Hawks too good for gallant Eagles

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Dominant ... Lance Franklin again among Hawthorn's best in their victory. Source: JOE CASTRO / AAP

Hawthorn forwards Jarryd Roughead and Jack Gunston have booted five goals each as their side's star-studded attack lifted the AFL's top-placed club to victory over a dogged West Coast.

The Hawks' hard-fought 19.9 (123) to 16.7 (103) triumph at Etihad Stadium on Friday night gave them 11 wins straight and if they can down Brisbane in Launceston next Sunday they'll equal the club record streak of 12 set in winning their maiden premiership in 1961.

6.0 (36)	Q1	6.2 (38)
12.2 (74)	Q2	7.6 (48)
16.4 (100)	Q3	12.7 (79)
19.9 (123)	Q4	16.7 (103)

Jack Gunston 5	Josh J. Kennedy 5
Jarryd Roughead 5	Mark LeCras 2
Luke Breust 3	Luke Shuey 2
Lance Franklin 2	Dean Cox 1
Shane Savage 2	Bradd Dalziell 1
Jordan Lewis 1	Jack Darling 1
Jonathan Simpkin 1	Chris Masten 1
	Nick Naitanui 1
	Matt Priddis 1
	Scott Selwood 1

But Friday night's win didn't come easy against the ninth-placed Eagles, whose finals hopes took another hit as they fell to a 6-6 record, lost Shannon Hurn to an ankle injury and could also lose veteran Andrew Embley, who dropped his knees into Ben Stratton in the second term.

		P	W	D	L	%	Pts
1	Hawthorn	12	11	0	1	143.00	44
2	Geelong	11	10	0	1	129.49	40
3	Essendon	12	9	0	3	131.57	36
4	Sydney	11	8	1	2	134.91	34
5	Fremantle	11	8	1	2	128.57	34
6	Collingwood	12	8	0	4	108.47	32
7	Richmond	11	7	0	4	114.27	28
8	Carlton	12	6	0	6	116.89	24
9	Port Adelaide	11	6	0	5	114.55	24
10	West Coast	12	6	0	6	111.53	24
11	Adelaide	12	5	0	7	103.55	20
12	Gold Coast	12	5	0	7	92.55	20
13	North Melbourne	11	4	0	7	111.13	16
14	Bulldogs	11	3	0	8	75.84	12
15	Brisbane	11	3	0	8	73.56	12
16	St Kilda	11	2	0	9	85.80	8
17	Melbourne	11	1	0	10	49.76	4
18	Greater Western Sydney	12	0	0	12	51.41	0

The Hawks also had their share of injuries, with Grant Birchall (knee) subbed off in the third term, fellow defender Josh Gibson (ankle) leaving the field in the last quarter and clever forward Luke Breust playing on despite damaging an ankle in the second quarter.

Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson said his side did well to cope with losing Paul Puopolo (quad) in the warm-up and their other injuries during the game.

But he was pleased to win a close game, as they did against Carlton in round 12.

"We've played two sides that have been pretty desperate over the past two weeks and to not play our best footy and be challenged in both games and still get on top is really pleasing,'' Clarkson said.

He said Birchall should recover for next round but the extent of Gibson's injury was uncertain.

West Coast coach John Worsfold could see some positives despite the defeat.

"There was a lot of good stuff out of tonight but it really means nothing unless we can keep building on that,'' he said.

He said while their attack shone, they were thrashed in the stoppages at various times.

The Eagles had the midfield ascendancy, with Nic Naitanui outstanding in the ruck, helping midfielders Andrew Gaff, Luke Shuey, Chris Masten, Scott Selwood and Matt Priddis all have highly-productive nights.

West Coast dominated the centre clearances 20-9 and entered their attack six more times than the Hawks.

But while Josh Kennedy (five goals) fired in attack for West Coast, he had little support, whereas almost everything that Hawthorn's forwards touched turned to gold.

Roughead shone early and Gunston throughout, while Breust (three goals) and Lance Franklin (two) were also dangerous.

