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Thursday, 6 November 2014
Quidditch
Check out our video on Quidditch which has moved from the fantasy world of Harry Potter to a game played by thousands in real life.
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Wednesday, 15 October 2014
Bathurst 1000 Drama! By Rahul
From last to first. Ford's Chaz Mostert and Paul Morris took an extraordinary win in the Bathurst 1000 that pushed drivers, cars and the circuit to their limits. The Ford racers secured a victory ahead of Nissan's James Moffat and Taz Douglas in a battle that saw favourite Jamie Whincup run out of fuel in the final lap. Mostert took the chequered flag in only his second Bathurst 1000 start, helped by veteran Paul Morris who crashed early in the race at turn two, a corner subject to controversial mid-race repairs.
The Ford men stole victory from Whincup at the death without having led a single lap of the race.
Whincup looked set to take victory, having been in front hours after he put on a clinic in the first part of the race, tearing through the pack from 23rd place on the grid. Whincup pushed his car to the edge of his fuel envelope as race engineer Dave Cauchi warned he was perilously close to running out of fuel.
Mostert knew Whincup was running on fumes as he closed to within striking distance.
"The last five laps all I could think of was 'cough, you bastard, cough!"' he said.
I had to have a crack, and we pulled it off.
"From 26th to first, it's unbelievable. Everything went our way."
James Moffat, the son of four-time Bathurst winner Allan Moffat, could not believe his luck as key contenders Craig Lowndes, Winterbottom and Whincup fell away with late-race penalties, crashes and fuel shortages.
"I can't believe we stuck the car twice in the fence and ended up second at Bathurst," he said.
The top contenders were in a pitched battle of speed and strategy for the last hour, with teams carefully choosing when to bring drivers in for a last-minute splash of fuel. Shane Van Gisbergen, Craig Lowndes and Mostert lapped at record pace in the closing stages, pushing each other to the brink in a bid for Bathurst glory. Their run was interrupted by a safety car on lap 150 brought out by Tim Blanchard, who lost control of his Commodore at the cutting. Van Gisbergen pitted from the lead only to experience the cruellest twist as his car failed to restart following a last-minute pit stop. Ford frontrunner Mark Winterbottom lost the lead to Whincup before running wide at turn two, into the path of Craig Lowndes, who spun him around with seven laps remaining.
Officials pulled Lowndes out of third place with a drive-through penalty for his part in the incident. The mountain broke plenty of hearts on Sunday, with no pain more raw than Scott McLaughlin's. The Volvo driver raced away to take the lead on lap one ahead of hours of error-free laps that kept McLaughlin and his French co-driver Alexandre Premat in contention for victory until Van Gisbergen attempted a bold pass and sent him into a wall. Ford men David Reynolds and Dean Canto were equally distraught, having raced from the rear of the grid to lead the race, only for electrical failure to curtail their campaign with just over two hours to run.
The race was a protracted affair with 10 safety car interjections and a full hour's stoppage to repair damaged tarmac at turn two. The big break came after 61 laps of racing, giving teams time to freshen their vehicles. The decision to stop the race did not sit well with team owners such as Volvo's Garry Rogers and Red Bull's Roland Dane, who said teams should not have been allowed to work on their cars during the break.
Reference:http://www.smh.com.au/sport/motorsport/late-bathurst-1000-drama-as-chaz-mostert-paul-morris-take-jamie-whincup-on-last-lap-for-victory-20141012-11524x.html
Sam Burgess Stiff Competition for RWC England Squad- By Matt
Burgess also faces heavy competition for the starting role, with as many as five contenders vying to wear England’s number 12 jersey in their World Cup opener against Fiji at Twickenham. With an inform English side that defeated Australia and South Africa in last years spring tour, Burgess will struggle to make the team and the transition from league to union will not make his prospects any easier. England faces what is known as the group of death at the world cup next year with Australia and Wales drawn in their pool.
Reference: http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/sam-burgess-facing-fitness-race-stiff-competition-for-place-in-englands-rugby-world-cup-squad/story-e6frf4pu-1227091106567?sv=65b39cae8edbce4af854086561877556#itm_s=foxs&itm_t=home&itm_c=content-3&itm_o=56&itm_l=Fox%20Feed%20-%20Burgess’ main RWC competition
Jarryd Hayne quits NRL for NFL- By Matt
JARRYD Hayne has expressed his gratitude to all his supporters who have backed his move to the United States to pursue his NFL dream.
“Overwhelmed the amount of support I’ve received. Can not begin to thank everyone for the messages of support both personal n on social media,” Hayne tweeted to his followers on Wednesday night.
It follows a monumental day for Hayne who shocked the rugby league world with his bombshell announcement that he was quitting rugby league, effective immediately.
His decision has sent the NRL into a tailspin with the decision meaning that Hayne was also withdrawing from the Kangaroos for the upcoming Four Nations and the likely prospect that we will never see the two-time Dally M winner in the game again.
The NRL were prepared to open the purse strings to keep Hayne but NRL CEO’s Dave Smith attempts were rejected.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJath14Tg4A
Reference: http://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/hayne-quits-nrl-for-nfl-parramatta-eel-jarryd-hayne-leaves-rugby-league-to-try-his-luck-in-the-united-states/story-e6frf3tc-1227091016581
Monday, 13 October 2014
Roger Federer beats Djokovic in Shanghai Masters
Roger Federer who many regard as the greatest tennis player of all time, beat Novak Djokovic in the semi-final of the Shangani Masters winning the match in straight sets. He won 6-4, 6-4, the result takes him to second in the ranking overtaking Rafael Nadal who is suffering from appendix problems.
