Gutsy Tigers claw away Raiders

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David Nofoaluma ... scores for the Tigers during the NRL round 15 game between Wests Tigers and Canberra Raiders. Source: Mark Evans / News Limited

Acting Wests Tigers captain Benji Marshall delivered a couple of big plays as his eventful week ended with a 17-12 NRL win over travel-sick Canberra at Campbelltown Stadium.

3 Tries 2
David Nofoaluma 13'	Sandor Earl 27'
Joel Reddy 65'	Anthony Milford 58'
Tim Simona 75'
1 Conversions 2
Benji Marshall 67'	Jarrod Croker 28'
	Jarrod Croker 59'
1 Penalties 0
Benji Marshall 48'
1 Field Goals 0
Benji Marshall 72'

Marshall kicked a match-tying sideline conversion and edged the Tigers ahead 13-12 with a 73rd minute field goal on Saturday night.

Marshall said he was happy to end a difficult week on a high.

"I just wanted to do my job today and that was to lead by example and control the game," Marshall said.

"I thought last week I let the control get away from me in the game, so I just wanted to get that back."

Tigers coach Mick Potter described Marshall's effort as ``a great captain's knock".

"I said to him after the game that he really led by example,'' Potter said.

"He's been trying, it's not lack of trying, and I think it just came together tonight."

Potter said he thought the report on Lawrence was the wrong call and suggested he felt the same way about the Milford try.

Canberra coach David Furner lamented opportunities missed by his side, especially in the first half when Brett White and David Shillington both lost the ball trying to get over the Tigers line.

"What we've been very good at is just being patient and I didn't think we were," Furner said.

"A couple of times there forcing offloads, not getting to the areas where we needed to.

"The more the game went on, the more we gave them an opportunity to win it."

Winger Tim Simona sealed the Tigers' win two minutes later when he twisted his body and planted the ball over the line for a try.

The Tigers scored three tries to two in a mistake-marred game, which was played in heavy rain in the second half.

It was a seventh loss in eight away games for Canberra this season and thwarted their bid to win three straight for the first time this year.

Over the past week Marshall had come under criticism for missing several tackles in the Tigers' last game, while the latter part of his week was dominated by more headlines about his ongoing contractual negotiations.

Canberra led 6-4 at halftime.

The Tigers were first to strike, with winger David Nofoaluma crossing in the 13th minute after some slick passing.

Elusive fullback Reece Robinson set up both Canberra tries.

He combined with Josh McCrone and Jack Wighton to send Sandor Earl over in the first half.

There was a tinge of controversy about the try Robinson set up for Anthony Milford in the 58th minute.

Tigers centre Blake Ayshford appeared to have grounded Robinson in a legitimate tackle, but the Raiders fullback quickly bounced back up and continued his run.

Marshall and halfback Curtis Sironen set up Joel Reddy for the Tigers' second try.

Marshall landed a tough sideline conversion to again level the score.

Hit by a crippling injury list, the Tigers lost hooker Masada Iosefa in the 33rd minute with a broken forearm.

Tigers centre Chris Lawrence came off the bench and returned to action after being sidelined with a hamstring injury since round seven, but was placed on report for a shoulder charge.

Joel Thompson was also put on report for a shoulder charge on Marshall in the last few minutes.

That was tame compared to the end of the Holden Cup match, which featured an old fashioned all-in brawl.

Mitchell Barnett (Raiders) and Nathan Brown (Tigers) were sent off, Kyle Lovett (Tigers) and Tahakilu Pangai (Raiders) were sin-binned and Brenden Santi (Tigers) was placed on report.

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NRL wins its first fight hands down

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Fight breaks out ... between Canberra Raiders v Wests Tigers in Holden Cup. Source: RENEE MCKAY / AAP

It was only a matter of time before the NRL's "one punch and you're off" edict got its first test case.

Less than a week after this newspaper splashed the story across the front page, rugby league had its first punch-up at Campbelltown last night.