The Eagles led by two points at the first change, helped by Naitanui's stunning first-term goal, in which he took the ball directly from a goal square ball-up and put it through with his left boot before he hit the ground.

Sharpshooter Mark LeCras extended West Coast's lead to eight points early in the second term.

But Hawthorn booted the last six goals of the first half, including a brilliant roving effort from Breust, to lead by 26 points at the main break.

The Eagles kicked four of the first five goals of the third term, including two to Kennedy directly from centre breaks, to narrow the margin to eight points.

Roughead answered with his fifth from a strong mark.

West Coast had the chance to make it closer entering the final term but a costly botched kick by Jack Darling heading into attack led to a turnover, Hawthorn goal and 21-point last-change buffer.

The brave Eagles kept fighting in the last quarter, but the closest they got was 14 points with less than two minutes left.

Click here to see all of the stats and scores in the FOX FOOTY Match Centre.

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

SBW stars as Chooks down Dogs

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Sonny Bill Williams ... during the Bulldogs v Roosters at ANZ Stadium. Source: Mark Evans / News Limited

Sonny Bill Williams enjoyed a triumphant return to the his old Canterbury kennel, as his Sydney Roosters survived a late surge to score a 20-18 NRL win on Friday night.

3 Tries 4
Ben Barba 19'	Shaun Kenny-Dowall 5'
Dene Halatau 71'	Boyd Cordner 26'
Krisnan Inu 79'	Shaun Kenny-Dowall 48'
	Boyd Cordner 61'
3 Conversions 2
Trent Hodkinson 21'	Daniel Mortimer 28'
Trent Hodkinson 71'	Daniel Mortimer 49'
Trent Hodkinson 80'

Outstanding back-rower Boyd Cordner and centre Shaun Kenny-Dowall each scored two of the Roosters' four tries.

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Down 20-6 with 19 minutes to go, the Bulldogs scored the last 12 points, but ran out of time.

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Converted tries in the last six minutes to Dene Halatau and Krisnan Inu got the Bulldogs close.

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Playing against the Bulldogs at their ANZ Stadium home for the first time since walking out on the club in 2008, Williams displayed his full range of skills.

Listed at halfback, Williams was cleared to play before the game after suffering a gluteal muscle injury on Thursday and relished his roving role.

Often going into first receiver with regular playmakers James Maloney and Mitchell Pearce on NSW State of Origin duty, Williams skilfully mixed up his kicking, passing and running game against an out-of-sorts Bulldogs combination.

Williams got plenty of support from forwards Cordner and Frank-Paul Nuuausala.

In the backs, halfback Daniel Mortimer's smart option-taking helped the Roosters overcome the loss to NSW of first-choice halves Pearce and Maloney, while winger Roger Tuivasa-Sheck excelled.

Williams said he felt pretty sore in the last 20 minutes and was struggling.

"I had physio three times yesterday and iced up pretty much all night and then this morning had to take a couple of pain killers," Williams said.

"If it was any other week and we had a full strength side, I'd probably just try and get it ready for the next week.

"But because we were understrength I knew I had to try and get out there for the boys."

Roosters coach Trent Robinson, who described it as a great win, was happy to leave the decision to Williams, who had a fitness test before the game.

"I didn't even ask him after the warmup because he would have told me if he wasn't right, so he played and played well," Robinson said.

Asked about the report on Napa, Robinson said: "It looked like a shoulder charge but I'm hoping he got his arm around it."

Bulldogs coach Des Hasler said Graham hurt his back, but should be right after the coming bye.

"They ran a little bit harder, they tackled a little bit harder and consequently they did enough to hang on," Hasler said of the Roosters.

"We've been up for a little while, but there was plenty for us to play (for) tonight coming off the back of a win last week and heading into the bye."

Canterbury slipped to just their second loss in their past nine games, but could have few complaints.

Leading 10-6 at the break, the Roosters took control by scoring the first two tries of the second half.

Tuivasa-Sheck set up Kenny-Dowall in the 49th minute and Cordner surged onto a Mortimer pass to complete his double in the 61st minute.

The Roosters dominated the first quarter, creating most of the early opportunities.

