge Cup has gone for the record 17-times winners; now all that remains is to spare the Warriors the unthinkable of relegation from the engage Super League. A trip to another of his former clubs — Leigh Centurions, on Friday — may go a long way to determining that fate. Millward squirmed not far from his old seat at Knowsley Road, the scene of so many memorable triumphs in his six seasons there, as Wigan conceded 13 tries for the second week and again failed to trouble the scorers. James Graham broke his way through the shell of a Wigan team in injury time to exceed the 70-0 drubbing by Leeds Rhinos the previous Saturday. Millward had given warning that St Helens were a better team than Leeds. Not that he had anticipated this level of punishment. Wigan’s fourth successive defeat equalled their worst run since 1985, a year they went on to lift the cup and finish third in the league

Manchester Evening News: Millward upbeat after Leigh win

WIGAN coach Ian Millward has his sights set on the engage Super League play-off picture after last night's 30-22 victory over Leigh ended his side's crisis. Successive record defeats at Leeds and St Helens had piled the pressure on Millward and the injury-hit Warriors. But a purple patch at the start of the second half - which saw Dennis Moran, Terry Newton and Danny Tickle cross for vital touchdowns - saw them overcome a half-time deficit to pick up a welcome win that lifts them five points above the drop zone and within touching distance of the top six. Millward said: "It's been a tough week, but we will learn from it. "It would have been tough for us to have lost here, with them going down this year

The Times: Broncos happy to spread word

NEVER a team to let the grass grow under their feet, London Broncos are hitting the road to Bridgend, to face Hull today, and Perpignan, where they are scheduled to play Leeds Rhinos next Saturday, albeit that it is because Brentford FC, their landlords, are conducting the annual seeding of the Griffin Park pitch. As pioneers of the Super League in the South, the Broncos have grasped the opportunity to spread the sport far and wide, to Scotland, Wales and France in the past. However, a possible relocation next season to one of their many former permanent homes, the Stoop Memorial Ground, in a potential link-up with Harlequins rugby union club may obviate the need to take to the highways and byways. Bridgend and Perpignan are especially apt choices, with the advent of Celtic Crusaders, at the Brewery Field, in LHF National League Two next year and the 2006 launch of Les Catalans in the engage Super League. Les Catalans will be based initially at the Perpignan union club’s Aimé Giral Stadium, where the Broncos will “host” Leeds

Hull Daily Mail: HOME BOYS PUT HULL SO CLOSE TO CUP SHOWPIECE

09:30 - 27 June 2005 Dynamic home-grown duo, Richard Horne and Paul Cooke inspired Hull FC to within 80 minutes of the Powergen Challenge Cup final at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium. The two local stars were in red hot form as they bagged three of Hull's eight tries, had a hand in four others and Cooke cracked over a perfect seven goals to break Leigh's hearts. It's 20 years since Hull last reached the final, 23 years since they won the cup and you have to go back five years to find their last semi-final appearance. But they breezed through to the last four stage at the KC Stadium on Saturday, when they blew Leigh away and put themselves within touching distance of the Cardiff showpiece on August 27. It was all over bar the shouting by half-time after Horne and Cooke had worked their magic and Hull had turned in a blistering 34-point performance. The Centurions were never going to recover from that and, although they gallantly rallied after the break, Hull were the masters. Now they await tonight's semi final draw on BBC Look North and go into it on the back of a clinical display, which has put them in striking distance of ending their cup drought. Although the record books showed that this could have been a major banana skin for the Black and Whites, Leigh had previous dumped them out at the same stage on two previous occasions - Hull were in no mood to let lightning strike for a third time. Hull stamped their authority on the game as early as the seventh minute, when Horne superbly engineered an opening for Shayne McMenemy and the loose forward blasted three defenders out of the way as he crashed over. From then on Hull turned the screw and tightened their grip with some varied attacking, hitting both flanks, with excellent vision and execution and thundering defence, brilliantly led by McMenemy and Stephen Kearney, which repeatedly bashed Leigh to the ground and drove them back