And to the NRL's credit, four players from the Wests Tigers-Canberra Raiders Holden Cup match got their marching orders - two players were sent off and two to the sin bin.

The referees were outstanding. No questions asked - they just did their job and got rid of the offenders and then put the entire brawl on report.

It sends a clear message to every rugby league player at every level of the game.

If you want to fight, take up boxing.

If you want to play rugby league, you play by the rules. It's a tough enough game without the violence we witnessed on Saturday night.

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Tigers outclass Western Bulldogs

Routine ... Bachar Houli fires a handball in Richmond's comprehensive win over Western Bulldogs. Source: DAVID CROSLING / AAP

Richmond's bid for a long-awaited finals berth is gathering pace, after smashing the Western Bulldogs on Saturday night.

The 17.19 (121) to 8.13 (61) victory was the Tigers' third straight and the second time this season they have made light work of the Dogs, having also belted them by 67 points in round three.

3.3 (21)	Q1	4.8 (32)
5.9 (39)	Q2	8.13 (61)
5.11 (41)	Q3	13.16 (94)
8.13 (61)	Q4	17.19 (121)

Jake Stringer 2	Jack Riewoldt 3
Matthew Boyd 1	Reece Conca 2
Adam Cooney 1	Shaun Grigg 2
Daniel Giansiracusa 1	Tyrone Vickery 2
Lachlan Hunter 1	Trent Cotchin 1
Liam Jones 1	Aaron Edwards 1
Robert Murphy 1	Nathan Foley 1
	Bachar Houli 1
	Daniel Jackson 1
	Dustin Martin 1
	Nick Vlastuin 1
	Matt White 1

Bachar Houli and Brett Deledio again gave Richmond strong drive off halfback, despite the close attention of Bulldog taggers Nick Lower and Liam Picken respectively.

Midfielder Dustin Martin gathered 23 disposals, kicked a classy goal in the second quarter and set up several others with penetrating passes.

Former Port Adelaide key defender Troy Chaplin again showed his worth as a recruit for the Tigers, keeping Bulldog spearhead Liam Jones quiet to lead a tight Richmond defence, while hard man Steven Morris blanketed Dogs livewire Luke Dahlhaus.

Jack Riewoldt kicked three goals.

The win lifts Richmond to sixth spot, above Collingwood on percentage and two games clear of ninth-placed Carlton, with the Tigers on an 8-4 record.

Only twice in the past three decades have Richmond been as well or better-placed 12 games into a season, in 1995 and 2001 - also the only two years they've played finals in that stretch.

Despite being on top throughout, the Tigers took time to put the Bulldogs away.

They kicked three of the first four goals, but followed that with a string of five consecutive behinds, allowing the Dogs to stay within 11 points at the first change.

Richmond opened the second quarter with four quick goals, but the Bulldogs steadied late in the half and an after-the-siren goal to Jake Stringer from a 50m penalty kept the halftime margin to 22.

But the Tigers blasted 53 points clear with 5.3 to two behinds in the decisive third quarter.

Big man Ty Vickery kicked two goals for the term, including one from a clever pack mark with the flight of the ball.

The last quarter became Tiger party time, with Daniel Jackson snapping a banana goal he could barely believe himself.

But the mood soured slightly when Chaplin went off with a leg injury late in the game, while fellow Tigers defender David Astbury was icing his left hamstring after being subbed off in the third term.

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick said Chaplin's knee injury wasn't believed to be serious.

"Structurally we think he's fine, we just have to work our way through it, whether he twisted his knee we're not too sure,'' he said.

"He seems to think he'll be fine but we'll get some tests.''

Hardwick said he was disappointed Richmond wasted chances in the first half but was pleased to finish off with a 60-point win.

Bulldogs coach Brendan McCartney said his young side was simply outclassed.

"We got beaten by a team that's better than us, quite clearly better than us,'' he said.