Kenny-Dowall was held up off a Williams pass before crossing in the fifth minute following good ball movement and a well-timed pass from fullback and captain Anthony Minichiello.

While much of the pre-match fuss surrounded Williams, it was the Bulldogs' latest superstar, fullback Ben Barba, who snatched back the spotlight.

The elusive Barba sliced through two attempted tackles to notch his eighth try in 12 games this season.

Cordner regained the lead for the Roosters when he rushed onto a Mortimer pass at pace and smashed over the line, with Mortimer converting.

Halfback Trent Hodkinson was at the heart of most of the Bulldogs' best attacking moments.

Roosters debutant Dylan Napa made his presence felt, being placed on report for a shoulder charge on James Graham just before the break and redeemed himself almost immediately by stripping the ball from Sam Kasiano.

Graham did not return to the game.

Robinson wasn't sure how the last-minute knee injury on Martin Kennedy would affect the prop's role of 18th man in the Queensland Origin squad.

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Mercedes cop F1 testing ban

Hearing ... Mercedes chief Ross Brawn prepares for the FIA findings. Source: Michel Euler / AFP

Mercedes have suspended from next month's young driver test and both the team and Pirelli reprimanded for their respective parts in 'Testgate', the International Tribunal has announced.

After a morning of waiting following Thursday's mammoth, and at times heated, seven-hour hearing into the controversial Barcelona tyre test at the FIA's Paris headquarters, Formula 1's governing body announced that both parties had been punished for taking part in the 1000km Barcelona test.

However, given fears had been that Mercedes might face a more hefty punishment should they have been adjudged to have contravened Article 22 of F1's Sporting Regulations regarding in-season testing their subsequent reprimand and ban from the three-day Silverstone test is relatively minor - with the team's lawyer himself himself having suggested the latter sanction to the court in the event the ruling went against his client.

The FIA themselves added following the verdict that it intended to consolidate the control of F1 tests.

"The FIA wishes that lessons are learnt from this case and from the decision handed down. To this end, the FIA will make sure, in association with all F1 teams, that its control of the testings is strengthened," it said in a statement.

In Thursday's hearing the FIA's counsel, Mark Howard, had argued vociferously that both Mercedes and Pirelli had contravened Formula 1's Sporting Regulations in regards to in-season testing by conducting the post-Spanish GP test with a Mercedes' 2013 car and may have also breached Article 151c of the International Sporting Code by engaging in "any act prejudicial to the interests of any competition".

Mercedes, who had protested their innocence in the matter since news of the test first broke of the morning of the Monaco GP last month, reiterated during the course of their submissions to the Tribunal that the Barcelona test was "conducted by Pirelli" and therefore the team themselves hadn't contravened Article 22.1 of the Sporting Regulations which bans full in-season testing with a current car.

The Brackley team's lawyer, Paul Harris QC, also cited an email exchange between FIA Race Director Charlie Whiting and the governing body's legal advisor Sebastian Barnard which they claimed had given them the green light to put forward their W04 for testing with race drivers Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg.

However, the FIA had already insisted during its prosecution that only the World Motor Sport Council have the authority to allow such a change in the regulations and the views Whiting expressed were only an "opinion" rather than formal permission.

Pirelli's lawyer, meanwhile, had argued that given the tyre firm were an F1 supplier, as opposed to a competitor, the FIA had no power to sanction them under its statues and in any case its separate commercial agreement with the governing body didn't specify what kind of car they could run in their permitted tests.

The International Tribunal verdict in full

'On 5 June 2013, further to protests lodged during the 2013 Monaco GP by Red Bull Racing and Ferrari Scuderia Team against cars n°9 and 10 (Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team) for having conducted with Pirelli a three day tyre testing using a 2013 car on 15, 16 and 17 May in Barcelona, the President of the FIA, acting as the FIA Prosecuting Body, sent to the President of the International Tribunal a notification of charges against Pirelli and a notification of charges against Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team.

'On 5 June 2013, Pirelli and Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team have been convened by the President of the International Tribunal to appear before a judging panel of the International Tribunal.