Sydney Morning Herald: Nameless Gold Coast seeks hand from fans for a handle

Mothers, would you let your son play for this club? … you may well have to make such a painful decision should the NRL's new franchise, now being developed on the nation's golden (or some may say sinful) strip, choose one of this column's suggestions for the club's moniker. Photo: Rocco FazzariSIN BINThe new Gold Coast franchise has released a short list of 10 club names for fans to vote on during the next month but is retaining the right to a veto should a standout emerge - and rightly so if suggestions like the Rhinos, Cardinals, Titans or Rockz prove too popular. Other less-Americanised names on the list announced last night are Stingers, Ironmen, Swell, Pirates, Marlins and Breakers, while there is also a "wildcard" option on the club's website to allow fans to suggest something else. The list will be reduced to five at month's end, with a final decision to be made before the NRL season finishes. Sin Bin has come up with its own top 10: Schoolies, Hedonists, Mules, Bouncers, Ecstasy, White Shoes, Grommets, Gold Fish, Melanomas and Mexicans. (To have your say, go to smh. com. au and vote in our online poll. )LINDSAY STAYS HOME: Wigan supremo Maurice Lindsay is set to turn down a position with Gold Coast to help the former English glamour club avoid relegation from next year's Super League competition. Lindsay is one of three names on a short list for the part-time role of special projects consultant with the new franchise, but after watching Wigan thrashed 70-0 by Leeds and 75-0 by St Helens in consecutive weekends, he has vowed to stay on and try to revive the fortunes of the famous club, which sits just three points above the relegation zone. "It is true I was approached to run the new Gold Coast club in Australia, and it is true I have friends in Australia and they would welcome me," Lindsay said. "At this stage of my life it might suit me, but I can't do it. I have to stay with the club I have supported all my life

News and Star: Cumbrian connection in Wolvesa glory hunt

By Martin Morgan FIRST DIVISION title challengers Whitehaven may not yet have secured a foothold in Super League a but in-form Warrington Wolves are flying the Cumbrian flag with distinction in the top-flight. Wolves boss Paul Cullen earned his coaching stripes with Haven for two seasons, sparking an impressive revival at the Recre before returning to his hometown club almost three years ago. His current assistant coach Gary Chambers, player performance manager and U-18 boss David Elliott, and U-21 assistant Chris Rudd, all joined Warrington as young players, from the Kells amateur club in Whitehaven, and are now valued members of the Wolvesa engine room. The Cheshire outfit have turned into the surprise package of Super League and today lie third in the table, leaving the likes of Bradford, Wigan and Hull in their wake. Injury-hit Warrington looked to be in for a long, hard season when hammered 42-10 at Salford over Easter, with some even questioning Cullenas long-term future. But they have since bounced back in style and avenged that defeat with a 48-14 win over the City Reds on Sunday

St.Helens Star: Saints 28 London 28 By Mike Critchley

All the local news, sport and Saints stats from the St Helens Starby Mike CritchleySTUTTERING Saints had to rely on a last minute third try from blockbusting centre Willie Talau to snatch a share of the spoils from this error-strewn game. Although they outscored the visitors by six tries to five and would have won had Sean Long converted the last try, Saints were arguably second best against a solidly determined London side. Although they welcomed back skipper Paul Sculthorpe to the fold after a two-match absence, strangely his return seemed to cause more problems than it solved and Saints' attacking rhythm of recent weeks was at times very disjointed. Jamie Lyon, in particular, probably noticed that he did not see half as much ball as in recent weeks as Saints became bogged down in the middle. But these are problems coach Daniel Anderson will have this week to iron out. Eleven other clubs would give their eye teeth to have 'how to make the most of Great Britain captain Sculthorpe' as their 'problem'. Despite the perfect conditions, Saints' handling was poor which served to allow London the opportunity to firstly get back into the game and then take it by the scruff of the neck

Widnes Vikings: Widnes crash out of cup

Mon Jun 27 2005, 00:26 AM By Linsey CullenWidnes failed to impress against part-timers Toulouse as the Super League side crashed out of the challenge cup in the sweltering heat in France. The full-time professionals never really looked like winning the quarter final tie, played at the Stade de Minimes, home of the first French team to get to this stage in the competition. The underestimated Toulouse side set out to prove the critics wrong, and achieved that in a determined performance, with the first try coming after only four minutes of play. Murphy scored the try from a great kick to the in goal area, converted by Courtourier, who added a penalty soon after to give Toulouse an eight point head start

League News: On the road again!

