Perth Glory reject Owen approach

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Unwanted ... it looks like Michael Owen won't be coming to the A-League. Source: Glyn Kirk / AAP

Perth Glory have ruled out making a move for Stoke City forward Michael Owen, preferring instead to find a younger player to replace departed marquee striker Billy Mehmet.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Former England international Owen has so far failed to make an impact since joining Stoke in the English summer and his agent explored a switch to the A-League in the January transfer window.

But the Glory have no interest in the 33-year-old.

"Michael is a player who comes with a high pedigree but it's not the direction I want to take the club," Perth coach Ian Ferguson said in a statement.

"I am looking for a younger player and a player who has been playing more regularly.

"I have three or four irons in the fire that I am pursuing, which is good.

"In terms of Michael, there was contact from an agent if we were interested, it was discussed at a good level, but I have made the decision he is the not the player needed at Perth Glory."

23.40 | 0 komentar | Read More

Roosters deny Jennings contact

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

In limbo ... the club future of Michael Jennings is still uncertain. Source: Brett Costello / News Limited

New South Wales Origin centre Michael Jennings is tipped to be a Sydney Rooster by the end of the week, though the Roosters claim the ball is in the court of NRL rivals Penrith.

Jennings is believed to be on the way out, a simmering feud with Penrith boss Phil Gould and a $600,000-a-year contract enough of an incentive for the club to release the brilliant back.

But just how much of Jennings' heavily back-ended contract the Panthers are prepared to chew up remains a sticking point, with the Roosters understood to be willing to offer a $2 million four-year deal.

Gould is not keen to pay for Jennings to play for another club, while the player himself has so far refused to take a pay cut.

Roosters chief executive Brian Canavan said it was up to the Panthers to agree to a release before his club could make a move, Canavan denying he had met with Jennings or his management on Monday.

"There's been no contact there today at all," he said. "Nothing's happened.

"The issue from our understanding lies with the player and his management and the Penrith Panthers."

While last month's decision to release BJ Leilua - who has linked up with Newcastle - has freed up some salary cap space, Canavan admitted the Roosters would not be in a position to accommodate Jennings without an increase to the salary cap.

That increase is yet to be signed off on by the NRL, though clubs are working to a figure of $5.8 million for the 2013 season.

While Jennings remains in limbo, the Roosters locked up the future of gun backrower Boyd Cordner through to the end of the 2016 season.

Cordner established himself as an NRL regular in 2012, having played 29 top grade games to date.

"Boyd has been part of our commitment to develop our young players over the past few years," Roosters recruitment manager Peter O'Sullivan said.

"To ensure that we have him here for a number of years is a major coup for our club and a major vote of confidence in where we are heading.

"Boyd is a tough competitor with true leadership potential for the way he conducts himself on the footy field and at training, and we see him as the cornerstone of our pack for the next decade."

23.40 | 0 komentar | Read More

Knights sign Quinn for 2013

Returning ... Anthony Quinn has signed a one year deal with Newcastle. Source: Michael Klein / News Limited

Newcastle have turned to a familiar face in a bid to add some depth to their outside backs, signing former Knight Anthony Quinn for the 2013 NRL season.

Quinn, 29, who played 103 games with the Knights from 2002-2006 before linking with Melbourne, has agreed to a one-year deal with the club.

The former NSW Origin winger has endured a wretched run with injury in recent years, but will give Newcastle coach Wayne Bennett another experienced option out wide.

The Knights have already added ex-Sydney Roosters centre BJ Leilua to their squad, with Quinn set to back-up first-choice wingers Akuila Uate and James McManus.

"He can play on the wing, in the centres and even in the second row, so his versatility will be a great addition to the team," Knights chief executive Matt Gidley said in a statement.

"He is very well liked, has a superb work ethic and he is just the type of player we want to have around the club."

23.40 | 0 komentar | Read More

Stosur again bows out in first round

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Deflated ... Sam Stosur loses her first round match in Sydney. Source: Tracey Nearmy / AAP

Samantha Stosur's miserable run in Australia has continued with a deflating first-round exit from the Sydney International.