"They're a good team, they broke our tackles, tackled us, kicked the ball better, got the ball into space and set up some nice goals.''

Captain Matthew Boyd was the Dogs' best, gathering 34 touches and keeping opposing skipper Trent Cotchin quiet, while fellow midfielder Ryan Griffen (38 disposals) was also prolific.

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

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Lions hold off wounded Wallabies

Thriller ... the Lions celebrate after Kurtley Beale misses the match-winning kick. Source: Dave Hunt / AAP

A brilliant two-try debut from Israel Folau wasn't enough for the battered Wallabies who fell 23-21 to the British and Irish Lions in an epic first Test battle on Saturday night.

2 Tries 2
Israel Folau 13'	George North 26'
Israel Folau 35'	Alex Cuthbert 49'
1 Conversions 2
James O'Connor 15'	Leigh Halfpenny 28'
	Leigh Halfpenny 50'
3 Penalties 3
James O'Connor 52'	Leigh Halfpenny 25'
Kurtley Beale 62'	Leigh Halfpenny 32'
Kurtley Beale 68'	Leigh Halfpenny 66'

In a gripping contest, a courageous Australia almost fought back from an eight-point second-half deficit but Kurtley Beale missed two penalty goal attempts in the final five minutes that would have stolen the win.

Beale had edged the Wallabies to within two points with 13 minutes left in front of a record Suncorp Stadium crowd of 52,499, but he skewed his first match-winning attempt and then slipped as he fired off a last-minute shot from 45m.

The reserve fullback, in his first-class return following his second suspension for alcohol issues, shouldn't shoulder all the blame as poor goalkicking severely cost the home side throughout.

With first-choice kicker Christian Lealiifano taken off on a stretcher in the first minute, five-eighth James O'Connor stepped up but missed two attempts in the opening eight minutes.

O'Connor also missed a kickable conversion from Folau's second try, meaning the Wallabies left 14 points in total out on the field.

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In contrast, Lions' radar boot Leigh Halfpenny slotted five from six.

There was little in the invigorating contest as momentum swung back and forward and Folau produced one of the best Test debuts by crossing twice in the first half and also saving a try.

The Australian scrum also stepped up when required, spoiling the Lions ball five metres out late in the game and also forcing the late penalty for Beale's failed shot at glory.

The Lions seemed to be in control as they jumped to a 20-12 lead in the 50th minute when winger Alex Cuthbert brushed off Michael Hooper and then Beale to score a try which had a hint of obstruction with Brian O'Driscoll running into O'Connor.

The carnage for the home side didn't end with Lealiifano, who was knocked out in tackling opposite number Jonathan Davies.

Berrick Barnes (jaw) and Pat McCabe (neck) were also replaced, forcing flanker Hooper to play in the midfield for the last 35 minutes.

In a magnificent first half, the superstar wingers of both sides shone with Folau's double plus Welsh giant George North scoring a sensational 60m solo try.

It was stand-out halfback Will Genia who sparked Folau's opening try with a superb 80m counter-attack by taking a quick tap and bamboozling the Lions' thin defence, before grubber kicking to the former league international and AFL flop.

But the home side's 7-0 lead didn't last long as the tourists gained the ascendancy in the set pieces and North punished a poor high kick by Barnes by blitzing two chasers and then stepping around Barnes to score.

The Welsh 21-year-old almost had a second five-pointer four minutes later but was denied by Folau who held him up in the left corner and his elbow landed on the sideline.

Genia, again, started Folau's second try by wrapping around Kane Douglas and quick hands had the lanky Waratah in space and he burnt Jonny Sexton and Alex Corbisiero to cross.

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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 27'
Krisnan Inu 80'	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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Hawks too good for gallant Eagles

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.

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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

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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''.

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Carlton fan banned for bottle throw

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Sanction ... a Carlton fan has been banned for two years for throwing a bottle in Friday's clash. Source:AAP

A Carlton fan is banned from Etihad Stadium for two years and will face a police fine for throwing a bottle at the umpires at the end of last week's AFL loss to Hawthorn.