Djokovic saved the first break point by finding a way past Federer -- who was again at the net -- but gave away his serve with a weak backhand slice moments later.
He then earned his sole break point of the set in the next game, which Federer saved. The Swiss then produced a perfect serving game at his next opportunity, firing four successive aces to march to a 5-3 lead before sealing the set 6-4.
Federer carried his ruthless approach into the early stages of the second set, breaking in the first game with a lifting groundstroke that was beyond Djokovic.
Djokovic staged a valiant attempt to break as he was losing 3-5 with some incredible net play as the pair tussled at deuce. But Federer recovered and claimed the set and match in one hour 36 minutes.
Federer improved to 19-17 against Djokovic with the result, and will overtake Nadal, who is suffering appendix problems, to claim second place in the rankings next week.
"He played from first to last point a very, very good match," a dejected Djokovic said.
"I think I did not play too bad. It's just that he played everything he wanted to play," he said, calling it "the perfect match" from Federer.
"This tonight is definitely one of the best matches he has played against me, that's for sure."
Federer's best showing at the Masters 1000 event was as runner up in 2010, although he did win in Shanghai when it hosted the Tennis Masters Cup in 2006 and 2007.
Federer said that confronting Djokovic at the net was part of his game-plan.
"I was very happy it worked as well as it did," he added.
Reference: http://www.smh.com.au/sport/tennis/roger-federer-beats-novak-djokovic-in-shanghai-masters-20141012-114vnx.html
Australia beats Pakistan in thriller
A bizarre catch taken by Steve Smith and the sight of David Warner limping off the field almost overshadowed Australia's one-run win in Sunday's dead-rubber third one-day game.
Smith top-scored with 77 in Australia's 9-231 before Pakistan were bowled out for 230 after losing 2-0 in the 50th over in Abu Dhabi.
Glenn Maxwell was the hero with a double-wicket maiden in the final over for Australia who have won the series three-nil. Earlier, Pakistan left-hander Fawad Alam had faced up to spinner Xavier Doherty during the 18th over and shaped to sweep, prompting Smith to sprint from slip to leg slip and take a simple catch.
Fawad remained on the field to seek clarification from a match official before finally walking off without scoring, hitting the boundary rope with his bat in frustration. A fielder is entitled to move before the ball reaches the batsman as long as it's in response to the shot the batsman is shaping to play. Australia weren't celebrating during the 35th over however as Warner limped off the field after a consultation with team physio Alex Kountouris. Warner could be in doubt for the first Test on October 22.
The opener, who rubbed his thigh before going off, may have joined uncapped all-rounder Mitchell Marsh (hamstring) on Australia's injury list for the Dubai Test. Choosing to bat first on a flat-looking pitch, Australia had struggled to score freely and relied heavily on Warner (56) and No.3 Smith (77).
Smith's 105-ball innings included only two boundaries as the 25-year-old showed patience and skill to find the gaps against Pakistan's disciplined bowling attack.
Kurtley Beale's messages to Di Patson revealed- By Matt
The Telegraph reported that it was understood the delay between the texting incident and their being revealed publicly is because Patston agreed to keep it a secret in order to give Beale a second chance, but attached a condition to her pledge.
According to the Telegraph's report, Beale sent photographs of nude, overweight women accompanied by the words "Would you hit it?" and "Di", and "Di who wants a go f---ing this?".
Patston then replied: I am sitting here in the team room doing my job and I can't stop crying. What did I do to you? You have barely known me a day. I can't stop crying I am so humiliated by this. Don't you think my job is hard enough without this? This is how the only female staff member is treated? I am so embarrassed by this I am leaving for my room I can't stop crying thanks a lot.
Beale wrote: I was layin on my bed I didn't send it to anyone I sent it to myself. Youve done nothing wrong youve been so good to me & your such a lovely lady. We all see how hard you work for us. I just do stupid things for no reason. I was laying here getting ready for lunch & training mucking around. I hate I have done this to you & I am so sorry di.
Patston: Leave me alone please. I've come to my room. The team room is full of players I know you've sent it on to them but I'll never know to who. Just leave me alone this is not ok. Do you realise the situation you've put me in? I have earned this job and I am proud of being a female at this level. If I complain then I make it hard for women in Rugby and it puts the reputation of the entire squad at stake. Do you realise the situation I am? Just leave me alone please. I don't want to hear from you until my distress has settled.
Beale: Ok I feel so bad.
Patston: You may feel bad but if you did not accidentally send them to me how many more would there be? Are you sorry you did it or just sorry you got caught? Think about that.
Beale: I just don't know what to do. I'm so sorry.
Patston: Glad we got the chance to catch up and talk it through. I wanted you to look me in the eyes and realise I am a person — a mum, wife and daughter (all those things we discussed) and how they would feel seeing what you sent me. I'll never know who you sent them to or why; but everyone deserves a chance. You were clearly upset and showed remorse which I am for. I hope you can move on from this with a greater respect for treating people the right way. As I said, I won't be telling Ewen, or the ARU as you are entitled to one mistake and be a better person for it. I hope this is your moment and you gain a greater respect for the people here doing a job for you and the rest of the team. Let's move on from this and start anew. No need to talk about it any further. Di.
Beale: I can't believe your not going to tell Ewen or the ARU this means so much to me & I have learned my lesson I promise you. You have been very kind to me di and I'll never do anything like this again. Seeing you so upset hurt me I couldn't deal with it. You have my respect & deserve better you do so much for us & work so hard. Wish I could take it back. Thankyou di.
Beale has been stood down, pending the outcome of the investigation, while Patston resigned late on Friday due to stress.
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