Mixed night for Quade in Reds trial

Mixed night ... Quade Cooper got a trial game under his belt as the Reds beat the Blues. Source: Patrick Hamilton / AAP

Quade Cooper displayed many of his sublime skills but finished red-faced in his Super Rugby trial return as Queensland outlasted a spirited young Blues outfit on Saturday night.

The Reds scored seven close-range tries to five by the physical Blues to win an entertaining pre-season cobweb-duster 41-35 at a packed Toowoomba Sports Ground.

Part-time boxer Cooper mixed mostly good, with some bad and ugly in his 60 minutes on the field in his only hit-out before Queensland's Super Rugby campaign kicks off against the Brumbies in Canberra in a fortnight.

In his first rugby appearance in five months, the Wallabies playmaker set up a long-range break with his first touch of the ball - an inside pop pass to Digby Ioane - and also produced some signature jinking steps and flick passes.

But his last two acts on the field left a sour taste in Cooper's mouth as he was one of many barrelled by powerful winger Albert Nikoro and then stripped of the ball just minutes later.

Both mistakes led to Blues tries as John Kirwan's young team stormed back into the contest to trail 29-28 at the three-quarter break.

Cooper's goalkicking, given the duties for his sole pre-season trial ahead of sharpshooter Mike Harris, was more rusty - slotting just two from five.

Harris immediately showed he was the man for the job by landing one from touch as the Reds closed out the topsy-turvy match.

The signs were promising for the Aucklanders who are attempting to rebuild under new coach Kirwan following a forgettable 2012.

The Blues had a 14-0 lead by the first drinks break with prop Angus Ta'avao and lock Ronald Raaymakers both bustling their way over after set pieces near the line.

But Queensland's pack muscled up to run in three close-range tries to forwards Adam Wallace-Harrison, James Hanson and Radike Samo in the last 12 minutes of the half.

Wingers Rod Davies and Luke Morahan were among the Reds best performers while halfback Nick Frisby and young flanker Liam Gill impressed after the break to build up the 29-14 advantage.

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Eels tighten defence in Knights win

Defence ... Parramatta thrashed a young Knights outfit. Source: Gregg Porteous / News Limited

New Parramatta coach Ricky Stuart has demanded his troops get physical in defence this season and the young Eels made an encouraging start in a 46-10 NRL trial win over an inexperienced Newcastle in Armidale.

The Eels were the worst defensive team in the league last year and slumped to the wooden spoon.

But Stuart is determined to turn things around and has spent the pre-season trying to put a sting into Parramatta's tackling efforts.

Eels captaincy candidate Reni Maitua scored a try and played strongly in the comfortable victory in front of 5023 fans, while exciting lock forward prospect Ken Edwards put his hand up for a first grade spot by bagging a double and collecting the man-of-the-match award.

Utility forward Taulima Tautai was the pick of Parramatta's NRL talent playing at prop and Luke Kelly did well with his audition in the five-eighth jersey.

Kelly set up a couple of tries, as he looks to partner Chris Sandow in the halves to start the year.

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Another to stand out for Stuart, was his hooker Nathan Smith - who is vying with Matt Keating to start the year in the No.9 shirt.

Smith said Stuart has instructed his players to go hard at each other at training and believes the emphasis on defence paid off in the opening trial.

"Everything we've been doing is really physical and technique based and we've been getting stuck into each other at training,'' Smith told AAP.

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"Last year we were a bit poor in that aspect and we needed to really get our bodies in front and dominate the ruck and the edges.

"We really needed to dominate the whole game defensively and I think we did that.

"It's only very early, the first trial - but the things we didn't get right last year seem to be fixing themselves and we're on the right track.''

Smith and the Eels' NRL talent played about 50 minutes, before Stuart injected some of his fringe players and younger talent.

Parramatta led 26-0 at halftime and were up 36-0 when the big names left the field.

Fullback Peter Mata'utia was the only Newcastle player with NRL experience, but the rookies snuck in for two late consolation tries.

Smith believes he's put himself in a good position to push Keating for a starting berth come round one.

"I thought my games at the back end of last year were pretty good too. If I'm not No.9 I'd love to be 14 (on the bench), and just make my way through the year into the side.''

The Eels were minus stars like Sandow, Jarryd Hayne and Willie Tonga.

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WA thrash Bulls in Ryobi Cup

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The "bad boy'' tag had already been shed by Shaun Marsh.