The fan threw a half-empty bottle from the top deck of the stadium and it landed near the umpires as they left the field.

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The Blues said the 36-year-old man contacted them and apologised while also giving up his Carlton membership.

Victoria Police also interviewed him and will fine him $282.

"While it was understood the offender, according to police, had acted out of character, his actions were potentially very dangerous," stadium manager Paul Sergeant said in a statement.

Blues fans were furious with the lopsided free kick count as the Hawks overcame a strong challenge from Carlton to win by 15 points.

Carlton coach Mick Malthouse was also sharply critical of the umpires in his post-match media conference.

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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

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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.''

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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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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."

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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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'Folau to handle the pressure'

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Israel Folau ... Greg Clark backs the convert to perform against the Lions. Source: Mark Evans / News Limited

The preliminaries are over. The British and Irish Lions' tour is about to move into top gear and it promises to be a three-Test series to remember.

No one likes to lose a game on tour but the loss to the Brumbies doesn't change a lot according to Lions coach Warren Gatland. He came Down Under to take the Tom Richards Cup from Australia and he's managed to give his Test squad plenty of game time in the lead up.

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The new-look backline didn't fire in Canberra and the starting pack looked tired and struggled to make it over the gain line. No one really put their hand up for a Test spot.

The Brumbies didn't help their cause. They had a plan to play it in the opposition half and they tackled themselves to a standstill.

Coach Jake White couldn't hide his delight after the game and it will give his side a real confidence boost heading into the business end of Super Rugby. They have the Aussie conference wrapped up but the challenge now is to finish in the top two overall and get a bye in the opening week of the playoffs.

The Wallabies will obviously come up against a much better Lions' squad on Saturday but if they take anything out of the Brumbies' performance, it should be the fact that the upset victory was built on defence.

The majority of the Wallabies haven't played any rugby of late and will need to hit the ground running at Suncorp Stadium. It's hard to forget first-up disappointments against Scotland and Samoa in recent years, and there can be no excuses for a below par performance this time.

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They've been in camp for a few weeks. There's no David Pocock or George Smith but young guns Michael Hooper and Liam Gill are ready made replacements, after they were blooded last year.

Sitaleki Timani is out, but this year's big improver Kane Douglas and Rob Simmons will show just how much depth there is.

Hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau's impact will be missed but Steve Moore is world-class. It'll be hard to replace Scott Higginbotham in the backrow, but the pack is still in pretty good shape overall.

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The jury is out on the Wallabies backline and we don't have to wait long to see if the decision to leave Quade Cooper out of the mix was the right one. The Lions' will target Israel Folau in his rugby Test debut as well.

I'm confident the convert will handle the occasion. There is no doubt about his attacking qualities as we've seen all year in Waratahs' colours. He's played big games in rugby league before, but if there is a weakness it could be his defence.

He's fine one-on-one, but because he's new to the wing at this level the Lions will try to catch him out of position. Having the experienced Adam Ashley-Cooper inside him will be a huge help. Folau will also be happy to be back at Suncorp Stadium where he's celebrated many triumphs before.

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There'll be plenty of red in the crowd but it won't be like the Gabba in 2001 when the Lions fans outnumbered Wallabies supporters. There'll be lots of gold on Saturday night and it shapes  as a great night for rugby in Brisbane.

The Lions will fancy their chances at the set piece. They'd prefer to have Jamie Roberts's size in the midfield but Jonathan Davies will still ask plenty of questions of the Wallabies' defence.

Sharpshooter Leigh Halfpenny will punish any ill-discipline inside Australia's half. His goal-kicking on tour has been superb.

The two teams are desperate to take an early lead in the series and take the psychological edge going into game II in Melbourne. A sell-out crowd will ensure a great atmosphere and I'm really optimistic about the Wallabies' chances.