Stosur's 6-3 6-7 (7-9) 6-4 defeat at the hands of China's world No.42 Jie Zheng was her fifth consecutive loss in Australia, a demoralising run that stretches back to last summer.

The world No.9 will head to Melbourne for the Australian Open starting next Monday alarmingly underdone after playing just two matches since undergoing minor ankle surgery six weeks ago.

With little history of performing well at a major without a strong build-up, Stosur's Open prospects look grim.

The 2011 US Open champion made a bright enough start against Jie, establishing two break points in the very first game.

But after failing to convert either, Jie broke Stosur in the second and sixth games of the opening sets as Australia's big hope struggled to find her rhythm.

Stosur clawed her way back from 5-1 to 5-3 before netting one of several mistimed backhands to hand the former Australian Open and Wimbledon semi-finalist the opening set.

The sixth seed mounted a revival in the second set, gamely saving a match point in the tiebreaker before blowing a 3-1 advantage in the decider.

Her elimination leaves Stosur with just two wins in seven years in Sydney since falling to fellow Australian Alicia Molik in the 2005 title match.

The latest loss also ended Australian interests in the women's singles after Casey Dellacqua made a swift first-round exit earlier on Monday.

Dellacqua lost 6-4 6-1 to 42-year-old Japanese qualifier Kimiko Date-Krumm, the world No.112 and oldest singles player on the WTA Tour.

Former Sydney champion Li Na, meanwhile, advanced to second round with a tough straight-sets win over American Christina McHale.

The Chinese fourth seed won 7-6 (7-2) 7-5 in a marathon two-hour affair to set up a meeting with Japanese qualifier Ayumi Morita, who ousted Slovakian Daniela Hantuchova 1-6 6-3 6-3.

Stosur's French Open conqueror Sara Errani is also through to the second round after thumping Czech qualifier Karolina Pliskova 6-1 6-3.

The little Italian third seed next faces Russian Maria Kirilenko, a 7-5 6-2 first-round winner over Australian wildcard Olivia Rogowska.

One-time world No.1 Jelena Jankovic removed Austrian Tamira Paszek 6-2 7-6 (7-5) and will play unseeded Italian Roberta Vinci for a quarter-final berth.

Vinci upset Russian Nadia Petrova 7-5 7-5.

23.40 | 0 komentar | Read More

Sixers dent Heat's faint finals hopes

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

On target ... Luke Feldman impressed again at the Gabba. Source: Gregg Porteous / News Limited

Sydney Sixers, the world club Twenty20 champions, have resurrected their ailing KFC T20 Big Bash League campaign with a five-wicket win over Brisbane Heat at the Gabba.

T20 - Gabba

7 January 2013 - Day 1, Session 2

Sixers 1st Innings

M. Lumb	61	55	5	1	110.91
S. O'Keefe	1	1	0	0	100
K. Roach	4	0	23	0	5.75

Down and seemingly out in the competition just a week ago, the Sixers are back in the mix for a semi-final spot with one round to go after outplaying the Heat in all three facets on Monday night.

Spinners Steve O'Keefe and Sachithra Senanayake strangled Brisbane on their pace-friendly Gabba wicket, restricting them to 9-127 - their lowest completed innings in two seasons of the BBL.

The Sixers top order then picked apart the home side's new-ball attack to ensure victory in the 19th over with English opener Michael Lumb (61 not out) guiding the way.

New Australia one-day paceman Ben Cutting, strangely held back until the 12th over, gave the Heat some late hope with 2-9 (three overs) but they ultimately paid the price for Kemar Roach dropping Lumb in the outfield.

Last year's BBL champions remain in sixth spot on six points on a congested table but their convincing win gave a massive boost to the net run rate.