However, that didn't stop the talented West Australian batsman having another go at getting into the national selectors' good books at the Gabba on Saturday.

WA posted a massive total of 4-308, before Queensland were bowled out for 198 in the 44th over of their reply.

Marsh kept statisticians - and he hopes selectors - on their toes by thrashing an unbeaten 155 for the Warriors, setting up a 110-run win.

He stroked 12 fours and six sixes - including three straight off Alister McDermott - to register the highest knock at the Gabba, second-best by a WA batsman and ninth biggest overall in domestic one-day history.

Not a bad effort for a bloke who started the summer playing Perth club cricket after his brother Mitch's ill-fated birthday celebration ensured he returned from the Perth Scorchers' Champions League campaign with his tail between his legs.

Marsh dug deep in the Big Bash League to break back into Australia's Twenty20 side against Sri Lanka this summer - and a one-day call-up against the West Indies may still be on the cards based on his heroics on Saturday.

He wasn't the only star to shine for a WA outfit that has kept their one-day final hopes alive.

Australian Twenty20 teammates Marsh (155 not out off 147 balls) and captain Adam Voges (112 off 116) put on 229 for the third wicket after WA were reeling at 2-16 in the ninth over.

It was WA's second-highest stand in domestic one-day history - just shy of their overall record of 257, also for the third wicket, set by Murray Goodwin and Mike Hussey against NSW in Perth in 2001.

And it easily eclipsed WA's 160-run third-wicket limited overs record partnership against Queensland set by Justin Langer and Chris Rogers in 2003 in Perth.

It ensured fourth-placed WA notched back-to-back bonus point wins to move to 14 points on the one-day ladder to remain a mathematical chance of making the final with one game left up their sleeve.

Third-placed Queensland (15pts) had everything to play for with a finals berth in their sights but didn't fire with the bat.

Victoria (19pts) lead the competition ahead of South Australia (18pts), who have a game in hand.

Only Nathan Reardon (58), former Australia one-day batsman Peter Forrest (40) and recalled opener Greg Moller (39) looked like taking it to a WA attack led by Nathan Coulter-Nile (3-48), left arm quick Jason Behrendorff (3-39) and promising spinner Ashton Agar (3-51).

The Warriors also looked sluggish early with the bat, crawling to 50 in the 17th over.

However, by the 25th over the Warriors had registered three figures as Voges and Marsh began to take charge.

Their 218-ball stand finally came to an end when Voges' ramp shot went awry and he was caught off Matthew Gale (3-50 off 11 overs) in the 45th over.

Voges thumped 11 fours to notch his highest domestic one-day knock.

Voges dared to dream about a one-day final ahead of their regular season finale against Tasmania on February 19.

''To be able to back up what we did against NSW (Wednesday night's 111-run win in Sydney) is really pleasing,'' he said.

''It will be a tough ask to get to the final but the pleasing thing is the way we go about everything - it is getting great results.''

Voges credited new coach Justin Langer for his recent Twenty20 international recall and Marsh's form - and attitude - reversal.

''He has changed a few things with my technique and tinkered a bit with Shaun as well - it is starting to bare some fruit,'' he said.

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Pakistan crash to all-time Test low

Dominating ... Dale Steyne takes a wicket as Pakistan crumble. Source: AAP

Pakistan crashed to their lowest Test total when they were bowled out for 49 by a South African pace barrage on the second day of the first Test at the Wanderers Stadium on Saturday.

1st Test - New Wanderers Stadium

1 February 2013 - Day 2, Session 3

South Africa 2nd Innings

G. Smith	50	69	9	0	72.46
H. Amla	0	4	0	0	0
U. Gul	6	2	14	1	2.33

Dale Steyn took six for eight in 8.1 overs as Pakistan failed to match their previous low - 53 against Australia in Sharjah in 2002/03.

South Africa led by 204 runs on the first innings, but decided against enforcing the follow on.peAB de Villiers equalled the South African wicketkeeping record by holding six catches as the Pakistan batsmen failed to cope with top quality bowling on a pitch with steep and sometimes variable bounce as well as some sideways movement.

Vernon Philander took two for 16 and Jacques Kallis two for 11.

Azhar Ali (13) and captain Misbah-ul-Haq were the only Pakistan batsmen to reach double figures.

It was the third time in two seasons that South Africa bowled out opponents for less than 50.

Australia were bowled out for 47 in 2011/12 and New Zealand were dismissed for 45 earlier this season. Both of those matches were in Cape Town.