They know what they're up against. They've viewed the highlights from 2001 over and over again and they've seen the Lions in action on this tour. Gatland's men will have a few tricks up their sleeve but the Wallabies should be ready.

The 12-year wait for another crack at the best of British and Irish is almost over. It will be worth the wait.

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Watch the first Test between the Wallabies and Lions LIVE and in HD from 7.30pm (EST) Saturday on Fox Sports 2HD!

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Hewitt to make Wimbledon impact

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Challenge ... Lleyton Hewitt thrives as the underdog. Source: Alastair Grant / AP

Roger Rasheed has backed former charge Lleyton Hewitt to defy age, injury and history to deliver an impact at Wimbledon next week.

At 32 and ranked 70th in the world, Hewitt has not won a grand slam since sweeping to the 2002 All England Club title.

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But Rasheed, who guided the former world No.1 into the 2005 Australian Open final, says an intense fire still burns in the injury-battered baseliner.

"Lleyton was was born for the big match,'' he said.

"(He would say) 'Put me in a big match now, big crowd, put me in another country. Give it to me.'

"No one taught him that. That was just him.''

Rasheed and Hewitt started their partnership ignominiously in 2003 when, as defending champion, he lost in the first round of Wimbledon.

Hewitt's early-round vulnerability lingers but Rasheed believes that if the former world champion gets a decent draw at Wimbledon, he will be dangerous.

"You're more nervous in the first round of a grand slam anywhere in the world than in the semi-finals or the second week,'' said Rasheed, who now works with Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

"When you walk in the second week, you didn't always have to talk to Lleyton.

"You talked, but it was 'Bring it, give it to me.'

"And you knew he'd perform. Barely did he ever not perform in a big moment.''

He watched Hewitt's semi-final surge at Queen's Club last week and was impressed.

"I'm never amazed (at Hewitt's achievements) because I spent so much time with him,'' Rasheed said.

"It's just his mind, mentality he loves it all.

"The fact that he plays tall guys on grass, I like that set-up for him all the time, because it sort of works for him.

"I'm glad to see him winning some matches because that gives him a lot more oomph going into Wimbledon, for sure.''

The Wimbledon draw will be held on Friday.

Sam Stosur will be Australia's only seeded singles player all other competitors will have to rely on luck to avoid the big names in the opening rounds.

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Brumbies gallop over sleeping Lions

History ... Tevita Kuridrani scored a crucial first half try against the Lions. Source: Lukas Coch / AAP

The Brumbies have clung on for a dramatic 14-12 victory over a fast finishing British and Irish Lions outfit to become the first provincial team to beat the touring side in 16 years.

1 Tries 0
Tevita Kuridrani 5'
3 Penalties 4
Jesse Mogg 40'	Stuart Hogg 40'
Jesse Mogg 46'	Stuart Hogg 57'
Jesse Mogg 54'	Owen Farrell 64'
	Owen Farrell 72'

The win in front of a crowd of 21,655 makes the Brumbies the first provincial side to beat the Lions since South Africa's Northern Transvaal in 1997, now known as the Bulls.

The win delivers a massive mental blow to the visitors, who are just four days out from the first Test against the Wallabies.

Brumbies coach Jake White said the Wallabies would take confidence from the win.

"To get a win against the Lions - it doesn't happen. Even the Brumbies in their heyday couldn't do it,'' he said.

"I've been lucky enough to win a junior and senior World Cup. But to beat the Lions. It's as high as it gets.''

The Lions played right into the strengths of White's Brumbies, the home side winning the kicking dual on the back of the boots of flyhalf Matt Toomua and fullback Jesse Mogg in soggy weather conditions.

The Brumbies also applied enormous pressure on the Lions' lineout, forcing hooker Rory Best to have a wayward night he'd rather forget.

Brumbies captain Peter Kimlin, who was a standout in the upset, said he could take knowledge of the win back into Wallabies camp.

"We went in there with a pretty clear mindset. We just wanted to keep it simple, hard workrate and big defence,'' he said.