		P	W	L	NR	T	Pts	NNR
1	Renegades	7	6	1	0	0	12	0.681
2	Scorchers	7	4	3	0	0	8	0.632
3	Strikers	7	4	3	0	0	8	0.53
4	Stars	7	4	3	0	0	8	0.181
5	Hurricanes	7	4	3	0	0	8	-0.287
6	Heat	7	3	4	0	0	6	0.129
7	Sixers	7	3	4	0	0	6	-0.221
8	Thunder	7	0	7	0	0	0	-1.471

The final round has a number of the top-four contenders playing each other and a third straight Sixers' win - against the pacesetting Melbourne Renegades, who will be without Aaron Finch, at the SCG on Wednesday night - could see them defend their title.

The Heat (six) finished well below a par score of 160 as they suffered from a dawdling start and then a 4-13 mid-innings collapse, which included the wicket of dangerous opener Luke Pomersbach (37 off 34).

All of the Sixers' bowlers performed with distinction but it was Sri Lankan all-rounder Sachithra Senanayake who surprisingly set the tone by frustrating the Heat with deceptive off-spin.

Senanayake conceded just nine runs from his first three overs with the new ball, starting with 11 consecutive dot balls.

O'Keefe also impressed, dismissing James Hopes for a duck in the second over and finishing with the best return of 3-21.

Josh Hazlewood took 3-32 in his long-awaited return from a foot injury.

Brad Haddin praised man-of-the-match Lumb's cool head, closing out the win as a "seasoned pro" when wickets fell around him.

"We made it hard for ourselves," Haddin said.

"We did it hard with the bat but, after where we've been the last few weeks, I'll take the win."

Heat captain Hopes admitted his side paid for their slow-paced batting and would have loved 20 more runs to defend.

"We just got stuck at the start and then we worked ourselves back into it and then got stuck again," he said.

Like the Sixers, the Heat need a last-round win, against the Hurricanes in Hobart, and other results to go their way to make the top four.

---

Relive all the key moments with our Match Centre!

23.40 | 0 komentar | Read More

Mariners squeeze past Glory

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Tight ... Oliver Bozanic is tackled by Jacob Burns. Source: Dean Lewins / AAP

Substitute Bernie Ibini ensured an understrength Central Coast entered the new year on top of the A-League ladder with the decisive goal in the Mariners' 1-0 home win over Perth at Bluetongue Stadium on Monday.

Ibini's 68th-minute goal was the first shot on target of a match dominated by two well-drilled defences.

However, after what looked like a hand-ball, Perth Glory coach Ian Ferguson felt Ibini's goal should not have stood.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

"I felt he was all over Jamieson and also he has used his hand to get the ball around to him and score the goal,'' he said.

"We've lost three points there.''

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

It was the Mariners' sixth win from as many home games this A-League season.

Without the suspended trio of playmaker Tomas Rogic, leading goal-scorer Daniel McBreen and captain John Hutchinson, Central Coast struggled to penetrate the Glory rearguard.

Mariners coach Graham Arnold said the win furthered his belief in the group.

"(The win) confirmed to me that we definitely have the depth to continue and go forward,'' Arnold said.

"The performance in the first half I think was a bit down for both teams because of the heat, but in the second half when the sun was gone it was a much better spectacle,''

Perth were a man down from the 76th minute when Dutch central defender Bas van den Brink was sent off after collecting a second yellow card.

Glory created the only decent chance of the first half, but it was spurned by normally deadly striker Shane Smeltz.

The unmarked New Zealand international put a sidefoot volley wide from six metres out following a good cross from Steven McGarry.

At the other end, former Mariners goalkeeper Danny Vukovic pushed away a couple of dangerous crosses, but the home team struggled to create a genuine shot on goal in the first half.

---

Re-live the action between the Mariners and Glory with our A-League Match Centre, featuring video highlights and all the important stats!

---

The Mariners upped the tempo in the second half and looked the more likely to score.

Striker Adam Kwasnik had a headed goal disallowed in the 47th minute for offside and headed wide 12 minutes later.

The breakthrough came shortly after when 53rd-minute substitute Ibini won a challenge with Scott Jamieson to an Oliver Bozanic cross.

The 20-year-old striker drilled the ball past Vukovic for his third goal of the season.

Glory didn't create much in the second half and their hopes plummeted after van Den Brink, who had earlier been booked for a foul on Michael McGlinchey, was given his second card for an illegal challenge on Mile Sterjovski.