On the road again! London Broncos are used to breaking new ground; it simply comes with the territory for a rugby league business operating in a non-traditional rugby league market. The Broncos have for ten years been Super League's southern pioneers, paving the way forward for the thirteen-a-side game in the capital and surrounding areas. Along the way there have been many challenges including the necessity to hit the road every year whilst waiting for their landlords' grass to grow. When Super League itself was in its adventurous, pioneering years, the Broncos found themselves on the road, not then through necessity, but rather for the greater good of the game. In 1998 London played Bradford in Edinburgh, and the following year another joint venture with the governing body saw the Broncos on the road to Leicester, again against the Bulls. London will this Saturday return for its third 'home game' in Wales in the past eight years when they take on Hull FC at Bridgend. In the 2000 season London took Warrington Wolves across the Severn to Newport, and returned to Wales again in 2002, then hosting Widnes at Aberavon. Those two Welsh road trips were punctuated by a second visit to Leicester, again against Bradford, in 2001. In 2003 London took it its first home game to France (and fourth game out of England) when playing Warrington in Carcassonne

Sydney Morning Herald: Blockbuster video lifts Cowboys to new heights

Nowhere to hide: Warriors centre Jerome Ropati runs into trouble. Photo: Getty ImagesCowboys 24 Warriors 16Videotaped messages from each of North Queensland's five Origin stars last night inspired the depleted Cowboys to a stirring victory against the Warriors. With centre Josh Hannay recapturing his own Queensland form after being left out of the Cowboys side last week and prop Paul Rauhihi playing on despite an agonising rib injury, Graham Murray 's men moved to third on the table with an eight-point triumph. They led 10-0 early, fell behind 16-10 after half-time and then scored three sizzling tries to snatch their fifth consecutive win against the Aucklanders. It was revealed late last night that Cowboys football manager Peter Parr had recorded motivational messages from Matt Bowen, Paul Bowman, Johnathan Thurston, Matt Sing and Ty Williams before they went into camp with the Maroons for Origin III - and kept it secret from the other players. "We did it in Townsville before they left, we didn't tell the boys," Parr said. "An hour and a half before the game, we showed them. "The focus was how important the game was and how proud they were of our home record

Sporting Life: RHINOS RELY ON ROCK-SOLID DEFENCE

Leeds coach Tony Smith can now look forward to the Powergen Challenge Cup semi-finals with confidence after seeing off a tough challenge from London Broncos. The Rhinos became the first team to reach the last four on Friday night as they ground out a 32-12 win at Headingley. London proved far tougher opposition than they did when thrashed 64-6 by the Rhinos in April and led 12-10 with 30 minutes remaining. But it was the Rhinos' extra class that eventually told, Danny McGuire's second try on 65 minutes finally giving them breathing space and Keith Senior's 100th touchdown for the club making it safe. The Super League champions' hard-fought win bore little resemblance to last week's remarkable 70-0 thrashing of Wigan and Smith was pleased his defence proved so strong

News and Star: BARLA reward for Lofthouse

By Helen Graham KELLS ARL secretary Russell Lofthouse has been rewarded for his hard work at the recent BARLA annual general meeting. Russell, a former player and coach of the Whitehaven-based outfit, was presented with the Tom Keaveney award for the secretary of the year. And he was not the only member of the Cumberland ARL to be honoured. CARL secretary John Pattinson was awarded the prestigious BARLA silver boot for his services to the game. Pattinson, who is also Cumbria county secretary, is a long serving member of the Cumberland ARL and was central to the launch of the West Cumbria Service Area and also helped to set up the Allerdale service area