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Miss something? Re-live the action with Match Centre, featuring video highlights!

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The Brumbies withstood an early Lions attack, winger Shane Williams coming within a metre of scoring in his return Lions match before being bundled into touch.

The home side then worked their way out of danger, Mogg spreading a kick return wide to Andrew Smith, who drew two defenders before putting centres partner Tevita Kuridrani into the clear.

The Fijian-born flyer then made a mockery of the final two defenders, using young English winger Christian Wade as an impromptu shield against fullback Rob Kearney to open the scoring in the fifth minute.

The Brumbies missed three opportunities to extend their lead with one missed conversion and two missed penalties, before Mogg kicked a penalty from 45 metres out to extend their lead to 8-0 in the 39th minute.

Both sides then traded two penalty shots each, before the Lions made four changes in the 57th minute, the substitution of Englishman Owen Farrell for Hogg having significant impact.

Farrell steadied the directionless Lions and the results were immediate, the replacement No.10 knocking over two penalty goals to reduce the deficit to 14-12 in the 72nd minute.

But it wasn't enough, the Brumbies holding out to become the first side Australian provincial outfit to beat the Lions since 1971.

Lions coach Warren Gatland said he felt his side didn't have the intensity required in the first half.

"Not the easiest conditions tonight, the Brumbies were really effective with what they did,'' he said.

"They didn't play any rugby, they just kicked a lot of the ball and competed really hard at the breakdown and tried to frustrate us and were successful.''

Gatland added the win may be the wake-up call the Lions needed before the Test opener against the Wallabies in Brisbane on June 22.

Lions captain Rory Best said his side was smashed at the breakdown.

"They put pressure on us and our confidence started to go,'' he said. ``We lacked that little bit of composure.''

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Tomic breaks win drought

Victory ... Bernard Tomic breaks his win drought at Eastborne. Source: Michel Euler / AP

Bernard Tomic won his first match in almost two months as he beat British wild card James Ward in straight sets in the opening round of the grass-court event at Eastbourne.

With his father and coach John court-side for the second straight event, Tomic gave his Wimbledon preparation a badly-needed boost with a professional 6-3 6-4 win on Tuesday.

Despite pulling out of the doubles at Queen's Club last week, Tomic showed no signs of the hamstring injury suffered during a first-round French Open loss last month.

He'll face either South African fifth seed Kevin Anderson or Frenchman Julien Benneteau in the next round.

It was Tomic's first win since his father was charged with allegedly assaulting Bernard's former training partner, Frenchman Thomas Drouet, during the Madrid Masters in May.

Tomic, a Wimbledon quarter-finalist in 2011, said he was relieved to have secured a win.

"I played very well,'' Tomic said. "I practised ok the last three or four days and my leg's probably not 100 per cent but I'm feeling OK out there, which is a good thing.

"... This was a very important match for me. A lot has happened the last month or two but I'm happy with the injury, I'm not feeling it.

"Every match here I play is going to be more confidence for me and every match here I'm going to have to use for Wimbledon, so hopefully my leg holds up every match.

"It's good to win here and now I've got a chance of doing well here again I've got to play well tomorrow.''

Tomic said the issues surrounding his father and coach were not playing on his mind.

"I'm not thinking about that. That happened that week when it happened and now the last four or five weeks, it's fine,'' he said. "It's not a big issue for me.''

John Tomic was present for his son's first-round singles loss at Queen's Club last week, despite his ATP coaching credentials remaining suspended, and he was again on site to see his son play in the seaside town on England's south coast.

His ATP ban does not prevent him from attending tournaments as a paying spectator, and officials at Queen's and Eastbourne have opted not to prevent him from doing so.

He was barred from attending the French Open last month and will also be refused entry at Wimbledon next week.

John Tomic sat with Bernard's agent Fraser Wright among spectators and didn't show too much emotion, though he clapped as his son fought back from 15-40 down to serve out the first set in 28 minutes.