'Decision of the International Tribunal

'The Tribunal, after having heard the parties and examined their submissions, decided that:

'Mercedes be reprimanded;

Mercedes be suspended from participating in the forthcoming "three day young driver training test";

Pirelli be reprimanded. and rejected all other and further conclusions.

'The International Tribunal was presided over by Mr Edwin Glasgow QC and included Mr Christy Harris (US), Mr Patrick Raedersdorf (Switzerland) and Mr Anthony Scott-Andrews (Great Britain).'

Read more: http://www1.skysports.com/formula-1/news/12472/8786213/Mercedes-suspended-from-young-driver-test-and-reprimanded-for-part-in-Testgate

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Wiggins may never race Le Tour again

Sacrifices ... Bradley Wiggins says he is happy with his 2012 Tour de France win. Source: Gian Mattia D'Alberto / AP

Tour de France 2012 winner Bradley Wiggins, sidelined from this year's edition through injury, may not try to win the race again, he indicated in comments published on Friday.

"For me it was always about winning the Tour,'' he was quoted as saying on guardian.co.uk, the website of Britain's The Guardian newspaper.

"I've done that. If I'm honest I don't think I'm prepared to make those sacrifices again that I made last year, with my family and so on. I've achieved what I've achieved. I'm incredibly happy with that.''

Wiggins, who was Britain's first-ever winner of the famous race, followed up with gold in the Olympic time-trial and played a starring role ringing a bell to signal the start of the Games' opening ceremony.

He also won the BBC's prestigious Sports Personality of the Year award, but has endured mixed fortunes on the bike since then.

First he was involved in a training ride crash with a car near his home in northwest England, then had to pull out of this year's Giro d'Italia -- which he was hoping to win -- through illness.

He then dropped out of the Tour with a knee injury, paving the way for his team-mate Chris Froome, to lead Team Sky's charge for further glory when the race starts on June 29.

Wiggins, 33, added: "If I do anything else after this it will be stuff I want to do, stuff that I'm willing to train hard and sacrifice for really.

"For me it was always about winning the Tour, that was a huge thing for me, a huge journey; I've been doing that four years. I don't know if I'd want to go through all that again to be honest.

"I've always had other goals and there are other things I'd like to try and do,'' he added, without elaborating.

On Froome's chances, Wiggins said his Nairobi-born compatriot was in prime form and looked set "for a few years to win a few Tours maybe''.

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Mug's Guide to NBA Game 7

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This is it ... the Spurs and Heat will go head-to-head in the final game of the series. Source: Lynne Sladky / AP

It's the game the basketball world has been waiting for - and NBA bean-counters would have been praying for - Game 7 between the Miami Heat and the San Antonio Spurs.

WHEN AND WHERE?

The series-deciding Game 7 takes place at the American Airlines Arena in Miami, and starts at 11am on Friday AEST.

You can follow our live blog with basketball expert Boti Nagy below for instant updates throughout the game.

WHO'S PLAYING

The Miami Heat are the team everyone – apart from a fair amount of Floridians – love to hate. Why? Exhibit A: LeBron James.

Widely considered the best player since the great Michael Jordan, James left his home town side the Cleveland Cavaliers after a cringe-inducing live ESPN broadcast titled The Decision.

That he would flaunt said decision to flee the town to hook up with one of his biggest rivals – Dwayne Wade – in South Beach meant the sporting public didn't need persuading to make him enemy No 1.

James joined A-listers Chris Bosh and Wade at the Heat to create The Big Three, and what appeared to be an unstoppable basketball force.

To the delight of neutrals, they were taken down by a Dirk Nowitski-inspired Dallas Mavericks in the 2011 NBA Finals, giving plenty of ammo to those saying you couldn't buy a championship.

But last year the Heat claimed the crown - with LeBron claiming the NBA Finals MVP award - as the Heat steamrolled the Oklahoma City Thunder by four games to one.

This season, the Heat took their play to another level, at one stage rattling off 27 straight wins, and LeBron was a near unanimous winner of his fourth MVP trophy. However, the feeling is the Heat will have to win on Friday for the big man to enter the pantheon of all-time greats.