Sydney Morning Herald: Bulldogs break Manly\'s dream run

The Bulldogs broke Manly's impressive winning streak at Brookvale Oval today with a hard-fought 31-12 victory in wet conditions. The Sea Eagles were aiming for their 12th straight victory at their home ground but the tough Bulldogs gritted out a five tries to two win in front of a 14,429-strong crowd. Third-placed Manly was dealt a further blow in the 61st minute when former Blues forward Anthony Watmough left the field with a knee injury. It is doubtful whether Bulldogs prop Mark O'Meley had enough impact to suggest his name will be read out tomorrow when NSW selectors announce their team for the Origin decider in Brisbane on July 6. O'Meley was solid but he still lacks match fitness and may struggle in Origin football following only his second match back from a long-term leg injury

Huddersfield Daily Examiner: Let\'s hope rest does the trick

Jun 30 2005AS soon as we had beaten Wakefield in our last match 11 days ago, I said how grateful I was that we were about to be handed a free weekend. I felt it had come at just the right time and that it would provide the players with the ideal opportunity to recover from the many bumps and bruises that are experienced at this stage of the season. From the way the players have trained this week, it definitely appears as if the break has done them a power of good. It's given everyone the chance to re-energise their bodies, and the vast majoiry of the squad now look to be firing on all cylinders once again. Clearly the acid test to see if this is the case will come on Saturday when we take to the field at Salford City Reds

Sporting Life: MILLWARD TARGETS PLAY-OFF PLACE

Wigan coach Ian Millward has his sights set on the engage Super League play-off picture after last night's 30-22 victory over Leigh ended his side's mini crisis. Successive record defeats at Leeds and St Helens had piled the pressure on Millward and the injury-hit Warriors. But a purple patch at the start of the second half - which saw Dennis Moran, Terry Newton and Danny Tickle cross for vital touchdowns - saw them overcome a half-time deficit to pick up a welcome win that lifts them five points above the drop zone and within touching distance of the top six. Millward said: "It's been a tough week, but we will learn from it. "It would have been tough for us to have lost here, with them going down this year. But we contemplated nothing all week but winning

Huddersfield Daily Examiner: McNally pays high price

Jun 23 2005WAKEFIELD Trinity have promised to give new coach Tony Smith every chance of establishing himself with the Wildcats. The former Great Britain scrum-half yesterday stepped up from being Shane McNally's assistant after the Australian paid the price for Wakefield's poor form this season. Trinity, just one point above the relegation zone after winning one of their last seven matches, acted to stop the rot by terminating the contract of the 50-year-old. McNally, pictured, who signed a new two-year deal in February, was Super League coach of the year after leading the Wildcats to the play-offs last season, but the club have struggled since beating champions Leeds on Easter Monday. Wildcats chief executive Diane Rogerson revealed the club have already had phone calls from parties interested in the coaching position, but for now the club are happy to leave the job in the hands of Smith. She said: "We have appointed Tony Smith to take over coaching duties

Sydney Morning Herald: Give us our fair share, says players union

The Rugby League Professionals Association has called for NRL grants to clubs to be doubled and for the game's governing body to look at increasing the salary cap to about $5 million in the wake of the massive new TV deal. The new contract with free-to-air and pay TV is understood to be worth about $85 million a year to the NRL, about double what the old deal was worth. In announcing the new contract on Friday, NRL chief executive David Gallop flagged increases in the $2. 5m (2004) grants to clubs of $250,000 next year and $500,000 in 2007. But RLPA boss Tony Butterfield said yesterday the NRL should consider making grants of $5m a year to each club and significantly increasing the salary cap. "If the current model is sustainable and the money coming to the game is doubled, it makes sense that grants to the clubs are doubled," he said. "The clubs are the custodians of the game and if there is more money coming into the game they deserve to benefit from that, as do the players. "The players are the ones who generate the income and they deserve to reap the rewards of this new TV deal. "This new deal is great news for the game at all levels. But these things need to be considered