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Joel Griffiths gets three-match ban

Suspended ... Sydney FC's Joel Griffiths will miss three matches. Source: Mark Evans / News Limited

An already-depleted Sydney FC have been hit with a fresh blow ahead of Saturday's crucial A-League match against Newcastle with striker Joel Griffiths suspended for abusing a linesman.

Griffiths was suspended on Friday evening after a review of an incident in the Sky Blues' loss to Melbourne Victory last weekend by a reconvened A-League match review panel.

The incident happened in the 89th minute of the round-18 fixture and Griffiths was charged with ''use of offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures against a match official''.

The 33-year-old faces a three-match suspension. He will serve a mandatory match suspension against the Jets and can appeal the additional two-game suspension.

Sydney FC chief executive Tony Pignata condemned Griffiths' behaviour.

''Sydney FC is disappointed with what happened late in the game last weekend against Melbourne Victory that has led to Joel Griffiths receiving a three-match suspension,'' Pignata said in a statement.

''Sydney FC prides itself on setting standards in community behaviour and we expect our players to uphold those standards and set a good example.

''Joel has shown remorse for what happened and Sydney FC will consider its options in relation to appealing the severity of the suspension.''

The A-League's match review panel usually convenes earlier in the week but it's understood they did not receive information on Griffiths' outburst until midweek.

It's not the first time Griffiths has been involved in a controversy involving match officials. He appeared to punch a linesman in the groin when playing for Newcastle in 2007, but escaped further sanction on a technicality because he received a yellow card at the time.

The suspension denies Griffiths the opportunity to play alongside brother Adam and against his other brother Ryan, in what would have been the first time three brothers had played together in an A-League fixture.

Griffiths is the fifth change forced on Sydney coach Frank Farina for the match against the fifth-placed Jets who sit two points above the Sky Blues on the A-League ladder.

Socceroo Brett Emerton (back) has been ruled out of the match with the Jets, against whom Sydney have lost twice already this season. The Sky Blues also are without Yairo Yau to international duty with Panama while defenders Fabio and Tiago Calvano are serving one-match suspensions.

Goalkeeper Ivan Necevski returns from an ankle injury to take Matthew Nash's place on the bench while Terry Antonis, Peter Triantis, Nathan Sherlock, Paul Reid and Aaron Calver have been recalled to Farina's extended 18-man squad.

Farina bemoaned his continued bad luck at training on Friday before the news of Griffiths suspension.

''It's certainly had its moments (this season). We are probably five or six down from last week but that is the reality of it - we have to live with it and just get on with it. Every day in football is a challenge,'' Farina said.

''When you are on a bit of a rollercoaster ride like we have been, it tends to stay that way. We have to continue to keep working hard, take what we have got and keep battling away.''

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Cory Jane could be out for season

Sidelined ... Cory Jane will undergo surgery on his knee injury. Source: AAP

All Blacks and Hurricanes winger Cory Jane faces a long stint on the rugby sidelines after suffering a serious knee injury.

Jane faces the prospect of missing the entire 2013 Super Rugby season after rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament of his right knee at pre-season training in Paraparaumu on Thursday.

A Hurricanes statement said the injury will require surgery.

Mark Hammett felt for the 29-year-old, who has established himself as one of the best wingers in the world in recent years.

"It is devastating for Cory to have suffered this serious injury when he was looking so strong for this season following such a successful 2012,'' Hammett said.

It is unclear when or if Jane will be fit enough in time to add to his 41 Test caps.

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All square between Roar, Mariners

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Contest ... Mariners' Michael McGlinchey (R) protects the ball from pursuing Roar players. Source:AAP

Brisbane Roar put some overdue spark into their title defence before Central Coast marksman Daniel McBreen salvaged another dramatic 2-2 draw at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night.

The spirited Roar came from a goal down to lead 2-1 and were poised to inflict just the Mariners' third defeat when McBreen equalised in the 80th minute with his 14th goal of the season.

The scoreline was a repeat of the clubs' memorable 2010-11 grand final when Brisbane came from 2-0 down with two goals in the final three minutes of extra-time before winning on penalties.