The San Antonio Spurs, meanwhile, are the quiet achievers of the NBA.

Coached by the wonderfully grumpy Gregg Popovich (more of him later), the Spurs have won four championships in the past 15 years, their last coming in 2007.

They have never failed to win an NBA finals once they've made it to the final round, a record bettered only by the Chicago Bulls (six without loss).

Of course that proud record could be lost on Friday, and many feel that the Spurs' inability to close out Game 6 means Friday's result is a foregone conclusion.

But with veteran Tony Parker in close-to-career-best form, the ageless Tim Duncan and role players such as Danny Green playing out of their skin, if any team can come up with one last bloody-minded push to glory, it's the Spurs.

WHO'S IN CHARGE?

The Heat's Erik Spoelstra, a 42-year-old who started at the Heat as a video co-ordinator in 1995, is often dismissed as an irrelevance to the Heat's recent success, considering the playing talent he has at his disposal.

But although he lacks the experience and gravitas of his opposite number, that 27-game win streak has bought him a new level of respect in the league.

San Antonio's Gregg Popovich, or Coach Pop, as he is commonly known, doesn't need to earn anyone's respect, and probably wouldn't give a damn whether he got it or not.

One of the most experienced coaches in the history of the sport, his 118 playoff wins as a coach rank him third in NBA history behind only Phil Jackson and Pat Riley, and he holds the record for wins with a single team.

He's also a hilariously spiky presence both during and after games, as the video below clearly demonstrates.

THE SERIES SO FAR

The finals series stands at three games each, after an unusual amount of one-sided contests.

The Spurs shaded a tight opening game in Miami before being humbled at the same venue by 19 points in Game 2.

The first game in San Antonio was an embarrassment for the champions, with the Spurs demolishing them by 36 points.

Famously though, this Heat team do not lose two on the trot (not since January at any rate) and stormed back to take out Game 4 by 16.

San Antonio won their last home game to sit just one game away from glory, which they came agonisingly close to achieving on Wednesday in Game 6 at Miami.

In a game for the ages, the Spurs looked most likely for most of the second half and were five points ahead entering the final minute of regulation time (leading many Miami "fans" to head to head for the exits).

NBA officials even had the yellow tape out for the post-game presentation ceremony (something the Heat players said afterwards they had noticed), but some jittery decision-making by the Spurs helped the home side creep back to within three.

The stage was set for the veteran Ray Allen - one of the greatest three-point shooters of all time - to drain a shot with five seconds on the clock, force the game into overtime and send the (remaining) crowd into raptures

The home side regrouped and eventually prevailed by three points, with Allen again the hero as he nailed some late clutch free throws.

WHO WILL WIN?

The prevailing wisdom is that the Spurs have missed their shot by not sealing the deal in Game 6 - TAB has priced a Heat win at $1.36, with the Spurs $3.20 to prevail.

If you like statistical trends though, the Spurs are due, with the Heat needing to break a trend of win-loss-win-loss-etc that they've managed to cultivate throughout the Conference Finals and this series, a sequence that now stretches to 13 games.

Follow all the action LIVE with basketball expert Boti Nagy below from 11am Friday AEST

On a mobile device? Click here for a better viewing experience

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Milne satisfied with Saints' reaction

Out ... Stephen Milne has sought assurances he will be able to play again.. Source: Wayne Ludbey / Herald Sun

Stephen Milne has left a meeting with St Kilda board members happy with how the club is treating him as he faces rape charges, says teammate Nick Dal Santo.

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The veteran forward reportedly received an assurance at Thursday's meeting that he will play again in the AFL.

A group of Saints players and coach Scott Watters met board members to clarify Milne's future, a day after the club announced an indefinite suspension for the forward.

The Saints stood down Milne on Wednesday, after Victoria Police charged him with four counts of rape.

Dal Santo, one of those who attended the meeting, said players had been left unsatisfied by the initial explanation for Milne's suspension they received from a board member on Wednesday.