Sydney Morning Herald: Jumping Joey on Maroons hit list

Andrew Johns knows Queensland will be hunting baby kangaroo on Wednesday night. "Joey" realises the tough guys among the Maroons will want to make him aware they are there, much more than they did in State of Origin II. It is only natural that Newcastle and Queensland coach Michael Hagan will devise tactics without any thought of his ties with Johns at the Knights. But the NSW halfback says he is ready, and it is easy to believe him. His relaxed mood and quiet confidence make it that way. And, after all, if the greatest player in the world wasn't ready for a game like this, then how would the other 33 players who will take part be going?Johns says it is only natural Queensland will put more heat on him in the series-deciding game at Suncorp Stadium. "They would've watched the tape [of Origin II] and realised they gave me too much time with the ball," he said. "So I expect blokes like [Michael] Crocker and a few others to be really coming at me pretty hard. I get that in club games, but it's probably going to be a step up on Wednesday night. It'll be a bit more intense and it'll probably happen for the whole game, not just the first 20 minutes. ""King" Wally Lewis, in an interview with Rugby League Week magazine, nominated rough and tumble Maroons second-rower Crocker as one of the players who should increase the pressure on Johns, "by charging out of the defensive line and cutting his decision time". Lewis said Johns had to be "hammered and put on his back" every time he got the ball

Sydney Morning Herald: With Nine to kick in $40m, league has rights stuff to catch AFL

Rugby league is set to challenge AFL as the highest-valued sports broadcasting property, with announcements expected today that Channel Nine and Fox Sports have renewed their rights agreements. Nine's deal with the ARL and NRL for internationals, State of Origin, club matches and finals is expected to be $40 million a year - double the current deal which expires at the end of the 2007 season. Fox Sports - a partnership between the Kerry Packer-owned Nine network and News Ltd, part-owners of the NRL - is believed to have significantly upgraded the $35m a year it is committed to spend until the end of next season, when pay-TV rights expire. Based on the NRL producing an extra game per week due to the inclusion of Gold Coast in the competition in 2007, together with burgeoning advertising revenue to Fox Sports for its NRL programming, rugby league's total broadcasting income threatens to rival the AFL's $90m a year. However, Nine has not surrendered hope that it will retain AFL rights, with new boss Sam Chisholm drawn into negotiations. Nine's determination to thwart a Channel Seven-Ten partnership, thought to be favoured to pick up the AFL rights when they expire at the end of next season, involves a partnership with Foxtel. NRL chief executive David Gallop would not be drawn on the looming Nine-Fox Sports announcement but it is understood only a couple of minor issues are left to be resolved, including scheduling of matches, before the code enters its third and most lucrative deal with Packer. "We are in discussions on a daily basis," Gallop said of his talks with Nine's Lynton Taylor. "There are still some issues to be discussed. "Club chief executives have lobbied for the NRL to gain control over which matches are shown on free-to-air TV, rather than Nine selecting its Friday match of the round and Sunday game five weeks ahead

TotalRL.com: Bullish Toulouse prepare for Vikings

FOR their first appearance in a Challenge Cup quarter-final, Toulouse Olympique are working hard both on and off the pitch to ensure that this Sundays televised tie against Widnes is a big success. Toulouse are hoping for a 4,000 plus crowd, and, in what must surely be a first for a Rugby League club, they are doing a joint promotion with bull-fighting. The Cup match coincides with the Toulouse Feria - a Spanish-influenced festival of bull-fighting which was launched three years ago, and which is expected to draw over 100,000 people over four days

Super League: Rea settles for Broncos draw

London Broncos boss Tony Rea was content to settle for deadlock at Bridgend in his sideas engage Super League 24-24 thriller against Hull. The contest was packed with twists and could have gone either way in the second half, a point not lost on Rea who was ultimately happy to settle for a draw. The Broncos scored through tries from Lee Hopkins and Luke Dorn in the opening 13 minutes, plus further touchdowns from Nick Bradley and Mark McLinden and four Paul Sykes penalties

Sporting Life: WOUNDED WARRIORS IN DECLINE

Wigan, now on the end of the type of crushing defeats they handed out with gay abandon at the height of their powers, have become victims of the success of Super League. The Warriors' fortunes have hit an all-time low, having conceded 145 points without reply in their last two matches, and are even being tipped as relegation candidates after winning just one of their last six games. Ian Millward, just five weeks into arguably the most prestigious coaching role in rugby league, admits he has inherited a bigger job than he thought and Friday's trip to bottom club Leigh has suddenly taken on huge significance. Wigan's current plight is in stark contrast to their glory days of the late Eighties and early Nineties when the won the Challenge Cup eight times in a row and completed the League and Cup double in six successive seasons

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