		P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
1	Central Coast	19	11	6	2	17	39
2	Victory	18	10	3	5	3	33
3	Western Sydney	18	10	2	6	8	32
4	Adelaide	18	10	2	6	4	32
5	Newcastle	18	6	4	8	-8	22
6	Brisbane	19	6	3	10	-1	21
7	Heart	18	6	3	9	-2	21
8	Sydney	18	6	2	10	-9	20
9	Perth	18	5	4	9	-1	19
10	Wellington	18	4	5	9	-11	17

The home side again looked like celebrating thanks to a stirring second-half performance against the pace-setting competition favourites.

Golden boot Besart Berisha rediscovered his mojo with a double and new Dutch recruit Stef Nijland made an immediate impact in a 30-minute cameo just 38 hours after flying into Brisbane.

Berisha, who has struggled for form in 2012-13 much like the defending champions, produced two quality goals to earn man-of-the-match honours.

The Albanian international headed home a smart cross from captain Thomas Broich in the 47th minute and then put the Roar in the lead by finishing the best goal of the entertaining encounter, sparked by pin-point passes from Nijland and Shane Stefanutto.

With young midfielder Luke Brattan continuing to shine, the Roar overcame an indisciplined and sloppy start with a confident display after the break to reinvigorate their campaign.

It had been a farcical start for seventh-placed Brisbane, who conceded the opening goal in the eighth minute due to a Matt Jurman defensive error when they were needlessly down to 10 men.

Replacement Ben Halloran, prevented from taking the field for an injured Massimo Murdocca due to an administrative error, was forced to watch from the sideline as Michael McGlinchey made the most of his gift opportunity in the box.

The Mariners looked in control of the first half and had missed a prime chance to double their lead just before the break when McBreen's close-range shot was smartly saved by Michael Theo.

Jurman was dragged at halftime and replaced by Jack Hingert in a backline reshuffle which saw Ivan Franjic team with Jade North in his Roar debut.

The Roar did have some luck with North escaping a red-card in the 14th minute after he pulled down a free-running McGlinchey with just Theo in front of him.

''On my view from where I was it was 100 per cent a send-off,'' said Central Coast coach Graham Arnold.

''Then it's a 1-0 game and 10 men and a team down on confidence and it's a different story.

''You get some good decisions and some bad decisions throughout the year and tonight we got a bad one but the most important thing for us is we got an important point away from home.''

Arnold was more pained by another injury blow with midfielder Oliver Bozanic dislocating his shoulder in the second half and facing several weeks on the sidelines.

Roar coach Mike Mulvey, who described Jurman's early defensive error as ''calamitous'' and ''awful'', admitted he delivered a livid spray at halftime but was overjoyed by the second-half response.

''We were like strangers in the first half,'' Mulvey said.

''The second half was more an indication of how I want us to play and how I think we can play.

''If we can seize on the (quality of goals) we scored then there's a bright future.'' 

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Rathbone scores in rugby return

Comeback kid ... Rathbone makes a promising return for the Brumbies. Source: Kym Smith / News Limited

Former Test winger Clyde Rathbone showed he has lost none of his skill, turning in a solid performance in his return from retirement as the Brumbies beat Western Force 20-18 in a Super Rugby trial.

Rathbone, who retired in 2009 due to injuries and suffered depression while away from the game, showed power to score Brumbies' second try of the night at TIO Stadium in Darwin.

The 31-year-old Rathbone, a former Wallabies winger, showed no signs of the persistent injuries that prematurely put his career on hold.

As lightning crackled overhead on a warm Darwin night the Brumbies dominated the first half, with Matt Toomua also scoring a try to help build a 17-3 halftime lead.

At the start of the second half Brumbies coach Jake White gave some of his less-experienced players a run, taking off Rathbone and former Force captain David Pocock.

Pocock had been strong early in defence against his former teammates but never shone.

Against the new faces and as the monsoon rains began to fall in the second half, the Force powered back.

Brumbies loosehead prop Ruaidhri Murphy was sin-binned early in the second half after a professional foul.

Force reserve Junior Rasolea scored a try with 10 minutes left in the game, but the conversion that would have levelled the scores was missed.

The Force then pushed two penalty goal attempts wide.

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Meet the EPL's new Solskjaer

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Super sub ... Reading's Adam Le Fondre. Source:AAP

There are worse monikers to wear than 'super sub'. And although Reading's Adam Le Fondre wants to make a name for himself as a 90 minute player, he's been creating more than enough headlines for his late heroics in recent weeks.