"We needed some more clarity on that and I think we walked away still asking some questions,'' Dal Santo told the Nine Network's AFL Footy Show on Thursday night.

"We went to the club today, 18 of the senior boys which included Milney (and met) three board directors and the senior coach again.

"We went through it and we walked away understanding exactly what it's about.

"Milney was happy with the decision and where it's heading and so were we.''

Dal Santo, who along with Saints captain Nick Riewoldt will play his 250th AFL game on Saturday against Melbourne, said he was disappointed Milne wouldn't be part of it.

He said it had been a tough week for all of the players and coaching staff.

"I would have loved Steve to play in mine and also Nick Riewoldt's 250th game this weekend,'' Dal Santo said.

"It's obviously very disappointing.

"But with that, I understand the club's decision, fully support what they've decided to do.

"At the end of the day, it's about Milney's welfare.''

The Saints have cancelled a planned media conference for Dal Santo and Riewoldt.

The pair were originally scheduled to speak to the media on Wednesday.

When it emerged that Milne had been charged, that media conference was rescheduled for Friday.

But on Thursday night, the Saints announced the pair would not be made available and Watters would speak on Friday instead.

Milne's manager Tom Petroro also released a statement on Thursday through the AFL Players' Association, pleading for his client's privacy to be respected.

"Stephen is taking the legal matter very seriously and has engaged lawyers to represent him to contest the charges,'' Petroro said.

"Like every citizen, he is entitled to the presumption of innocence.

It is requested that the privacy of Stephen, his wife and his family be respected during this time.''

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Del Piero, Ono to lead All Stars

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Fan favourite ... Alessandro Del Piero Source: Brett Costello / News Limited

Crowd favourites Alessandro Del Piero and Shinji Ono will spearhead the A-League All Stars side when they take on English champions Manchester United in Sydney next month.

Voting for the All Stars side ended on Thursday when coach Ange Postecoglou and an expert panel that included Han Berger, Craig Moore, Tony Vidmar, Mark Bosnich and Stan Lazaridis cast their votes for the starting XI plus four substitutes.

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More than 30,000 fans voted on the team with the system giving most weight to their wishes, with input from the expert panel, A-League players themselves and Postecoglou.

Newcomers Western Sydney Wanderers have four representatives including Ono in the team to meet United at ANZ Stadium on July 20. The Central Coast Mariners and the Melbourne Victory also have four each.

It will be one of the English champions' first official engagements since the retirement of long-time manager Alex Ferguson.

A-League All Stars: Ante Covic (Western Sydney Wanderers), Pedj Bojic (Sydney FC), Nikolai Topor-Stanley (Wanderers), Patrick Zwaanswijk (Central Coast Mariners), Adama Traore (Melbourne Victory), Thomas Broich (Brisbane Roar), Mark Milligan (Victory), Michael McGlinchey (Mariners), Archie Thompson (Victory), Alessandro Del Piero (Sydney FC), Marco Rojas (Victory)

Substitutes: Mathew Ryan (Mariners), Shinji Ono (Wanderers), Youssouf Hersi (Wanderers), Trent Sainsbury (Mariners)

Coach: Ange Postecoglou (Victory)

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Revolutionising sports coverage

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Welcome to the revolution ... University of Toyko have developed an amazing new camera. Source: Kathy Willens / AP

Researchers at the University of Tokyo have developed a high-speed, fast-tracking camera that could revolutionise sports coverage.

The camera is still in the testing phase, but in-lab demos have been highly successful and the university is starting to test the camera outside.

The camera uses a group of lenses and mirrors that flick rapidly so that the camera doesn't have to move.

The camera, which focuses on the ball rather than predicting its movement, may change how baseball and soccer are viewed.

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Warning: if squeamish, do not watch! Viewer descretion is advised. 

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Assistant Professor of The University of Tokyo Hiromasa Oku is confident explains how the camera works: "Ordinarily, to change the direction a camera faces, you move the camera mechanically," he said.

"But in this system it's not the camera that moves, it's the mirrors.

"This makes it possible to change where you're looking really quickly.