Perth didn't have an attempt on target in the whole game, while the Mariners had just two.

Ferguson lamented his team's inability to make their chances pay.

"For the first half we looked very comfortable, I thought we moved the ball about well and we had a couple of half chances here or there,'' he said.

"In the second half, they came out with the bit between their teeth and probably towards that 65th, 70th minute mark we started to tire and that took its toll at the end.''

23.40 | 0 komentar | Read More

McGrath inducted into Hall of Fame

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Inductee ... Glenn McGrath the latest Australian to enter the ICC Hall of Fame. Source: Phil Hillyard / News Limited

Fast bowling great Glenn McGrath will be the latest Australian to be inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

The ICC announced on Monday the right-arm speedster, who claimed 563 Test wickets in 124 Tests from 1993-2007, will become the third inductee in 2012-13 after West Indian maestro Brian Lara and Englishwoman Enid Bakewell were honoured in September.

The ceremony for McGrath will take place on Friday during the lunch break of the second day of the third Test between Australia and Sri Lanka on his home ground of the SCG.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

The 42-year-old will become the 68th male member of the Hall of Fame in recognition of a career that also included 250 one-day internationals and playing in three straight ICC World Cup-winning sides in 1999, 2003 and 2007.

McGrath took more Test wickets than any other seam bowler - current or retired - while he sits second behind leg-spinning legend Shane Warne (708 wickets) as Australia's leading wicket-taker.

"I am very much looking forward to celebrating the occasion with not only my friends and family, but all those at the SCG which is of course like a second home to me,'' said McGrath in a statement.

Alan Davidson, Fred Spofforth and Belinda Clark were inducted into the Hall of Fame last year to join fellow Australians including Don Bradman, Richie Benaud, Allan Border and Dennis Lillee.

The SCG will be bathed in pink in support of cancer charity the McGrath Foundation on the third day of the Test.

A fourth and final Hall of Fame inductee for 2012-13 will be announced next summer.

23.40 | 0 komentar | Read More

Vidosic helps Reds cruise on NYE

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Class above ... Adelaide were far too good for Sydney on New Year's Eve. Source: David Mariuz / News Limited

Adelaide United maestro Dario Vidosic scored twice to orchestrate a 3-0 drubbing of an off-key Sydney FC in Monday night's A-League match.

Vidosic's first-half brace, and a second half tap-in by Iain Ramsay at Hindmarsh Stadium, ensured the Reds keep snapping at the heels of ladder leaders Central Coast Mariners.

Second-placed Adelaide remain two points shy of the Mariners, who earlier on New Year's Eve downed Perth Glory 1-0.

Vidosic's double took his tally to eight goals in an influential season - he also hit the cross bar with an audacious curling 20 metre free kick, and struck the post with another hat-trick attempt.

But more importantly for the 10,934-strong Adelaide crowd, Vidosic helped break the Reds' two-game losing sequence, opening his account with an 18th minute header.

Creative Marcelo Carrusca delivered a nifty pass which Iain Ramsay wisely let run for teammate Cassio, streaming down the left. Cassio's cross found an air-borne Vidosic, whose header floated into the top right corner of the net.

Just 11 minutes later, Vidosic sliced through slack defence before passing to frontman Bruce Djite, who was felled by a tackle from behind by defender Sebastian Ryall.

---

Relive the action with our A-League Match Centre, featuring video highlights and all the key stats.

---

Vidosic calmly slotted the penalty and the Sky Blues were on their way to a ninth loss in 14 matches.

Adelaide winger Ramsay rubbed salt into Sydney's wounds in the 61st minute after Djite outmuscled Ryall, charged at goal, and aimed a low left-footer at goal.

The shot was well saved by diving goalkeeper Vedran Janjetkovic but the rebound fell kindly into Ramsay's path and he tapped in from two metres.

Sydney, without injured star Alessandro Del Piero, were hampered by the loss of midfielder Adam Griffiths who hobbled off in the 12th minute with a leg injury.