Two match-winning performances by The Royals' No.9 has seen late, late drama for the relegation battlers against big-name opposition. Le Fondre scored twice after 87 minutes to steal a draw against Chelsea on Thursday morning (EDT), to back up his six-minute brace against Newcastle United off the bench earlier this month.

These late cameos are doing the 26-year-old no harm as he tries to show he can bring his goal scoring pedigree from the lower division to the Barclays Premier League.

"I have a role to play in the team and I have to accept it. That's how it is at the moment, but obviously I want to start games every week," Le Fondre said after the Newcastle game.

"I have to bide my time because we are playing a different formation. I've just got to wait and take my chance when it comes. Hopefully playing like this will get me another start."

Whether he wants the mantle or not, there's no doubt about the need for a vital injection off the bench. And haven't we seen some great ones through the years?

Ole Gunner Solskjaer – Sir Alex Ferguson's 'Baby Faced Assassin' from a decade ago – is the most famous the league has seen. The Norwegian striker sat behind the likes of Andy Cole, Dwight Yorke, Teddy Sheringham and Ruud van Nistelrooy in the pecking order. But he played his part, too, most famously in the 1999 UEFA Champions League final against Bayern Munich. Indeed, 29 of his 126 goals coming off the pine.

Another  Norwegian, Tore Andre Flo, also carved his niche as a famous super sub, scoring 13 times in 69 appearances for Chelsea off the bench. 

The original super sub was Liverpool's David Fairclough, who scored 55 goals for Liverpool from 1973-1983, with 18 of them coming off the bench - 21 in the final quarter.

Australia's most famous moment off the bench is Tim Cahill, who scored twice as Australia beat Japan 3-1 in Kaiserslauten in 2006, and current rivals for the super sub title in the EPL include Javier Hernandez and Edin Dzeko.

Just don't tell Manchester City striker Dzeko.

"I will never be a super-sub, I want to play," he said after scoring twice off the bench against West Brom earlier this season. 

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I was jealous of Roar: Flores

Happy as Larry ... Marcos Flores loves playing under Ange Postecoglou. Source: David Crosling / AAP

Melbourne Victory midfielder Marcos Flores admits he used to be jealous every time he came up against Ange Postecoglou's champion Brisbane Roar team.

		P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
1	Central Coast	18	11	5	2	17	38
2	Victory	18	10	3	5	3	33
3	Western Sydney	18	10	2	6	8	32
4	Adelaide	18	10	2	6	4	32
5	Newcastle	18	6	4	8	-8	22
6	Heart	18	6	3	9	-2	21
7	Brisbane	18	6	2	10	-1	20
8	Sydney	18	6	2	10	-9	20
9	Perth	18	5	4	9	-1	19
10	Wellington	18	4	5	9	-11	17

Now he is coached by Postecoglou, Flores believes the Victory are growing into an outfit capable of emulating their coach's deeds at the Roar - and giving him an A-League championship three-peat.

"We are improving. You can see from the first week we are making steps forward every week,'' Flores said.

"Even if for a couple of weeks we didn't get the three points, we were improving and improving and improving.

"I feel so proud to be honest. So proud of my teammates, so proud of our group because every team wants to improve, and we are doing it.''

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When playing for Adelaide United, Flores admits he looked longingly at how the Roar moved the ball under Postecoglou, and admired the attacking style he entrenched at the back-to-back champions.

Flores' move to the Victory after a year playing in China and Postecoglou's shift from the Roar to the Victory has united them - and the 27-year-old Argentine couldn't be happier.

"I was so jealous when I saw him and Brisbane when I was playing at Adelaide,'' Flores admits.

"More than anything I wanted to be under him, to be part of this philosophy - the way he drives the team.

"I have a lot of respect (for him). He is one of the important reasons why I came to the club.''

After a slow start with the Victory, Flores is moving towards the sort of form which won him the competition's player of the year honours with Adelaide in 2010-11.

His spike in form has coincided with the Victory's.

The Victory are unbeaten in their past four matches, and have lost just twice in their past 14 to move ominously into the top two.

Their Melbourne derby on Saturday night at Etihad Stadium against the Heart looms as critical, with third-placed Western Sydney and fourth-placed Adelaide United just a point behind the Victory and playing each other this weekend.

Meanwhile, the Victory have signed teenage centre-half Nick Ansell, versatile Leigh Broxham and reserve goalkeeper Lawrence Thomas to new extended contracts.

Ansell and Broxham have agreed to three-year deals, while Thomas will stay with the club until the end of the 2014-15 season.

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