"The camera captures and processes an image every 1/1000th of a second."

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Boss vows to punish misbehaviour

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NRL CEO ... Dave Smith talks to the media. Source: Sam Ruttyn / News Limited

Blake Ferguson's future is still in limbo after the Canberra winger was stood down for at least four weeks as NRL chief executive Dave Smith said the code's hardline stance against misbehaving players was here to stay.

Ferguson was on Wednesday made unavailable for selection by the Raiders for the four-week period while he undertakes an extensive alcohol management program.

Ferguson is the third player in the past week to be stood down for off-field conduct, following his dumping from the NSW team when charged with indecent assault over an alleged nightclub incident.

North Queensland prop James Tamou was fined $20,000 and banned for two games, including State of Origin game two, after admitting to a high-range drink-driving charge.

And South Sydney powerhouse George Burgess also copped a two-game ban and $10,000 fine after being charged with two counts of wilful damage by Queensland police when he hurled a road sign through a car window.

Smith said players will need to quickly get the message, because the penalties would not be disappearing.

"The bad behaviours that we've seen, they're not acceptable to the fans," he said on Wednesday.

"They're not acceptable to the players. And frankly they're not acceptable to us.

"They won't be tolerated. I think you've seen strong action from us, strong consistent action.

"Those players involved with bad behaviour, what they'll do ... they'll find themselves on the sidelines.

The good news for Ferguson is that his contract with the Raiders has not been torn up, despite being handed his "final warning" earlier this year when photographed drinking on a rooftop with then-teammate Josh Dugan instead of attending a recovery session.

Both the NRL and Raiders will await the outcome of the court case before making a final determination on Ferguson's immediate future.

The NRL had already suspended Ferguson's registration indefinitely, citing repeated behavioural issues involving the abuse of alcohol, while it awaited the outcomes from the Canberra board.

"The NRL will review Ferguson's progress with the club after a four-week period and assess his eligibility at that point," said the NRL in a statement on Wednesday.

Calls for players to be given minders who could keep them out of trouble have been revisited following rugby league's latest week of shame.

However Canterbury boss Todd Greenberg, who will join the NRL as Smith's second-in-command in August, said that measure fails to address the issue of player misbehaviour.

"No, I don't think that really addresses the issue to be honest," Greenberg said.

"It's personal accountability. We've done it at the Bulldogs over a number of years, about holding our players accountable to standards.

"I think that's exactly what the game's done this week, and will continue to do.

"... This is just another challenging week in the cycle that is rugby league.

"It won't get easier. There's always big issues to confront.

"But you're running a billion dollar business, and those issues need to be confronted."

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Stosur crashes out of Eastborne

Loss ... Sam Stosur was overpowered by Lucie Safarova at Eastborne. Source: Paul Crock / AFP

Samantha Stosur's Wimbledon preparation was cut short as she fell to Czech Lucie Safarova in the second round at Eastbourne on Wednesday.

Stosur failed to build on an impressive opening display against Russian eighth seed Nadia Petrova, as Safarova won 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 in warm conditions at the final Wimbledon lead-in tournament.

Australian world No.14 Stosur will now head into next week's grass-court grand slam having played only two warm-up matches on her least-favoured surface.

The 29-year-old is hoping to improve on a modest record at Wimbledon, where she has never been past the third round.

But her prospects took a significant hit on Wednesday as left-hander Safarova continued a dominant record over the Australian, with her sixth win from eight meetings.

Stosur was in control for most of the first set, and had a set point when serving for the match at 5-3 up.

However Safarova's ball striking improved dramatically and the world No.28 rallied to take the set in the tiebreaker.

The second set was also evenly-fought, with both players battling to hold serve early, before Safarova clinched the crucial break up 4-3.

Safarova, 26, will face either American Jamie Hampton or Taiwan's Su-Wei Hsieh in the quarter-finals.

Bernard Tomic meets Frenchman Julien Benneteau in the second round later on Wednesday while Marinko Matosevic lost his opening-round match in straight sets to Czech veteran Radek Stepanek.

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