The Sydneysiders have now conceded a whopping 30 goals this season and will return to the bottom of the ladder should Melbourne Heart defeat or draw with Newcastle Jets on Tuesday.

Adelaide coach John Kosmina said the Reds could have scored seven or eight goals, such was their weight of scoring chances.

"It was a really good, solid performance," he said.

Reds defender Nigel Boogard was substituted with tightness in a hamstring as Kosmina warned of a challenging January including away matches against Newcastle, Melbourne Heart and Central Coast.

"We have a tough month in January ... it's not going to be easy," he said.

Sydney coach Frank Farina agreed his side could have copped eight goals, saying the match turned into a "virtually a training run" for the Reds.

"To be brutally honest, we were outplayed," he said.

Midfielder Griffiths' early exit was caused by knee medial ligament strain suffered last week, but Farina expected Del Piero to return against Perth on Saturday.

23.40 | 0 komentar | Read More

Stosur crashes out in Brisbane

Disappointing ... Stosur got her Australian summer campaign off to a poor start. Source: Dan Peled / AAP

Australian tennis fans must be braced for another deflating home summer for Samantha Stosur following a worrying first-up failure at the Brisbane International.

In a terrible blow to her Australian Open preparations, an off-key Stosur crashed 7-6 (7-4) 7-5 to Swede Sofia Arvidsson to be the second top-10 star upset on Pat Rafter Arena on Monday.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

The Queenslander followed former world No.1 Caroline Wozniacki, who lost to Ksenia Pervak, out of the tournament in a disappointing one hour and 44 minute display.

Underdone heading into the 2013 season following a minor ankle operation five weeks ago, Stosur moved freely but her groundstrokes were rusty and judgment off.

While she showed plenty of fight to save five first-set points, the world No.9 leaked 48 unforced errors, including seven double faults.

Stosur had enjoyed a 3-1 head-to-head advantage over world No.41 Arvidsson and had swept the tall Swede aside in the first round of her 2011 US Open triumph.

However the writing was on the wall in the seventh game as she lost her serve with a string of poor groundstrokes.

The 28-year-old seemed to produced her best when it most mattered - breaking Arvidsson twice when she served for the set - but paid for her inconsistency.

She did her best to hang in in the second set, as Arvidsson held serve with ease, before producing a forgettable last service game to fall on her sword.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Stosur's inability to cope with local expectations has been well documented and the loss continues a poor run at her "home" tournament where she's never progressed past the second round.

It will heap even more pressure on her as she just has the Sydney International to fine-tune her game for the Australian Open.

Last summer, as the reigning US Open champion, she only mustered one win Down Under, beating little-known Belarussian Anastasia Yakimova in Brisbane before crashing in Sydney and Melbourne Park.

In more bad news for local fans, Australia's top-ranked male player Marinko Matosevic went down to Japanese No.5 seed Kei Nishikori 7-5 6-2.

23.40 | 0 komentar | Read More

Beckham family London based: Mirror

DAVID Beckham and wife Victoria have enrolled their children in London schools, increasing speculation the former England captain will sign with a club close to home, a British tabloid reports.

One-time Real Madrid midfielder Beckham, 37, has been linked with QPR in England and French club Monaco, as well as teams from China and Australia since his departure from LA Galaxy in early December.

The couple's sons Brooklyn, 13, Romeo, 10, and Cruz, seven, will attend an exclusive London school in the new year, while baby daughter Harper is also destined for a nursery in the English capital, the Daily Mirror said on Monday.

"David is coming to the end of his career and needs to consider his move carefully. A transfer to a top European club makes sense and as David has never played in France, a move to Paris would be ideal," an unnamed source told the Mirror.

A spokesman said before Christmas that Beckham plans to weigh up his options over the holiday period and isn't concerned about making a quick decision.

"There are a number of serious proposals on the table from a host of clubs across the world," the spokesperson said.

"David is no hurry to make a decision, the key is making the right one as he has always done successfully in his career.

The transfer window closes at the end of January.

Meanwhile Mrs Beckham has been busy house hunting in London's southwest, according to several media outlets.

23.40 | 0 komentar | Read More