Tomic continued to serve well in the second set and broke his 216th-ranked to go ahead 5-4 and served out the match with minimal fuss.

World No.64 Tomic had not won a match since a first-round win on clay in Barcelona in late April, losing his past four matches.

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As it happened: 'Roos Brazil-bound

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Brazil-bound ... the Socceroos celebrate Josh Kennedy's 83rd-minute goal. Source: Mark Evans / News Limited

Australia have qualified for their third consecutive World Cup after shrugging off a dogged Iraq 1-0 in Sydney.

An 83rd-minute winner to substitute Josh Kennedy got the job done after nerves wrangled for much of the ANZ Stadium clash.

Re-live all the drama, video highlights and social media reaction on another golden night for the World Cup-bound Socceroos below.

[View the story "Socceroos v Iraq, ANZ Stadium, Sydney" on Storify]

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Socceroos player ratings v Iraq

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Rating ... Archie Thompson and Tim Cahill continue to provide spark. Source: Philip Hillyard / News Limited

The Socceroos are headed for Brazil after beating a stubborn Iraq 1-0 in Sydney.

Who shone for the 'Roos and whose performance left a little to be desired?

Check out our Player Ratings and let us know if you agree by leaving a comment at the bottom of this page.

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MARK SCHWARZER: Wasn't the busiest man on the pitch. Teen striker Saif Salman forced a save from the veteran gloveman in each half. Apart from two other saves, was barely troubled. Rating 6

LUCAS NEILL: Solid in defence without being flashy. His leadership and vocal presence is always key. Rating 6.

TIM CAHILL: Put Iraq under pressure almost immediately forcing a great save with a powerful left-foot drive after just two minutes and was always dangerous. Was very tightly marked and fouled often. Had a few opportunities go begging but was always dangerous. Rating 7.

MARK MILLIGAN: Defensive work was outstanding, won the ball at key moments and had several strong tackles. Displayed a higher work rate than midfield partner Bresciano and got forward when needed. Rating 7.

SASA OGNENOVSKI: Solid in defence and had a rare shot on goal in the first half. Again partnered up well with Neill. Rating 6.

LUKE WILKSHIRE: Defensively strong. Made several runs forward and combined well with Kruse. Rating 7.

ROBBIE KRUSE: Supplied a constant flow of balls forward and had several dangerous runs. Sent the 80,000-crowd into raptures seemingly breaking the deadlock with a long-range screamer in the 65th minute only to have it disallowed. Rating 8.

TOMMY OAR: Had an outstanding game. Was a constant thorn in Iraq's side with superb attacking play down the left. Played a beautiful ball forward to Cahill to set him up perfectly for an early attempt at goal. Was a real work horse this game. Rating 8.

BRETT HOLMAN: Looked flat and sluggish and didn't give the side that crucial spark in the front third he usually does. Was set up by Kruse to break the deadlock in the second half but didn't do much with it. Rating 4.

MATT MCKAY: caught out of position a few times in the left-back spot, giving the Iraqis an area to exploit early on. Improved in the second stanza and showed some great build-up work. Rating 7.

MARK BRESCIANO: Was heavily marked and rarely found himself in space. Found a way to lose his markers twice in the second half and had a crack at goal both times. Provided a perfectly placed ball into the box resulting in Kennedy's ensuing goal. Rating 8.
Substitutes:

TOM ROGIC: Came on for a lacklustre Holman in the 61st minute. Looked dynamic from his first touch and had an instant impact providing a much-needed spark up front. Rating 7.

JOSH KENNEDY: Came on for Tim Cahill in the 78th minute. The move proved a master-stroke by Osier with the lanky striker climbing high to finally break the deadlock with a superb header in the 83rd minute to ensure the 1-0 win and send the Socceroos to Brazil. Rating 9.

ARCHIE THOMPSON: Came on for Kruse in the 79th minute. Added much-needed fire power up front. Rating 6.

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